All Chapters of Let's be Together: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

The tension in the dining room is suffocating.I can barely chew my food, the bite of chicken in my mouth tasting like cardboard. Even the water I drink feels foreign, wrong. My parents’ eyes keep darting to me, and every time I glance up, they quickly look away like they weren’t just staring. I know they’re worried—they’ve been worried—but their silence only sharpens the blade of guilt twisting inside me.Mom’s voice startles me out of my spiraling thoughts. “Do you not like the food, Grace?”I blink, swallowing hard. “No, it’s fine.” It’s not fine. None of this is fine.What I want to say—what I can’t say—is that I fucked up. I ruined things with Millie. I pushed her away because I’m a coward. Because I was too scared to face the world, too scared to face us. How could I tell Mom that her daughter is a mess, a failure who hurts the people she loves the most?Dad looks like he wants to say something, his fork hovering mid-air, but he stays quiet. The doorbell rings, cutting through

Something shifts overnight—a subtle yet profound change. Not the bad kind, but the kind that makes the air feel lighter, the kind that gives me just enough courage to face today. After my reunion with Millie, I’d come home and told my parents that things went well between us. I didn’t get to speak with her mom because she was with Evans, who wasn’t feeling well, and I didn’t want to intrude. Millie mentioned how her mom had found her crying in the backyard and, in a rush of emotions, she had spilled everything. To my relief, her mom was supportive. Ella, on the other hand, was furious at me for what I’d said, but that’s a bridge I’ll have to cross later.I’d slept well for the first time in days, but now, as I get ready for school, my stomach twists with unease. What will happen when we step through those doors? I haven’t checked my phone yet, though I noticed missed calls from Jugyoung and Mariam. I don’t have the mental space for them right now. Whatever happens, I’ll face it head-o

"Yeah, I posted it," he says, leaning back on his heels as if he’s proud of himself. "So what? What the hell are you gonna do about it, Larsen? Cry to your mommy? Run to Principal Henderson and tell her a big, bad boy hurt your feelings?"He shoves his hands deeper into his pockets, his sneer widening. "Go ahead, file your little complaint. No one’s going to believe you. You’ve got no proof I was the one who took the picture. For all they know, it could’ve been anyone."His words stab at my composure, but I keep my expression neutral, biting back the retort bubbling inside me. He has no idea that admitting this to my face was the exact proof I needed. Millie stands a step behind me, her arms crossed and her jaw tight, practically vibrating with restrained fury.“Ryle,” I say slowly, tilting my head, “do you know what cyber harassment is?”He snorts. “Oh, here we go. You think you’re gonna scare me with your big words?”“I’m serious,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “You illegally post

The night air claws at my skin like icy fingers, making me regret every single life decision that led to me standing in front of Kenzie McCoy’s house underdressed and freezing my ass off. The house is loud enough to be mistaken for a concert venue, pulsing with music that spills out like the lifeblood of the party, dragging half the damn school into its chaotic orbit. Different colored lights flash through the windows like the place has been turned into a second-rate nightclub, and the garden is already trashed.“This better not turn into another ‘strip or swim’ situation,” Mariam groans beside me, tugging at the brim of her pointy black witch hat. She looks great, honestly—classic and witchy, though the scowl on her face doesn’t quite scream "magical and mysterious."Millie leans in closer, a devilish glint in her eye. “If it does, it might be funny to see you finally skinny-dipping.”Mariam spins around, shooting Millie a glare that could freeze molten lava. “Not happening.”I arch

Taking a deep breath, I turn to face the crowd. Their faces blur under the haze of party lights and the glare of too many phone screens, like vultures waiting for a spectacle. My hands tremble slightly, gripping the microphone as though it’s the only thing tethering me to this moment.I’ve been a coward for so long. Scared of rejection, judgment, and whispers behind my back. But now, watching Millie stand there, her green eyes shimmering with defiance and something deeper—something only I see—I know I have to be brave. Not for me. For her.“This might be fun and amusing for all of you,” I start, my voice cracking at first but gaining strength. “But it’s not for us.”A hush falls over the crowd, their curiosity sharpening like blades. I dare to meet their gazes, my chest tightening, but I refuse to look away.“Millie and I... we’ve been friends for a long time. Since we were kids.” My voice softens, the weight of the years tugging at my words. “I’ve loved her even before I realized wha