I Swear I’m Not Falling

CHAPTER 4: Campus Gossip

~CASSIE

The entire hall erupts. Cheers, whistles, phone recording. When we break apart, I’m breathless.

Noah’s lips part slightly, his hand clench so tightly around his glass. I’m surprised it hasn’t shattered. Madison glances up at him, clearly pissed by the sudden tension in his arm, but he doesn’t even look at her. His stare is locked on Liam like he wants to rip him apart.

Liam doesn’t flinch under that stare. He just guides me toward our table.

The gala program kicks off fast—speeches, sponsor shoutouts,red carpet photo ops. Then the emcee steps up with a big smile.

They call Liam up as captain. He stands tall, thanks the sponsors, cracks a joke that has the room laughing.

He returns, drops into the seat beside me.

“And now,” the emcee booms, “please welcome Manchester Hockey Legacy King and Queen of the Night… Noah Bennett and Madison Hayes!”

Applause crashes down. They rise, smug and regal, heading for their crowns. Liam never wanted the crown—now Noah wears it like a consolation prize.

Moments later, we’re summoned to present the official congratulations.

All eyes are on us as we walk up. Noah tries desperately to act like he isn't staring. But the second his focus falters, Madison’s head turns.

Liam shakes Noah’s hand first, grip visibly crushing. “Congrats, Noah.”

Noah’s knuckles go white in return. His eyes flick to me, dark and stormy.

I force a smile. “Congratulations. You two look… so perfect together.”

Noah’s gaze drags down my body slowly, disgust and something darker flickering there. “Cassie,” he says, “Didn’t expect to see you here. On his arm. Bold move.”

I ignore him, offering Madison my hand. She eyes it like trash, but her smile stays plastered on — too sweet.

Liam steps closer to me, arm wrapping around my waist, fingers splayed possessively over my hip through the slit. “She’s with me now,” he says clearly, staring Noah dead in the eyes. “We’re official. And she looks incredible, doesn’t she?”

I turn to him with the sweetest smile I can muster. " Where are my manners? This is my boyfriend, Liam Carter. Your captain."

Liam pulls me in and kisses my temple, then my cheek, right there on stage. Noah’s chest rises sharply. His free hand flexes at his side, opening and closing like he’s fighting the urge to do something reckless.

Liam, of course, is completely unfazed.

If anything, he seems to be enjoying himself.

Madison’s glare could cut glass. “Well,” she purrs with fake honey, eyes on Liam. “This is… unexpected.”

I don’t get Madison's problem tonight. It’s not like she knows about Noah and me. Yet she’s staring at me like I stole her oxygen.

Liam lets out a low, amused chuckle.

"Unexpected? I suppose," he muses, tilting his head. "But it’s a small world.” He gazes at me like I’m his universe. “Wouldn’t you agree, love?”

I nod, voice soft but steady. “Very small.”

Noah exhales through his nose like a bull ready to charge, his voice drops into a dangerous growl. “Get your f*****g hands off her—”

Before Liam can even shift, Madison tightens her grip on Noah’s jacket, holding him back. She presses both hands flat against Noah’s chest, fingers curling into his jacket, holding him back from launching himself at his half-brother right there on stage.

“Honey, calm down,” she says, voice low and sweet. Her eyes flick over to Liam, and the look she gives him is pure calculated heat—lips slightly parted, head tilted just enough to look flirty, like she’s daring him to notice her while she’s got her hands all over Noah. “Why are you so mad, baby?”

I catch every second of it. My eyebrow shoots up. She’s up to something. That glance at Liam wasn’t innocent. It’s messy.

Noah’s jaw clenches so hard I hear the grind. He glares at Madison for half a beat, then rips his gaze away from us and stalks back to his seat, shoulders rigid with barely leashed rage.

Liam doesn’t say a word. He just smirks, slides his hand down to lace with mine, and leads me off the stage like he owns the night.

The crowd keeps buzzing. Phones flash. Whispers ripple. But all I can feel is the weight of Noah’s stare burning into my back—and the dangerous thrill of knowing we just shattered his perfect little world.

The next morning I’m barely out of my last class when Sabrina corners me in the hallway, eyes wide.

“Girl! What on God’s green planet is going on with you and Liam?”

I freeze. I had texted her a vague “talk later” last night, but clearly the campus gossip machine had already done its job so fast.

“Nothing’s going on,” I answer quickly.

Sabrina sees right through me. “I’m going to ask you this one time, and one time only—Cassie Brooks, are you dating Liam Carter?”

“No.”

She narrows her eyes. “Fine. I’m going to ask you twice. Are you dating⁠—”

“I’m not dating him.” I sigh, rubbing my temples. “But… we are fooling around.”

Her jaw drops. A beat passes, then her amber eyes light up in victory. “Ha! I knew you were into him! Oh my God!” She grabs my arm, practically vibrating. “Hold my juice—I think I need to break out in a happy dance!”

I laugh despite everything. “Oh God, please don’t do a happy dance. And it’s not a big deal, okay? It’ll probably fizzle out soon.”

She narrows her eyes, studying me the way only a best friend can. “Don’t tell me you’re dating him to get Noah’s attention. Because that would be insane, even for you.”

My chest tightens. If only you knew.

Before I can answer, we start walking down the hallway toward the student center. That’s when I feel it—every head turning, every conversation dipping as we pass. Phones are out. Whispers follow us like smoke.

“Is it just me, or is everyone staring at me?” I whisper, my brows lifting as my pulse spikes.

Sabrina glances around, frowning slightly. “Yeah… I see it too. It’s not just the gala kiss. Something’s up.”

Her phone buzzes loudly. Once. Twice. Then it won’t stop. She pulls it out, and her face drains of color.

“Oh my f*****g days. Cassie, you have to see this.”

She shoves the phone into my hands. The campus group chat is exploding. The top pinned post is a video. My video.

The one I made for Noah only—intimate, my hand between my thighs while I moaned his name. Now it’s everywhere. Thousands of views.

My stomach twists violently. The world tilts. I feel like I’m going to be sick right here in the hallway.

“Who sent this?” My voice cracks.

“Anonymous,” Sabrina says, scrolling frantically. “Some Anonymous account posted it at like 2 a.m. right after the gala. It’s blowing up. People are tagging you, commenting the grossest s**t. This is bad, Cassie. Really bad.”

I stare at the screen, heart hammering against my ribs. I sent that to just Noah. No one else had it. Not a single soul. The timing. It had to be him. Noah. That petty, jealous asshole. He couldn’t stand seeing me with Liam.

Ten minutes later I’m summoned to Student Affairs. My legs feel like lead as I sit across from Dr. Sterling. A printed screenshot of the video sits on her desk like evidence at a trial.

“Miss Brooks,” she says, voice tight. “As a scholarship student, you’re held to a higher standard. This kind of explicit content circulating on campus violates our code of conduct. We have protocols for this. Revocation of your scholarship and possible expulsion are on the table.”