Chapter 7: Ringtones and Unspoken Secrets

Half an hour later, the show went to a commercial break. Everyone got into cars to head to Maple Heights High.

I could smell the warm asphalt outside, summer lingering in the air, the nervous energy of everyone gearing up for the next shot.

Before I got in, Caleb Martin found me.

“Natalie.”

He looked uneasy.

I couldn’t even be bothered to look at him. “What is it? I’m busy.”

I kept my eyes on my gear, fingers busy checking settings that didn’t really need checking.

He was silent for two seconds, then looked at me with guilt. “Have you been doing okay this past year...?”

His voice sounded soft, almost like he cared. Almost.

“Why, afraid I’m doing too well and might threaten you two?”

Old bitterness bubbled up. I wasn’t proud of it, but I couldn’t help myself.

“Why would you think that?”

He hurried to explain, eyes apologetic. “What happened back then was my fault, but I just couldn’t stand those hopeless days anymore. I hope you can understand. Now I have some connections—if you want to switch jobs, I can help you. At least you won’t have to work so hard.”

His offer hung in the air, reeking of pity and self-importance. I wanted to laugh.

I was silent for a moment.

Is he regretting it? He left with Lillian for money, and now that he realizes she’s hard to please, he’s thinking of me again?

He’d never cared about my dreams—only what I could do for him. Maybe he was lonely now, or just nostalgic for someone who’d let him slack off.

I straightened up and looked at the mole on his nose. I used to think it made him look handsome. I used to be crazy about him.

Now... the more I looked, the more it disgusted me.

"Save it, Caleb. I don’t need your charity, and I sure as hell don’t want your pity."

His face fell. For a moment, I almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

He was at a loss for words, still wanting to say something, when a car pulled up nearby.

Lillian opened the door, her tone like calling a dog: “Caleb, my feet are killing me. Come rub them.”

Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her eyes flashed cold.

Caleb hesitated, then hurried over. “Coming, babe.”

He fumbled with the door, eager to please. Old habits die hard.

Lillian glanced at me. “What were you talking to her about?”

“Nothing. Just telling her to behave.”

He lied so easily. I wondered if he even noticed.

“Really? I thought she was trying to get back together with you. I still remember how she cried and begged you not to leave her. Jeez, just like a dog.”

Her words stung, but I refused to let them see it. I kept my eyes on my equipment, jaw tight.

Caleb paused, then smiled. “No way. Even if she wanted to, I’d never agree. How could she compare to even a strand of your hair?”

“That’s more like it.” Lillian looked smug. “You think she hates me now? I’m on top reality shows, and her? She’s got nothing—can’t even keep her own man.”

I closed my eyes, letting their voices fade. I wasn’t going to waste another second on either of them.

...

I couldn’t hear what they were saying anymore. I just focused on packing up my things.

The world outside narrowed to the soft click of camera cases and the hum of distant traffic.

Until I got a message.

“Natalie Chen, let’s go.”

I replied, picked up my equipment, and got on the bus.

Only then did I realize Ryan Carter was on this bus, too, texting someone.

He sat near the window, sunlight cutting across his face. He looked almost ordinary in that moment, like any guy waiting for a ride home after practice.

Why was he on this bus?

My mind was a mess, but I didn’t dare ask. I pretended not to notice and quietly sat in the back row.

Suddenly, my phone rang.

It was Ryan Carter’s hit song, “The Sound of Rain Falling.”

“This rain ends here, emotions delayed. What you left behind, a long, lingering dampness...”

The melody drifted out, soft but unmistakable. Everyone in the car looked over.

My face went nuclear. I fumbled with my phone, hands slick with sweat, wishing I could crawl under the seat.

But it was too late.

Ryan looked up and met my eyes in the rearview mirror.

For a split second, our gazes locked. I felt every mile and year between us collapse.

“Sorry.” I gave an awkward smile. “I saw this song was trending yesterday and thought it sounded good, so I set it as my ringtone.”

He was silent for a moment. “But that’s the concert version from this year.”

He said it quietly, almost as if he was talking to himself. The others in the van didn’t seem to notice, but I heard every syllable.

Right... I’d forgotten. The concert version had rough sound quality—even the background noise wasn’t edited out.

“Have you been to my concert?” he asked.

The air in the van got heavy. I heard the faint buzz of my phone vibrating in my hand, my heart pounding out of sync.

Memories crashed over me like a tidal wave.

But how could I admit it?

This was my most secret secret. Even after all these years, deliberately avoiding any news about him, I still couldn’t help but go to his seven-year anniversary concert.

I sat in the last row, crying for his success.

The dark, echoing arena. The lights, the screaming fans. I’d left before the encore, too raw to hear the end.

“No,” I lied. “Maybe someone uploaded it? I’m not sure.”

My voice was thin, almost breaking. I gripped my camera tighter.

“Is that so.”

He didn’t push, but he didn’t look away. He just calmly watched me in the mirror, as if lost in thought.

After a while—

“Ms. Chen, aren’t you hot?”

“What?”

“Wearing a mask all the time—aren’t you hot?” His tone was casual, just like ordinary concern.

He said it gently, but I could hear the question behind the question. I wiped the sweat from my forehead. “Not hot. I... I caught a cold. Don’t want to infect everyone.”

I faked a cough, hoping it would sell my excuse. My cheeks were burning.

“...Is that so.”

My phone was burning in my hand. Instagram notifications kept popping up.

He glanced at them, replied calmly, but his fingers were trembling.

He tried to hide it, but I saw the nervous energy in his hands—the same fidget he used to have before big exams.

I quickly changed my ringtone, then peeked at the front row. He was busy replying to messages, so I quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Good, I almost got away with it.