Chapter 49 "Feeling Safe"

• Marianne bit her lip, trying to stifle her laughter at Michael’s wide-eyed expression. She enjoyed these moments with him; they distracted her from her own thoughts.
• "Don’t worry," she teased, "I won’t tell anyone about your little kiss with your crush in the storage room." She smiled, but Michael’s expression darkened as he bit his lip nervously. The thought of others discovering his feelings for Dylan made him uneasy.
• Sensing his discomfort, Marianne's smile softened, and she gently stroked his hair. "It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, Michael. What really counts is how you feel about yourself. But I get it. You’re about to debut in a group, and the industry is tough. Keeping things private might be best for now, but the decision is entirely yours. If you want to keep it a secret, that’s fine. If you decide to tell Dylan, well, who knows what could happen? He might feel the same, and who knows, you two could be together when you're famous." She smiled reassuringly. "I’ll support you no matter what you choose."