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"Thomas, what in the world are you doing?"

I turned, startled, to see Amanda standing in the doorway, eyebrows raised. "Just looking at pictures," I said, holding up the album. "Izzy's baby pictures. Her mom said I could go through them."

Her eyes lit up instantly. "Really? Can I see?"

She practically skipped over and plopped down beside me, peering eagerly at the open pages.

"Sure," I said, nudging the album toward her.

"Oh my God! Look at her!" she squealed, pointing at a photo of Izzy with her face buried in a giant bowl of ice cream. Her cheeks were smeared with chocolate, a joyful mess. I couldn't help but laugh. She looked so innocent. So happy.

"Yeah... she was," I said quietly, my smile faltering. She should be here right now.

Amanda flipped to the next page and frowned slightly. "Who's that little boy with her?"

"That's Jason."

"Jason?"

"Yeah... according to her parents, they were best friends when they were little."

Amanda made an exaggerated 'O' shape with her mouth, eyes glued to the images. Page after page, Jason was there, right next to Izzy. Running, laughing, hugging. The kind of friendship that looked unbreakable. No wonder why he sounded like he was racing against time when I told him the news about Izzy.

If only I'd known her back then...

I turned the page, and my breath caught. A photo of Izzy in a hospital bed stared back at me. Her face was pale, eyes heavy, but she still managed the faintest smile for the camera.

"That was after the building fire, right?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Amanda leaned closer, nodding somberly. "Must be... I can't believe everything she's been through. No wonder she struggled."

"What do you mean?"

She pointed at the earlier photos. "You saw how skinny she was before the accident. Something like that? It changes people. Eating might've become... comfort."

My chest tightened. I hadn't seen it before, but she was right. Izzy had been tiny. Lively. And after that, things were different. Was that how she coped?

"This was around when I met her," Amanda said, a soft smile tugging at her lips as she pointed to a middle school photo.

"Oh yeah... didn't you move here around then?"

She nodded. "She was my first friend. The first person to talk to me when I was new. When I saw her getting picked on, I just couldn't stand there and do nothing."

I flinched. I'd been one of those people. I didn't stand up for her. I stood with them.

"Yeah... I know," I muttered, guilt clawing at my chest.

Amanda clenched her fists. "I still don't understand it. Why did people make fun of her? So what if she gained some weight? She's the kindest person I know. She didn't deserve any of that."

"I know..." My gaze dropped to my hands. "I'm sorry I didn't realize that sooner."

She gently closed the album and turned to face me. "I know you're sorry. And I think... she knows it too."

"Thanks." I gave her a faint smile. "I'm still amazed she agreed to date me at all, after everything."

Amanda hesitated, chewing on her lip. "Yeah, about that..."

I looked up. "What?"

She shifted uncomfortably. "I kind of... encouraged her to get revenge."

I blinked. "Revenge?"

She nodded slowly. "On you. And Rachel."

I shot to my feet, the words hitting me like a punch to the gut. "So, dating me was all part of some plan? To get back at us?" My voice cracked with anger, disbelief, and something more fragile—hurt. "Was it all fake?" My chest heaved. "Did she ever really like me?" Did she ever love me... ?

Amanda stood too, her hands up in surrender. "Thomas, calm down! Please. Yes, maybe it started that way, but it didn't stay that way. I swear. I know Izzy. She's not built for revenge."

I stared at her, heart pounding in my ears. "Then why even go along with it in the first place?" My voice was raw, like the truth was scraping my throat on the way out.

"She was hurting," Amanda said gently. "You and Rachel hurt her. A lot. I pushed her to fight back... gave her the idea for revenge. Even when she said yes, I could tell her heart wasn't in it."

I shook my head, trying to make sense of it all. My thoughts were spinning. I felt angry, yes, but also ashamed. And somewhere in all that confusion was the aching truth: I still love her.

"But... everything we shared—" My voice dropped. "The laughs. The talks. The way she looked at me... Was that real?"

Amanda nodded, her eyes soft. "It was. I saw the way she looked at you, Thomas. That wasn't pretend. Not even close."

I dragged a hand through my hair, chest tight, lungs refusing to fill. All the moments we'd had, the time we spent together... had they grown into something real, despite everything?

My shoulders sagged. "Then I guess... I can't blame her." My voice was hoarse, barely a whisper now. "I probably would've done the same if I were her." Then again, I did.

"You're okay with it?" Amanda asked carefully.

I paused, the weight of everything sinking into my bones. "Yes," I admitted. "I'm hurt. But... I understand." I stared at the floor, my voice rough. "If anyone has the right to be angry, it's her. After everything I did... I kind of deserved it. I was a dick."

Amanda's expression softened, her lips curving into a gentle, understanding smile. "Well... I'm glad we're finally on the same page."

I let out a breath, half a laugh, half a sigh—just as the door slammed open and John came bursting in, breathless.

"They found her!" he gasped. "They found Bell!"

My heart slammed into my chest. "They did?! Where is she?"

"Just outside of town, by those vacant buildings we used to sneak into. The police tracked her down using her last location."

"That's amazing! So they're going to get her now, right?"

John's face darkened. "Not exactly."

My stomach dropped. "What do you mean?"

"They want to wait until tomorrow. That's when the kidnappers are expecting the ransom, and when they'll leave the building. It's safer that way."

"Safer?" I repeated, incredulous. "She's in danger now!"

I stepped forward, anger rising like a storm. "Screw that. I'm not waiting. If the police won't act, I will."

"Thomas, no!" John tried to stop me, but I was already moving.

Amanda grabbed my arm. "Thomas, please! This is insane! You could get yourself killed!"

I shook her off and sprinted toward my car. Let them wait if they want, I'm getting her out now.

The abandoned building loomed like a skeleton of the past, tall, hollow, and silent. I parked a block away and approached on foot, heart pounding in my chest like a war drum.

Every door was sealed shut. The only possible entry was a grimy window in the back, just barely low enough to reach.

I searched the ground and found a jagged rock. I weighed it in my palm, then hurled it into the glass. The window shattered, shards clinking like bells of warning.

I froze.

Silence.

Then faintly, "Thomas?"

My breath caught. "Izzy?"

"Thomas, is that you?"

Her voice. Alive and real. Relief flooded me.

"It's me!" I called back. I peeked inside and saw her, tied up, but whole. No blood. No bruises. Just fear.

"What are you doing here?" she whispered, eyes wide, voice trembling.

"Saving you." I hoisted myself inside and rushed to her, fumbling with the ropes at her ankles.

"Thomas, no—listen to me," she pleaded. "You need to go. He'll be back soon!"

"I'm not leaving you." My fingers worked faster. "Not now. Not ever."

She stared at me, stunned. "What... what do you mean?"

"I mean I love you, Izzy." Her eyes filled with tears. "I don't care what happened before. I love you. Not Rachel. Not anyone else."

"You... really?" Her voice cracked, tears spilling down her cheeks.

I smiled softly. "Yeah. But we can talk about this later. Right now, we need to go."

I pulled her to her feet and helped her toward the window. "Watch the glass."

"I'm okay," she whispered, glancing nervously at the door. "Just hurry."

She climbed out safely, and I turned to follow, but then—

Bang!

The door burst open behind me.

"She's getting away!" someone shouted.

Then—

Thump.

Pain exploded in my back like lightning. I heard Izzy scream my name as darkness swallowed me whole.

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