He Chose Me

Chapter 11 – Vanessa Strikes Back

The Monday after the festival was quieter than usual. Most students were still buzzing from the weekend’s events, but Abigail felt a tension she couldn’t shake. Something told her Vanessa wasn’t finished.

She was right.

During first period, as Abigail organized her books for literature class, she noticed a shadow at the back of the room. Vanessa leaned casually against the wall, her green eyes fixed on Abigail like a predator. She wasn’t just watching—she was planning.

By mid-morning, the plan unfolded. Vanessa approached the teacher with a dramatic sigh, pretending to be shocked.

“Ms. Carter,” Vanessa said loudly, her voice sweet but sharp, “I think Abigail might have… plagiarized part of her festival poetry display.”

The classroom fell silent. Whispers erupted like wildfire. Students turned to look at Abigail, eyes wide, murmuring, questioning, judging.

Abigail’s face drained of color. “What… what are you talking about?” she stammered.

Vanessa’s smirk was cruel. “I just noticed that some of the poems look… very familiar. Maybe she copied them from older books or online. Don’t you think, Ms. Carter?”

The teacher frowned, scanning the poetry sheets Abigail had so carefully prepared. “I’ll need to review this, Abigail. Can you explain where you got your material?”

Abigail’s mind raced. She knew every poem by heart, had written original pieces herself—but the sudden doubt in the eyes of her classmates was suffocating.

That’s when Ethan stood.

“Ms. Carter, I can vouch for Abigail,” he said, his voice firm, carrying across the room. “She wrote all of those poems herself. I’ve seen her working on them for weeks.”

Vanessa’s eyes narrowed, and she shifted her stance. “I just want to make sure everything is fair.”

Ethan’s gaze locked with Abigail’s, steady and unwavering. “It’s fair because Abigail did everything honestly. There’s no plagiarism here. Don’t let rumors overshadow her hard work.”

The teacher nodded slowly, reassured by Ethan’s confidence. “Thank you, Ethan. Abigail, I trust your work, but I’ll still review everything thoroughly.”

Abigail exhaled, relief and gratitude flooding her. She felt Ethan’s hand brush hers under the desk—a small gesture, but it grounded her.

After class, she and Ethan walked through the hallways together, silent but connected. “She’s not going to stop, is she?” Abigail asked quietly.

Ethan shook his head. “No. She’s desperate. But every time she tries to bring you down, it just proves how strong you are. And I’ll be right here, every step of the way.”

Abigail smiled, her heart fluttering. “You really mean that?”

“I do,” he said. “You’ve earned this, Abigail. Don’t ever doubt it.”

But Vanessa’s shadow loomed large. During lunch, she spread whispers about Abigail “using Ethan to get attention,” trying to manipulate other students into questioning their friendship. Her jealousy had grown bolder, her attacks sharper.

Abigail’s confidence wavered for a moment—but Ethan’s support reminded her of one thing: she didn’t have to face Vanessa alone.

By the end of the day, Abigail realized something important. Vanessa’s attacks, no matter how vicious, could not touch the bond she and Ethan had built. With courage, honesty, and friendship, they could face any obstacle together.

That evening, as Abigail shared the day’s events with Sarah, she felt a spark of determination. “She won’t win,” Abigail said firmly. “I won’t let her. Not Ethan. Not me. Not our friendship.”

Sarah grinned. “That’s my girl. Keep standing tall. You’ve got more strength than you realize.”

And somewhere across town, Vanessa scowled at her reflection in the mirror. Her schemes had failed yet again—but she wasn’t done.

The rivalry had escalated. Stakes were higher. And for Abigail and Ethan, senior year was proving to be more challenging—and more meaningful—than either of them had imagined.