Rumors and Tension
By Monday morning, the entire school knew about the kiss.
Whispers followed me through the hallways, snickers from Logan’s friends and side-eyes from girls who had been vying for his attention for years. But the worst part was Vanessa.
She cornered me in the hallway between classes, her sharp smile not quite hiding the fury in her eyes.
“Emma,” she said, her voice saccharine sweet. “Care to explain what happened at the party?”
I forced a smile, clutching my books tighter. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, come on,” she said, her smile widening. “You think no one saw it? You, throwing yourself at Logan like that?”
My stomach twisted, but I refused to let her see it. “I wasn’t—”
“Save it,” she snapped, her mask slipping for a moment. “You’re pathetic, you know that? Clinging to him like he actually cares about you.”
Her words hit harder than I wanted to admit.
“You don’t know anything about me,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended.
Vanessa scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “Whatever helps you sleep at night. But let me give you a little advice: Logan doesn’t do relationships. And if he does, it’s not going to be with someone like you.”
She walked away before I could respond, leaving me standing there, humiliated and furious.
***
By lunch, I couldn’t take it anymore. I skipped the cafeteria, hiding out in the library instead. The quiet was a welcome relief from the constant stares and whispers, but it didn’t last.
“Thought I’d find you here,” Logan’s voice said from behind me, low and familiar.
I turned, and there he was, leaning against the bookshelf like he owned the place.
“What do you want?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.
Logan frowned, stepping closer. “You’ve been avoiding me.”
“I’ve been busy,” I said, turning back to my book.
“Busy avoiding me,” he shot back, sliding into the seat across from me. “Did Vanessa say something to you?”
“Logan, just drop it,” I said, my voice tight.
“No.” His tone was firmer now, his eyes locked on mine. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“I can’t do this,” I blurted, my chest tightening. “I can’t be part of your games, Logan. I’m not like Vanessa or your other friends. I’m not—”
“You’re not what?” he interrupted, his voice low and dangerous. “Not good enough? Not fun enough?”
I didn’t answer, but the silence spoke volumes.
Logan leaned closer, his eyes narrowing. “If you keep avoiding me,” he said, his voice dropping to a whisper, “I’ll fuck you right here. Do you want that?”
