𝑇𝑊𝐼𝑁 𝑆𝐼𝑍𝐸 𝑀𝐴𝑇𝑅𝐸𝑆𝑆 / 𝐽.𝐵.𝑅

SECRETS

The days had been somewhat peaceful following John B and Sarah's return, but the tranquility was about to be shattered. Whispers had begun circulating among the locals, and the tension was palpable. It started with rumors, then heated conversations, and finally, the truth emergency.

The confrontation came unexpectedly. John B had been spending more time away from the group, trying to find some semblance of normalcy after the chaos of their recent adventures. But today, his curiosity about the lingering whispers drew him to Sarah's house.

As he approached, he saw Sarah standing on the porch, looking troubled. Before he could say anything, a figure from her past emerged-Topper, Sarah's ex. The sight of him brought a surge of anger and confusion to John B.

"Sarah?" John B's voice was tinged with disbelief. "What's going on here?"

Sarah's face flushed with a mix of guilt and frustration. "John B, I... I didn't want you to find out like this."

Topper, sensing the growing tension, decided to leave. "I'll give you two some space," he said, casting one last glance at Sarah before walking away.

John B's eyes never left Sarah. "What's happening, Sarah? What's going on with Topper?"

Sarah took a deep breath, her voice trembling. "John B, I... I made a mistake. Topper and I-"

John B cut her off, his face a mask of pain. "You were with him? After everything we've been through?"

Tears welled up in Sarah's eyes. "It was a mistake. I was confused and hurt. I thought I needed something familiar, but it was wrong. I'm so sorry, John B."

John B turned away, the betrayal cutting deep. "I need some time to process this. I can't just forgive and forget."

As John B walked away, Sarah stood on the porch, tears streaming down her face. The once idyllic picture of their reunion was now shattered.

Meanwhile, Alex was in her room, surrounded by the glow of her computer screen. She had retreated into her own world, focusing on her work. But this time, her hacking was more personal-she was back to manipulating her grades, turning her failing marks into straight A's.

Her fingers danced across the keyboard, her mind focused despite the haze of her recent highs. The thrill of hacking had become a comforting distraction, a way to exert control over at least one aspect of her life. The task was familiar, and the motions were almost automatic.

"Just a few more changes," she muttered to herself, her eyes scanning the screen as she corrected her grades.

In the midst of her work, the sound of footsteps in the hallway caught her attention. She paused, her heart racing, but when she heard the familiar sound of her mother's voice downstairs, she shrugged it off and returned to her hacking.

Alex's mind was a storm of conflicting emotions-her recent isolation, the strain of her feelings for John B, and the ever-present need for control. Hacking her grades was a small rebellion, a way to assert some power in a world that often felt out of her control.

As Alex continued to work on her hacking, she received a text from Kie. The message was brief but conveyed the urgency of the situation: "We need to talk. Something big just happened."

Alex frowned, her curiosity piqued. She quickly wrapped up her hacking session, saving her changes and shutting down her computer. As she made her way to meet the Pogues, the weight of her actions and the ongoing drama settled heavily on her shoulders.

The Pogues were gathered at their usual meeting spot, their faces somber. Kie, JJ, and Pope looked up as Alex approached, their expressions a mix of concern and frustration.