Strings of Fate: The First Loop

CHAPTER 27

She saw the real him. And that terrified him. Because when you’ve spent your whole life being misunderstood, being truly seen isn’t just love, it’s war. And losing that? It’s death.

So I didn’t say anything. I just stood there.

Quiet. Loyal. Grieving a little, for the boy who still didn’t believe he was enough, even when someone had already chosen him.

We had just pulled on our fresh jerseys, the kind that still had the scent of starch and team pride, when James looked over at us, rubbing his stomach.

"I'm starving. Wanna go to the cafeteria?"

Drake agreed with a loud groan. They both headed out the locker room door, talking about burgers and fries, like the world wasn’t about to tilt off its axis. I lingered, towel half-hanging from my shoulder, when my phone buzzed.

Inez.
“Don’t bring James to the Marriage Booth. This is an emergency.”

My fingers froze. I blinked, rereading.
Emergency? I typed fast.
“What’s the matter?”

Her reply came in like a thunderclap:

“Betty and Matt are getting married. Someone paid for it. Source said three girls.”

Everything in me dropped. It was like cold water dumped straight on my bones, soaking through skin, muscle, heart. My eyes widened, breath caught in my throat.

I remembered them.

Those three girls at the opening program, the ones who giggled when Matt and Betty were tied together like fate had planned it. The ones who said, "They look like the perfect couple."

Those girls lit this fire. And James was walking straight into it.

The Marriage Booth was just near the cafeteria. Close enough to hear the fake wedding bells and plastic flower laughter. Close enough that---

I looked at the door. They were gone.

“No…” I whispered, like I could stop the storybook from turning its next page.

I dropped my phone and ran. Fast. Like a knight storming the castle after realizing the dragon wasn’t sleeping. My sneakers squeaked against the tiled hallway floors, heart pounding in my chest like a war drum. Each step laced with fear, each corner tighter than the last.

Not because of Matt. Not even because of Betty. But because I knew what this would do to James.

Because I’ve seen him bruised by words, but this? This would be betrayal by image. The girl he loved. The boy he wished he could become. The crowd that never saw him as the hero. It would break him in a thousand ways, quietly, publicly.

I had to get there first. Before the story rewrote itself. Before the prince got replaced. Before the chapel of laughter turned into the place James swore he’d never believe in love again.

And there, amidst the giggles, the shrieks, the soft murmurs of “They really look good together” ---the first notes of Lover by Taylor Swift began to echo from the booth speakers like a dagger wrapped in silk.

I saw my friend. Frozen. Like if Arthur failed to pull Excalibur from the stone, and I, Merlin, too late to save him.

Like a statue carved out of disbelief and fury. His face darkened like a storm brewing under his skin. His fists, once clenched at his sides, had fallen limp, like even anger had abandoned him.

Drake, standing beside him, looked back and forth, between James and the booth--- like his mind couldn’t catch up to the story being rewritten before his eyes.

Then Inez came out, her face pale.
"What the hell, babe?" she hissed, but it was too late.

James turned to look at us. No words. Just a stare. Not cold. Worse, it was hollow. A stare that said I knew it. I hoped I was wrong. And I was stupid to hope.

Inez reached out, her voice shaky.
“J-James, I-I can explain it---”

And then---

“James!” Betty’s voice, desperate, rising above the music. She was running toward us, that ridiculous wedding dress flapping like a bad punchline. Her veil floated behind her like regret. Cinderella ran away from her true prince.

But James didn’t stop. He turned and walked fast, then faster--- through the courtyard, past the crowd, past the whispers, and out the school gate like the world behind him had just stopped being worth it.

Betty reached us just in time to see the back of him disappear. With trembling fingers, she tore off the veil, then the dress, throwing them to the ground like they’d burned her. Her eyes were wide, panicked, pleading.

She took off after him.

Inez stood there, arms crossed now, shaking her head.
“Seriously, Timothy. You are undependable when it matters.”

But I couldn’t look at her. I didn’t even hear her. My eyes were fixed on the path James ran down.

Because I’d seen him angry. But this wasn’t just anger. This was him in the verge of shattering. And you can’t tape back a boy who finally believes the world is just as cruel as he feared.