Part Fourteen: Gossip, Confusion, and the Confrontation
The next morning, the school buzzed with whispers and stares. Phones were out, screenshots being shared, and everyone seemed to know about Ethan and Anna Rosé's kiss from the party.
Anna walked through the hallways, her heart pounding. Some girls giggled, some boys stared openly, and a few came up to comment.
"Wow… you and Ethan?" one whispered.
"I didn't know you two were like that," another laughed.
Anna's cheeks flushed, but she kept her head high. She had agreed to it, and to her, it was nothing more than a kiss. Still, seeing the reactions made her nervous.
She found a quiet corner near the cafeteria and pulled out her phone, scrolling through the likes and comments on the post. Some were sweet, some teasing, but the overwhelming attention made her heart race.
Then Nick appeared quietly, standing a few steps away, his expression unreadable but tense.
"Anna… can we talk?" he asked softly.
Anna looked up, a mix of relief and anxiety in her eyes. "Nick… I… it's not what it looks like. I agreed to the pictures and the kiss. That's it. Nothing more."
Nick's jaw clenched, his voice low and intense. "Anna… I saw the post. Half the school is talking about it. And Ethan… he's not just teasing anymore. He's trying to pull you into his games."
Anna shook her head, frustration and confusion in her eyes. "Nick! Stop acting like I'm helpless! I made my choice. And I know him—he's not doing anything wrong. I'm not a child to be protected."
Nick's chest tightened, emotions swirling. "It's not about protecting you, Anna… it's about not letting him manipulate your heart. You don't see it yet, but he's very good at playing games. I care about you too much to stay quiet."
Anna's heart skipped, torn between the intensity of Nick's feelings and the thrill of Ethan's charm. She didn't know how to respond.
Nick stepped closer, his voice softening. "I just… I just don't want to see you hurt. Not by him, not by anyone. Please, Anna… trust me."
Anna felt the pull in her chest—Nick's sincerity, Ethan's daring, and the chaos of her emotions all colliding. She realized that the next choices she made would define everything: her feelings, her heart, and the tangled love triangle she was caught in.
Outside, across the courtyard, Ethan's eyes met hers through a window. Calm, confident, and playful—but for the first time, a glimmer of something real flickered in his gaze.
Anna's world had never been more complicated—or more thrilling.