Chapter 2 CHAPTER 2

By the time Ariel pushed open the front door, her feet were throbbing and her shoulders ached from a long shift at the café. The house was quiet except for the low sound of the television humming in the living room. 

Her aunt, Karen, sat on the couch with her legs crossed, eyes fixed on the screen. She didn’t turn when Ariel stepped inside.

“Hi,” Ariel said softly, dropping her bag by the door.

Karen responded with a vague sound that could have meant anything - or nothing at all.

Ariel headed toward the kitchen, already thinking about something warm, something filling. She hadn’t eaten since her break hours ago, and the hunger sat heavy in her stomach. 

She went into the kitchen only to be met by dirty dishes in the sink and crumpled takeout wrappers on the counter.

She sighed and opened the fridge, even though she already knew what she’d find. The cold light revealed exactly what she expected - nothing. Just a few bottles of beer lined neatly on the top shelf, untouched and clearly reserved.

It shouldn’t have surprised her. It never did. Still, it always stung.

Ariel shut the fridge quietly.

Even if she wanted to cook, there was nothing to cook with. There usually wasn’t.

She turned away and headed upstairs, climbing the narrow steps that creaked under her weight. Her room sat at the top of the house, squeezed under the roof like an afterthought. It was more attic than bedroom, barely big enough for a small bed and a narrow desk pushed against the wall.

On the desk sat an old desktop computer, yellowed with age. Jenna’s parents had given it to her when they upgraded, and Ariel treated it like treasure. It was slow and unreliable, but it was hers.

She dropped into the chair and powered it on, tapping her fingers against the desk as the screen flickered to life. It took longer than usual, and she sighed quietly, rolling her shoulders as she waited.

The moment the desktop finally loaded, Ariel got to work.

She had homework due the next day, a research paper that would count heavily toward her final grade, along with edits for a school article she’d been working on for weeks. 

Her stomach growled, sharp and insistent, but she ignored it. 

Time blurred as she typed, researched, and rewrote sentences until they sounded right. The quiet of the house pressed in around her, broken only by the hum of the computer and the soft tapping of keys. When she finally glanced at the clock, her breath caught.

11:47 p.m.

She finished the last paragraph with a shaky breath and opened the school portal, relief washing through her as she prepared to submit everything. Her cursor hovered over the button.

Then the page froze.

Ariel frowned and refreshed the screen. Nothing happened.

Her heart began to pound as she checked the connection icon. No signal.

“No,” she whispered.

She tried again. Still nothing.

Ariel stood and walked downstairs, following the blinking red light to the router tucked near the living room. It pulsed steadily, mocking her. The internet was out.

Karen was asleep on the couch, the television still playing to an empty room. Ariel stared at her for a moment, then looked back at the router.

The bill hadn’t been paid. Again.

Ariel exhaled slowly, pressing her fingers to her temples. “So much for saving money to get out of this town,” she murmured under her breath.

She knew how this worked. Karen said she didn’t need the internet. That meant it was Ariel’s responsibility. Usually, Ariel paid the bill herself. Tonight, she didn’t have enough left.

And her work was due in the morning.

With no other option, she pulled out her phone and called Jenna.

Jenna answered almost immediately. “Hey. What’s up?”

“What are you doing?” Ariel asked quietly.

“Watching funny videos,” Jenna said. “Why?”

Ariel hesitated. “I don’t have internet.”

There was a pause. “Again?”

“Yeah. Again.”

Jenna sighed. “Okay. What do you need?”

“Can you log into my school account and submit my assignments for me?” Ariel asked. “They’re ready. I just couldn’t send them.”

“Got it,” Jenna said without hesitation.

Ariel ended the call, exhaustion settling deep into her bones. She crawled into bed, curling onto her side as hunger clawed at her stomach. She pressed a hand against it, whispering a quiet prayer that sleep would come quickly.

It did.

The next morning, the school halls buzzed with noise and movement as students rushed between classes. Ariel walked with her head down, still tired, still hungry, her thoughts lingering on the unfinished morning.

She barely made it a few steps before someone stepped directly into her path.

Zack Miller.

His expression was dark, anger written plainly across his face. Ariel stiffened, immediately assuming this was about the café.

“What do you want with me?” he demanded.

Ariel lifted her chin. “What do you mean?”

“Do you feel good humiliating me?” Zack snapped. “In front of everyone?”

She frowned. “I just told her the truth.”

“I’m not talking about the girl,” he said sharply. “I’m talking about last night.”

Ariel blinked. “Last night? I didn’t see you last night.”

Zack laughed bitterly. “Don’t play dumb. That photo has over a thousand comments. Everyone’s seen it.”

Her heart skipped. “What photo?”

Zack pulled out his phone and shoved it toward her. On Zack’s phone was a photo taken inside a classroom. He was slumped over his desk, head tilted back, mouth slightly open, fast asleep while the rest of the class sat upright around him. 

Understanding hit, her all at once.

Jenna must have accidentally posted it last night using Ariel’s account.

Her mind raced. She couldn’t throw her friend under the bus.

“Oh,” Ariel said lightly, forcing a smile. “That one. I almost forgot.” 

Zack’s eyes narrowed. “So you admit it.”

She shrugged, though her pulse raced. “It’s not that bad.”

“I want it taken down – or else…” he said.

She stepped past him, her face burning as she walked away.

She was searching her contacts when she collided with someone hard enough to knock the breath from her lungs.

Megan Hayes stood in front of her, surrounded by her cheerleader friends, a sharp smile spreading across her face.

“Look who we have here,” Megan said sweetly. “What was that photo about, Ariel? Trying to tell everyone Zack’s yours now?”

Ariel’s jaw tightened. “What do you want, Megan?”

Megan leaned closer. “Zack will never take you seriously. He’s just playing with you. And when he’s done, he’ll come back to me.”

Ariel met her gaze, anger flaring, but remained silent.

She walked away without looking back – cursing Zack under her breath. None of this would have happened if he chose to tell Megan the truth.

She found Jenna near the lockers minutes later.

“What did you do?” Ariel demanded quietly.

Jenna looked miserable. “It was an accident. I didn’t realize what I’d posted until people started talking.”

“You should’ve taken it down.”

“I couldn’t,” Jenna said. “Your account wasn’t logged in on my phone. Is it that bad?”

Ariel exhaled slowly. “Yeah. Zack won’t let this go.”