Chapter 6
The rumor breaks at 7:14 a.m.
Alex knows because his phone won’t stop vibrating.
He stares at it from the pillow like it’s a threat.
Embarrassment hits before he even unlocks the screen. His stomach tightens. His skin goes cold.
He opens one notification.
A blurry photo.
Backstage. Two figures too close. A hand unmistakably in Alex’s hair.
The caption is worse.
Industry source claims boyband hiding internal relationship.
Alex locks the phone.
Isolation rushes in. Absolute. Suffocating.
Jackson calls immediately.
Alex lets it ring. Once. Twice. Three times.
Then answers.
“I didn’t say anything,” Jackson says. No hello. Voice tight. “I swear.”
“I know,” Alex says.
Silence.
“Where are you?” Jackson asks.
“Bathroom.”
“I’m coming.”
They meet backstage an hour later.
The air feels wrong. Heavy. Like the building itself is holding its breath.
Jackson looks wrecked. Hoodie instead of leather jacket. Hair unstyled. No armor.
“You saw it,” Jackson says.
Alex nods.
“I wanted control,” Jackson says. “I wanted to decide how it came out.”
Alex laughs softly. “YOU wanted to decide? That’s the problem. You always want control.”
Jackson flinches.
“I can fix it,” Jackson says quickly. Freaking. “We deny it. Say it’s fake. Say it’s a fan rumor.”
“No,” Alex says.
Jackson stops short.
“I won’t lie again,” Alex says. Calm. Certain. Stepping forward intro control.
Small connection sparks. Painful. Honest.
“You wanted me to come out,” Jackson says.
“I want you to stop choosing safety over truth,” Alex replies.
Jackson looks toward the stage. Toward the noise. Toward everything he’s built.
Fear moves through him like a shadow.
“I’m not ready,” he admits.
Alex nods. “Then I am.”
Jackson’s eyes snap back. “What does that mean?”
“It means I won’t protect the lie anymore,” Alex says. “If they ask me, I won’t cover for you.”
Betrayal hits Jackson’s face. Shock. Hurt.
“You’d do that to me?” he asks.
Alex doesn’t raise his voice. “You already did it to me.”
They get called to stage.
As they walk, Jackson grabs Alex’s wrist.
“Please,” Jackson says.
Alex gently pulls free.
The lights rise.
And for the first time since he joined the band, Alex feels the balance shift.
Not because he has power.
But because he’s done giving it away. And this was his moment.
