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The clatter of lockers being slammed shut echoed down the hallway as Coriolanus Snow adjusted his glasses, squinting at the math textbook in his hands. His scrawny frame leaned against the metal doors of his locker as Lucy Gray Baird flounced over, her tambourine bag bouncing against her hip. She tossed her hair, a cascade of caramel waves, and shot him a grin that made his heart skip a beat.
“You look way too serious, Coryo,” she teased, tapping the side of his glasses playfully. “What’s got your brain all tied up in knots this time?”
“Just calculus,” he replied, trying not to let his voice waver. Her presence always did something to him, left his thoughts scrambled like a puzzle missing a piece. “Pop quiz tomorrow, and I can’t afford to bomb another one.”
Lucy Gray rolled her eyes, leaning against the locker beside him. “Bomb? You? The guy who got extra credit for finding a mistake in Dr. Gaul’s lesson? Yeah, sure.”
“That was luck,” Coriolanus mumbled, adjusting his glasses again. “And besides, I’ve got to keep my grades up. College isn’t going to pay for itself.”
“Maybe,” she said, smirking as she leaned in closer, “but college also isn’t going to care if you take one night off to, I don’t know, live a little?”
Coriolanus opened his mouth to argue, but before he could get a word out, Lucy Gray snatched the book from his hands with a triumphant grin. She stretched her arms as far as she could, holding it out of his supposed reach.
“Oops. Guess you’ll have to pay attention to me now,” she said with a laugh, equal parts mischief and delight.
He couldn’t help but smile at her antics, though her plan was hopelessly flawed. Coriolanus towered over her, his arms far out matching her wingspan. He could have easily leaned in and plucked the book from her hands, but he didn’t.
Instead, he played along, his tone exasperated but fond. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
“Impossible?” Lucy Gray’s eyebrows shot up, her voice teasing. “Or irresistibly charming?”
Coriolanus shook his head with a rueful smile, pretending to struggle as their impromptu game turned into a playful tug-of-war. But it didn’t last long.
They both realized it at the same time—the closeness. Her back brushed against the lockers, her laughter fading into a softer smile as his arm hovered near hers. He froze, acutely aware of how their body heat mingled, how one small step forward would pull her into his arms.
Lucy Gray tilted her head up to look at him, her brown eyes shimmering like a thousand tiny stars. The moment stretched, her gaze meeting his and holding it. “Yeah,” she said softly, her voice playful but with an edge of sincerity, “but you love me anyway.”
The words were lighthearted, teasing. But they hit Coriolanus like a punch to the gut, knocking the air from his lungs. She had no idea how true they were. If only she did. If only he had the courage to say it out loud, to tell her she was everything he had ever wanted.
Instead, he forced a chuckle, stepping back just enough to give them space. “Yeah, sure. Only because you’re my best friend” he quipped, hoping the joke masked the longing in his chest.
Coriolanus had probably loved Lucy Gray for most of his life. He was just a bitter, broken eight-year-old when he first met her—a boy weighed down by the unbearable loss of both his parents and his baby sister. His world felt like a gray, empty void. Then, like a burst of color piercing through the clouds, Lucy Gray appeared. A bright ball of sunshine wrapped in every shade of the rainbow, she grabbed his hand, smiled up at him, and declared that they were going to be best friends.
It might sound overly dramatic for an eight-year-old to feel like his life was saved, but how else could he explain it? Lucy Gray didn’t just make the darkness bearable; she chased it away entirely. She was thoughtful and beautiful, even at seven, with a kindness that felt too big for someone her age. Coriolanus, in his heart of hearts, believed she must have been sent by his mother herself. How else could a girl so radiant, so ethereal, care so much about him—a lonely boy hiding his pain behind scowls and silence?
The universe, or maybe his mother’s spirit, had clearly worked some magic. And from that very moment, Coriolanus knew he didn’t stand a chance. He was hers, wholly and completely, before he even understood what love really was.
Before she could respond, a sharp voice cut through the hallway. “Well, isn’t this adorable.”
Both of them turned to see Livia Cardew strolling by, her blonde hair swept into a pristine ponytail and her designer bag perched on her shoulder. Her eyes flicked over Lucy Gray with thinly veiled disdain.
“Nice outfit, Lucy Gray,” Livia sneered, her smile anything but kind. “Very… rustic. Did you make it yourself?”
Lucy Gray’s expression didn’t falter. If anything, she smiled wider, her voice sweet and syrupy. “Thanks, Livia. It’s called individuality. You should try it sometime.”
Livia scoffed, her gaze sliding past Coriolanus as though he were invisible. “Don’t stay too long by the lockers, Lucy Gray. Wouldn’t want anyone to think you actually belong here.”
With that, she sauntered off, leaving a silence in her wake that felt heavier than it should have. Coriolanus clenched his fists, his jaw tightening, but Lucy Gray only let out a breezy laugh.
“She’s delightful, isn’t she?” Lucy Gray quipped, brushing off Livia’s comment like dust from her sleeve.
“She had no right to say that,” Coriolanus muttered, his voice low.
Lucy Gray shrugged, her grin still firmly in place. “Oh, come on, Coryo. If I got upset every time Livia opened her mouth, I’d never have time to enjoy life.”
He admired her resilience, but it only made his chest ache more. How could someone so incredible not see how much better she was than the likes of Livia Cardew?
She bumped his shoulder, pulling him from his thoughts. “Anyway, the cast is heading to a party tonight. Tam Amber says they’ve got an actual band playing. You should come with me.”
“I don’t know…” he started, already feeling his resolve weakening under her gaze.
“Oh, come on!” She pouted dramatically, clasping her hands together like she was begging him. “It’ll be fun. You can’t just study all the time. You’ll turn into a robot.”
He shook his head, though a smile tugged at his lips. “Lucy Gray, I have a test tomorrow.”
“And you could ace it in your sleep,” she countered, poking his chest. “Which is why you should spend tonight living a little! You’ve got to trust me on this.”
“Tempting,” he admitted, feeling that familiar tug she always seemed to have on him. “But no.”
Lucy Gray sighed, throwing her hands up in mock exasperation. “Fine, suit yourself, Mr. Future Valedictorian. But don’t say I didn’t try.”
The bell rang, cutting their conversation short. Lucy Gray slung her bag over her shoulder and grinned at him one last time. “See you later, Coryo.”
He watched her saunter off, his chest tightening as she disappeared down the hall. His smile faltered when he saw who she stopped to talk to: Billy Taupe. The senior leaned casually against the lockers, his smirk full of easy charm. Coriolanus felt a pang of unease twist in his stomach as Billy Taupe leaned closer to Lucy Gray, but he forced himself to turn away.
Billy Taupe Clade was, for lack of a better word, a player. Coriolanus had seen it firsthand more times than he cared to count—catching the older boy sneaking around with some wide-eyed underclassman in quiet corners of the school, each blissfully unaware they were destined to be just another notch on his bedpost. The back of the library seemed to be his preferred haunt, though Billy barely even flinched when caught. Instead, he’d flash Coriolanus a sly, self-satisfied wink, as if to say, Look how good I am .
It made Coriolanus’s stomach turn. He couldn’t understand how someone could cycle through people so quickly, treating intimacy like it was disposable. How could Billy not feel anything for the girls he’d been with? Coriolanus couldn’t even fathom being that close to Lucy Gray and then just… walking away. The very thought of discarding her, of hurting her like that, was unthinkable.
Still, Coriolanus kept his head down and his mouth shut. He wasn’t a narc, and he didn’t need to add another reason for people to dislike him. But he couldn’t ignore the sour churn in his gut at the thought of Lucy Gray—his Lucy Gray—becoming the next target of Billy Taupe’s shameless pursuits.
He forced himself to shake the thought away. Lucy Gray wasn’t naive. She was strong, smart, and perfectly capable of handling herself. Besides, Billy Taupe was part of the cast of the musical, and she was probably just being friendly with a fellow performer.
At least, that’s what he told himself as he went about the rest of his day. But no matter how hard he tried to push it aside, the image of Lucy Gray laughing with Billy Taupe, the idea of her falling for his smooth-talking charm, gnawed at him. It was irrational, maybe even unfair, but it didn’t stop the ache in his chest or the worry that twisted his heart with every passing thought of her and Billy Taupe together.
The theater buzzed with energy as the curtain rose, revealing the cast of the spring musical. Coriolanus sat near the back, his wiry frame tucked into a folding seat, his hands gripping the bouquet he’d brought for Lucy Gray. He had been waiting for this moment all week—the chance to see her shine in a way the whole school couldn’t ignore.
From her very first note, she had them captivated. As the lead, Lucy Gray commanded the stage with a poise that felt years beyond her sophomore standing. Her voice—rich, haunting, and impossibly beautiful—filled the auditorium, leaving the audience spellbound. Even the upperclassmen who had scoffed at her landing the role were stunned into silence. Coriolanus watched them exchange wide-eyed glances, their earlier bitterness dissolving as they realized what he had known all along: Lucy Gray was extraordinary.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her. She moved with a magnetic confidence, her rainbow-colored dress swirling like a burst of light as she danced. Every glance, every note, every smile felt electric. She was everything he already knew her to be—beautiful, enigmatic, and endlessly talented. But seeing the rest of the school come to that realization too filled him with a quiet pride that settled warmly in his chest.
Then came the scene. Lucy Gray’s character leaned in close to her love interest, played by none other than Billy Taupe. The older boy’s smirk was all Coriolanus could see, even as Lucy Gray delivered her lines with her usual grace. And then it happened: the stage kiss. Their lips didn’t truly meet, but the illusion was convincing enough to make Coriolanus’s stomach twist.
He clenched his fists, fighting off the surge of jealousy that rose like a tidal wave. It was ridiculous. The kiss wasn’t real, and he wasn’t Lucy Gray’s boyfriend. He had no right to feel this way. Yet the sight of Billy Taupe leaning so close to her, of Lucy Gray pretending to be in love with him, made it nearly impossible to focus on anything else.
But as the scene passed and Lucy Gray sang her next solo, all those feelings melted away. Coriolanus was once again entranced. Every note she sang, every movement she made, pulled him deeper into her orbit, until she was all he could see. By the time the final curtain fell, his heart was racing, his palms sweaty from clutching the flowers.
Coriolanus waited by the stage door, shifting nervously as cast members trickled out. When Lucy Gray appeared, still radiant from the glow of her performance, his breath caught.
“Coryo!” she exclaimed, rushing toward him. Her smile lit up the night like a starburst.
He held out the bouquet, his voice soft and full of admiration. “You were… incredible, Lucy Gray. Absolutely captivating. I knew you’d be amazing, but this? This was something else.”
She laughed, her cheeks flushed as she accepted the flowers. “You really think so?”
“Think so?” He pulled her into a hug, holding her close as he whispered, “You were the best thing on that stage, Lucy Gray. The best thing in the whole school. I’m so proud of you.”
For a moment, the world fell away. Lucy Gray melted into his embrace, her head resting lightly against his shoulder. If she could feel the rapid thud of his heartbeat, she didn’t say anything. She only held him tighter, her grip lingering as if she didn’t want to let go.
The spell broke when a voice cut through the air. “Well, well, is this the best friend I’m always hearing about?”
Coriolanus stiffened as Billy Taupe sauntered over, his cocky grin firmly in place. “What’s your name again? Cory? Caleb? You look familiar.”
Coriolanus forced a tight smile. “We’ve met. Algebra. And… elsewhere.”
Billy Taupe only chuckled, clearly unbothered. “Right, right. Anyway, Lucy Gray, stellar job tonight. You had the crowd eating out of the palm of your hand.”
“Thanks, Billy Taupe,” Lucy Gray replied, her voice polite but distant. Billy gave her a flirty wink and a nod before swaggering off to join some other cast members, his charm as practiced as ever.
Lucy Gray turned to Coriolanus, her expression unreadable, as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t quite find the words. She rubbed her arm nervously, avoiding his eyes. “Sorry about him. He means no harm, truly. Just a little too cocky for his own good.”
Coriolanus studied her closely. He knew Lucy Gray better than anyone—knew every laugh, every sigh, every little quirk that made her who she was. He knew when she was genuinely at ease and when she was hiding something. And right now, she was hiding.
“What’s going on, Lucy Gray?” he asked softly, stepping closer. His hands gently clasped her arms, and he bent slightly to meet her eyes. His stormy blue gaze was steady, silently assuring her that whatever she said, he wouldn’t judge, wouldn’t get angry.
Lucy Gray hesitated, then let out a nervous laugh. “I guess I didn’t know how to bring it up. No one’s ever shown me any interest before…” Her voice trailed off before she continued in a quieter tone. “But Billy Taupe… he’s been pursuing me. Been trying to get me to go out with him for weeks, if you can believe it.”
She chuckled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She said it as if the very idea of anyone liking her was a cosmic joke.
Coriolanus swallowed hard, the revelation hitting him harder than it should have. It was no joke to him. He’d seen how the boys at school looked at her, the way they held their breath when she walked by with her carefree smile and radiant confidence. It was enough to leave anyone in awe.
He’d always suspected jealousy played a part in why girls like Livia Cardew were so cruel to her. Lucy Gray wasn’t just beautiful—she was magnetic, secure in herself in a way that drew people in. But despite her appeal, no one had ever had the courage to ask her out. Coriolanus had been grateful for that, selfishly so, because it meant she was still his, in a way.
But he had known this day would come eventually, even if he hadn’t thought it would come so soon—or in the form of Billy Taupe, a cocky senior with a reputation for breaking hearts.
“Do you… like him?” Coriolanus asked carefully, afraid of the answer.
Lucy Gray shrugged, her fingers twisting a lock of her hair over her shoulder. “I don’t know. Enough, I guess. He’s not my ideal fella, but it’s nice to feel wanted, you know?”
Coriolanus recognized the nervous gesture. She’d done the same thing before her first solo performance without the Covey, back when she’d been trembling with anxiety. It had been his cue to pull her aside, to remind her that she was extraordinary and that everything would be okay. But now, with Billy Taupe in the picture, he wasn’t sure what to say.
Her words relieved him slightly—she wasn’t head over heels for Billy Taupe—but they still stung. Because “enough” was all it would take for Billy Taupe to worm his way into her heart.
“Lucy Gray, I know you can handle yourself,” he said, his voice steady but firm. “But you need to be careful with Billy Taupe. I’ve seen him with other girls—at the library, and we both know it’s not for studying. He’s not exactly known for commitment.”
Lucy Gray sighed, her gaze softening as if she wanted him to understand. “I know he doesn’t have the best reputation, but maybe he just needs someone to believe in him. He lost his parents young, just like us. Maybe all of that… it’s just his way of coping.”
Her words only tightened the knot in Coriolanus’s chest. He couldn’t fathom how someone could use grief as an excuse to hurt others. But Lucy Gray was determined—he could see it in her eyes. She’d already made up her mind to try and fix Billy Taupe, and Coriolanus knew how relentless she could be when she set her sights on something.
“Well,” Coriolanus said after a long pause, his throat tight, “if you’ve made your decision…” He trailed off, stepping back. The hurt in his chest was too much, and he needed to get away before he said something he’d regret.
“I haven’t,” Lucy Gray interjected, grabbing his arm. Her voice wavered, and her brown eyes searched his. “Everyone thinks I’ll say yes at the cast party, but I don’t even know if I will.”
Her next words were quieter, almost a plea. “Coryo, come to the cast party with me? It’ll be fun.”
He hesitated, his heart screaming at him to say yes. But his mind was clouded with the weight of his responsibilities and the bitter ache of knowing she might still choose Billy Taupe. “I… I can’t. I’ve got to study. But you should go. Celebrate. You earned it.”
Her disappointment was palpable, but she forced a smile. She stepped closer and placed a soft kiss on his cheek, her lips lingering just a moment too long. “It won’t be the same without you,” she murmured. “The night would be so much better if you were there.”
Before he could gather his thoughts to respond, she was gone, leaving him standing there frozen. His hand instinctively brushed the spot where her kiss lingered, the heat of it burning into his skin long after she disappeared from sight.
Something was different. Very different.
Coriolanus would be lying if he said he hadn’t waited up for Lucy Gray last night. Every time a car passed by, he’d spring from his desk and rush to his bedroom window, scanning the street below. He told himself it wasn’t a big deal, that he just wanted to make sure she got home okay. But the truth was, he couldn’t sleep until he knew she was safe.
It was nearly 2 a.m. when she finally arrived. She stepped out of a beat-up Saturn, the kind of car that looked like it hadn’t seen its prime in decades. Coriolanus’s heart twisted at the sight of it. A car like that? With its creaky doors and sputtering engine? He couldn’t stand the thought of her or Tigris riding in something so unreliable, something that could leave them stranded or worse. But she was home. Safe. That’s what mattered.
Still, he couldn’t ignore the way she lingered. She sat in the passenger seat, the faint glow of the streetlight catching her silhouette, her figure unmoving. She didn’t head inside right away, and Coriolanus’s mind buzzed with questions he couldn’t ask. Who was driving her? Was it Billy Taupe? Why was she still sitting there? And why did he feel so uneasy?
He forced himself to go to bed after she finally slipped out of the car and into her house, but the unease didn’t leave him. That gnawing feeling in his gut only grew worse the next day.
It came to a head when he walked down the hallway between classes, turning a corner only to freeze in his tracks. There, in front of her locker, was Lucy Gray. And Billy Taupe.
His heart stopped.
Billy Taupe was pressed against her, his hand braced on the locker beside her, and Lucy Gray—his Lucy Gray—was kissing him. And this was no stage kiss.
It felt like his entire world was burning. The air in the hallway felt too thin, the fluorescent lights too bright. He wanted to look away, but his feet were rooted to the floor, his gaze locked on the sight before him.
Coriolanus’s mind raced, a storm of disbelief, jealousy, and heartbreak swirling inside him. He couldn’t wrap his head around it. How could she, of all people, be with someone like Billy Taupe? The boy who cycled through girls like they were disposable, the boy whose charm hid nothing but shallow intentions?
He felt sick. His fists clenched at his sides, his nails digging into his palms as he fought to keep his expression neutral. He had no right to feel this way. She wasn’t his. She’d never been his.
Coriolanus’s feet moved on instinct, propelling him forward even though every fiber of his being screamed for him to turn and run. Lucy Gray had noticed him. Her bright eyes met him from across the hallway, widening for just a moment before she broke away from Billy Taupe and called out.
“Coryo! Wait up!”
Her voice, usually so melodic and full of confidence, sounded different. Softer. Tentative. He stopped mid-step, shoulders stiff, before reluctantly turning around. Lucy Gray waved him over, and though he wanted nothing more than to disappear, his legs carried him to her like they always did.
“Hey,” she said, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her usual spark seemed muted, replaced by something closer to embarrassment—or maybe guilt. “Uh,I— we have something to tell you .”
Coriolanus’s stomach dropped. His worst fears were confirmed as Lucy Gray gestured toward Billy, whose trademark smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“Billy Taupe and I,” she said, her voice quieter than usual. “... are dating.”
The words hit Coriolanus like a punch to the gut. He barely registered Billy Taupe stepping forward, offering a hand that Coriolanus forced himself to shake.
“Nice to meet you—again,” Billy Taupe said, grinning as if he hadn’t already crossed paths with Coriolanus last night, or in Algebra or the countless times in the library’s dark corners. “Lucy Gray and I have been getting close these past few months, you know, during rehearsals. And, well, at the party last night, it just clicked. I asked her to be my girlfriend.”
Billy Taupe’s tone was casual, like it was the most natural thing in the world. But Coriolanus’s mind raced, tallying up every girl he’d caught Billy Taupe with in those same few months—every underclassman reduced to nothing more than a fleeting conquest. The memories only made his regret sharper, twisting like a knife in his chest. If only he’d gone to the party last night. Could he have stopped this? Could he have convinced Lucy Gray to choose someone— anyone —else?
But even as he wrestled with those thoughts, a voice in the back of his mind whispered doubts. Did she even see him that way? Could she ever?
He looked at her then, truly looked at her. Lucy Gray wasn’t saying much, but her eyes were doing all the talking. They were wide, pleading, almost like she was begging him to be okay with this, to accept Billy Taupe because it clearly mattered to her.
And because he loved her—because she was his best friend and the person he would do anything for—he swallowed the lump in his throat and forced himself to nod.
“That’s… great,” Coriolanus said, his voice flat as he shook Billy Taupe’s hand. “Congratulations.”
Billy Taupe’s grip was firm, his smirk unwavering. “Thanks, man. I think we make a pretty good team.”
Coriolanus managed a strained smile, but his heart felt like it was being crushed under the weight of everything he couldn’t say. Billy Taupe had everything Coriolanus had ever wanted, wrapped up in the form of Lucy Gray.
Then why did it hurt so badly?
As Lucy Gray glanced between the two of them, relief softened her features, but Coriolanus barely noticed. His chest felt hollow, like something vital had been ripped out and stomped on.
He hadn’t felt pain this sharp since losing his family, but somehow, this was worse. This was a loss he had to live with every day, knowing the one person he cared about most in the world was right there—but not his.
Lucy Gray gave him a small, tentative smile, her eyes glimmering with something he couldn’t quite place. “Thank you, Coryo. You’re the best.”
Coriolanus prided himself on being a smart man. A 4.0 GPA, top of his class, well on his way to a perfect SAT score as a sophomore. Logic and reason were his strong suits. But when it came to Lucy Gray, he was just another stupid teenage boy.
When it was just the two of them, everything was fine. More than fine—it was perfect. They were the best of friends, a dynamic duo in their dead-end retail job, turning every tedious task into a two man job. They’d laugh until tears ran down their faces during lunch, Lucy Gray’s jokes making milk shoot out of his nose. Weekend nights were special, spent tucked away in one of their bedrooms: Lucy Gray, strumming her guitar and scribbling lyrics, while Coriolanus pored over his notes, committing them to memory with a rigor she never failed to tease him about.
But those days felt like a lifetime ago.
Now there was a third person in their world. Billy Taupe.
Billy Taupe was everywhere—at their shifts, leaning against the counter with that smug grin, distracting Lucy Gray and getting them both in trouble with the manager. He’d show up at their lunch table, picking soggy fries off Lucy Gray’s tray like it was his God-given right. And on those once-sacred Friday nights, the nights that used to belong only to them, it was Billy Taupe’s voice humming Lucy Gray’s chords, turning what had been Coriolanus’s favorite part of the week into something suffocating.
Coriolanus tried to be understanding. He told himself that this was normal. Lucy Gray had a boyfriend now, and boyfriends came with new dynamics, new routines. But understanding didn’t stop the ache in his chest. Watching Billy Taupe slide into their world, the one he and Lucy Gray had built over years of laughter, was like watching someone graffiti over his most cherished memories.
Every time Coriolanus saw her hold Billy Taupe’s hand, saw the way she looked at him—like he hung the moon—it was a fresh stab to the heart. Because he wished it were him. It should have been him. And it hurt. God, it hurt so much.
He couldn’t take it anymore.
He started distancing himself. Slowly at first. He switched shifts, volunteering for the ones Lucy Gray didn’t work, pretending he needed more flexibility for school. He stopped sitting with her at lunch, retreating to the library under the guise of “extra studying.” And when Friday night rolled around, he always had an excuse. A big test. A project. Something, anything to keep him from watching Lucy Gray and Billy Taupe together in the space that had once been theirs.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be around Lucy Gray—he ached to be near her. But being near her meant being near them . It meant watching Billy Taupe hold her hand, seeing her light up at his stupid jokes, and catching glimpses of that easy, confident grin that made Coriolanus’s blood boil.
Every moment he spent with them deepened the tear in his heart, the one that had formed the moment he first saw her in Billy Taupe’s arms.
For the better part of a decade, Lucy Gray had been his entire world. His safe space. And now, she was slipping further and further away, taking his happiness with her.
Coriolanus was no stranger to pain. He’d lost his family, endured years of loneliness, and clawed his way to the top of his class against all odds. But this was a different kind of hurt—a slow, relentless ache that gnawed at him from the inside out.
And no matter how hard he tried to convince himself that this was what Lucy Gray deserved, that Billy Taupe made her happy, he couldn’t escape the truth that haunted him every time he closed his eyes.
He loved her. He always had. And now, watching her with Billy Taupe, he didn’t know if he could survive loving her anymore.
It was a warm spring morning, the chill of winter slowly giving way to gentler days. The kind of day that would normally lift Coriolanus’s spirits, but lately, nothing seemed to do that.
It was Saturday. He knew Lucy Gray was working today—she always did so she could spend the evenings playing gigs with Tam Amber and Barb Azure for extra cash. Knowing she wouldn’t be home made it safe for him to sit outside on the steps of the small house he shared with his cousin and grandmother, without the fear of Lucy Gray seeing him and demanding answers about why he’d pulled away.
The house was small—two stories, two bedrooms. Far from the grand mansion where the Snow family once lived, the one on the other side of town with its tall iron gates and a driveway that seemed to stretch forever. He could still picture it: the house where he’d spent his last days with his mother, where he had promised himself he would return one day. He would buy it back, make it his own, and raise his family there. That was the dream.
But the house they lived in now wasn’t bad. It was quiet, mostly. The days passed with the gentle hum of his grandmother softly singing old songs from her youth, her voice barely above a whisper. Tigris, always working or catching up on sleep, wasn’t around much during the day.
When they first moved in, Coriolanus had insisted Tigris and Grandma’am take the bedrooms while he slept in the living room. But Grandma’am wouldn’t hear of it. He was a “growing boy who needs his own space,” she said, especially if he was going to restore the Snow family name to its former glory. “One day,” she’d said, “you’ll bring back the wealth and honor we deserve.” Tigris didn’t mind sharing a room with Grandma’am, anyway.
Her words stuck with him, weighing on his chest like an iron anchor. Coriolanus had taken that responsibility to heart, throwing himself into his studies, determined to claw his way back to the life his family had lost. But the weight of those expectations could be suffocating. Sometimes, the house itself seemed to close in on him, and the sheer pressure of everything he was supposed to be left him feeling like he could barely breathe.
He tried to remind himself that he was still just a boy. A boy who deserved to have hopes and dreams of his own. And on those days when the walls seemed to press too tightly around him, he escaped.
In the past, escape meant slipping next door to the Covey house. Despite their poverty and struggles, the Covey were always filled with joy. There was singing, laughter, life—a warmth that felt like stepping into a world that was brighter, freer. Lucy Gray, in particular, made him remember that life wasn’t just about surviving or reaching some distant finish line. It was about living .
But now? The Covey house wasn’t an option anymore. Not since he’d started avoiding Lucy Gray.
He’d run out of other options too. He didn’t have the money to spend hours in a coffeehouse or the means to drive into town. So he settled for sitting on the steps in front of his own house.
The stone was cold, uncomfortable, but it was better than being inside. The silence of the steps let him think, even if those thoughts always circled back to Lucy Gray.
He missed the Covey house. He missed the music, the laughter, and the simple way it felt like home. But more than anything, he missed her. He missed her warmth, her presence, her way of making him believe, even if only for a moment, that life could be good. That he could be good.
And every single day, he felt the absence of her more acutely than the last.
Coriolanus was startled from his thoughts by the unmistakable sound of little boots stomping on gravel. He looked up just in time to see Maude Ivory marching toward him, her small frame practically vibrating with righteous indignation. She planted herself firmly in front of him, hands on her hips, her bright eyes narrowed in accusation.
“Coriolanus Snow,” she said, her voice dripping with sass, “where have you been? I haven’t seen you in forever.”
He blinked, caught off guard. “Hey, Maude Ivory,” he said, forcing a casual smile. “I’ve just been… giving you all some space. You know, so you can get to know Billy Taupe better.”
Maude Ivory’s expression turned into a scowl, her nose scrunching as if he’d said something offensive. “Billy Taupe? Who cares about him? I don’t. Tam Amber doesn’t. Barb Azure doesn’t. We miss you!” She stomped her foot for emphasis, her little braid swinging with the motion. “Lucy Gray might like him, but we don’t need him hanging around all the time.”
Coriolanus felt the first pang of guilt twist in his chest. The Covey had become his family as much as his own flesh and blood. He’d pulled away from all of them, not just Lucy Gray, and hearing Maude Ivory say it so bluntly hurt more than he expected.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I thought…” He hesitated, then asked the question he was almost too scared to voice. “Does Lucy Gray miss me?”
Maude Ivory tilted her head, her expression somewhere between exasperation and disbelief. “Do you even have to ask? She’s been crying and moping around because she thinks she did something wrong and that’s why you’re avoiding her.”
Coriolanus winced as her words hit him like a hammer. Lucy Gray thought this was her fault? He had wanted to spare her pain, not cause it. Before he could respond, Maude Ivory jabbed a finger at him. “Coriolanus Snow, you better explain yourself!”
He chuckled despite himself, scooting over on the step to make room for her. “You’re a tough one, you know that?” he said, reaching out to ruffle her hair. She squirmed and ducked but didn’t lose her glare. He pulled her into a quick hug, her indignation melting just a little as she leaned into him.
“I’m sorry, Maude Ivory,” he said sincerely. “I promise I’ll come around more. I’ve missed you all too.”
“Good,” she said, pulling back and fixing him with a firm nod. “Because I don’t like that Billy Taupe.” Her accent shining through her frustration.
Her words made him freeze, his stomach tightening. “What do you mean?” he asked carefully.
“He doesn’t talk to me or anyone else,” she said, crossing her arms. “He’s always taking Lucy Gray away and bringing her back too late. And he makes her cry.” Her voice dropped, her earlier bravado replaced with a small, worried tone. “I don’t like it when she cries.”
A cold anger flared in Coriolanus’s chest. He had convinced himself to accept Lucy Gray’s relationship with Billy Taupe because he thought it made her happy, even if it tore him apart. But now? Knowing Billy Taupe made her cry? It lit a fire in him he hadn’t expected.
Still, he forced himself to smile for Maude Ivory’s sake. She was too young to be caught up in this mess. “Thanks for telling me,” he said, his tone even. He ruffled her hair again, making her laugh and swat at his hand. “I promise I’ll be around more. You’re stuck with me now.”
“You better be,” Maude Ivory said with a grin. She gave him a quick hug before skipping back toward the Covey house, her mood already brighter.
“Come over for lunch! Barb Azure whipped up something special.” Smiling back at him with an invitation
As Coriolanus watched her go, returning her smile with a nod, the fire in his chest only burned hotter. If Billy Taupe was making Lucy Gray cry, that was something he couldn’t ignore. And for the first time in weeks, he felt a spark of determination. He would keep his promise to Maude Ivory and the Covey. But he would also figure out what Billy Taupe had done to make Lucy Gray cry—and he wouldn’t let it slide.
Coriolanus spent the rest of the weekend in contemplative anger. He did make an appearance at the Covey house later that day but decidedly scurried away before Lucy Gray could come home. Not because he was avoiding her, but if her rat bastard boyfriend was present, he couldn’t promise that he wouldn’t punch the lights out of him.
He went back and forth on whether to go looking for him and confronting him or to just leave it alone. But his question was answered early the next Monday morning.
The restroom was empty except for the faint hum of the flickering fluorescent light overhead and the slow drip of a leaky faucet. Coriolanus leaned against the sink, gripping the edge so tightly his knuckles turned white. His reflection stared back at him, but his thoughts weren’t on himself—they were on Lucy Gray and the anger bubbling inside him.
The door creaked open, and in strolled Billy Taupe, his usual cocky smirk plastered across his face. Coriolanus straightened, the tension in his shoulders tightening like a bowstring. This was his chance.
“Billy Taupe,” Coriolanus said, his voice sharper than intended. Billy Taupe turned to him with mild surprise, then raised an eyebrow.
“Snow” Billy Taupe drawled, leaning casually against the wall. “What’s up?”
Coriolanus took a step closer, his jaw tightening. “I need to talk to you about Lucy Gray.”
Billy Taupe rolled his eyes, already exuding an air of disinterest. “What about her?”
“I know you’ve been making her cry,” Coriolanus said, his voice cold and steady. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Billy Taupe sighed theatrically, pushing off the wall. “Oh, that? Don’t tell me she’s still upset about that. She’s just sensitive, man.”
Coriolanus’s eyes narrowed, his fists clenching at his sides. “What the hell do you mean by ‘sensitive’?”
Billy shrugged, his nonchalance grating on Coriolanus’s nerves. “I just gave her a reality check, that’s all. Told her she’s wasting her time thinking her music is going to take her anywhere. It’s cute and all, but let’s be real—she’s going nowhere fast.”
The words hit Coriolanus like a slap, but it wasn’t his pride that stung—it was the thought of Lucy Gray hearing them. Her music was her heart, her soul, and this arrogant bastard had tried to crush it.
Coriolanus was pragmatic. He knew how unforgiving the music industry could be, how the odds were stacked against anyone trying to make it without connections or a foot in the door. If it were anyone else, he wouldn’t hesitate to lay out the cold, hard truth: success in that world was a statistical impossibility.
But Lucy Gray wasn’t just anyone.
She wasn’t just talented—she was relentless. She poured everything she had into her music, taking every gig she could find, no matter how small or underpaid. She worked harder than anyone he’d ever known, chasing her dream with a fire that refused to be extinguished.
And because of that, Coriolanus believed in her. He believed in her more than he believed in anything else in his life. If anyone could beat the odds, if anyone could break through sheer willpower and talent alone, it was Lucy Gray. She wasn’t just chasing a dream—she was carving a path to it, step by determined step. And he would always be there, quietly rooting for her, even if she never knew just how much.
“You’re an asshole,” Coriolanus spat, taking another step forward. “You wouldn’t recognize real talent if it hit you in the face. Lucy Gray is one of the most talented people I’ve ever met.”
Billy Taupe looked genuinely amused, tilting his head as though studying Coriolanus for the first time. “Wow, you’re really worked up over this,” he said, his tone dripping with mock concern. “Sure, she can sing, but she’s not that special. Just another pretty girl, you know?”
Coriolanus’s fists shook with restrained fury. “You don’t have a clue what you’re talking about,” he snapped.
Billy Taupe’s grin widened, and his tone turned smug. “You’ve got a thing for her, don’t you? Always have. It’s obvious.” He paused, then smirked wider. “Don’t worry, Snow. I’m getting bored anyway. She’s all yours when I’m done. Enjoy my sloppy seconds.”
The words were a match to gasoline. Coriolanus felt his blood boil, his vision narrowing as he took another step forward, ready to punch Billy square in the jaw. His arm tensed, but before he could swing, the bell rang, its shrill tone cutting through the thick tension.
Billy Taupe straightened and patted Coriolanus mockingly on the shoulder as he passed. “Easy there, Snow,” he said, his tone light but taunting. “Wouldn’t want you hurting your hand, what, With how scrawny you are.”
Coriolanus’s fists remained clenched as Billy Taupe strolled out of the restroom, his laughter echoing faintly down the hallway.
He stood there for a long moment, his chest heaving with unspent rage. He wanted to chase after Billy, to defend Lucy Gray’s name, her talent, her. But he couldn’t—not now.
Instead, he stared at his reflection in the mirror, the fury in his eyes undeniable. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
The library was quiet, the kind of suffocating silence that usually let Coriolanus focus. But tonight, his mind was a storm. He sat at his usual table, eyes on his textbook, though none of the words registered. The confrontation with Billy Taupe in the bathroom hours earlier still churned in his mind, his anger bubbling just beneath the surface.
Then the door creaked open, and instinctively, Coriolanus looked up. His breath hitched. There was Billy Taupe, his swagger as obnoxious as ever, with a girl tucked under his arm—a girl who was most definitely not Lucy Gray.
Coriolanus’s chest tightened, fury sparking through him as he watched Billy lean down to whisper something into the girl’s ear. She giggled, her laugh soft and airy, and let him guide her toward the back of the library. Coriolanus’s heart hammered as he followed their movements. He knew exactly where they were going—he’d caught Billy there too many times before.
A wave of heat surged through him, his fingers curling into fists on the table. He tried to think it through, to weigh his options. Confronting Billy Taupe here, in the library, could lead to trouble he couldn’t afford. Detention, suspension—anything that could jeopardize his carefully crafted future.
But then he thought of Lucy Gray. He thought of her radiant smile, her kind heart, the way she had nervously defended Billy Taupe earlier as if she could rationalize his behavior. She trusted him. And Billy Taupe was betraying that trust with every step he took deeper into the library with another girl.
That was all it took. Logic be damned. Coriolanus shoved back his chair, the legs scraping against the floor, and stormed after them.
He found them in the farthest corner, between the tall, shadowed bookshelves. Billy Taupe had the girl pressed against the wall, his lips on hers, his hands roaming places that made Coriolanus’s stomach churn.
“Billy Taupe!” His voice cut through the quiet like a blade.
Billy Taupe pulled back, annoyance flashing across his face as he turned. “Oh, for fuck’s sake, Snow,” he groaned. “What now?”
The girl looked at Coriolanus curiously, her hands still resting on Billy Taupe’s shoulders. “Who’s this?” she asked, her voice light and playful, as if this were all some sort of game.
Coriolanus ignored her, his eyes locked on Billy Taupe. “You forgot to mention something, didn’t you?” His voice was sharp, trembling with barely restrained anger. “Like the fact that you have a girlfriend ?”
The girl froze, her smile faltering as she stepped back. “Girlfriend?”
Billy Taupe’s expression didn’t change. He shrugged lazily, his smirk intact. “Don’t listen to him. He’s just some creepy nerd who likes to watch people doing it. Lucy Gray and I aren’t serious.”
The girl’s face twisted in disgust, and she dropped her hands from his shoulders. “You’re disgusting,” she said coldly, stepping away. “Enjoy being alone, Billy Taupe.” She brushed past Coriolanus without another word, leaving the two boys alone.
Billy Taupe’s smirk melted into a scowl as he turned back to Coriolanus. “You just ruined a sure thing, Snow,” he snapped. “What’s your deal? Ever heard of the bro code?”
Coriolanus’s jaw tightened. “We’re not bros, and you know it,” he said through gritted teeth. “You need to tell Lucy Gray the truth about what you’ve been doing.”
Billy Taupe rolled his eyes, his tone dripping with mockery. “Why are you so upset, anyway? You should be thanking me. Once I’m done with Lucy Gray, you’ll get your shot.” He leaned closer, his grin widening. “Not gonna lie, she’s fun. Very enthusiastic. You know that mouth is good at much more than just singing”
Coriolanus’s vision blurred with rage, his fists trembling at his sides. “Shut your mouth.”
But Billy Taupe wasn’t done. He leaned back, his smirk pure venom. “What’s the big deal? It won’t take much for even a loser like you to get her into bed. She’s easy.”
The words ignited something primal in Coriolanus. He surged forward, his fist connecting with Billy Taupe’s jaw. The older boy stumbled back, his smirk finally wiped away as Coriolanus grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall.
“How’s this for scrawny?” Coriolanus snarled, his voice low and furious. His fists connected again, this time with Billy’s nose, the impact sending a jolt up his arm. “You don’t get to talk about Lucy Gray like that!”.
Billy Taupe tried to push him off, but Coriolanus had the advantage of height and raw fury. He shoved him to the ground, pinning him there as his fist raised again.
“Coryo, stop!”
The sound of Lucy Gray’s voice froze him mid-swing. He turned his head, panting, to see her standing at the end of the aisle, her eyes wide with shock.
She rushed over, grabbing his arm. “Let him go,” she pleaded, her voice soft but firm. “Please.”
Coriolanus hesitated, his heart still pounding in his chest, but the sight of her worried expression made him relent. He let go, stepping back as Billy Taupe scrambled to his feet, clutching his bloody face.
“What the hell is your problem?” Billy Taupe yelled, glaring at Coriolanus. “I didn’t do anything! He lured me back here to beat me up!”
“That’s a lie!” Coriolanus snapped. “He called you—” He swallowed hard, unwilling to repeat the vile words. “And he’s been cheating on you, Lucy Gray. I saw him.”
Lucy Gray’s gaze shifted to Coriolanus, and for a terrifying moment, he thought she might not believe him. His heart sank, the fear of losing her trust twisting inside him like a blade. But then their eyes met, and he saw the flicker of recognition, the unspoken understanding that had bound them since they were children.
Her expression softened, the warmth of an old memory passing between them.
It had been years ago, on one of the first days after Coriolanus moved into the small house next to hers. He’d been a pale, skinny boy with shadows under his eyes, his grief for his parents and sister raw and unspoken. The kids at school had quickly picked up on his vulnerability, mocking him for his frayed clothes and awkward demeanor.
Lucy Gray had been the only one who stood by him. One day, after a particularly rough afternoon of taunts and sneers, she found him hiding behind the school, his knees pulled to his chest. Without saying a word, she sat down beside him, offering him half of a peanut butter sandwich wrapped in wax paper.
“You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to,” she’d said, her voice gentle but firm. “But I’m not leaving until you know you’re not alone.”
At first, Coriolanus had been too proud to accept her kindness. He’d muttered something dismissive, brushing her off. But Lucy Gray stayed, her presence steady and unyielding, until he finally broke down and told her everything. About the mansion they’d lost, about his mother’s soft voice and his baby sister’s laugh, about the weight of expectations that he couldn’t seem to carry.
When he finished, he braced himself for pity or judgment. Instead, Lucy Gray had reached out, taking his hand in hers.
“You’re not broken, Coryo,” she’d said, her eyes shining with a sincerity that made his chest ache. “You’re just hurting. And I’m gonna help you heal. That’s what friends are for.”
From that day forward, they’d been inseparable. They had promised—quietly, in the secret language of shared pain—that they would always be honest with each other. No lies, no pretending. Just the truth, even when it hurt.
That promise flickered in Lucy Gray’s eyes now, anchoring Coriolanus to the moment. She turned to Billy Taupe, her voice cold and sharp as ice.
“You rat bastard,” she spat, the venom in her tone cutting through the silence. “You didn’t deserve a second of my time. You’re a lying, self-centered coward.”
Billy Taupe flinched, his usual bravado crumbling under the weight of her words. He opened his mouth, but Lucy Gray didn’t give him the chance.
“Shut up,” she snapped. “And if you even think about telling people Coryo hit you, I’ll go straight to Principal Lipp about all your little activities in the library. See how much fun you have getting expelled two weeks from graduation.”
Billy Taupe muttered “bitch” under his breath, Coriolanus' rage reignited and his hands balled into fist to give Billy Taupe a matching black eye. But before he could, Lucy Gray stepped forward and drove her knee into his groin with startling precision.
“Leave,” she hissed, her voice low and dangerous. “Or I’ll make sure you never have kids. The world might thank me for it.”
Billy Taupe doubled over, gasping, and scurried off without another word.
As the echo of his footsteps faded, Lucy Gray turned back to Coriolanus. The fire in her eyes dimmed, replaced by something softer, more vulnerable.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice trembling but steady.
He didn’t know what to say. The words caught in his throat, tangled with the weight of everything he felt for her. Before he could find them, the bell rang, its shrill tone breaking the moment.
“We’d better get to class,” Lucy Gray said softly, brushing past him. But as she walked away, she glanced back, offering him a small, genuine smile that felt like a promise.
And Coriolanus knew, without a doubt, that the trust they’d built all those years ago was still unbroken. And finally, Billy Taupe was out of her life.
The knock at the door was soft but insistent, pulling Coriolanus from the notes he had been halfheartedly scribbling. He frowned, glancing at the clock. It was late—too late for visitors. But when he opened the door, his breath hitched.
Lucy Gray stood on the porch, her arms crossed against the slight chill of the evening. In her hands was a paper plate, with a peanut butter sandwich wrapped in wax paper balanced precariously on top. Her expression was small, vulnerable, but her voice was steady when she spoke.
“Hey, Coryo,” she said, managing a soft smile. “I missed you. Can I come in?”
He didn’t answer, not verbally. Instead, he stepped forward and wrapped her in a hug, one so tight that her feet left the ground. The plate pressed awkwardly against his chest, but he didn’t care. She let out a surprised laugh, her arms wrapping around his neck as she leaned into him.
“I brought you this,” she teased, her words muffled against his shoulder. “Figured it might help, like old times.”
He chuckled, finally setting her down. “Thanks,” he murmured, stepping aside to let her in.
A few minutes later, they sat side by side on Coriolanus’s bed, leaned up against the headboard. The plate with the sandwich rested on the nightstand, untouched for now. Lucy Gray tucked her legs beneath her, her gaze flicking around the room like she was cataloging the changes since the last time she’d been there.
Coriolanus tilted his head, watching her carefully. “You aren’t at the senior prom,” he said, his voice quiet but curious.
Lucy Gray laughed, the sound warm but tinged with irony. “Why would I be there?” she replied, glancing at him with a smirk. “My date was a no-good asshole who, coincidentally, took his new girlfriend. Mayfair Lipp, of all people.” She rolled her eyes. “Guess he figured dating the principal’s daughter might help him scrape together a diploma.”
They both burst into laughter, the kind that shook their shoulders and left them breathless. But as the laughter faded, a comfortable silence settled between them.
Coriolanus found himself staring at the ceiling, his mind drifting to thoughts he wished he could avoid. Billy Taupe. He was gone now, no longer a part of Lucy Gray’s life, but the shadow he left lingered. Billy Taupe had been her first real boyfriend, and if Coriolanus was being honest with himself—brutally, painfully honest—Billy Taupe had likely been her first in other ways too. The thought sent a dull ache through his chest, even though he knew it wasn’t his place to feel it.
He glanced at Lucy Gray, her profile soft in the dim light. “Are you… sad?” he asked finally, his voice tentative, like he wasn’t sure he wanted the answer.
She didn’t respond right away, her fingers absently twisting the hem of her sweater. “A little,” she admitted, her tone thoughtful. “But not as much as I thought I’d be.” She turned to him then, her smile small but sincere. “I’m happy to be here with you, spending Friday nights like we used to. I wouldn’t trade this for anything in the world.”
Her hand found his, her fingers curling around his palm. She leaned her head on his shoulder, the weight of her so familiar, so grounding, that it made Coriolanus’s heart ache.
It was crazy, Coriolanus thought. How someone could mean the entire world to you one moment and be gone the next. That was what Billy Taupe had been for Lucy Gray—a fleeting, burning moment. And now he was gone, leaving only the embers of what they’d shared behind.
Coriolanus knew he wanted more with Lucy Gray, wanted to be the one who made her feel loved and cherished. But as he sat there with her hand in his, he also knew that wanting wasn’t enough. What if she didn’t feel the same? What if she never did?
The thought terrified him, not because of the rejection, but because of the possibility of losing her altogether. Lucy Gray was his anchor, his closest friend, his entire world. And the only way to keep her in his life forever was to stay as he was—her best friend.
The realization was like swallowing glass, each shard cutting deeper with every breath. But Coriolanus accepted it, because losing her completely wasn’t an option.
He squeezed her hand gently, his throat tight as he swallowed the words he wanted to say.
What Coriolanus didn’t know—what neither of them could know—was that a year from now, they would find themselves in this exact position, sitting on his bed, side by side. But by then, everything would be different.
By then, their feelings would have been confessed, and Lucy Gray would have revealed what she had felt all along. That she loved him. That she’d always loved him.
And as they sat together in that future moment, with their hearts laid bare, their voices would meet in unison:
“I love you, Coryo.”
“I love you, Lucy Gray.”
Neither of them knowing, even then, just how deeply the other meant it.