VIRALS
1022 Words
As we entered the lecture hall, the air shifted.
Whispers.
Eyes.
All of them… on me.
I could feel the heat of their stares crawling up my skin. Phones were out. Screens lit up with the same image, passed from one hand to the next like wildfire.
I could feel it every bit of it , every whispered word was about me.
“She probably begged him for that photo,” someone muttered.
“What’s the Alpha Prince doing with a wolf less girl ?” another sneered.
“She doesn’t even fit his type. Does she even own a comb?”
My steps slowed, but Gina nudged me gently forward, pretending not to hear.
But we both did.
Laughter burst from one corner of the hall, and then I heard someone clearly say, “I’m surprised she didn’t photoshop herself into his arms.”
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my head up.
My breath caught in my throat.
There it was my picture with Liam from Shelly’s party. But someone had taken it and edited it into something cruel adding a cruel caption: “This is the swamp creature trying to snatch our Alpha Prince.”
It had gone viral.
Everywhere.
On campus pages, group chats, and whisper threads. And now, every pair of eyes in the room was dissecting it.
More hateful comments followed below.
“She’s thirsty.”
“She cast a spell on him.”
“She’s a disgrace to the pack.”
“She’s just desperate for attention.”
I blinked, my throat tightening.
Every cruel word felt like a stone thrown at my chest.
I felt like the floor disappeared beneath me.
My heart pounded.
Gina leaned in, her voice low but firm. “Annalise, don’t let them get to you. No one gets to tell you how to live your life. You hear me?
Ignore them. They don’t matter. You don’t owe anyone an explanation.”
I wanted to believe her but my hands were shaking
Before I could say anything else, “Silence! Everyone to your seats!”
The lecturer’s voice cracked through the tension like thunder.
He stormed into the room, slamming a stack of books on the desk. “This is a lecture hall, not a gossip square. If you’re not here to learn, the door’s right there.”
The class went quiet, but the damage had already been done.
I stood frozen, but somehow I forced my legs to move .
I sat down slowly, my heart racing in my chest. Gina reached over and placed her hand on mine beneath the desk. Quietly supportive.
But even as the lecture began, I could still feel the eyes.
Still feel the judgment.
Still hear the whispers under their breaths.
All I had done was fall for someone who said he cared.
Now the whole world was tearing me apart for it.
Still, I couldn’t focus.
Not a single word the lecturer said registered.
I stared ahead, hands clenched tightly in my lap, my ears ringing with the hateful words from the screen.
As I stood, someone bumped into me on purpose.
“Oh, sorry,” the girl said, not meaning it at all.
Another took a picture of me from the side and laughed.
I clenched my jaw, refusing to cry, refusing to show them weakness. But inside, it hurt deeper than I’d ever admit.
When the bell rang, I didn’t wait. I grabbed my bag and rushed out, barely hearing Gina calling after me.
“Annalise! Will you wait for me?”
I didn’t stop.
I made it outside and headed for the bus stop, trying to keep my breathing steady.
A few minutes later, Gina’s car pulled up beside me. She rolled down the window.
“Get in,” she said softly.
I slid into the front seat and sat quietly as she drove. When we reached a calm spot, she pulled over and looked at me.
“Okay,” she said. “Talk to me. What happened last night?”
I stared out the window for a second, then turned to her.
I took a breath and started to speak. The words tumbled out I told her about Shelly push ,Liam’s proposal and how I felt loved for the first time in my life.
“I’m sorry I went to Shelly’s party. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
When I finished, she just stared at me.
“You still went to Shelly’s party?” she said, her voice tight with frustration. “I warned you, like, fifty times. Shelly isn’t your friend. That girl is poison, and she’s been jealous of you since day one.”
“I know,” I whispered. “I just… I wanted to feel normal. For once.”
Gina’s expression softened. She reached over and squeezed my hand.
“Look, you messed up fine. But you don’t deserve any of the crap they’re saying about you. They’re just mad the Alpha Prince picked you. And you know why?”
I looked at her, eyes watery.
“Because you’re different. You’re real. You don’t throw yourself at him like the rest of them. You didn’t need to beg, or flaunt yourself , or fake a smile. He saw something in you and that scares the hell out of them.”
I blinked at her, stunned.
Then she grinned wide. “Honestly, f**k those bitches. Let them choke on their jealousy.”
A small laugh escaped my lips.
She pulled me into a hug. “I’m happy for you, girl. So damn happy. You deserve this, Annalise. And guess what? You’ve got a date with the Alpha Prince tonight, and we’re going to make sure you look like the goddess you are.”
I nodded, my heart warming under her words.
She leaned back, started the car, and shot me a wink. “Now come on, drama queen. I’m dropping you at work. And don’t worry I’ll be back by six sharp to pick you up. We’re going full makeover mode.”
She bumped her shoulder into mine playfully as we drove off.
- Writer
