Page 71 of Lessons in Touch

"What are you doing?" she asks again, her voice barely above a whisper.

I straighten up, trying to find the right words. "I'm leaving."

"Leaving?" She steps into the room, looking around at the boxes and half-packed belongings. "Where are you going?"

"Away from here. Away from this situation." I gesture toward the suitcase. "I've resigned my position. And I'm withdrawing from the Senate race, too."

Her face goes white. "Because of the video?"

"Because I won't let you pay the price for my mistakes." I turn back to the dresser, unable to look at her while I explain. "Cassandra will release it eventually. She's made that clear. But if I remove myself from the equation, maybe she'll leave you alone."

"What do you mean, remove yourself?"

I pull open another drawer, focusing on the simple task of folding socks. "I mean, if I disappear. I’m going to go away for a while and let the scandal die down. And then, you can finish school, get your inheritance, and build the life you deserve."

"And what about us?!"

Her question hangs in the air. I close my eyes for a moment, then force myself to face her.

"There is no us, Rose. Not anymore. That's the point."

She has tears in her eyes now, and I have to look away. This is killing me, but it's the only way to protect her.

"You're willing to give up everything? Your career, your political future, everything you've worked for?"

"For you? Yes. You matter more than any of that, Rose.”

"Gabriel, you need to know that…"

"I don’t need to know anything, Rose." I hold up a hand. "Please don't make this harder than it already is. This is the right thing to do. The only thing I can do."

"No, it's not." Her voice is stronger now, more determined. "You need to stop packing and listen to me."

Something in her tone makes me pause. She's not crying anymore. Instead, she looks... triumphant?

"Rose, what are you talking about?"

"I confronted Cassandra and Liam. I found them in the common room, and I called them out."

My blood runs cold. "You did what?"

"I told them I knew about the video. I told them exactly what I thought of their plan."

"Rose, no." I sink onto the edge of the bed. "You don't understand what you've done. You've made everything worse."

"Have I?" She sits beside me, her hand finding mine. "Because Cassandra agreed to delete the video. All copies."

I stare at her. "That's impossible. She would never do that!"

"She would if she had more to lose than we do."

"What do you mean?"

"I told her I'd go to the headmistress and report everything I know about the secret student parties. The drugs, the sex, all of it. I gave her a choice: destroy us both, or walk away and protect herself."

I'm stunned into silence. My brilliant, brave Rose turned the tables on them.

"She chose herself," Rose continues. "Just like I knew she would. Liam looked ashamed the whole time. I think he'll actually delete everything."