The hallway felt colder today. Everyone was staring.
Whispers trailed behind me like a shadow. "Did you hear?" "She and Rylan were caught alone in the music room..." "That explains why Damien looked pissed."
I felt my stomach twist.
When I saw Damien near the lockers, his eyes found mine—but they didn't hold the same softness anymore. There was hurt. Anger.
I rushed to him. "You heard it too?"
He nodded, jaw clenched. "Yeah. Rumors travel fast in this school."
"It's not true," I said quickly. "Damien, I swear—"
"I believe you," he said, his voice calm but sharp. "But someone clearly wants me to think otherwise."
That someone. Serena? Or… Rylan?
Damien's POV
I saw her panic as she approached me. I hated that look on her face—like she thought I might leave her. Like I'd believe something so stupid.
But I also hated that I didn't know who started the rumor. Who wanted to drive a wedge between us?
Rylan walked past, and our eyes met. His smirk was almost undetectable—but I caught it. My fists tightened.
Serena "accidentally" brushed past me moments later, her voice fake-sweet. "Rough morning, Damien? Maybe some people aren't who they pretend to be."
I didn't respond. But she lingered, pretending to drop a file, leaning too close. Ava saw it. Her eyes narrowed.
Chloe's POV
Something was off.
Ava looked like she wanted to punch a wall. Damien looked like he already had. And Serena? That girl was way too smug.
When I went to grab lunch, I saw her whispering to a group of girls—laughing. One of them mentioned Rylan's name. My stomach dropped.
I turned to Ezra. "She's spreading it. I saw her."
Ezra's eyes flicked toward Serena. "Should've guessed. Girl's all perfume and poison."
He looked at me longer than usual. "I don't like seeing Ava hurt. Or you pissed off. Makes me want to punch someone."
I blinked. "Me?"
He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah. You just look… different when you're angry. Fire kind of suits you."
Did Ezra just flirt with me? Wait—was that a blush?
Rylan's POV
Watching Ava run to Damien stung. I wasn't expecting that rumor to spread so fast. I never said anything—but I didn't deny anything either. Maybe that was enough.
But then I saw her looking hurt. Betrayed. And it made my stomach twist in ways I didn't want to admit.
Damien looked ready to kill me. And part of me wanted him to.
Because the truth was, I liked Ava the moment I saw her. And now? I didn't want to be the villain. But love doesn't wait in line.
Ezra's POV
Chloe doesn't know it yet, but she's becoming my favorite part of the day.
When she defends Ava, when she glares at Serena like she could slap the makeup off her face, I feel something shift.
I'm not just watching
a friend anymore.
I think I'm falling. And this might get messy.