Chapter 20: Rumors

Aveline’s POV

By Monday morning, Crestwood Academy had officially decided my life was public entertainment. I knew it the second I walked into Advanced Literature and conversations stopped. Not fully. Just enough. Whispers lowered. Eyes followed me.

I tightened my grip on Asher’s notebook and headed toward my seat beside Daphne. She looked up instantly and smiled.

“Morning.”

“Is it?” I muttered.

Her smile widened. “You look traumatised.”

“You ever feel like a school collectively smells fear?”

“All the time.”

I sat down carefully while across the room, Milo Hayes dramatically whispered something to Landon Brooks while staring directly at me. Landon immediately smiled.

Daphne leaned closer. “You know people are talking about you, right?”

I nearly slammed my head into the desk. “Why?”

She blinked slowly. “That wasn’t a question.”

“It felt like one to me.”

Daphne laughed softly before lowering her voice. “You came back from the hospital acting all strange.”

My stomach tightened slightly. “How so?”

She studied me carefully. “You talk more now.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

“You fight back sometimes.”

I looked away casually. “Asher got tired of being everybody’s emotional support mascot.” The words came out sharper than intended. Daphne’s expression shifted instantly. Interesting.

“People weren’t always nice, I get it," she admitted quietly. Something ugly twisted inside my chest because she said it so casually. Like Crestwood hurting Asher had become normal. Before I could respond, the classroom door opened.

Kieran walked in And the entire atmosphere changed.

It was ridiculous how easily he commanded attention without trying. Tall. Sharp eyed. Uniform slightly messy like he stopped caring halfway through dressing himself. Girls immediately straightened. The guys acknowledged him automatically. Even teachers treated him differently.

Kieran barely noticed any of it His eyes landed on me instantly. Every single nerve in my body short-circuited.

He hesitated near the doorway for half a second before moving toward his seat. Unfortunately, Milo spotted the hesitation too.

“Gosh ”, Milo whispered loudly. “It’s happening again.”

Landon snorted while Theo, sitting two rows ahead of me, looked annoyed immediately.

Kieran dropped into his chair hard enough to make the desk rattle. “Hayes,” he said flatly, “shut up.”

Milo grinned wickedly. “Why are you talking like a divorced father?”

I tried focusing on my notebook instead. Tried ignoring the fact that Kieran kept looking at me. Tried ignoring the fact that every time he did, people noticed. Which only made the rumours worse.

By lunch, things had escalated catastrophically. Apparently, Crestwood students had collectively decided on three things. The first is, why Kieran suddenly treats "Asher" differently. Secondly, Asher Carter suddenly has the Captain's attention. And lastly, Asher is acting differently after the hospital.

Nobody knew anything and that somehow made it worse because they were all just spreading rumours.

I entered the cafeteria and immediately heard my name. “...telling you, Hampton almost killed Beckett for talking about Carter.”

“That’s because Beckett’s an idiot.”

“No seriously, have you SEEN them lately?”

“I heard Hampton walked Carter home after the party.”

“I heard Carter slapped him.”

“I heard they fought in the woods.”

“I heard....”

Milo spotted me entering and his face lit up with evil delight. “There he is!” he announced dramatically.

Every head turned. Theo immediately waved me toward their table. “Sit before Milo says something illegal.”

“Too late,” Milo replied proudly. I sat beside Theo quickly. Across from us, Kieran stiffened slightly before looking away too fast.

Milo pointed between Kieran and me with fries. “You two are acting weirder every day.”

“We’ve always hated each other,” I replied instantly.

“Exactly,” Milo said. “But now there’s emotional flavour.”

Landon nearly laughed while Kieran looked like he was holding himself back.

“Hayes.”

“What? I support enemies.”

Theo leaned back in his chair. “You’re imagining things.”

“Am I?” Milo asked innocently.

“Yes.”

“Then explain why Hampton looks like somebody just threatened his bloodline every time Carter talks to another human being.” My heartbeat stopped.

Theo’s expression darkened slightly.

And Kieran...

Kieran looked ready to launch Milo through a window. “That’s not happening,” he said coldly.

Milo lifted both hands. “Okay, scary captain.”

Daphne suddenly appeared beside the table carrying her lunch tray. Her eyes landed on me instantly. “Can I sit here?”

Theo shrugged. “Free country.” She sat beside me smiling softly. And somehow that made everything worse.

Because Kieran noticed that too. His eyes flicked toward Daphne. Then toward me. Then away again. Something tense moved through his expression before disappearing completely.

Daphne nudged my shoulder lightly. “You disappeared after class yesterday.”

“I had homework.” I’m academically oppressed.

She laughed quietly and the sound pulled attention immediately because apparently Daphne Sinclair rarely laughed around people. Now half the cafeteria was staring again.

Milo leaned toward Landon dramatically. “

Carter’s collecting admirers now.”

“Stop narrating people’s lives,” Landon muttered.

“I physically cannot.” Theo looked irritated now. Not obvious. But enough. Especially when Daphne smiled at me again.

“You’re funny now.”

I nearly choked. “Now?” She froze instantly. “That sounded terrible.”

“A little.”

“I meant before you were just…” She hesitated carefully. “Quiet.” The realisation hit harder than expected. Asher really had been lonely here And somehow nobody thought that was strange.

The bell finally rang before my emotional breakdown could fully activate and students immediately started moving again.

Kieran stood first. Because for one terrible second, the cafeteria disappeared again. Just him looking at me too intensely. Like he wanted answers. Like he wanted something worse.

Then Theo stood beside me suddenly.

“You heading to history?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll walk with you.”

Theo looped an arm briefly around my shoulders while guiding me toward the cafeteria exit. Friendly. Casual. But Kieran’s expression darkened instantly with jealousy, and suddenly his grip tightened slightly.

The walk to class felt tense for reasons I desperately didn’t want to examine.

“You okay?” Theo asked eventually.

“Why does everyone keep asking me that?”

“Because you look stressed.”

I laughed once. “Maybe because Crestwood students act like the FBI.” Theo smiled faintly before his expression softened. “You know you can trust me, right?”

The sincerity caught me off guard And guilt followed immediately because Theo trusted Asher, not me. Before I could respond, Daphne appeared again from around the hallway corner.

“There you are.”

She walked beside us naturally.

“I was looking for you.”

Theo’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“You found me ” I said

Daphne smiled, that smile did dangerous things to people apparently because three guys walking past literally turned to stare at her. She ignored them completely. Unfortunately, while walking, her hand brushed accidentally against my side. Against the binder beneath my uniform.

Everything inside me froze.

Her expression changed instantly. Her fingers pressed lightly against my ribs before I jerked backwards.

“What was....” "Asher?” Daphne frowned.

I forced out a sharp breath. “Ribs.”

Immediately her expression shifted to concern. “The hospital injury?”

I nodded quickly.

Pain flashed across her face. “I’m sorry.”

Theo looked worried now too. “You okay?”

“Fine.” My pulse slammed violently against my throat while Daphne kept staring at me strangely.

She said “You lost weight?.”

And suddenly I forgot how to breathe.