The Mysterious Nerd

Chapter - 15: A Name to Protect

Alana was sitting at the dining table, deep in conversation with my mother, laughing and listening with that captivating focus she always had when people were talking. I watched her, the way she moved, the way she smiled—something had changed recently. She was happy, or at least, she had been. But that moment of distress in her office still haunted me. It was like a switch had flipped in the middle of her day, and ever since then, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.

As she was caught up in the conversation, I saw her phone resting on the table beside her, screen down. I knew I shouldn't. It was intrusive, wrong even—but something in me needed to understand. Needed to know why she was holding back, why she kept putting up walls even as I got closer. So, without a second thought, I grabbed the phone and slipped away from the group under the guise of getting more water from the kitchen.

I unlocked her phone, finding nothing unusual at first—just a few harmless notifications. But then, a message caught my eye. An unknown number. I opened it, my stomach twisting as I read the words:

"I have removed all the traces connected to your identity change, Lilly. I don't think they will be able to reach you."

Lilly. It hit me like a ton of bricks. Alana wasn't just Alana. She had another name. Another life.

I couldn't believe it. Why hadn't she told me? What was she hiding from? My mind was racing with questions as I quietly returned her phone to where it had been, careful not to make a sound. When I returned to the table, she was still chatting with my mother, unaware of the turmoil brewing inside me. I forced a smile and rejoined the conversation, my mind barely keeping up with the light banter going around.

As the evening wrapped up and everyone started to leave, I couldn't shake the need to talk to her. Alone. Nathan, ever the jokester, picked up on it immediately.

"Hey, Noah," he teased, elbowing me. "Trying to get some alone time with Alana, huh? Should I make myself scarce?"

"Shut up," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "It's not like that."

Nathan just smirked, clearly not buying it. "Uh-huh. Well, good luck, Romeo. I'll be in my apartment if you need any pointers."

He gave me a wink and headed out, leaving Alana and me alone in the living room. I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the nervous energy.

"Do you mind helping me clean up a bit?" I asked, keeping my voice casual. "It won't take long."

"Of course," she replied, getting up and starting to gather the dishes. We worked in silence for a while, the clinking of plates and running water the only sounds between us. My heart was pounding, and I kept stealing glances at her, wondering when would be the right time to bring it up. After we finished, I knew I had to act.

"I'll drop you home," I offered as I reached for my keys.

"No need," she said quickly, almost too quickly. "I'll just grab a cab."

"You're not taking a cab and why by the way why didn't you drive the company provides car to the employees you know that right? Anyways I'll drive you." I insisted.

She shook her head. "I don't drive, Noah. I don't even have a license."

I stopped mid-motion, turning to face her. No license? That didn't seem right either. But I let it go, for now. "Well, then all the more reason for me to drop you."

She opened her mouth to protest, but before she could say anything, I decided to take the plunge.

"Lilly," I said, as casually as I could, testing the name.

Her reaction was immediate. She froze, her eyes wide with panic, and I saw the color drain from her face. "What did you just say?" she whispered, her voice shaky.

"Lilly," I repeated, more firmly this time. "That's your real name, isn't it?"

"No," she breathed, backing away from me. "No, no, no. You can't know this. No one can know this."

Before I could say anything more, she sank to the ground, her hands trembling as she clutched her knees. I rushed over, kneeling beside her, pulling her into my arms without hesitation. She buried her face in my chest, her entire body shaking with fear. I held her tight, my mind racing as I tried to calm her down.

"It's okay, Alana—Lilly—whatever your name is. It's going to be okay," I whispered, stroking her hair, trying to soothe her. "I've got you."

For what felt like an eternity, we sat there, her breathing ragged, her panic palpable. But slowly, she began to relax, her trembling subsiding as she clung to me.

"How did you find out?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I saw the text," I admitted. "The message from that unknown number."

She pulled away slightly, just enough to look me in the eyes. There was fear there, but also something else—something like relief. "Noah, you can't tell anyone. Not a soul."

"I won't," I promised. "But I need to understand, Alana. Why? Why the secret? What are you running from?"

She hesitated, her gaze flickering away, as if debating whether or not to tell me. Finally, she sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I can't talk about it. It's not safe for you. For anyone. If people find out... if they know who I really am..."

"Alana—Lilly—whatever you call yourself, I don't care," I said firmly, taking her face in my hands. "I don't care about your past. I don't care what you're running from. All I care about is you. I love you and I'll protect you, no matter what."

She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "You don't understand. I can't love anyone. I'm not allowed to."

"Who says you're not allowed?" I asked, my voice full of frustration. "Who's making these rules for you?"

"I am," she whispered. "Because if I let you in, if I let myself love you, it's only going to make things harder. More dangerous."

I couldn't stand it anymore. I leaned forward, my forehead resting against hers. "I love you," I whispered. "I don't care what danger you think is coming. Until it's here, I want to be with you. Let me in, Alana. Please."

She closed her eyes, her breath hitching. "Noah..."

"You can leave whenever you need to," I continued. "Whenever it gets too much, you can break up with me. I'll respect that. But right now, I want to be with you. Just say yes."

There was a long pause, the air between us heavy with tension. Finally, she nodded, her voice barely audible. "Okay."

I didn't waste a second. I kissed her, gently at first, testing the waters, but as she responded, her hands tangling in my hair, it deepened. It wasn't just a kiss. It was a release—a letting go of all the fears, all the walls she had built around herself. For those few seconds, it was just us. No secrets. No danger. Just us.

When we finally pulled away, we were both breathless. I stared at her, taking in the moment, burning it into my memory.

"I'll take you home," I whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

She nodded, and I grabbed my keys, driving her home in silence. When I dropped her off, I kissed her one last time, promising I'd see her tomorrow.

But as soon as I got back to my apartment, I picked up the phone and called Rohan.

"I need you to look into someone," I said as soon as he picked up. "Her name's Lilly. I don't know the last name, but someone helped her change her identity. I've got a number. Can you track it?"

Rohan sighed. "That's not much to go on, but I'll do my best. Just know, without a surname, it's like finding a needle in a haystack."

"I don't care," I said, my grip tightening on the phone. "Do whatever it takes."

"And someone helped her change her identity from Lilly to Alana it's the person to whom the number I sent you belong to maybe you can find something there" I said.

"I'll see what I can do, I'll get back with information tomorrow morning" and with this Rohan ends the call.