It started with whispers again.
Not loud.
Not obvious.
But there.
Tessa felt it the moment she walked into school.
A shift in the air.
The kind that didn't announce itself
But lingered.
Followed.
She kept walking anyway.
Head steady.
Steps even.
Like she didn't notice.
But she did.
"Okay… something's off," Lily muttered beside her, glancing around.
Tessa didn't respond immediately.
Because she was trying to figure out what exactly had changed.
Yesterday had been… fine.
Quiet.
Nothing dramatic.
So why did today feel like this?
At her locker
She finally heard it.
"That's her…"
"I heard she's still seeing him…"
"And someone else too—"
Tessa's hand froze slightly on her locker door.
Lily turned sharply.
"What did you just say?"
The girls nearby looked away quickly, pretending they hadn't said anything.
Tessa shut her locker.
Calm.
Too calm.
"…It's nothing," she said quietly.
Lily frowned.
"No, it's not."
But Tessa had already started walking again.
Because she didn't want to hear the rest.
Didn't want to understand it.
Not yet.
—
By mid-morning
It was everywhere.
Not direct.
Not confrontational.
Just
Constant.
Looks.
Murmurs.
Half-hidden smiles.
Tessa sat through class without really hearing anything.
Her mind kept circling the same question.
What are they talking about?
—
She got her answer at lunch.
She hadn't planned to sit there.
But it was the closest empty table.
And she didn't have the energy to look for another.
Lily sat across from her, still watching the room carefully.
"I don't like this," she said under her breath.
Tessa picked at her food.
Neither did she.
A voice cut in from behind.
"Wow."
Tessa's hand stilled.
She didn't have to turn.
Vanessa.
Of course.
She stepped around the table slowly, her gaze sweeping over Tessa.
Then Lily.
Then back again.
"You really don't waste time, do you?" she said lightly.
Tessa didn't respond.
Didn't look up.
Vanessa smiled faintly.
"I mean… juggling two guys at once?" she continued.
"That's impressive."
Lily pushed back her chair slightly.
"Say that again."
Tessa reached out, lightly grabbing her arm.
"Don't."
Quiet.
Controlled.
Vanessa's eyes flickered to that.
To the way Tessa stopped her.
Interesting.
"I'm just repeating what people are saying," Vanessa said with a small shrug.
"You and Adrian… and now that guy from yesterday?"
A pause.
Then
"Didn't think you had it in you."
That one was sharper.
Designed to land.
Tessa finally looked up.
Met her gaze.
For a moment
No one spoke.
The table around them had gone quiet.
Watching.
Waiting.
Tessa's expression didn't change.
"You seem very interested," she said.
Calm.
Flat.
Vanessa's smile tightened slightly.
"Just observant."
"Then observe something useful."
Silence.
Lily blinked.
Vanessa didn't react immediately.
Then
A soft laugh.
"I almost like you better like this," she said.
"Less… forgettable."
That one almost sounded like a compliment.
Almost.
Then she turned
And walked away.
Just like that.
But the damage?
Already done.
—
Tessa stood abruptly.
"I'm done," she said quietly.
Lily followed immediately.
They walked out together.
Fast.
Neither of them spoke until they reached the hallway.
Then
"What the hell was that?" Lily snapped.
Tessa exhaled shakily.
"I don't know."
"Yes, you do," Lily said.
"She's starting something."
Tessa leaned back against the lockers, closing her eyes briefly.
"She already did."
The whispers.
The looks.
Now it made sense.
Or at least
Some of it did.
She opened her eyes again.
And that's when she saw him.
Adrian.
Standing a few steps away.
Watching.
His expression unreadable.
"How long have you been there?" Lily asked sharply.
"Long enough," he said.
His gaze shifted to Tessa.
"What's going on?"
Tessa let out a small breath.
"You should know," she said quietly.
That hit.
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"I don't."
"Then ask your friends."
Silence.
Tessa pushed herself off the locker.
"I have class."
She walked past him.
Didn't wait.
Didn't stop.
Lily hesitated
Then followed.
Adrian didn't move immediately.
But something in his expression had changed.
Subtly.
Dangerously.
—
Later that day
The hallway was more crowded than usual.
Tessa kept her head down this time.
Not hiding.
Just… avoiding.
She reached her locker
And froze.
Someone was there.
The same guy again.
Leaning casually like before.
"Hey," he said.
Tessa hesitated.
"…Hi."
He studied her for a moment.
"You okay?"
Simple question.
But it caught her off guard.
"…I'm fine."
"You don't look fine."
Before she could respond
A familiar voice cut in.
"She said she's fine."
Tessa turned.
Adrian.
Closer this time.
His expression sharper.
More controlled.
But underneath that
Something else.
The guy straightened slightly.
"Relax, I was just asking."
"And I answered," Tessa said quickly.
Before this could turn into something else.
The tension between them was immediate.
Visible.
Uncomfortable.
The guy glanced between them
Then stepped back slightly.
"Yeah… I'll see you around."
And he left.
Just like that.
But the tension didn't.
It stayed.
Heavy.
Between them.
"Was that necessary?" Tessa asked, turning back to her locker.
Adrian stepped closer.
"Yes."
She frowned.
"Why?"
He didn't answer right away.
Didn't look away either.
Because the real answer?
He didn't have one that made sense.
Not one he could say out loud.
So instead
"I don't like it."
Honest.
Unexpected.
Tessa turned to face him fully now.
"That's not my problem."
The words came out sharper than before.
But her voice didn't shake.
Adrian held her gaze.
For a moment
Neither of them moved.
Then
"You're right," he said quietly.
That surprised her.
But before she could respond
"I'll fix it."
That made her pause.
"Fix what?"
Adrian didn't answer.
He just looked at her for a second longer
Then walked away.
Leaving her there.
Confused.
Because something about that
Didn't sound like a promise.
It sounded like a decision.