Between Lies and Love

Chapter 3

Lizzy wasn't sure when it had started—those small, casual encounters that grew into something more. At first, it was just polite conversation at the café. Then it turned into longer chats, deeper talks, and eventually, Y/N had become a regular part of Lizzy's routine. They started grabbing lunch together, meeting up for coffee, and even sharing quiet evenings on Y/N's couch watching TV or talking about everything and nothing.

Lizzy liked it—too much, maybe. The more time she spent with Y/N, the harder it became to ignore the connection between them. But with every laugh, every shared moment, the guilt gnawed at her. Y/N didn't know who she really was. And every day Lizzy spent lying, pretending to be someone else, it felt like a betrayal.

One afternoon, after Y/N had suggested they meet at the bookstore downtown, Lizzy found herself wandering through the aisles with Y/N at her side, their conversation easy and unhurried.

"You ever read this one?" Y/N asked, pulling a novel from the shelf and holding it up.

Lizzy glanced at the cover, shaking her head. "No, but I've heard it's good."

Y/N smiled, tossing the book into the basket they'd grabbed on the way in. "Well, if you're up for it, we could read it together. I'm always looking for a good reading buddy."

Lizzy felt a flicker of warmth in her chest at the casual suggestion. She hadn't done something as normal as reading a book with someone else in what felt like years. "Yeah, maybe," she said, keeping her tone light, though her heart fluttered at the thought.

As they wandered deeper into the store, Lizzy felt herself relax more around Y/N than she had with anyone else in a long time. But something was off today—something subtle. The air around them seemed warmer than usual, a faint but noticeable heat that made Lizzy glance around, her senses tingling.

"Is it just me," Lizzy asked casually, "or is it kind of warm in here?"

Y/N paused, then shrugged as they tucked a book under their arm. "I don't really notice. Maybe it's just the heating system?"

Lizzy studied Y/N for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly. The warmth had been happening more frequently around Y/N, like the air would shift depending on their mood. She'd noticed it in the café, during their walks, and especially when Y/N seemed particularly happy or excited.

But Y/N didn't seem concerned. In fact, they barely acknowledged it. Lizzy wondered if they even knew. "You sure you don't feel it?"

Y/N laughed softly, brushing it off like it was nothing. "It's probably just you being sensitive to temperature. Some people run colder, right?"

Lizzy raised an eyebrow, but she didn't push. "Yeah, maybe."

They moved on, the moment passing. But Lizzy couldn't shake the feeling that something was different about Y/N—something more than just their kindness and warmth. The temperature changes weren't random. They were connected to Y/N, and whether Y/N knew it or not, Lizzy was starting to suspect there was more going on.

A few days later, Y/N invited Lizzy over for dinner. It was a quiet night, the sky already dark as they sat at Y/N's small dining table, a simple meal spread between them. The conversation flowed easily, just like it always did, and Lizzy found herself relaxing into the moment, letting the stress of her double life fade into the background.

But as the evening went on, Lizzy noticed it again—the air around them had grown warmer, almost stifling. Y/N was laughing, telling a story about something that had happened at work, and Lizzy could feel the temperature rising with every wave of Y/N's animated gestures.

Finally, Lizzy couldn't ignore it anymore.

"You really don't feel that?" Lizzy asked, her voice laced with curiosity. "It's like the room's heating up."

Y/N paused mid-laugh, looking at Lizzy with a slightly puzzled expression. "What do you mean?"

"The temperature," Lizzy clarified. "It's been happening a lot when we're together. I don't think it's just me."

Y/N's eyes flickered with something—maybe a brief flash of recognition, but they quickly brushed it off with a light chuckle. "Oh, that? I guess it's just a thing that happens around me sometimes." They waved a hand dismissively, as if it wasn't a big deal. "Probably just bad insulation in this old building."

Lizzy narrowed her eyes slightly, sensing there was more to the story. "Does it happen often?"

Y/N gave a nonchalant shrug. "Sometimes. It's no big deal, really. I've just gotten used to it."

Lizzy wanted to press further, but Y/N's easy dismissal made it clear they weren't interested in going deeper into the subject. And Lizzy understood that all too well—after all, she was keeping her own secrets. She couldn't exactly push Y/N to open up when she was hiding something even bigger.

Still, the way Y/N had brushed it off so casually made Lizzy wonder if Y/N knew more than they were letting on. Maybe they didn't fully understand their powers, or maybe they were just as good at keeping secrets as Lizzy was.

The more time they spent together, the harder it became for Lizzy to ignore the signs. Y/N was warm—literally and figuratively—and the temperature shifts seemed to reflect their emotions. When Y/N was happy, the room felt cozy, like sitting by a fire on a cold day. But when Y/N was frustrated or upset, the air around them would cool, almost imperceptibly, but enough for Lizzy to notice.

And each time Lizzy brought it up, Y/N would laugh it off, making some excuse or brushing it aside like it wasn't important. But Lizzy knew better. She could sense the power in Y/N, even if Y/N wasn't ready to acknowledge it themselves.

One evening, as they sat on Y/N's couch watching an old movie, Lizzy noticed the air in the room beginning to cool. Y/N had been quiet for most of the evening, their usual bright energy dimmed by some frustration they hadn't yet shared. Lizzy could feel the shift in the air—the coolness creeping in, settling over them like a soft, invisible blanket.

"Are you okay?" Lizzy asked, glancing over at Y/N, who was staring at the TV screen but not really watching.

Y/N blinked, turning to face Lizzy with a small, forced smile. "Yeah, just a rough day."

Lizzy nodded, sensing that there was more to it than that, but she didn't push. Instead, she focused on the coolness in the room, the way it seemed to mirror Y/N's mood. It was as if the temperature was tied directly to their emotions, reacting without Y/N even realizing it.

"You know," Lizzy said quietly, "the temperature thing... it's not normal."

Y/N glanced at her, a flicker of something crossing their face before they quickly masked it. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Lizzy continued, "it's not just bad insulation. It happens too often—when you're happy, when you're upset. It changes with you."

Y/N tensed slightly but forced another laugh. "I guess I've got my own personal climate control, huh?"

Lizzy didn't laugh. Instead, she looked at Y/N, her expression soft but serious. "Y/N, I think there's more to it than that."

For a moment, Y/N's guard faltered. They looked at Lizzy, something vulnerable in their eyes, like they wanted to say more but couldn't bring themselves to. And then, just as quickly, the mask slipped back into place.

"I don't know, Lizzy," Y/N said, their tone light again. "It's probably just a weird quirk. Nothing to worry about."

Lizzy sighed, knowing Y/N wasn't ready to admit what was really going on. But she couldn't blame them. After all, wasn't she doing the same thing? Pretending to be someone she wasn't, hiding her own powers, her own past?

They were both living with secrets, neither of them ready to let the other in completely.

But Lizzy couldn't shake the feeling that, sooner or later, their secrets would come to light. And when they did, everything between them would change.