The Girl They Turned Down

THE RUMOUR

By the time lunch arrived, Maya had heard her name so many times that she stopped reacting to it.

She sat at the far end of the cafeteria with her food untouched, pretending to read a textbook.

Pretending was easier than explaining.

Across the room, laughter erupted.

She didn't need to look up.

She already knew.

"Hey, Maya."

She kept her eyes on the page.

A shadow fell across her table.

She looked up.

Victoria stood there.

Behind her were three other students.

"What do you want?"

Victoria smiled.

"Nothing."

"Then go away."

The smile disappeared for half a second before returning.

"I just came to congratulate you."

Maya frowned.

"For what?"

Victoria leaned closer.

"Finally getting brave enough to confess."

A few students nearby laughed.

Maya's face heated.

"I didn't confess anything."

"Really?"

Victoria pulled out her phone.

"Because that's not what everyone is saying."

Maya stared at the screen.

There was a message circulating through one of the school's group chats.

MAYA CARTER CONFESSED TO ADRIAN AND GOT REJECTED.

Her stomach dropped.

Someone had even added a photograph.

It was a picture of Maya and Adrian standing on the staircase yesterday.

The photo had been taken from above.

She hadn't even known anyone was there.

"This isn't funny," Maya said.

Victoria shrugged.

"I didn't say it was."

"Delete it."

"Why?"

"Because it's private."

Victoria laughed.

"Private? At Westbridge?"

Maya stood.

"You know what? Forget it."

She grabbed her bag.

Victoria stepped aside, but not before whispering,

"You should learn something, Maya."

Maya stopped.

"What?"

"People like Adrian don't choose girls like you."

The words hit harder than Maya expected.

She looked at Victoria.

For a moment, she wanted to say something sharp.

Something that would make Victoria regret it.

Instead, she simply walked away.

She made it through the cafeteria doors before the tears finally reached her eyes.

She wiped them away quickly.

She hated crying.

Especially because of people who didn't deserve her tears.

"Maya!"

She stopped.

Chloe ran toward her.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Don't give me that."

Maya showed her the phone.

Chloe's expression changed instantly.

"Who posted this?"

"I don't know."

"This is disgusting."

"Just leave it."

"No."

"Chloe."

"No, Maya."

Chloe looked angry.

"They're making you look like a joke."

Maya stared at the floor.

"Maybe I am."

Chloe's face softened.

"Don't say that."

Maya laughed quietly.

"Why not? They're right."

"They're not."

"They're all right."

Chloe stepped closer.

"Listen to me."

Maya looked up.

"Being rejected doesn't make you pathetic."

Maya's eyes filled again.

Chloe continued.

"And liking someone doesn't make you stupid."

For the first time that day, Maya felt like someone was standing beside her instead of watching her fall.

She hugged Chloe.

"Thank you."

"Always."

Neither of them noticed Adrian standing at the end of the hallway.

He had heard everything.

And he wasn't smiling.

***

The next class was history.

Maya sat near the window.

She kept her head down and took notes.

She wanted the day to end.

She wanted the rumors to disappear.

Most of all, she wanted to stop feeling like everyone was watching her.

Halfway through the lesson, a folded piece of paper landed on her desk.

She stared at it.

Then slowly opened it.

YOU REALLY THINK ADRIAN WOULD DATE YOU?

Maya's stomach tightened.

She crumpled the paper.

Another one landed.

Then another.

She didn't open them.

She didn't have to.

The teacher continued speaking as though nothing was happening.

Maya raised her hand.

"Can I go to the bathroom?"

The teacher nodded.

She left the classroom.

The moment she reached the empty hallway, she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes.

Breathe.

Just breathe.

A few seconds later, footsteps approached.

Maya opened her eyes.

Adrian.

She immediately looked away.

"What do you want?"

He stopped a few feet away.

"I wanted to check on you."

"I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

"I said I'm fine."

Adrian was quiet.

Then he said, "I'm sorry."

Maya looked at him.

"For what?"

"For yesterday."

She frowned.

"You didn't do anything."

"I did."

"No. You asked me a question."

"And everyone turned it into something else."

Maya looked away.

"You can't control what people say."

"No."

Adrian paused.

"But I can control what I do."

Maya didn't understand.

Before she could ask, he walked away.

She watched him disappear around the corner.

For some reason, that frightened her more than his rejection ever could.

***

After school, Maya waited at the bus stop.

Her phone buzzed.

Another message.

Then another.

She ignored them.

A black car stopped near the school gates.

Adrian stepped out.

Maya frowned.

Why was he getting out?

He walked toward a group of students.

Everyone became quiet.

Victoria was among them.

Adrian stopped in front of her.

"Take the post down."

Victoria blinked.

"What?"

"The picture."

She laughed nervously.

"I didn't post it."

"I don't care who posted it."

Adrian's voice was calm.

"Take it down."

Victoria crossed her arms.

"Why do you care?"

Adrian looked at her.

"Because it's cruel."

The group fell silent.

Victoria glanced toward Maya.

Their eyes met.

Maya couldn't hear what Victoria whispered next.

But she saw Adrian's expression change.

He turned.

His eyes found hers.

For a moment, Maya couldn't move.

Then the bus arrived.

She stepped onto it.

She didn't look back.

But as the bus pulled away, she saw Adrian still standing there.

Watching her leave.

***

That night, Maya opened her school laptop.

She had an email.

The sender was the Westbridge Academic Committee.

Her heart immediately began racing.

She opened it.

Congratulations, Maya Carter.

You have been selected as one of three students to represent Westbridge Academy in the Sydney Young Scholars Competition.

Maya read the message twice.

Then a third time.

The competition was one of the most prestigious academic events in the city.

Winning could mean a university recommendation.

Possibly even a scholarship.

For the first time all day, Maya smiled.

Maybe she wasn't invisible.

Maybe she didn't need Adrian.

Maybe she didn't need Victoria.

Maybe she could become something on her own.

Then she read the final paragraph.

The competition would be held in three weeks.

And one of the other representatives was Adrian Cole.

Maya's smile disappeared.

She stared at the screen.

Of all the people in Sydney...

Why him?

And somewhere across the city, Adrian was reading the same email.

His eyes stopped on one name.

Maya Carter.

For the first time, he wondered if he had completely misunderstood the quiet girl everyone else seemed so determined to overlook.