𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴 5

Chapter 5:

The Secret Begins

Lena had never been great at keeping secrets.

She had never been one of those people who could hide their emotions, who could pretend they weren't feeling something when they were. Her face always gave her away. If she was happy, you could see it in the way her eyes lit up, the way her whole body seemed lighter. If she was pissed, you could tell by the way her jaw tightened, by the way her voice got sharp.

And when she liked someone?

Yeah, she was fucked.

But this was different.

This wasn't just her secret. It was Gracie's too.

And that made her want to hold onto it even tighter.

They didn't talk about what had happened in Chicago.

Not in the way they probably should have.

There was no deep, drawn-out conversation about what this meant or what came next.

Instead, it was a silent understanding. A shift in the air.

It was the way Gracie's eyes lingered on Lena for just a little too long when they were around other people. The way her hand would brush against Lena's when they were walking backstage. The way she started sitting just a little closer, speaking just a little softer.

And Lena wasn't sure she had ever felt something so exciting.

So terrifying.

So real.

Keeping it a secret at first wasn't difficult.

The tour was already exhausting, their schedules packed from the second they woke up until they crashed in their hotel rooms late at night. It wasn't like they had endless hours to sneak around.

But maybe that's what made it feel even more intoxicating.

The moments they did steal—quick touches, shared glances, whispered jokes meant just for the two of them—felt like something secret and sacred.

Something that belonged to them and only them.

There was something thrilling about it, about having this one thing that no one else knew.

And Lena wasn't sure she had ever felt anything like it before.

Of course, it didn't take long for their friends to notice.

Maya was the first to pick up on it.

It happened one night after a show, all of them hanging out on the tour bus, a movie playing on the small TV.

Lena had ended up on the couch next to Gracie. Not too close, not close enough to make it obvious. But at one point, Gracie had leaned over and whispered something—some stupid joke, something that wasn't even that funny.

And Lena had laughed.

Not a normal, casual laugh.

A real, genuine laugh. The kind that bubbled up before she could stop it.

And when she looked up, trying to stifle her smile—

Maya was watching her.

Not just watching.

Studying.

Lena felt her stomach drop.

Maya didn't say anything.

Didn't have to.

But later that night, when Lena finally climbed into her bunk, her phone buzzed.

Maya: you and gracie. something's up.

Lena groaned, staring at the screen.

Then—

Lena: no idea what you're talking about :)

The typing bubbles appeared immediately.

Maya: oh, come on.

Maya: you can lie to yourself but don't lie to me.

Lena sighed, locking her phone.

Yeah.

She was so screwed.

Eli figured it out not long after.

Not because of anything Lena did, but because of Gracie.

Gracie had always been supportive, always had Lena's back. But at some point, that protectiveness had turned into something... more.

Eli started noticing things.

The way Gracie's whole body tensed when someone made a passive-aggressive comment about Lena's performance. The way she shut down negativity online the second she saw it. The way she would instinctively look for Lena first after every show, making sure she was okay.

One night, after they got back to the hotel, Eli pulled Lena aside.

She had barely made it through her hotel room door before he followed her in, arms crossed.

"Alright," he said. "What's going on with you and Gracie?"

Lena's entire body stiffened.

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

"Nothing," she said automatically, too quickly.

Eli gave her a long look.

"Lena."

She let out a slow breath, running a hand through her hair.

"I don't—" She hesitated. "It's not something I can talk about yet."

Eli studied her for a moment, then sighed.

"I just want you to be careful," he said, voice softer now. "You know how messy this could get."

Lena swallowed.

She did know.

She had thought about it a million times.

But knowing didn't change the fact that she didn't want to stop.

That night, she found Gracie outside the hotel, hoodie pulled over her head, sitting on the curb and staring out at the empty street.

Lena sat down next to her.

Gracie turned her head, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Hey."

Lena let out a breath.

"Hey."

They sat there in silence for a while, listening to the hum of the city, the distant sounds of cars passing by.

Eventually, Gracie spoke.

"So," she murmured, voice quiet. "Maya knows, doesn't she?"

Lena huffed out a laugh. "Oh, absolutely."

Gracie smirked. "Figured."

A beat of silence.

Then—

"Eli, too," Lena admitted.

Gracie's smile faded slightly. "Is he mad?"

Lena shook her head. "No. Just... worried."

Gracie sighed, rubbing a hand over her face.

"Yeah," she muttered. "That makes sense."

Lena hesitated.

Then—

"I told him I've never felt like this before."

Gracie turned to look at her, eyes searching.

Lena's chest tightened.

She exhaled, her voice quieter now.

"I mean, I've dated people," she said. "But it's never... felt like this."

Gracie didn't say anything for a long moment.

And then—

"Yeah."

Lena swallowed.

Her heartbeat felt too loud in her ears.

Gracie inhaled slowly, like she was steadying herself.

"I haven't either."

The words were soft, almost hesitant.

But they felt huge.

Lena wasn't sure what to say.

She wasn't even sure if she needed to say anything.

So instead, she reached out, fingers brushing against Gracie's.

And when Gracie linked their hands together, squeezing gently—

Lena squeezed back.