The morning sun slipped timidly through the kitchen window, casting a soft golden glow over the table where Lily and her mother sat. The clink of spoons against porcelain was the only sound for a long while.
Kemet hadn't come down yet—oversleeping, unaware of the storm gathering just beneath the surface.
Lily toyed with her spoon, pushing cereal around her bowl, her mind replaying last night's conversation like a bad dream.
She swallowed, then asked quietly, "Are you really serious about kicking him out?"
Catherine didn't even flinch. She sipped her coffee calmly before setting the cup down with a muted clink.
"Of course, Lily. I hit him with my car. I treated him. I let a complete stranger live in my house for three weeks. I even trusted him to stay here with you while I was away."
Her fingers drummed the side of her mug once—sharp, deliberate.
"Thank God nothing happened," Catherine continued, her voice tight now. "But with all due respect, it's time. We did our part. He owes us nothing. We owe him nothing."
Lily's stomach twisted painfully. She opened her mouth to argue, but her mother pressed forward.
"I have a case in D.C. next week. It could take weeks to finish. I won't feel settled leaving you here alone with him. The boy has no records—no school, no family, no background. Not even the CIA has anything on him, Lily. He's a ghost."
Her voice softened, almost pitying. "I know you want to believe in the good in people. But this... this is reality."
Lily froze, a sharp chill creeping up her spine.
"Wait—how do you know all that? Even the CIA stuff?" she whispered.
Her voice cracked. "Mum... that's so cold. That's why you took him out that day? You pretended you wanted to show him around—but you were investigating him?"
The betrayal cut deep.
Catherine didn't answer. She just took another sip of coffee, as if nothing had changed.
Lily sat there, paralyzed, a silent war raging in her chest.
A sharp pang of guilt and betrayal lingered in the air.
She thought about Kemet—his uncertain eyes, his awkward smiles, the way he looked at the world like everything was brand new.
He wasn't a threat. He was lost. Alone.
But Catherine's mind was made up.
And Lily realized, with a sinking heart, that she had exactly one week to figure out what to do—before everything changed again.
The sound of footsteps echoed down the hall.
Kemet.
He shuffled into the kitchen, hair tousled from sleep, pulling one of Noah's oversized hoodies tighter around him. His face lit up when he saw them—still innocent, still unaware.
"Morning, Miss Catherine. Morning, Lily," he said, his voice rough from sleep.
Lily forced a smile. "Hey, Kem."
Catherine only nodded, tight-lipped, and took another sip of her coffee.
Kemet moved toward the fridge, but halfway through grabbing the milk, he paused—frowning slightly.
He wasn't stupid.
He could feel it—the weight in the room, the tension, thick like fog.
He set the milk down carefully and turned to Lily.
"Everything okay?" he asked, voice low, cautious.
Lily looked at him, her chest tightening painfully.
She hated lying to him.
But what could she say? Hey, the woman who hit you with her car and took you in now wants you gone.
"Yeah," she said quickly. "Just... early morning grumpiness."
Kemet gave a small, doubtful smile. "Right."
Catherine stood then, chair scraping softly against the tile. She grabbed her briefcase from the counter.
"I have to head to the office," she said briskly, not meeting Kemet's eyes. "Lily, you have school. Kemet..."
She hesitated—barely a beat—then finished, "Just... stay out of trouble."
The door closed behind her with a firm click, leaving a strange, hollow feeling in the room.
Kemet looked at Lily again, more seriously now.
"Something's wrong."
The truth pressed hard against her ribs.
But Lily couldn't say it—not yet.
She grabbed her bag, mumbled something about school, and rushed out the door.
At breakfast, Kemet's question had hung between them like smoke, but Lily hadn't answered.
She couldn't.
Now, walking through the crowded halls of school, backpack heavy against her shoulders, her stomach churned.
She spotted her friends clustered near the library doors—Taylor, Ji Ah, Emma, Maya. For a moment, hope flared.
But the second they saw her, Taylor's smile dropped.
Ji Ah crossed her arms and turned away.
Emma busied herself with her phone.
Cold. Distant.
Lily stopped short, heart sinking.
Before she could even open her mouth, they drifted off, leaving her standing alone.
Only Maya lingered, leaning casually against the wall.
"They'll come around," Maya said with a small shrug. "Give them time. They feel... betrayed, you know?"
Lily stared at the floor. "I didn't tell them to hide anything. I just... I didn't want Kem getting hurt."
Maya fell into step beside her.
"Speaking of which... is today's lesson still on?"
Lily's mouth twisted. "Not sure. My mom... she told me he's got a week to leave."
Maya's eyebrows shot up. "Wait—what? Just like that?"
Lily nodded miserably. "She says she did her part—healed him, fed him. Now he's not our responsibility. And she's scared, Maya. She said even the CIA had no clue who he is."
Maya whistled low. "Dang. The CIA she's really connected."
Maya looked at Lily closely.
"…but still... something about him feels real, you know? Like he's not lying."
Lily gave a bitter laugh. "See? That's why I didn't tell anyone. Nobody believes kem. Not even my mom."
Maya bumped her shoulder playfully. "Ooooh, Kem, huh? Nickname status already?"
Lily flushed. "That was Ji Ah's idea! Not mine!"
Maya smirked. "Maybe. But according to Ji Ah, you vetoed every other suggestion."
"I didn't—" Lily began, then stopped.
Maya's grin widened knowingly.
"Come on, Lily. You only nickname boys you're catching feelings for."
Lily opened her mouth, then closed it again. "There are no feelings. None."
Maya laughed softly. "Sure. Keep telling yourself that. But be careful, okay? Whether his telling the truth or not... getting attached? That could break you."
Lily hugged her books tighter to her chest, her heart pounding.
"I'm not getting attached," she whispered.
But deep down...
She wasn't so sure.
At lunch, Lily sat alone again, her sandwich wilting on its wrapper. The sun was bright, the chatter loud—but inside, she felt hollow.
How was she supposed to tell Kemet he had to leave?
She stabbed at her sandwich, lost in thought, when a shadow fell over her.
Looking up, she saw Maya, Taylor, Emma—and even Ji Ah—standing there.
For a second, she thought she was imagining it.
Ji Ah plopped her tray down first. "Don't get it twisted—we haven't forgiven you yet."
Lily's heart sank.
She opened her mouth to apologize, but Ji Ah held up a hand.
"But," Ji Ah said, her tone lighter, "Maya told us everything. And... we want to help."
Lily blinked. "Really? You're serious?"
Taylor grinned and sat beside her. "What are friends for if not cleaning up each other's messes?"
Emma snickered. "And believe me, girl, this is prime mess."
Taylor leaned in, her voice lowering. "Also... my parents just bought the old lake house up near Hawthorne Creek. They need someone to take care of it. You know—basic maintenance, feeding the horses, keeping the place looking lived-in."
Lily's mouth dropped open.
Taylor smiled wider. "We could recommend Kemet. He'd have a place to stay. A legit excuse. And he'd get paid. And if his story is true he has experience with this job no offense. "
"Oh my God," Lily gasped, covering her mouth, tears stinging her eyes. "You guys... Thank you."
Without thinking, she jumped up and hugged them one after another until they were all laughing, a tangled mess of arms and laughter.
Emma wiped a pretend tear. "Group hug level: Epic."
As they sat back down, Ji Ah stabbed her straw into her drink.
"So... are we telling the guys about Kemet?"
Maya smirked. "Pfft. No way. It's weird enough that we know."
Ji Ah giggled. "Imagine Geek Noah finding out. He'd have Kemet strapped to a lab table by sunset."
Taylor added, "Besides, what's the fun in handing over the truth? We worked for it. Let them dig it out if they're curious."
They laughed again, the heavy tension lifting for the first time in days.
Lily leaned back, looking up at the sky.
For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to hope.
Maybe Kemet could have a future here.
Maybe they all could