▌𝘔𝘈𝘚𝘖𝘕 𝘛𝘏𝘈𝘔𝘌𝘚
❛ do you know how 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 frustrating it is? ❜ he cut her off. ❛ to have to 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 you? to pretend like i don't feel 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 when i look at you?❜
starr's breath caught in her throat.
❛ because i do...
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chapter FORTY THREE
we've got a plan .
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they walked side by side down the narrow pavement, the silence stretching thick between them.
mason's hands were stuffed deep in his pockets, shoulders hunched forward like he was bracing himself for whatever was coming next. starr kept a careful distance, arms crossed tightly over her chest, her eyes flicking between him and the pavement like she was still trying to decide if she could trust him.
it had been less than an hour since they'd run into each other. less than an hour since the truth had finally cracked open — ahliya and dylan. together. plotting against them from the very beginning.
but even with the truth laid out in front of her, the ache in starr's chest hadn't fully eased. because the truth didn't erase everything mason had put her through. it didn't erase the video, the interviews, the way he'd made her feel like nothing more than a headline.
"so what now?" she finally asked, her voice breaking through the silence.
mason glanced over, like he was surprised she'd spoken. he took a second too long to answer, like he was choosing his words carefully. "we get proof," he said simply. "undeniable proof. something that makes sure they can't wriggle their way out of this."
starr nodded slowly, chewing the inside of her cheek. it was the right answer. the logical one. but it still wasn't enough.
"and what happens after?" she asked quietly. "after we destroy them... then what?"
mason's steps faltered just a little — barely noticeable, but she caught it. he looked straight ahead, jaw clenched. "i don't know."
he didn't say us. didn't say after everything that's happened between us. just focused on the plan like it was the only thing that mattered.
maybe it was safer that way.
starr hugged herself tighter, the cold air biting at her skin. "okay... so what's the plan?"
