Monday morning, the rumor mill was in overdrive.
By first period, half the school believed Mira had been kicked out of her old school for cheating on exams. The other half said it was drugs.
Mira walked the halls with her head high, but inside she was unraveling.
She'd spent the weekend searching her old school records online—nothing. No scandals. No expulsions.
But someone was manufacturing lies.
And she had a pretty good guess who.
In the library during free period, she confronted Tera.
The blonde was at a corner table with two friends, scrolling her phone.
Mira dropped her bag loudly. "We need to talk."
Tera looked up, feigning surprise. "Oh. Hi, Mira. Love the outfit—very... thrift chic."
Her friends snickered.
Mira leaned in. "Cut the crap. You started those rumors."
Tera smiled sweetly. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Then explain why the cheating story matches the exact lie you told me freshman year at debate camp—about that girl from Ridgewood."
Tera's smile faltered.
Mira pressed. "I remember you. You got disqualified for plagiarism and blamed her."
The friends shifted uncomfortably.
Tera recovered fast. "Prove it."
"I will," Mira said quietly. "And when I do, everyone will know who the real liar is."
She turned to leave—and walked straight into Alexander.
He'd heard everything.
His expression was thunderous.
"Tera," he said coldly, "outside. Now."
Tera stood, chin high. "Alex—"
"Now."
They stepped into the hallway.
Mira couldn't hear the words, but she saw Tera's face go pale. Saw Alexander tower over her, voice low and furious.
When he came back in, Tera was gone.
He stopped in front of Mira.
"I took care of it," he said. "The rumors stop today."
"How?"
He hesitated. "I... reminded her that my family funds the debate team. And the spring formal. And half the scholarships here."
Mira stared. "You threatened her?"
"I protected you."
She shook her head. "I don't need you fighting my battles, Alexander."
He stepped closer. "Maybe not. But I'm doing it anyway."
The bell rang.
Students flooded the stacks.
But neither moved.
"Why?" she asked finally.
He looked at her—really looked.
"Because you're the first person who's ever seen through the act. And I don't want to lose that before I even have it."
Mira's breath caught.
Then a scream echoed from the front of the library.
Everyone ran toward the sound.
On the main bulletin board, someone had pinned printouts—grainy photos of Mira's old house. Police cars in the driveway. Headlines from local papers: "Teen Involved in Vandalism Spree Escapes Charges—Family Connections?"
It wasn't true. Mira had never been involved.
But the photos were real—her neighbor's kid had vandalized cars. Police questioned everyone on the block.
Someone had twisted it.
And at the bottom, in red marker: Ask Mira why she REALLY transferred.
The library went silent.
All eyes turned to her.
Alexander's face went deadly calm.
He ripped the papers down, crumbling them.
"Whoever did this," he said loudly, voice carrying, "is done at this school."
But Mira was already backing away.
Humiliation burned.
She bolted.
Alexander chased her through the halls, calling her name.
She didn't stop until she reached the old gazebo—the one from move-in day.
Rain started falling again.
He caught up, breathing hard.
"Mira—"
"Don't." Her voice cracked. "Just... don't."
She sank onto the bench, head in hands.
Alexander sat beside her, not touching.
After a minute, he said quietly, "My dad's an alcoholic."
Mira's head snapped up.
He stared at the rain. "Has been for years. That's why I'm perfect Alexander Voss. Because if I'm not... everyone sees the mess underneath."
He finally looked at her.
"You're not the only one hiding things."
Mira's eyes filled with tears—not for herself.
For him.
She reached out, hand covering his.
And in that moment, under the storm, something shifted.
Pity.
Understanding.
The first spark of something deeper.
End of Chapter 4