Between Lies and Love

Chapter 9

The day had finally arrived. After years of building a life together, Lizzy and Y/N stood in the middle of their new apartment, surrounded by half-unpacked boxes and furniture in various states of assembly. It was chaotic, but it felt right. This was the start of something big—a new chapter for them both.

Y/N dropped the box labeled **Kitchen Miscellaneous** onto the counter and wiped the sweat from their brow. "Okay, so, I'm not saying I'm a genius, but I'm pretty sure we nailed this whole 'moving in' thing."

Lizzy, sitting cross-legged on the floor and sorting through books, raised an eyebrow, amused. "You're confident for someone who still hasn't figured out how to assemble the bed."

Y/N gave a dramatic sigh, flopping onto the nearby couch—well, the couch cushions. The frame was still leaning against the wall. "I'm saving the bed for later. That's gonna be my masterpiece."

Lizzy laughed softly, shaking her head. "If you say so."

As they worked through the rest of the afternoon, unpacking boxes and organizing their new space, a comfortable rhythm settled between them. Lizzy moved through the kitchen, carefully placing dishes in cabinets while Y/N fiddled with the TV stand, muttering to themselves about missing screws.

It was mundane, the kind of day that could have felt exhausting or frustrating, but Lizzy felt... happy. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so content—like she belonged. Every glance at Y/N, every shared smile or playful nudge, reminded her that this was where she wanted to be.

But underneath that warmth was the ever-present knot of guilt. Lizzy had been able to push it aside for so long, to convince herself that as long as she was careful, she could keep this part of her life hidden. But now, living together, sharing every day and every space, the walls she'd built to protect her identity felt fragile, like they could crumble at any moment.

Later that evening, after most of the boxes were unpacked and the bed (miraculously) assembled, they collapsed on the couch, wrapped up in each other. The soft glow of the city lights filtered through the window, casting a warm hue over the room.

Y/N sighed contentedly, their head resting in Lizzy's lap. "Can you believe it? We actually did it. We live together."

Lizzy smiled down at them, her fingers gently running through Y/N's hair. "Yeah... it feels kind of surreal."

Y/N looked up at her, their eyes sparkling with affection. "I'm glad we did this. I mean, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, but now that we're here... it feels real, you know?"

Lizzy's heart fluttered at Y/N's words. She smiled, trying to push the weight of her guilt aside. "Yeah. It does."

There was a beat of silence before Y/N shifted slightly, turning so they were lying on their side, looking up at Lizzy with a serious expression. "Can I ask you something?"

Lizzy's stomach tightened, but she kept her tone light. "Sure."

Y/N hesitated for a moment, clearly trying to gather their thoughts. "Do you ever think about... you know, the future? Like, where we're headed?"

Lizzy's breath caught. She could hear the nervousness in Y/N's voice, and it tugged at her heart. She wanted to answer honestly, but the truth of who she was—what she was hiding—hung heavily over her.

"I do," Lizzy said softly, her fingers stilling in Y/N's hair. "I think about it all the time."

Y/N smiled, a little relieved. "Good. Because... I've been thinking about it too. A lot." They sat up slightly, their gaze steady on Lizzy. "I've been thinking about how... one day, I want to make this official. You and me. For real."

Lizzy's heart pounded in her chest. Y/N wasn't outright saying it, but she knew what they meant. Marriage. Commitment. A future together that went beyond just living under the same roof. And God, Lizzy wanted that too. But the lies—the secrets—were always there, a barrier between her and that future.

"I want that too," Lizzy whispered, her voice thick with emotion. And it was true—she wanted that with every part of her. But as she looked at Y/N, the guilt crept back in, reminding her that she wasn't being honest.

Y/N reached over, taking Lizzy's hand in theirs. "Hey, no pressure or anything. I just... I love you, Lizzy. And I want us to be happy. Together."

Lizzy's chest tightened, the weight of those words sinking in. She squeezed Y/N's hand, managing a small smile. "I love you too."

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of quiet conversations and shared laughter. They spent hours curled up together on the couch, talking about everything and nothing—about their favorite memories, the quirks they were sure would drive each other crazy now that they were living together, and their hopes for the future.

But even in the warmth of those moments, Lizzy felt the cracks in her resolve. Living with Y/N made her feel like she was constantly walking on a tightrope, balancing between the love she had for them and the secrets she was keeping.

The next morning, the sun filtered through the curtains of their new bedroom, casting a soft glow over the bed. Lizzy lay there, awake but not wanting to move, listening to the soft rhythm of Y/N's breathing beside her.

She turned slightly, watching Y/N sleep. Their face was peaceful, their hair tousled from the night. Lizzy smiled softly to herself. This was everything she had ever wanted—this feeling of safety, of belonging, of love.

But the guilt was still there, a dull ache in the back of her mind. She knew she couldn't keep hiding forever. Y/N deserved the truth. They deserved to know who she really was. But every time Lizzy thought about telling them, about revealing her real identity, the fear gripped her like a vice.

What if Y/N didn't understand? What if they felt betrayed? What if everything they had built together came crashing down?

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Not yet. She wasn't ready. She just needed a little more time.