The Recall Trials
Chapter 43: The Friend Who Knew Too Much

Chapter 43: The Friend Who Knew Too Much

"Then we watch them both. Dinesh. Jojo. Carter and Theo," I said.

"And anyone else acting shady," she added.

I nodded again. "Agreed."

But inside, my thoughts were spiraling. I was lying to her every second I stood there. Every word I gave her was dressed in something that wasn’t the whole truth.

Because the real wildcard might not even be Dinesh, or Carter, or Jojo.

It might just be the boy from Sector A, standing in the dark, terrified of what happens when his truth comes out.

Zaara didn’t say anything else. She just looked at me for a second longer, like maybe she could say something else, but didn’t want to press.

Then she turned and quietly pushed the door open.

I followed her out into the hallway.. The hallway was empty, but distant voices echoed from the common room down the hall.

We walked side by side, not speaking. Every step I took felt heavier than it should’ve, like I was dragging something behind me. Or maybe dragging something inside me.

My stomach twisted again. I hated keeping things from her. But I didn’t know how to start unraveling the truth.

As we rounded the corner, the voices grew louder. Laughter, arguing, murmurs. Tension still lingered in the air.

When we stepped back into the common room, heads turned. A few people looked up, probably wondering where we’d gone. Carter caught my eye and gave me a small nod from where he sat cross-legged on the floor. Jojo was sprawled on a mattress, flipping a coin in the air. Dinesh sat in the corner, rubbing the side of his head, still nursing the bruise from Aaron’s punch.

Theo was deep in conversation with Aaron, both of them laughing. Luca sat cross-legged near the snacks, licking peanut butter off a spoon. Asha leaned against the wall, watching everyone like a quiet observer.

The tension hadn’t died down....it had just gone quiet.

Zaara and I made our way back to our spots, as Asha waved to her.

Valerie, the influencer girl was fixing her hair in the reflection of a metal panel, clearly trying to distract herself.

I could feel the shift in the air. Like everyone knew the peace was temporary.

Zaara sat down next to Asha, leaning in to whisper something in her ear. Asha gave a small nod, glancing towards others.

I lowered myself to the mattress, folding my arms across my knees and staring straight ahead.

Carter clapped his hands together once, loudly. "Alright," he said. "We’ve all shared our pieces. That’s a good start. We’d continue tomorrow. But remember...we’ve still got fifty eight hours to figure this out. And if we get it wrong.."

He let the silence finish the sentence.

Nobody argued.

People laid back. Some whispered. Others just stared at the floor. I saw Nomi watching me for a second too long. Then she looked away.

I didn’t realize how tight my jaw was until it started to ache.

And the clock was still ticking.

58 hours left.

I was staring at the ceiling, when I caught the faint scent of a familiar perfume, and her shadow fell over me.

Nomi.

She crouched slowly in front of my bed.

"Hey," she said quietly. "Got a second?"

"Hmmm, okay." I said.

"You’ve been avoiding me," she said. "Which... okay. Fair. But you should know, I saved your ass earlier. You’re welcome, by the way."

I blinked. "Yeah, thanks for earlier.."

She crossed her arms over her knees, still crouched in front of me. "And about last night..." She whispered. "I crossed a line. I know that. I shouldn’t have touched you like that. Or..:whatever. I’m not good at saying sorry, Vincent, but... I am. I mean it."

She looked away for a second.

"You’ve barely looked at me since," she said. "You didn’t even give me a chance to explain. Just iced me out. Cold."

I sat up a little straighter. "Nomi, it’s not—"

"No," she cut in, smile tightening. "Let me finish. Because I’ve been wondering something."

"When exactly did you decide I wasn’t worth your attention?" she asked. "Was it when you met Zaara? Or was it always there...just under the surface, waiting for me to mess up?"

I didn’t answer.

She leaned in. "I know who you are, Vincent. Could’ve told them all. But I didn’t."

My throat tightened.

"I’ve kept your secrets. Every last one. I’ve watched your every move. Watched the way you protect Zaara like she’s glass. Like she’s not just another contestant here, same as the rest of us."

My hands curled into fists.

"I’ve defended you. Even when I shouldn’t have. Even when people started talking." She tilted her head. "And you repay that by acting like I don’t exist?"

I swallowed, but my mouth was dry. "Nomi..."

"No, it’s fine," she said, standing up now, brushing imaginary dust off her knees.

"It’s really fine,". "I get it now. You don’t actually care about me. You never did."

I looked up, caught off guard.

She folded her arms, eyes narrowing just slightly. "I thought we were friends, Vincent."

I let out a dry laugh, trying to keep things from getting heavier than they needed to be. "We are friends, Nomi. Don’t make it a whole thing. It’s not that deep, just.... chill."

But she didn’t chill.

"Right. ’Just chill.’ That’s easy for you to say when you’ve already picked your side. My bad."

"Suit yourself, Aston. Play loyal prince to whoever you’re into this week," she snapped.

"Nomi—"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zaara glance over. Then Asha turned too. They’d definitely caught on that something was happening.

"Careful, Vincent. Even snakes remember who stepped on them first."

She said as she stood up, chin high, hips swaying, hair flipping as she stalked off.

And then she was gone.

What the hell just happened?

One second we were talking.

The next, I felt like I’d stepped on a landmine I didn’t even know was there.

With Nomi, nothing was ever just a conversation...it was always a warning