You question Jeff about Ariana

We walked for a few minutes before I brought Ariana up.

“So, you guys have been together since high school, right?”

Jeff nodded. “Yeah. It’s been a long time.”

“That’s pretty impressive. I don’t know many couples who’ve made it that long.”

He smiled. “Yeah, we’ve been through a lot together.”

I nodded, trying to sound casual.

“Do you guys ever have problems? I mean, after being together that long, I imagine you probably know each other pretty well.”

“Of course,” Jeff said. “Every couple does. But nothing major.”

I kicked a pebble off the sidewalk.

“She seems pretty independent, though.”

“Yeah, she is.”

“Do you ever worry about her when you’re not around?”

Jeff looked at me for a second, then laughed.

“Not really. Why?”

“No reason. Just curious. You guys seem pretty comfortable with each other.”

“Yeah. I trust her.”

He said it without hesitation.

I nodded.

“That’s good.”

We walked a little farther.

“So when she says she’s tired and wants to go home, you don’t usually question it?”

Jeff shrugged. “Nah. If she’s tired, she’s tired.”

I gave a small laugh. “Makes sense.”

He smiled and continued walking.

I didn’t push any further. I didn’t want him wondering why I was suddenly asking so many questions about his relationship.

But I’d gotten my answer.

Jeff trusted Ariana completely.

Something clicked in my head.

I wasn’t really any different.

Jeff trusted Ariana completely. He believed she was tired. He believed she was going home. He probably never imagined she had just been somewhere behind the stadium with Chase.

And Sarah trusted me.

She had no idea about Maya. She had no idea about the things I’d done since coming to campus. When I called her, she still believed I was the same Ethan she’d left for college.

The thought should have made me feel guilty.

Instead, I understood Ariana a little more.

I understood the appeal of having a secret.

There was something about knowing everyone around you thought everything was normal while you were carrying around information they didn’t have. The risk of getting caught made it more exciting. The fact that Jeff was standing there completely trusting Ariana made what I’d witnessed feel even more surreal.

And I’d felt that same thrill with Maya.

Ariana wasn’t the only one living a double life.