Chapter 26 Rumors Like Poison
Simone Pov
The hallway between classes was perfect. Crowded but not too crowded. Loud but not too loud. Just enough people to overhear. Just enough noise to pretend you weren't meant to be heard.
I stood by my locker with Madison, Taylor, and three other girls from the cheer squad. We were pretending to talk about homework. About practice. About normal things. But I had something better planned.
"Did you guys hear about the wolfless one?" I asked. Kept my voice low. Casual. Like I was sharing harmless gossip.
"What about her?" Madison asked. She leaned in. Always hungry for drama.
"I heard something interesting," I said. Looked around like I was checking if anyone was listening. Made it seem secret. Made it seem important. "About how she's passing her classes."
"She's actually doing well," Taylor said. "I saw the grade postings. She's got straight A's."
"Exactly," I said. Let the word hang there. "Which is weird right? For someone who's always in the infirmary. Always missing class. Always too weak to participate."
"What are you saying?" one of the other girls asked.
I leaned in closer. Made them all lean in too. Created a little circle of conspiracy. "I'm saying maybe she's getting help. Special help. The kind that doesn't involve studying."
Madison's eyes went wide. "You mean..."
"I heard she sleeps with teachers," I whispered. "Just to pass. That's how she maintains her grades even though she's never there."
Gasps. Whispers. Exactly the reaction I wanted.
"Are you serious?" Taylor asked. "Who told you that?"
"I can't say," I said. Shook my head. "But it's from a reliable source. Someone who saw her leaving Professor Martin's office late at night. Multiple times."
Professor Martin taught our combat theory class. He was young. Attractive. Exactly the kind of teacher people would believe this about.
"Oh my god," Madison said. She covered her mouth. "That's so gross."
"I know," I said. Made my voice sound disgusted. Scandalized. "But I guess when you're desperate. When you have no other way to succeed. You do what you have to do."
"We should tell someone," one of the girls said. "That's not right. She shouldn't be allowed to do that."
"Who would we tell?" I asked. "We don't have proof. It's just rumors. But between us? I believe it. It makes sense. Everything adds up."
"Should we say something to her?" Taylor asked. "Confront her?"
"No," I said quickly. "Don't confront her directly. Just. If you hear people talking about it. Don't correct them. Let people know the truth. Let people understand what kind of person she really is."
They nodded. All of them. Eager. Ready to spread what I'd just planted. Ready to destroy her without even realizing they were being used.
"This stays between us though," I added. "We're not gossiping. We're just. Being aware. Being careful. Making sure people know who they're dealing with."
"Of course," Madison said. "We're just looking out for everyone."
Perfect. That's exactly what I wanted them to think. That they were doing something noble. Something necessary. When really they were just my weapons. My tools. My way of destroying her without getting my hands dirty.
The bell rang. Time for next class. We split up. Headed in different directions. But I knew what would happen. Knew they couldn't keep it to themselves. Knew they'd tell their friends. Who'd tell their friends. Who'd tell their friends.
By lunch the whole school would know. By dinner it would be fact. By tomorrow nobody would question it. That's how rumors worked. That's how you destroyed someone's reputation. Simple. Easy. Effective.
I walked to my next class with a smile on my face. This was just the beginning. Just another step in my plan. First the wolfsbane to show her she wasn't safe. Now the rumors to show her she wasn't wanted.
Next would be worse. Next would break her completely. Next would make her leave. Would make her disappear. Would make her realize she never should have come here.
I sat down in class. Pulled out my notebook. Pretended to pay attention while the teacher talked. But my mind was already planning. Already scheming. Already thinking three steps ahead.
Calix would hear the rumors too. Would probably defend her. Would probably get angry. But that was fine. That just showed everyone how much he cared. How weak he was. How easily manipulated.
When she was finally gone. When she finally left. He'd be sad for a while. Would probably blame himself. But he'd get over it. Would move on. Would come back to me.
Because I was patient. I was smart. I was willing to play the long game. Unlike her. Unlike that pathetic wolfless girl who thought she could just show up here. Thought she could take what was mine. Thought she could win.
She was about to learn. About to understand. About to realize that I didn't lose. I didn't give up. I didn't accept defeat.
I won. Always. Every time. No matter what it took. No matter who got hurt. No matter how dirty I had to play.
That's what made me different. That's what made me powerful. That's what made me the future Luna.
Not her. Never her. She was nothing. Nobody. A temporary problem that would soon be solved.
Class ended. Lunch time. I walked to the cafeteria with my squad. We got our food. Sat at our usual table. The center table. Where everyone could see us. Where everyone would hear us.
"So about what we talked about earlier," Madison said. She looked around. Made sure people nearby could hear. "About the wolfless girl."
"What about her?" I asked. Playing dumb. Playing innocent.
"The teacher thing," Madison said. Dropped her voice but not enough. Perfect. "Do you really think it's true?"
"I mean it makes sense," Taylor chimed in. Louder than necessary. "How else would she be passing?"
Other tables were listening now. I could see them. Could see ears perking up. Could see people leaning closer to hear better.
"I don't want to spread rumors," I said. Made my voice sound reluctant. Concerned. "But yeah. I think it's true. I think she's sleeping with teachers to get good grades."
Murmurs spread. Whispers started. People pulled out phones. Started texting. The rumor was spreading. Infecting. Growing.
Exactly as planned.