Chapter 18: The List
226 Words
The next morning, the graffiti in the bathroom felt like a punch to the gut. Seeing my name scribbled under that cruel list made my cheeks burn with shame and anger. It wasn’t just a nasty joke — it was a public declaration, meant to humiliate me.
When I told Luca, his jaw tightened, and his eyes flashed with fury. “Whoever did this thinks they can break you,” he said, voice low but fierce. “They don’t know what they’re messing with.”
But the damage was done. The stares, the whispers, the sideways glances followed me everywhere. Even the friends I trusted seemed distant.
That night, Luca came over, sitting close enough for his warmth to chase away some of the cold. “I hate that they’re doing this to you,” he said quietly. “I want to protect you — but I can’t fight every battle for you.”
I met his gaze. “Then fight with me.”
He smiled, a soft, genuine thing. “Always.”
I didn’t mean to push him away.
But the looks, the rumors, the constant pressure—they wore me down. My name was no longer just mine. It was always linked to him. To Luca Donovan. The boy who lit me on fire and pulled the whole world’s attention down on my shoulders.
- Writer
