Elena’s breath quickened as she stared at the figure in front of her. The faint glow from the fountain caught on their face, revealing a familiar smirk. It wasn’t Mia or anyone from her usual group of tormentors. Instead, it was someone Elena hadn’t expected Andrew, one of Gabriel’s closest friends.
“What are you doing here?” Elena asked, her voice shaky but laced with suspicion.
Andrew crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. “I could ask you the same thing. You’re the talk of the university right now.”
Elena stiffened, her hands gripping the strap of her bag. “If you’re here to mock me, you’re wasting your time.”
Andrew chuckled, a sound that sent a shiver down her spine. “Mock you? No, that’s not why I’m here. I wanted to see the girl who managed to get Gabriel so riled up.”
Her brows furrowed. “What are you talking about?”
Andrew took a step closer, his voice lowering. “You think Gabriel doesn’t care about this? He’s furious, Elena. And not just about the pictures about everything. The rumors, the whispers… He’s angry, and I have a feeling it’s not because of himself. It’s because of you.”
Elena’s heart pounded in her chest. She didn’t know what to believe. Gabriel wasn’t the type to defend anyone, let alone her. He thrived on chaos and mischief, didn’t he?
“I don’t need his pity,” she said firmly, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her.
Andrew smirked again, but this time, there was something softer in his eyes. “Pity? Is that what you think this is? You really don’t understand Gabriel, do you?”
“I understand that he’s not here,” Elena shot back, bitterness creeping into her tone. “He’s nowhere to be found while I’m being humiliated.”
Andrew’s gaze hardened. “Maybe he’s not here because he doesn’t want to make things worse. Did you think of that?”
Elena opened her mouth to argue but stopped herself. She didn’t know what to say.
Andrew sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. “Look, I’m not here to defend him. Gabriel can handle his own mess. But you… you need to watch your back. Mia’s not done with you yet.”
Elena’s stomach churned. She already knew Mia wasn’t finished. The look of triumph on her face earlier made that abundantly clear. But hearing it out loud from someone like Andrew only made it more real.
“Why are you telling me this?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Because I don’t like cowards,” Andrew said bluntly. “And Mia? She’s the biggest coward of them all. She hides behind her little gang and her dirty tricks. You’re better than her, Elena. Don’t let her win.”
His words left her speechless. She didn’t know if Andrew was being genuine or if this was some elaborate game, but for the first time that day, she felt a flicker of hope.
Before she could respond, Andrew turned and began walking away. “Oh, and one more thing,” he called over his shoulder. “Gabriel will be back tomorrow. You might want to be ready for that.”
Elena watched him disappear into the shadows, her mind spinning. What did he mean by “ready”? Was Gabriel really angry because of her?
—
The next morning, the atmosphere on campus was heavier than usual. Elena felt it the moment she stepped out of her dorm. The stares were sharper, the whispers louder. Students huddled in groups, their phones in hand, casting her sidelong glances as she walked past.
Her stomach twisted, but she kept her head high. She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing her crumble.
As she made her way to class, snippets of conversations reached her ears.
“I can’t believe she’s still showing her face.”
“Guess those scholarships come with a free pass to embarrass yourself.”
“She probably thought Gabriel was into her. How desperate can you get?”
Elena clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. The words stung, but she refused to let them break her.
When she entered the classroom, the mocking was more subtle but no less painful. A few students laughed under their breath, their eyes flicking between her and their phones. Even the professor gave her a disapproving look, though he said nothing.
She took her seat at the back of the room, keeping her gaze fixed on her notebook. The lecture began, but Elena barely heard a word. Her thoughts were consumed by the pictures, the rumors, and the way her life seemed to be spiraling out of control.
After class, she gathered her things quickly, hoping to avoid any confrontations. But as she stepped into the hallway, she found herself face-to-face with Mia.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the university’s new star,” Mia said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Elena didn’t respond, trying to sidestep her, but Mia moved to block her path.
“What’s the rush, Elena? Too busy to chat with your fans?”
“Leave me alone, Mia,” Elena said through gritted teeth.
Mia smirked, holding up her phone. “Why so serious? I thought you’d want to see the latest post. It’s going viral.”
Elena’s heart sank as Mia showed her the screen. It was another thread on the university forum, this one filled with even more exaggerated stories and edited photos. The caption read: *”From scholarship student to scandal queen-Elena’s rise to fame!”*
Laughter erupted from Mia’s friends, who had gathered around to watch the scene unfold.
“You think you’re so special,” Mia sneered, stepping closer. “But you’re just a nobody who got lucky. Without your scholarships, you’d be nothing.”
Elena’s hands shook, but she refused to cry. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know enough,” Mia shot back. “And so does everyone else now.”
The group’s laughter grew louder, drawing the attention of passing students. Elena felt the heat of their stares, the weight of their judgment pressing down on her.
“Why don’t you do us all a favor and drop out?” one of Mia’s friends said, smirking. “Save yourself the embarrassment.”
Elena’s throat tightened, but before she could respond, a sharp voice cut through the air.
“That’s enough!”
The hallway fell silent as Professor Marcus approached, his expression stern. He looked at Mia and her friends with a disapproving glare.
“This behavior is unacceptable,” he said firmly. “You’re disrupting the peace and targeting a fellow student. Consider this your final warning.”
Mia’s smirk faltered, but she quickly recovered, feigning innocence. “We were just joking around, Professor.”
“Jokes at someone else’s expense are not tolerated,” Marcus said, his voice cold. “Now, get to class. All of you.”
Mia and her friends muttered under their breath but obeyed, scattering like leaves in the wind.
Elena stood frozen, her emotions a whirlwind of relief and humiliation.
“Are you all right, Miss Harper?” Marcus asked, his tone softening.
“I’m fine,” Elena said quickly, though her voice wavered.
Marcus studied her for a moment before nodding. “If this happens again, report it immediately. You don’t have to face this alone.”
She nodded, unable to find the words to thank him.
As Marcus walked away, Elena leaned against the wall, taking a shaky breath. The tears she’d held back all morning threatened to spill, but she blinked them away.
Andrew’s words from the night before echoed in her mind. *”Don’t let her win.”*
Elena straightened her shoulders, determination hardening in her chest. She didn’t know how yet, but she would fight back. Mia wouldn’t get the last laugh.