Chapter 27 Slut
Maddie Pov
The hallway was crowded. Students rushing between classes. Lockers slamming. Voices everywhere. Normal chaos. Normal noise. But today something was different. Today people were staring at me more than usual. Whispering more than usual.
I kept my head down. Walked fast. Wanted to get to my next class without incident. Without drama. Without whatever was making everyone look at me like that.
Then I heard it. Clear. Loud. Meant for me to hear.
"Slut."
I froze. The word hit me like a punch. Made my whole body go cold. Made my stomach drop. Made my heart start racing.
Who said that? Where did it come from? I looked around but couldn't tell. Too many people. Too much noise. Could have been anyone.
I started walking again. Faster now. Almost running. Just wanted to disappear. Wanted to melt into the floor. Wanted to be anywhere but here.
"Teacher's pet," another voice said. Followed by laughter. Multiple people laughing.
My face burned. Hot. Embarrassed. Ashamed even though I hadn't done anything. Even though I didn't understand what was happening.
More whispers followed me down the hall. Bits and pieces I couldn't quite catch. But I heard enough. Heard words like "sleeping" and "grades" and "desperate" floating around me.
What were they talking about? What rumor was spreading? What lie was being told?
"Hold your head up," Gory said in my mind. Her voice was firm. Strong. "Don't let them see you break."
I tried. Tried to keep my head high. Tried to look unbothered. Tried to pretend like their words didn't cut. But inside I was crumbling. Inside I was dying. Inside I wanted to scream.
A tall girl stepped directly in my path. I almost ran into her. Had to stop short. She was a junior I think. Volleyball player. Tall. Athletic. Mean looking.
"Hey," she said. Smiled this cruel smile. "Teacher fucker."
The words hit me like ice water. Cold. Shocking. Horrible. My mouth opened but nothing came out. No words. No defense. No response.
"What's wrong?" the girl asked. Stepped closer. "Cat got your tongue? Or is your mouth too busy with Professor Martin?"
Laughter erupted around us. People had stopped. Were watching. Were enjoying the show.
"I don't," I started. My voice came out weak. Shaky. "I didn't do anything."
"Sure you didn't," the girl said. "That's why you have straight A's even though you're never in class. That's why you're always meeting with teachers after hours. That's why everyone knows you're a whore."
Tears burned my eyes. Hot. Angry. Humiliated. I wanted to fight back. Wanted to defend myself. But the words wouldn't come. Just stood there frozen while everyone stared. While everyone judged. While everyone believed the lies.
Then Elara appeared. Like lightning. Moving so fast I barely saw her coming. She pushed through the crowd. Got between me and the tall girl. Her fists were clenched at her sides. Her face was furious.
"Say it again," Elara said. Her voice was low. Dangerous. "I dare you. Say it again and I'll knock your teeth out."
The tall girl smirked. "What are you? Her bodyguard? Or are you sleeping with teachers too?"
Elara moved. Fast. Her fist pulled back ready to swing. Ready to hit. Ready to fight.
I grabbed her arm. Held tight. "Don't," I said. My voice was desperate. Pleading. "Please don't."
"Let me go," Elara said. Still staring at the tall girl. "She needs to learn."
"It's not worth it," I said. Tears were falling now. Couldn't stop them anymore. "Please. Let's just go."
"Listen to your slut friend," the tall girl said. "Run away. That's all you're good for anyway."
Elara tried to lunge again but I held tighter. "Please," I begged. "Please Elara. Don't make this worse."
Elara looked at me. Saw my tears. Saw my face. Something in her expression changed. Softened. She lowered her fist. Turned away from the tall girl.
"This isn't over," Elara said to her. "Touch her again. Say one more thing. I'll find you."
"I'm so scared," the tall girl said. Mocking. Laughing.
Elara grabbed my hand. Started pulling me away. Through the crowd. Away from the stares. Away from the whispers. Away from the humiliation.
We turned a corner. Found an empty classroom. Elara pulled me inside. Shut the door. Locked it.
"What the hell was that?" Elara asked. She was still angry. Still shaking. "What are people saying about you?"
"I don't know," I said. Tears streaming down my face. "I don't understand. I haven't done anything. I don't know where this is coming from."
"Someone started a rumor," Elara said. "Someone's spreading lies about you sleeping with teachers. About trading sex for grades."
"But that's not true," I said. My voice broke. "I would never. I haven't even talked to my teachers outside of class."
"I know that," Elara said. She grabbed my shoulders. "I know you didn't do anything. But someone wants people to think you did. Someone's trying to destroy your reputation."
"Simone," I whispered. "It has to be Simone."
"Probably," Elara agreed. "She's been trying to get rid of you since day one. This is just her latest attack."
"I can't do this anymore," I said. Sliding down the wall until I was sitting on the floor. "I can't keep fighting. Can't keep surviving. I'm so tired Elara. I'm so tired."
"I know," Elara said. She sat down next to me. "I know you're tired. But you can't give up. You can't let her win."
"She's already winning," I said. "Everyone believes her. Everyone thinks I'm. Thinks I'm that. Nobody will ever look at me the same way."
"Then we fight back," Elara said. "We prove them wrong. We show them who you really are."
"How?" I asked. "How do we fight rumors? How do we prove something didn't happen?"
Elara was quiet. Didn't have an answer. Because there wasn't one. That's the thing about rumors. Once they start they're impossible to stop. Impossible to prove wrong. They just exist. Just spread. Just destroy.
"I hate this place," I said. Wiping my face. "I hate everyone here. I hate Simone. I hate all of it."