Chapter 2: Tyler Reed?

“Mum! I’m home!” Lia announced as she stepped into the familiar warmth of her house, her voice echoing slightly in the entryway.

“In the kitchen!” came the cheerful reply from Mrs. Stacey, Lia's mother, the sounds of pots and pans clanging together barely masking her delight.

Curious and drawn in by the comforting aroma, Lia made her way to the kitchen, her heart lifting at the sight of her mother’s beaming smile as she stirred a large pot on the stove. “What’s cooking?” Lia inquired, settling onto one of the stools at the counter, her knees bouncing slightly in excitement.

“Spaghetti and meatballs,” Stacey replied, her eyes sparkling with joy. She knew how much Lia loved this dish. “How was school today?”

Lia hesitated, the words catching in her throat as she tried to suppress the turmoil brewing inside her. “School is okay,” she managed to reply, her voice quiet and somewhat strained.

Stacey’s brow furrowed slightly. “How’s Asher? I haven’t seen him around lately.” She leaned against the counter, studying Aria with genuine concern, sensing something was amiss.

A whirlwind of emotions swirled in Lia’s mind. How could she tell her mother that Asher had been cheating? That the boy she had cherished, who had felt like a son, was a liar and a cunt? The thought of shattering her mother’s perfect image of their relationship weighed heavily on her.

"Lia? Is everything okay?” Stacey’s voice was softer now, laced with maternal instinct as she leaned in closer, her expression full of expectation.

“Yeah, Mum, everything is fine. Asher is fine too,” Lia replied finally, forcing a smile that she hoped would mask her inner guilt. The lie tasted bitter on her tongue.

Stacey let out a relieved sigh, her shoulders relaxing. “That’s good to hear. For a minute there, I thought you two might have broken up.”

Lia offered a weak smile in response, her stomach twisting with guilt. “Alright, Mum, I’ll be in my room,” she said, standing up and quickly exiting the kitchen before her thoughts consumed her.

Once inside her room, she sank onto her bed, the weight of her secret pressing down on her. She pulled her phone from her backpack and sent a quick text to Trudy, her best friend. The urgency of her message felt like a cry for help.

Less than fifteen minutes, Trudy burst through the door, her presence instantly lighting up the room. “That was fast,” Lia noted, a hint of relief washing over her.

“Well, you said it was urgent,” Trudy replied, flopping onto the bed beside her, her eyes glimmering with curiosity. “So, what’s up?”

Lia took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts, and then began to fill her friend in on the troubling note she had found in her locker. As she spoke, she hoped that sharing her burdens would lighten the weight on her chest, even just a little. 

“Wait, let me get this straight,” Trudy began, pacing gently around Lia's room. “You wrote a letter in history class, misplaced it, and now someone found it and left you an anonymous note in your locker?” 

“Yeah, that’s pretty much it,” Lia replied.

“And you think it might be Asher?” Trudy asked, her brow furrowing with concern.

“I don’t really know what to think,” Lia admitted. “The letter definitely relates to him, but he’s not in my history class, so it couldn’t be him"

“Maybe someone found it and passed it on to him?” Trudy offered gently, trying to ease Lia’s worries.

“Honestly, I just don’t know,” Lia sighed, feeling the weight of confusion on her shoulders.

“Well, don’t you want to figure this out? The note said to meet at the bleachers after school tomorrow, right?” Trudy encouraged, her voice filled with support.

“Yeah, but what if it’s a trap to humiliate me?” Lia responded, fear creeping into her tone.

“Humiliation? But if they wanted that, why keep it secret? Why not just confront you?” Trudy pointed out, hoping to reassure her friend.

“That does make sense,” Lia conceded, a small glimmer of hope breaking through her anxiety.

“If it helps, I’ll be there with you, just watching from a distance. If anything goes wrong, I’ll be right there to support you,” Trudy promised, giving Lia an encouraging smile.

“That would mean a lot,” Lia said, her shoulders relaxing just a little.

“Alright, let’s go meet your secret admirer,” Trudy said playfully.

“Rudy!” Lia laughed as she lightly slapped her best friend.

It was the next day, after their last class. Lia and Trudy walked to the school bleachers, feeling the anticipation in the air. It was an open space, but it felt eerily empty. There wasn't a student insight.

“Maybe this was a bad idea,” Lia said hesitantly, doubt starting to creep in.

“We’re already here, and it won’t hurt to wait a little longer,” Trudy reassured her, radiating confidence.

“There’s no one here. I think we should just go home,” Lia said, feeling anxious, when suddenly, she heard someone call her name.

“I didn’t think you were going to show up,” came a familiar voice as she turned around.

“Tyler Reed? What are you doing here?” Lia asked, confusion swirling within her.

“Hi, Lia,” he said, standing tall but looking equally unsure about the situation.

“You left the note?” she asked, searching his face for answers.

“Yes, that was me. You’re not surprised, are you?” Tyler replied, taking a cautious step closer to her.

“I mean, kinda. I didn’t think you had a crush on me or anything,” Lia said, raising an eyebrow in playful disbelief.

Reading her expression, he cleared his throat, “Um, of course not.” 

Lia gave a breath of relief "Okay then what are we doing here” Lia replied, eager for clarity.

“I just want to help you,” Tyler said earnestly. “You deserve better than what Asher thinks of you, you deserve more than a goodbye letter.”

“Help me? How?” Lia asked, her curiosity piqued.

“I want to help you move on. Yes, I read your letter but have you truly moved on?” he asked he could always see through her.

“Okay, you’ve made your point. How are you going to help me?” Lia asked, folding her arms, a bit intrigued.

“I have an idea, but I need your help with something in return,” Tyler smirked.

“What do you need help with?” she asked, leaning in.

“There’s a girl I really like, and I don’t know how to confront to her,” he confessed, his vulnerability making him more relatable.

“Tyler, shy about a girl? When did that happen?” Lia teased gently, wanting to lighten the mood.

“Are you going to help me or not?” Tyler pretended to pout, a playful spark in his eye.

“Alright, I’m in. Let’s figure this out together,” Lia said, feeling a newfound sense of purpose.

“Great! One more thing,” Tyler added, his expression turning serious.

“What is it?” she asked, curious.

“I can’t tell you who she is,” he replied, a hint of hesitation in his voice.

“Why not?” Lia asked, a little disappointed.

“Personal reasons,” he answered.

“Okay then, No pressure,” she said, deciding not to push him further.

“Let’s meet in the rooftop tomorrow”, Tyler said.

“Sure, but can I have my letter back?” Lia requested, hoping for some closure.

“What do you mean?” Tyler looked genuinely confused.

“You found it, didn’t you?” Lia asked, unsure if he was joking.

“No, I don’t have your letter,” Tyler insisted.

“Then how did you read it?” 

“I saw it over your shoulder in history class; I sit right behind you,” Tyler explained. At that moment, it hit her that she had forgotten he sat there all along.

“Then who has the letter?” Lia’s eyes widened, panic beginning to set in.