Episode 8: The Rumor Mill.
844 Words
Episode 8: The Rumor Mill
By Friday morning, the crisp air of the university campus felt heavy. Kira walked through the stone arches of the courtyard, her head down, trying to block out the subtle glances from passing students.
The events of her father's dinner party had traveled fast. Chloe hadn’t wasted a single second texting their entire social circle about the "brilliant, drop-dead gorgeous legacy farm-boy" who was living at the Vance estate. But high society gossip was a game of telephone, and by the time it reached the campus lawns, the story had morphed into something much more scandalous.
"Hey, Kira," Chloe called out, jogging up to meet her near the steps of the lecture hall. She looked entirely too excited for a 9:00 AM class. "Is it true? My mom said your dad looked at Kaelen last night like he was already part of the family. People are literally saying your dad is grooming him to take over the agricultural investments—or worse, that you two are being set up for some kind of arranged corporate match."
Kira stopped dead in her tracks, her tote bag slipping slightly on her shoulder. "What? That is absolutely ridiculous. He is an employee who received an academic scholarship. There is nothing between us."
"Well, tell that to the rest of the department," Chloe said, waving her hand vaguely toward the quad. "Because right now, half the girls are looking at you like you're the ultimate gatekeeper to the campus obsession, and the guys are acting completely weird around him."
Kira’s stomach twisted into a tight, uncomfortable knot. She hurried away from Chloe, her heels clicking aggressively against the concrete. This was exactly what she didn't want. Her private, messy reality at home was bleeding into her academic life, painting a picture that couldn't be further from the truth.
She needed to find him. She needed to make sure they were on the same page about shutting these rumors down immediately.
She found him near the campus greenhouses, sitting on a low concrete wall under the shade of a massive oak tree. He had a textbook open on his lap, a highlighter held between his fingers. But he wasn't reading. He was staring straight ahead, his jaw tight, completely ignoring a group of third-year guys who were whispering and glancing in his direction from a nearby bench.
"We need to talk," Kira said, stepping into his line of sight, her voice tight and hushed.
Kaelen slowly looked up. His hazel eyes were cold, devoid of the quiet intensity from the hallway the night before. The wall was back up, higher and thicker than ever.
"If this is about the rumors, Vance, don't bother," Kaelen said, his voice a low, flat rumble. He closed his textbook with a heavy thud. "I've already heard them. Apparently, I'm marrying into your trust fund by the end of the semester."
"It's not funny, Kaelen," Kira hissed, leaning in closer so no one could overhear. "My reputation on this campus matters. People are looking at me like I'm part of some bizarre social experiment my father is running. We need to make it clear to everyone that we don't even like each other."
Kaelen stood up slowly, his towering height instantly shifting the dynamic. He looked down at her, a bitter, humorless smile touching the corner of his lips.
"Don't worry, princess. I have no intention of letting people think I'm associated with you," he said, his tone sharp enough to cut. "Do you think I want my professors thinking I'm getting top grades because of your dad's influence? I've worked myself to the bone to earn my spot here. The last thing I need is a bunch of rich kids thinking I'm a charity case who traded a shovel for a wedding ring."
Kira flinched slightly at the harshness in his voice. She wanted the rumors gone, yes, but hearing him sound so entirely repulsed by the mere idea of being linked to her stung her pride in a way she wasn't prepared for.
"Good," Kira whispered, blinking rapidly and crossing her arms defensively. "Then we stay completely away from each other. No rides. No talking in the hallways. If we're in the same room, we're strangers."
"Suits me perfectly," Kaelen replied coldly. He slung his backpack over one broad shoulder, stepping past her without a second glance.
As he walked away, Kira noticed the way the other students watched him—not with the casual admiration from a few days ago, but with a new, calculating suspicion. The rumors hadn't just complicated things for her; they had threatened the one thing Kaelen valued above everything else: his unyielding, hard-earned independence.
The space between them had never felt wider, yet as Kira watched him disappear into the crowd, the suffocating weight in her chest told her that staying apart was going to be a lot harder than it sounded.
- Writer
