Rumors and Reputations

“A single glance from him, and suddenly, everyone saw me differently.”

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Northwood High had a talent for one thing: gossip.

It spread faster than wildfire, faster than any rumor mill I’d ever known. All it took was one spark. And unfortunately for me, detention with Raven Cross was enough to set the whole school ablaze.

By the time I walked through the gates the next morning, the whispers had already started.

“That’s the girl Raven got detention with.”

“Do you think they’re… like, a thing?”

“No way. He doesn’t date. Everyone knows that.”

“Then why was he with her?”

I pulled my hoodie tighter, keeping my gaze on the ground as if maybe, just maybe, the cracks in the pavement would swallow me whole. I’d spent years at Northwood perfecting invisibility. Sit in the back row, don’t talk too loud, don’t stand out.

And now, in less than twenty-four hours, Raven Cross had shattered all of that.

I reached my locker and tried to focus on the familiar numbers of my lock combination. Left, right, left. If I just kept moving, maybe they’d all forget. Maybe this would blow over.

“Morning, princess.”

My fingers froze on the lock. My heart knew that voice before my brain even caught up.

Raven leaned against the locker beside mine like he had all the time in the world, one hand shoved into his jeans pocket, the other lazily holding a helmet. His leather jacket was slung carelessly over his shoulder, his messy dark hair falling into his storm-gray eyes. The hallway’s chatter dipped just enough for me to know everyone was listening.

I turned, forcing a glare. “Stop calling me that.”

He tilted his head. “Can’t. It suits you.”

I slammed my locker shut, the sound echoing down the hall. “You’re making people talk.”

“Good.” His grin spread slowly, deliberate. “Let them.”

My breath hitched in disbelief. “Why would you want that?”

He pushed off the locker, stepping closer, his voice dropping low enough that only I could hear. “Because it gets under your skin. And because…” His eyes locked onto mine, sharp and unflinching. “It makes them think you’re untouchable too.”

I blinked. “Untouchable?”

“Yeah.” His smirk deepened. “If they think you’re mine, no one else will mess with you.”

My stomach twisted. “I’m not yours.”

“Not yet,” he said easily, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Before I could snap back, the bell rang, and students scurried to class, still stealing glances at me. At us.

I walked fast, but no matter how quick I moved, I couldn’t outrun the whispers.

In English, people turned in their seats, sneaking looks.

In Math, I caught two girls passing notes, both of them glancing at me with smirks.

By lunch, I could barely breathe under the weight of the attention.

I sat down in my usual corner, tray untouched. Maybe if I stayed quiet, it would all fade. But peace at Northwood was too much to ask for.

“So…”

I looked up to see Tiffany Carter, head cheerleader and queen bee, sliding into the seat across from me. Her lip gloss was perfect, her blonde hair curled in waves, and her smile—sharp and fake—was enough to make my skin crawl.

“What do you want?” I asked cautiously.

She twirled a strand of hair around her manicured finger. “Just curious. What’s the deal with you and Raven?”

“There is no deal,” I said flatly.

Her smile widened like a cat playing with its prey. “Funny, because everyone’s saying otherwise.” She leaned closer, her voice dripping with poison. “Word of advice? Don’t get too comfortable. Raven doesn’t do relationships. He’ll chew you up and spit you out just like the others.”

“There are no ‘others,’” I snapped, my patience running thin. “And like I said, there’s nothing going on.”

But Tiffany wasn’t satisfied. She tilted her head, eyes gleaming. “Then why is he looking at you like that?”

My heart skipped. I didn’t even want to turn, but I couldn’t stop myself.

Because there he was.

Raven.

Leaning against the cafeteria doorway, arms crossed, eyes locked on me. Not on anyone else—just me.

The room seemed to hush in a ripple, attention shifting as students realized who he was staring at. Tiffany’s smug smile faltered, and for a brief, satisfying second, she looked nervous.

Then Raven pushed off the doorway and walked toward us, slow and deliberate. The kind of walk that made the whole room feel like it was holding its breath.

He stopped at my side, draping an arm casually over my shoulder. His touch was heavy, possessive, as if daring anyone to challenge him.

“Problem, Tiff?” he asked, his voice smooth but laced with steel.

“N-no,” Tiffany stammered, her confidence cracking. “Just… talking.”

“Good.” His eyes flicked to me, lingering for a beat too long, and I swore something in them softened before the smirk returned. “Because Amara’s with me.”

The cafeteria erupted. Gasps, whispers, the scrape of chairs as people leaned closer to confirm what they’d heard.

My mouth fell open. “Excuse me—”

But Raven didn’t let me finish. He squeezed my shoulder lightly, steering me away from the table and out of the cafeteria like it was nothing.

The whole school was watching.

And all I could think was—

In one move, Raven Cross had done the one thing I’d been desperately trying to avoid.

He’d made me the center of attention.

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