Between The Lines

Chapter 132: We'll Make It Work

Rebecca's POV (1st Person):

Exams were finally over.

I sat on my bed, staring at the textbooks scattered around me. Just a few days ago, they were my whole life. Now, they felt meaningless, like relics of a past I wasn't even sure I recognized anymore. I should've felt relieved. Most people did, right? But graduation was looming, just a couple of days away, and instead of excitement, I felt a knot forming in my stomach.

I thought about Lane. We were so close. So close to finally being together without hiding, without sneaking around corners or avoiding prying eyes. No more pretending that he was just my teacher, that those looks we exchanged were anything but the truth of what we had. What we could have.

But then there was my father.

He'd kill us both if he ever found out. I could practically see his face, the anger, the disappointment, the pure rage that would burn in his eyes. I wasn't even sure if I was scared of him being angry at me or if I was more terrified of what he'd do to Lane.

I sighed, rolling onto my back, staring up at the ceiling. Lane. His stupid grin. His ridiculous smirk when he knew he was getting under my skin. His hands, the way they always felt so steady, so sure, even when I wasn't. I smiled to myself, remembering how he'd picked me up and carried me into the shower last weekend, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

But reality was creeping back in, and it wasn't as simple as that. My dad was the one obstacle I hadn't figured out yet. I made up lies, I snuck around, I covered every track, but deep down, I knew he wasn't stupid. He was just waiting for something to slip.

And in just a few days, there would be nothing left to hide behind. No more excuses. No more pretending that Lane was just my teacher. My heart raced as the thought hit me.

What if my dad tries to ruin everything?

I sat up, hugging my knees to my chest, trying to calm myself. Lane always said we'd figure it out, that we'd deal with it when the time came. But I wasn't sure. My father was unpredictable, especially when it came to me.

I had to keep it together. I had to act like everything was fine, like I wasn't planning on disappearing into a life that didn't fit the mold he expected from me. I didn't even know how I was going to tell him. "Oh hey, Dad, by the way, I'm still dating my teacher, and I'm probably going to move in with him after graduation. Cool?"

Yeah, no. That wouldn't fly.

I grabbed my phone, instinctively scrolling through my messages. Lane had texted me earlier, something about getting food and watching a movie later. I smiled at the screen, my heart flipping. At least with him, I didn't have to pretend.

But that didn't mean I wasn't terrified.

I took a deep breath and typed out a message:

"I can't wait to see you tonight. I need to talk, though..."

My thumb hovered over the send button, and I hesitated. No, I couldn't dump all my worries on him right now. He had enough on his plate with school ending and... everything else. I deleted the message and instead typed:

"See you soon."

I hit send and tossed my phone onto the bed, flopping back down and covering my face with my hands. Graduation was supposed to be exciting, a new chapter and all that crap. But right now, it felt like the start of the biggest challenge I'd ever face.

I glanced over at my closet, thinking about the dress I'd wear. I wanted to look perfect. Not for the ceremony, not for the photos—but for Lane. For the moment when we could finally be together, out in the open.