The next morning felt unreal.
Janice barely slept.
She checked her phone three times before getting out of bed.
No text from Ian.
Not even a "good morning."
That hurt.
School felt louder than usual.
Or maybe it was just her heart pounding.
As soon as she stepped into the hallway, she felt it.
Eyes.
Whispers.
A group of girls near the lockers stopped talking when she walked past.
One of them didn't stop staring.
Janice's stomach dropped.
Mia rushed toward her. "Have you checked your phone?"
Janice frowned. "Why?"
Mia showed her.
Someone had posted on the school gossip page:
> "Guess some girls like texting their best friend's boyfriend đź‘€"
Janice felt her face burn.
"That's not even true!" she whispered harshly.
More students were looking now.
Some curious.
Some judging.
And then—
She saw Ian.
Standing near his locker.
Two guys were talking to him.
One of them said loudly, "Bro, that's crazy. Couldn't be me."
Ian didn't laugh.
But he didn't defend her either.
That silence felt louder than the whispers.
Janice's chest tightened.
This wasn't just between them anymore.
It was public.
Mia clenched her fists. "This has to be him," she muttered, meaning her ex.
Before Janice could respond, her phone buzzed.
Unknown Number.
Her hands trembled as she opened it.
A message:
> "Told you one message was enough."
Her blood ran cold.
This wasn't just gossip.
Someone was enjoying this.
And suddenly—
This wasn't about rumors.
It was about someone trying to destroy her.
Across the hallway, Ian finally looked at her.
Their eyes met.
Hurt.
Confusion.
Distance.
And between them—
The entire school watching.