⭐ CHAPTER 7 — The Office & The Hidden Enemy
(Author POV, 1,000+ words)
The bell hadn't even finished ringing when Amara heard her name echo down the hallway.
"Amara Thompson. Report to the principal's office immediately."
Her heart dropped.
Students turned to stare. Some whispered. Some pointed. Some smirked like they already knew why she was being summoned.
Vanessa's rumor had spread faster than wildfire.
By break time, everyone was already repeating the same lie:
"Kyle asked Vanessa out first. Amara stole him."
A few even added their own spice.
"Vanessa said Kyle was begging her!"
"She rejected him!"
"So he ran to Amara — the backup plan."
Amara kept walking, cheeks hot, jaw tight, pretending she didn't hear.
Kyle wasn't there yet. He'd gone to speak to a teacher about a class project.
But she needed him.
More than she wanted to admit.
When she reached the office door, the receptionist barely looked up.
"Go in," she said. "They're waiting."
They?
Her stomach tightened.
She pushed open the door.
The principal sat behind his desk, glasses low on his nose, flipping through a file.
Beside him stood the vice principal — serious-faced, arms crossed.
And next to them…
Vanessa.
Perfectly innocent expression.
Perfectly braided hair.
Perfectly fake.
"Good morning, sir," Amara said quietly.
"Amara," the principal sighed, gesturing to the chair. "Sit."
She obeyed.
Vanessa didn't sit.
She stood beside the desk like an angelic witness.
The principal folded his hands.
"We received a complaint this morning," he began.
"Multiple students claim you started a conflict with another student regarding a boy."
Amara blinked. "Sir, that's not—"
Vanessa stepped forward smoothly.
"Sir, I didn't want to report it," she said in a sad tone.
"But Amara confronted me after assembly. She said I was trying to take her boyfriend."
Amara's jaw dropped.
She hadn't even seen Vanessa after assembly.
"That's not true!" she said immediately. "I didn't—"
The principal raised a hand to silence her.
"Vanessa says she has witnesses."
Of course she did.
Amara felt her throat tighten. "Sir, Vanessa is lying."
The vice principal narrowed her eyes. "So you're saying Vanessa made everything up?"
"Yes," Amara said firmly, even though her voice trembled. "Every word."
Vanessa sniffed lightly, pretending to wipe a tear.
"I didn't want things to get this far. I told Amara I don't want Kyle. I told her to calm down."
Amara stared at her in disbelief.
The vice principal shook her head.
"This behavior is unacceptable. You girls are too young for relationship drama disrupting the school."
Amara opened her mouth, but a knock interrupted her.
The door swung open.
Kyle walked in — breathless, annoyed, and confused.
"Sir, I need to be here," he said. "This whole thing is about me."
The principal frowned. "Kyle, we didn't call you."
"I know," Kyle said, eyes flicking to Amara — softening for a moment — then darkening when he saw Vanessa.
"But whatever she told you is a lie."
Vanessa's face twitched.
Kyle continued:
"Amara never confronted her. Vanessa has been spreading rumors nonstop. She's been trying to start fights. She's been stalking—"
Vanessa gasped. "Kyle! How could you say that?"
Kyle ignored her completely.
"Sir," he said to the principal, "Vanessa has a personal issue with Amara. She's trying to make her look like a bully. It's all fake."
The room fell silent.
The principal looked between the three of them.
"Why would Vanessa lie?" he asked carefully.
Kyle's eyes hardened.
"Because someone is helping her," he said. "Someone who has a problem with Amara."
Amara turned to him sharply.
Someone is helping her? Who—
The office door opened again.
This time, a student peeked in.
Mr. Daniel, the math teacher, appeared behind him.
"Sir," he said quietly, "You asked to see him."
"See who?" the principal asked.
The boy stepped forward fully.
It was Jonah.
Tall. Quiet. Always watching Amara from a distance.
A boy who used to walk behind her after school.
A boy who once confessed feelings she rejected — gently.
Amara's stomach twisted.
The principal frowned. "Jonah, is it true you reported something this morning?"
Jonah swallowed hard, eyes flicking to Amara before dropping to the floor.
"I… uh… yes, sir."
Vanessa's eyes widened.
She hadn't expected him to be dragged in.
The principal leaned forward.
"What exactly did you report?"
Jonah hesitated.
Kyle glared at him.
Hard.
Jonah took a breath.
"I said…"
He glanced at Vanessa nervously.
"I said that… Amara told Vanessa to stay away from Kyle… or there would be trouble."
Amara's chest tightened.
She had never said anything like that.
Kyle stepped closer to Jonah.
"Why would you lie?" he asked, voice dangerously calm.
Jonah stuttered, "I-I didn't lie! Vanessa said— I mean, she told me— I thought it was true—"
"So you reported a rumor as fact?" Kyle snapped.
The principal's face darkened.
Vanessa quickly stepped between Jonah and Kyle.
"He didn't lie!" she protested. "I told him what happened. Amara threatened me—"
"I didn't threaten anyone!" Amara said loudly, unable to stay silent anymore.
Kyle turned to the principal.
"Sir, Vanessa manipulated Jonah. She's using him to make the story believable."
Vanessa shook her head violently.
"That's not true! Jonah, tell them— tell them what you told me!"
Jonah looked at her — then at Amara — then at Kyle.
His voice cracked.
"I… I just wanted Kyle to stop liking her."
Silence.
The entire room froze.
Vanessa's mouth fell open.
Amara felt her breath stop.
Kyle blinked, stunned.
The principal frowned. "Explain what you mean."
Jonah squeezed his eyes shut like he regretted everything.
"I… liked Amara since last term. But she didn't like me back. And then Kyle—"
He gestured helplessly.
"—Kyle started hanging around her. Everyone said they were a couple. I thought… I thought if there was drama, if Kyle stopped talking to her, maybe…"
He trailed off, shame flooding his face.
The vice principal pinched the bridge of her nose. "So you lied to break them apart."
Jonah nodded miserably.
"And Vanessa encouraged you?"
Jonah hesitated — then nodded again.
Vanessa's voice cracked.
"Jonah! You promised you'd never say—"
Kyle cut her off.
"Sir, Vanessa and Jonah both lied. They tried to ruin Amara's reputation because they're jealous."
Amara's eyes burned, but she forced the tears back.
The principal exhaled long and tired.
"This ends today," he said firmly.
"Vanessa and Jonah will receive disciplinary action. Amara, Kyle — you may go."
Amara stood slowly, her hands shaking.
Kyle was beside her instantly.
When they stepped into the hallway and the office door closed behind them, Kyle turned to her.
"Amara," he said softly, "are you okay?"
She wasn't.
But she nodded anyway.
Kyle watched her carefully.
"You didn't deserve any of that," he said. "And I won't let anyone do it again."
For the first time, his voice wasn't teasing, smug, or playful.
It was protective.
Serious.
Dangerously sincere.
Amara swallowed.
"Kyle… why do you care so much?"
Kyle looked away — jaw tight, fists clenched — like he didn't want her to see what he was feeling.
"Because," he said quietly,
"I don't want to lose you… even if this thing is supposed to be fake."