Justin Lewis's hands were trembling on the steering wheel as he sped down the icy Philadelphia street. The air inside the car was so thick with tension you could slice it with a knife. Jeffrey Harrington sat in the passenger seat, his arms crossed, his jaw tight, his gaze fixed out the frosted window.

It was quiet, except for the sound of the windshield wipers brushing back and forth against the snow.

"Are you gonna say something?" Justin's voice was low and dangerous. His knuckles were white from gripping the wheel too hard.

Jeffrey didn't answer. He stared at the window like it held the answers to all his problems.

"I mean it, Jeffrey." Justin's eyes flicked toward him, just for a second, before returning to the road. "Are you seriously not gonna say anything?"

Jeffrey finally turned his head. His eyes were dark and unreadable. "What's there to say?"

Justin's mouth twisted. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe the fact that your so-called best friend just stood there and let her little crew treat us like garbage?"

Jeffrey's jaw tensed. "I don't wanna talk about it."

"You should wanna talk about it," Justin shot back. "Because the way they ambushed us back there—Jesus, Jeffrey—how are you not angry?"

Jeffrey's lips thinned. "Oh, I'm angry."

Justin scoffed. "Could've fooled me."

Jeffrey's eyes snapped toward him. "You don't think I'm angry?" His voice was sharp. "You don't think I'm sitting here, trying not to scream because of how humiliated I feel?"

Justin's eyes stayed fixed on the road. "Then say it."

Jeffrey's chest rose and fell rapidly. "I'm angry, Justin. I'm angry because Laurel Castillo—the person who's supposed to have my back, the person I've known longer than you—just stood there while her friends ripped me apart in front of a room full of people. You think I'm not angry about that?"

Justin's jaw twitched. "Then why are you defending her?"

"I'm not defending her!" Jeffrey's voice cracked. "I'm trying to figure out why I trusted her!"

Justin didn't answer. He pulled into the parking lot of their apartment complex and shut off the car.

Jeffrey sat there for a moment, breathing hard. His hands were shaking.

Justin cut the engine. "So… are we talking about this or not?"

Jeffrey opened the door and stepped into the cold night air.

Justin sighed. "Oh, here we go."

Jeffrey stormed toward the apartment building, snow crunching under his boots. He shoved open the front door and stomped toward the elevator. Justin followed him silently.

The elevator doors slid open. They stepped inside.

Justin pressed the button for the fourth floor. Neither of them spoke as the elevator rose.

When the doors opened, Jeffrey walked out first, heading straight for their apartment door. He unlocked it and walked inside without looking back.

Justin followed him inside and closed the door behind them.

Jeffrey ripped off his coat and threw it onto the floor. "Unbelievable."

Justin leaned against the wall. His arms were crossed. "Yeah."

Jeffrey turned around sharply. His eyes were blazing. "Do you know what the worst part is?"

Justin raised an eyebrow. "The part where Connor called you a snake or the part where Michaela accused you of faking your entire friendship with Laurel?"

Jeffrey shook his head. "No. The worst part is that Laurel stood there. She just stood there and let them do it."

Justin's face darkened. "Yeah. That was pretty messed up."

Jeffrey started pacing the room, running his hands through his short curls. "I knew Laurel had a tendency to be… possessive. I knew she had trust issues. But this? This wasn't some minor fight. This was a full-on betrayal."

Justin watched him carefully. "You think she planned it?"

Jeffrey's eyes sharpened. "Of course she planned it. They all coordinated that ambush. You think Asher just happened to post a TikTok about us the same day Michaela and Oliver unfollowed us?" He scoffed. "Come on. Laurel's not stupid. She knew exactly what she was doing."

Justin frowned. "Why would she do that? Over hiking?"

Jeffrey's face twisted. "It's not about the hiking. It's about control. Laurel's always had this need to control the people in her life."

Justin's expression darkened. "And the second you didn't fall in line…"

Jeffrey smiled bitterly. "I became the enemy."

Justin hesitated before speaking. "You don't think…"

"What?"

Justin's eyes flicked toward him. "You don't think this… triggered something?"

Jeffrey's face went pale.

Justin stepped toward him. "Jeff…"

Jeffrey's breathing picked up. He turned away, walking toward the bedroom. Justin followed him.

Jeffrey stepped into the bathroom and turned on the light. He leaned against the sink, his hands gripping the edges. He stared into the mirror at his own reflection. His face was pale. His eyes were red-rimmed.

Justin hovered in the doorway. "Jeffrey?"

Jeffrey's mouth curled. "First it was my mother."

Justin tensed.

"First it was my mother," Jeffrey repeated. "Do you know what she did to me? She walked into my home. Into our home. After I came out to her. She walked in and found me with a man. She had this… look on her face. Like I was dirty. Like I was some kind of disappointment."

Justin's face darkened.

"And you know what she did after that?" Jeffrey's hands curled into fists. "She told me I could 'fix it.' She told me it wasn't too late. She said God could forgive me."

Justin's hands curled into fists.

"And now Laurel—" Jeffrey's voice cracked. "Laurel's doing the same thing." His shoulders sagged. "She made me feel like I was wrong. Like I was bad. Because I didn't give her what she wanted."

Justin stepped into the bathroom. "Jeff."

Jeffrey's breath was shaky. "Do you know what it feels like to have the two people you trusted the most make you feel… unworthy?"

Justin stepped behind him and wrapped his arms around him. "Yes."

Jeffrey's eyes squeezed shut.

Justin's chin rested on Jeffrey's shoulder. "You are not wrong. You are not bad. And you are definitely not unworthy."

Jeffrey's eyes glistened.

"I don't care what Laurel thinks. I don't care what your mother thinks. I know you. I know your heart. And you don't owe anybody anything."

Jeffrey's face twisted. He opened his eyes and stared at his reflection. "Then why does it feel like I do?"

Justin tightened his grip. "Because they conditioned you to feel that way."

Jeffrey's breath hitched.

Justin turned Jeffrey toward him. "But it's not true."

Jeffrey's mouth opened, but no words came out.

"You don't owe Laurel your life," Justin whispered. "You don't owe her your time. You don't owe her your loyalty when she clearly doesn't deserve it."

Jeffrey's lip trembled. "But she was my friend."

Justin's face softened. "I know."

Jeffrey's voice broke. "I thought she'd always be there."

Justin pulled him closer. "She's not. But I am."

Jeffrey's eyes filled with tears.

Justin stroked his face. "She chose her side. Now you have to choose yours."

Jeffrey leaned into Justin's hand. His breath was shaky. "What if I'm not strong enough?"

Justin's expression hardened. "You are."

Jeffrey's chest hitched.

"And if you're not?" Justin kissed his forehead. "I'll carry you."

Jeffrey's face crumbled. A tear slid down his cheek.

Justin's thumb brushed it away. "You're not alone anymore."

Jeffrey's hands curled into Justin's shirt. "I'm so tired."

Justin pressed his lips to Jeffrey's temple. "Then let me fight for you."

Jeffrey closed his eyes.

And for the first time all night, he let himself breathe.