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Between Us

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CHAPTER 10,11,12

CHAPTER 10: The Accusation

[Jay’s POV]

She moved closer.

Closer than she had any right to.

I didn’t flinch. Didn’t move a muscle. Just sat there, pen resting on the file, eyes tracking every step.

Her perfume or was it just the nervous energy radiating off her? hit me first. A sharp, sweet something that made my chest tighten without warning.

She stopped in front of me. Heart racing, I could feel it even before she whispered.

“You.”

The word was soft. Barely audible. But it landed like a strike.

I froze for a fraction of a second. Not out of fear. Not out of shock. Pure… awareness.

Every instinct I had trained for years in CB-CID—spiked. Her eyes didn’t look away. Her lips barely moved.

She thinks I don’t notice.

She’s wrong.

I leaned back slightly, folding my arms, tilting my head. Studying her.

Every detail registered. The tremor in her hands. The flush on her cheeks. The faint tremor in her voice when she said my name.

[Interesting]

I didn’t answer. Not yet. Silence can be sharper than words.

It makes people nervous. Forces them to reveal more than they intend.

And Luna… she was about to reveal everything.

The way her small body seemed to vibrate with energy, the intensity in her gaze… all of it screamed one thing: she was not just another witness.

Not even close.

I made a note in my head.

This girl… Luna… she was going to make this investigation very interesting.

CHAPTER 11: Library Lunacy

[Luna’s POV]

Afternoon sunlight spilled over the library tables.

Books stacked around me like little towers of knowledge.

I was deep into reading again—pages after pages, cases, crime patterns, all of it.

Hours flew.

6 p.m. hit. I slammed the last book shut. My brain was buzzing.

I grabbed my phone.

Dialed Mira.

> “MEERA!” I screamed before she even said hello.

> “Luna! What happened? Calm down—”

> “NO! YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND!”

> “What? What did—”

> “I’ve been reading. HOURS. And there are THREE books. Three books, Mira! And all of them say… the killer could be someone you’d never suspect. Someone from the police… or the authorities!”

I paused to catch my breath.

> “Luna… you’re talking too fast.”

> “NO! LISTEN! That means… that could mean… JAY! JAY COULD BE THE KILLER, MIRA! CAN’T YOU SEE?! He’s intense, he’s in black last night, he’s everywhere, and NO ONE KNOWS HIS MOVES! HE’S A KILLER! I HIGHLY SUSPECT HIM!”

Mira groaned on the other end.

> “Oh my god… Luna, calm down! You’re making me dizzy. He’s a CB-CID officer. He’s investigating the murder! He’s not the… killer!”

> “EXACTLY!” I shouted back. “THAT’S WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO THINK! He’s hiding it. He’s always calm, he’s quiet… he’s the perfect suspect!”

> “Luna, stop screaming in the library!”

I looked around. Everyone was staring.

Bookshelves. Tables. Students. All silently judging me.

> “I DON’T CARE! I’M TELLING YOU! HE’S THE KILLER!”

I threw my hands up, nearly knocking over a stack of books.

Mira sighed.

> “Fine. Fine. Let’s… just… take a deep breath first.”

> “NO! I CAN’T! HE’S A KILLER, MIRA!”

I hung up.

Flopped back into my chair.

Books stared at me accusingly.

And I stared right back.

> He could be anywhere… even watching me right now..

CHAPTER 12: The Ride

[Luna’s POV]

6:30 p.m.

The library finally spat me out. My head was full of crime stories and conspiracies. My bag felt heavier than usual.

The plan was simple: leave with the girls, laugh about something, reach home, safe.

Except… the girls had already left.

And standing right outside the gate, leaning casually against a black bike, helmet under his arm… was Jay.

My stomach dropped.

[No. No. No. This is not happening]

He lifted his chin slightly when he saw me.

“Your mom told me to pick you up. We’re going the same way. Come on.”

His voice was calm. Flat. Like this was normal.

I froze.

[This is it. He’s going to kill me. He’s going to dump me somewhere on the highway. Why am I even here?]

I clutched my bag tighter.

[ Smile, Luna. You’re the main character. You won’t die. Right? Right?!]

Jay glanced at me again.

“Are you coming or not?”

I didn’t move. Just stared at him. My heart was pounding in my ears.

He frowned slightly, then started counting.

> “One… Two…”

[OH GOD HE’S COUNTING.]

> “Three.”

Before my brain could scream any louder, my legs moved on their own. I climbed onto the bike, stiff as a statue.

He started the engine. The roar of it vibrated through my bones.

[Okay. Okay. Just breathe. He’s not going to kill you. You’re the main character. Plot armor, baby. Plot armor]

The city blurred past us. Streetlights flickered on, one by one. The wind whipped my hair around my face, but I couldn’t feel anything except my heartbeat.

Jay didn’t say a word. His back was straight, shoulders broad, his focus completely on the road.

Meanwhile my brain:

[He’s going to take a left into some dark alley. No, no, no. He’s going to take me to the police station. No, no, no. He’s going to—]

We reached my house.

He stopped the bike smoothly.

“We’re here,” he said, voice still calm.

I slid off, legs shaky.

[I’m alive]

He didn’t wait for thanks. Just nodded once, put his helmet on, and rode off into the evening like some dark shadow heading back to his headquarters.

I stood at my gate, bag hanging off my shoulder, trying to catch my breath.

“Oh my god. Today is my lucky day.”

I slipped inside my house, shut the door behind me, and leaned against it.