Beneath the Surface

Chapter 9

Lizzie led the way inside, her mind racing as she closed the door behind them. The house was quiet, her parents still at work, leaving just her and Y/N in the stillness. The atmosphere felt heavier than usual, and Lizzie couldn't shake the feeling that something was really wrong.

She glanced over at Y/N, who had her hands shoved in her jacket pockets, her posture tense as she stood near the doorway. The usual calm, collected air that Y/N carried with her was noticeably absent. Instead, she looked almost... nervous.

Lizzie took a breath, trying to ease the growing tension between them. "Do you want to sit down?"

Y/N nodded silently, and they made their way to the living room, sitting down on the couch. Lizzie couldn't help but feel a knot tightening in her chest. She had been worried about Y/N all day, but seeing her here now, looking so different from her usual self, made that worry bloom into something more.

"What's going on?" Lizzie asked softly, not wanting to push too hard, but needing answers.

Y/N exhaled slowly, leaning back against the couch. Her eyes stayed fixed on the floor for a moment before she finally spoke.

"I'm... I'm sorry I didn't come to school today. I had to deal with some family stuff," Y/N began, her voice low. "And, I'm really sorry about the project. I know we're supposed to work on it together, but I have to leave. For a week or two."

Lizzie blinked, taken aback by the suddenness of Y/N's words. "Leave? For that long?"

Y/N nodded, glancing at Lizzie for a brief moment before looking away again. "Yeah. It's... complicated. There's something I need to handle, and I don't really have a choice."

Lizzie's heart sank. She had suspected that Y/N's absence might have something to do with her family, but this felt bigger, more serious than she had expected. And Y/N's reluctance to give details only made Lizzie more anxious.

"Is it because of your dad?" Lizzie asked cautiously, trying to piece together what little she knew about Y/N's family situation.

Y/N stiffened slightly at the mention of her father, but she didn't answer right away. Instead, she let out a soft sigh, running a hand through her hair. "Yeah, it's about him. And... other things."

Lizzie frowned, her worry deepening. She didn't want to push Y/N too hard, but at the same time, she couldn't just let this go without understanding more. "Y/N, I get that you don't want to talk about everything, but... you can't just drop this on me and expect me not to ask questions. What's going on?"

Y/N's jaw tightened, and Lizzie could see the conflict in her eyes—the way she wanted to say more but was holding herself back. It was the same guarded look Y/N always had when she talked about her past, her family. But this time, Lizzie wasn't sure if she could let it slide.

"I can't get into it, Lizzie," Y/N said quietly, her voice strained. "It's not something I can explain right now."

Lizzie bit her lip, frustration and concern bubbling up inside her. "But why? You don't have to deal with everything on your own, you know. I could help—"

"No," Y/N cut her off, her voice sharp for the first time. She immediately softened, her expression apologetic. "I mean, you can't help with this. Trust me, I wish it were different. But it's... it's complicated."

Lizzie felt a pang in her chest at the way Y/N shut her down. She knew Y/N wasn't trying to hurt her, but the distance between them—the wall that Y/N always seemed to put up when it came to her family—was starting to feel insurmountable.

"Y/N," Lizzie said softly, her voice almost pleading. "You don't have to do this alone."

Y/N's gaze softened for a brief moment, and Lizzie saw something vulnerable in her eyes, something that made her heart ache. But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone again, replaced by the same guarded look.

"I do, Lizzie," Y/N said quietly. "At least for now. I have to take care of this, and then... I'll come back. I promise."

Lizzie shook her head, frustration mixing with sadness. "You're always doing this—keeping things from me. How am I supposed to be okay with you just disappearing for two weeks without any explanation?"

Y/N sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "I know. And I'm sorry. I'm not trying to keep you in the dark. It's just... safer this way. For you."

Lizzie's heart skipped at those words. "Safer? What do you mean 'safer'?"

Y/N hesitated, her gaze flicking toward the window for a moment as if she were considering her next words carefully. But instead of answering, she stood up from the couch, pacing slightly.

"I can't explain it, Lizzie. Not yet," Y/N said, her voice tinged with frustration, though Lizzie could tell it wasn't directed at her. "But I need you to trust me. Can you do that?"

Lizzie stood as well, her hands trembling slightly as she looked at Y/N, searching for something—anything—that would make this easier to accept. But all she saw was the same guarded expression, the same walls that Y/N had always put up.

"I don't know," Lizzie admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if I can just... let you go without knowing what's going on."

Y/N stepped closer to her, her gaze softening again as she reached out and gently touched Lizzie's arm. "I'll be back. I promise. And when I am, I'll explain everything. But right now, I just need you to trust me."

Lizzie looked into Y/N's eyes, her heart aching with the weight of everything that was left unsaid. She wanted to trust Y/N—she really did. But the thought of Y/N leaving, of disappearing for who knew how long, without any real answers, left her feeling helpless.

After a long moment of silence, Lizzie finally nodded, though it was more out of resignation than understanding. "Okay. I'll trust you."

Y/N gave her a small, relieved smile. "Thank you."

They stood there for a moment, the tension between them still palpable but softened by the quiet understanding that had settled in. Lizzie didn't have all the answers she wanted, but for now, she had Y/N's word. And that would have to be enough.

As Y/N turned to leave, Lizzie called out softly, "Be careful."

Y/N paused at the door, glancing back at Lizzie with a small, almost sad smile. "Always."

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