Chapter 34
The day following the semi finals was a day free from the competitions. To give the students time to rest before the finals.
I was walking across campus minding my own business when I noticed everyone I passed looking at me.
At first I thought it was just because I placed second in the semi-finals and they were surprised.
Turns out that wasn’t the case. Before I had a chance to ask what was going on when Cathy ran up to me.
Grabbling my arm, she quickly pulled me away from all the onlookers.
“What's going on with everyone?” I asked, beyond confused.
“Um, I'm not sure how to go about saying it,” Cathy said uneasily as she pulled me into an empty classroom, “but everyone's talking about you.”
“Because of the competition?”
“Ah, no,” Cathy said, shaking her head as she pulled out her phone. I lean against the desk next to her and look at the form she pulled up.
There splattered across the school's website was pictures of me and headmaster Lucius. The angle doing the most to make our completely innocent conversation look like a torrid affair.
Snatching her phone to scroll through the pictures and the comments:
TeenWolf23: Damn she's bold Skipping right over trying to hook a teacher, going straight for the headmaster.
BananaBubbles12: Um, isn't the headmaster also the bio professor?
LigitQueenB: Focus people, it's so obvious that this is the reason she's in A Class now, like hello.
Devil'sAngel: Come on people, these photos have a weird angle. It's so clear that the person who took these had ulterior motives.
Objective3rdPartyw/Popcorn: Finally someone said it.
LigitQueenB: Yeah right, just look at how close they are, plus with all the “mentoring” the headmasters have been giving this trash it's obvious…
LigitQueenB: She must have seduced the headmaster to get into A Class. He also must have helped her somehow on everything else, I mean how could she be in the top three of every competition?
Objective3rdPartyw/Popcorn: Why do I feel like the LQB is the one who took these photos and posted them?
LigitQueenB: Screw you, no I didn't. I'm just happy someone pointed out that this trash smells rank and now the whole school knows.
The comments continued on, some stuck up for me but they were quickly drowned out by all the negative ones.
“What the hell,” I said, tears falling, “this is bullshit.”
“Hey, stop looking,” Cathy said quickly, grabbing her phone back.
But not before I got to the darker l, nastier comments that made my heart sink in my chest.
“I didn't do anything with him.”
“I know,” Cathy said, pulling me into a hug, “don't pay attention to what those people are saying.”
“What am I supposed to do?” I asked, hugging her back tightly.”
“We'll figure something out,” Cathy said, pulling back, “Come on let go grab something to eat and brainstorm.”
Knowing that Cathy has my back helps me pull myself together.
We leave the classroom going to the café on campus.
Unfortunately, once I'm spotted by some of the A Class students I'm quickly overrun by people bombarding me with questions.
“Are you seriously sleeping with the headmaster?”
“Aren't you ashamed of using your body to get ahead?”
“How's the sex?”
“How'd you manage to hook up with him when he never looks at anyone?”
More and more questions and comments kept being launched at me. I tried to explain, to tell them that I hadn't hooked up with him.
That everything was just rumors being spread and nothing was true but no one believed me.
I couldn't take it, mumbling an apology to Cathy, I quickly took off, tears stinging my eyes as I ran away.
How the hell am I going to fix this.
I was so distraught that I didn't see that the other star of the rumors was in front of me until it was too late.
Bumping into Lucius, firm muscular chest was like heaven and hell rolled into one.
Although I did have a crush on Lucius during my training, it had since cooled due to his complete disinterest.
These rumors just felt like pouring salt into my almost healed wounds.
Now, as Lucius wraps an arm around my waist to steady me after running into him, his touch burns me.
Not because it's wanted or welcome but because they happen to be in the campus courtyard.
In full few of the other gossiping students, in between classes.
The whispered murmurs and shocked, mocking voices of my fellow students hit me like a tidal wave.
I quickly step back from Lucius, frantically wiping my eyes to hide my obvious tears.
“Why are you in such a hurry that you weren't looking where you're going?” Lucius asked his voice like a cool balm to my frayed nerves.
“I, um,” I start, trying to pull myself together, "I'm heading back to my dorm.”
“Don't you still have afternoon classes?”
“Well I'm not really in the best headspace for class right now,” I responded bitterly.
Does he seriously not know what's going on?
Due to Lucius enhanced hearing the murmurs that im hearing are clear as day to him.
So, there's no way he doesn't know what everyone is saying.
A crowd of students has gathered around, trying to eavesdrop on our conversation.
Taking note, Lucius crossing his arms turns to them, his eyes cold and serious.
“Listen up everyone,” he starts, his voice silencing everyone, “there has never been and will never be a romantic relationship between me and Miss. Sterling here.”
When some of the students interrupted, Lucius shot them a look that had them swallowing their words.
“Miss. Sterling was placed in A Class because she meets the necessary requirements.”
His eyes travel over everyone present, making sure they understand him.
“If anyone continues to spread these lies they will be severely punished and possibly expelled from school.”
Lucius waits a moment for the gravity of his words to sink in.
“This school has a zero tolerance policy for tarnishing people's reputations and spreading lies.”
“Do you all understand me?” Lucius asked, the pressure he releases leaving no room for them to talk.
“Yes, headmaster,” everyone answers, a chorus of scolded voices fills the courtyard.
After that Lucius quickly makes sure what he said reaches every student on campus. The posts and all traces of the photos are removed.
He even goes so far as to punish those in the comment sections depending on how horrid their words were.
Before the end of the day all traces of those rumors are gone and even a few students have been expelled.
Headmaster Lucius really doesn't play around.
As I'm getting ready for bed that night. The tension of the day finally easing. I can't help but feel a slight warmth blooming in my heart again when thinking about Lucius.
Though that warmth is also accompanied by a sting of pain that lingers. My dumb crush on him would have faded completely if not for everything that happened today.
Now it was like my crush had grown again but with a bitterness to it. I knew nothing would ever happen between us.
But my heart had a mind of its own apparently. Climbing into bed, I can't help but think of him and how strong and powerful he was.
Trying to ignore the words he said earlier. He changed the tides in an instant.
He protected me.
