NOT HIS TYPE

CHAPTER 2: THE RUMORS

*Scene 1: Monday Morning

The rumor started before first period.

Maya found out when Priya grabbed her arm outside chemistry and whispered, “Don’t go to your locker yet.”

Maya frowned. “Why?”

Priya glanced over her shoulder. “Kendall’s been talking. About you. About Kade.”

Maya’s stomach dropped. “What did she say?”

Priya hesitated. “That Kade only started talking to you because of a bet. That you’re his new joke. That he’s laughing about it with his friends.”

Maya’s hands went cold. “That’s not true.”

“I know,” Priya said quickly. “But people are listening, Maya. Kendall’s good at this.”

Maya nodded and forced herself to walk to her locker anyway. If she hid now, Kendall won.

Her locker was covered in sticky notes.

_NERD + PLAYBOY = FAIL_

_Kade’s new toy_

_Not his type, remember?_

Maya ripped them off without reading them all. Her hands shook, but she didn’t cry. Not here.

“Hey.”

Kade was there, leaning against the locker next to hers, hood down. His jaw was tight.

“Did you hear?” Kade asked quietly.

Maya nodded. “Yeah.”

Kade looked furious. “It’s not true, Maya. I never made a bet about you. I’d never do that.”

Maya believed him. She didn’t know why, but she did. “I know, Kade.”

Kade exhaled. “Good. Because I’m about to find out who started it.”

Maya caught his arm before he could walk away. “Don’t fight, Kade. Please.”

Kade looked down at her hand on his arm, then back at her face. “I won’t fight. But I’m not letting her get away with this.”

Maya nodded. “Okay.”

Kade squeezed her fingers once before letting go. “Meet me at lunch, nerd. We’ll talk.”

Maya watched him walk away, and for the first time, she didn’t feel alone.

*Scene 2: Lunch, Courtyard

Kade was already at their usual spot under the oak tree when Maya arrived. He had two sodas and a sandwich he’d bought from the cafeteria.

“You ate?” Kade asked, handing her the soda.

Maya shook her head. “Not really.”

Kade frowned but didn’t push. “I talked to Jake.”

Maya sat down beside him. “Jake?”

“Kendall’s friend. He told me Kendall started the rumor. Said it was payback for me standing up to her.”

Maya sighed. “I figured.”

Kade looked at her. “You’re not mad at me?”

Maya blinked. “Why would I be mad at you?”

“Because people are saying I used you, Maya. That I’m playing you.”

Maya set the soda down and met his eyes. “Kade, I know you. You’re not that guy. Not with me.”

Kade looked surprised, then relieved. “Thanks, nerd.”

Maya smiled faintly. “Don’t thank me. Just don’t listen to her.”

Kade nodded. “I won’t. But we need to shut this down.”

“How?” Maya asked.

Kade grinned. “By making it obvious the rumor’s fake.”

Maya groaned. “Kade, no. I’m not holding your hand in the hallway for PR.”

Kade laughed. “Not that. Something better.”

Before Maya could ask, the bell rang.

“After school,” Kade said, standing up. “Library. I have a plan.”

Maya watched him walk away, equal parts annoyed and curious.

*Scene 3: The Plan, After School

The library was empty when Maya got there. Kade was at their table with a laptop open.

“What’s the plan?” Maya asked, sitting down.

Kade turned the laptop toward her. It was open to the school’s forum page. Someone had posted: _Kade Rivers is using Maya Okoro for a bet. Don’t be fooled._

Maya felt sick. “Great.”

Kade pointed at the screen. “See this? Anonymous post. No proof. Just Kendall stirring stuff.”

Maya nodded. “So what do we do?”

Kade hesitated, then said, “We post the truth.”

Maya frowned. “The truth is that you like me, and I like you. We can’t post that, Kade.”

Kade shook his head. “Not like that. I mean, we post proof that I’m serious about you. About us.”

Maya stared at him. “How?”

Kade closed the laptop and took her hand. “Come with me.”

They walked out of the library and down to the empty auditorium. Kade pulled out his phone.

“Stand here,” Kade said, positioning Maya under the stage lights.

Maya crossed her arms. “Kade, what are you doing?”

Kade held up his phone. “Making a video.”

Maya’s eyes widened. “Absolutely not.”

Kade grinned. “Relax, nerd. It’s just us talking. I’ll say the rumor’s fake. You can say whatever you want.”

Maya shook her head. “I hate being on camera, Kade.”

Kade stepped closer. “I know. But if we don’t say something, Kendall wins. And I’m tired of her winning.”

Maya looked at him for a long time. Then she sighed. “Fine. But keep it short.”

Kade hit record.

“Hi,” Kade said to the camera. “This is Kade Rivers. There’s a rumor going around that I’m dating Maya Okoro as a joke. It’s not true. I’m dating Maya because I want to. Because she’s smart, and funny, and she puts up with me. And anyone who has a problem with that can talk to me.”

Kade turned the camera to Maya.

Maya stared at the lens, then said quietly, “I’m dating Kade because I want to. Not because of a bet. Not because of a joke. Because I like him. Thanks.”

Kade stopped the recording and showed her the video.

Maya cringed. “I sound awkward.”

Kade laughed. “You sound real, Maya. That’s better.”

Kade posted it to the school forum and his i********:. Within ten minutes, comments started rolling in.

_Wait, is this real??_

_Kade and Maya???_

_Kendall’s gonna be mad lol_

Maya looked up at Kade. “What if this makes it worse?”

Kade took her hand. “Then we deal with it. Together.”

Maya squeezed his hand back. “Together.”

*Scene 4: The Fallout, Tuesday

The video had 2,000 views by homeroom.

Kendall didn’t look at Maya all day.

Kade did the opposite. He walked Maya to every class, sat with her at lunch, and made sure Kendall saw it.

It worked. The rumor slowed down. People stopped whispering. Some even started saying nice things.

But not everyone was happy.

After school, Maya found Kade talking to Mr. Daniels outside the office.

“Kade, you can’t skip detention again,” Mr. Daniels was saying. “Not even for Maya.”

Kade rubbed the back of his neck. “I know, sir. I’m sorry.”

Maya stepped forward. “It’s my fault, Mr. Daniels. I asked him to walk me.”

Mr. Daniels looked between them, then sighed. “Fine. Both of you. Detention tomorrow.”

Kade groaned. Maya smiled faintly.

As they walked out, Kade said, “Worth it.”

Maya rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible, Kade.”

Kade grinned. “And you like it.”

Maya didn’t deny it.

*Scene 5: Detention, Wednesday

Detention was boring. Two hours of silent work in an empty classroom.

Maya brought homework. Kade brought nothing.

“You’re gonna fail math if you don’t do something,” Maya whispered.

Kade leaned back in his chair. “Worth it.”

Maya sighed and slid her notebook over. “Fine. I’ll help you.”

For the next hour, Maya explained algebra while Kade actually listened. It was weirdly domestic.

At 4:30pm, Mr. Daniels left to make a call.

Kade leaned forward. “Maya, can I ask you something?”

Maya looked up. “Yeah?”

Kade hesitated. “Why me, Maya? Out of everyone, why me?”

Maya set her pen down. “Because you see me, Kade. Not the nerd. Not the girl Kendall bullies. Just me.”

Kade nodded slowly. “That’s why I like you too.”

Maya smiled. “Good.”

Mr. Daniels came back, and detention continued. But it didn’t feel like punishment anymore.

*Scene 6: Kendall’s Next Move, Thursday

Kendall wasn’t done.

During lunch, she walked up to Maya’s table with a group of freshmen.

“Hey Maya,” Kendall said sweetly. “I heard you and Kade are serious now. Congrats.”

Maya kept eating. “Thanks.”

Kendall smiled. “I just wanted to warn you. Kade has a past, Maya. You might want to ask him about it before you get too attached.”

Maya looked up. “What does that mean?”

Kendall shrugged. “Nothing. Just saying. You should know who you’re dating.”

Kade stood up from the next table over. “Kendall, leave her alone.”

Kendall held up her hands. “I’m just being nice, Kade. Unlike you.”

Kade stepped closer. “Walk away, Kendall.”

Kendall looked at Maya one last time, then left.

Maya felt uneasy. “What did she mean, Kade?”

Kade sat back down, jaw tight. “Nothing you need to worry about, Maya.”

Maya frowned. “If it’s about us, I need to know, Kade.”

Kade looked at her, then nodded. “After school. I’ll tell you everything.”

Maya nodded. “Okay.”

*Scene 7: The Truth, After School

Kade took Maya to the empty football field.

They sat in the bleachers.

“My dad’s in jail, Maya,” Kade said without preamble.

Maya blinked. “What?”

Kade stared at the field. “Armed robbery. Three years ago. I was with him that night.”

Maya didn’t say anything. She just waited.

“I didn’t do it, Maya,” Kade said quickly. “I was 14. I waited in the car. But I knew what he was doing. I didn’t stop him.”

Maya reached out and took his hand. “Kade…”

Kade looked at her, eyes raw. “That’s why I act like I do, Maya. Because everyone expects me to end up like him. A screw-up. A criminal.”

Maya squeezed his hand. “You’re not your dad, Kade.”

Kade let out a shaky breath. “Kendall knows. Her dad’s a cop. She found out last year and uses it to keep people away from me.”

Maya felt angry. Not at Kade. At Kendall.

“Kade, I don’t care about your dad, Kade,” Maya said firmly. “I care about you.”

Kade looked at her like she’d just saved his life.

“You mean that, Maya?”

Maya nodded. “I mean it, Kade.”

Kade pulled her into a hug. “Thank you, Maya.”

Maya hugged him back. “Always, Kade.”

*Scene 8: The Decision, Friday

Kendall made one last attempt.

She posted a screenshot of Kade’s juvenile record on the forum. Anonymous, of course.

Maya saw it first.

She didn’t panic. She didn’t cry.

She walked straight to Kade’s locker.

Kade was already there, staring at his phone, face pale.

Maya took his hand. “Let them talk, Kade.”

Kade looked at her. “Maya, I don’t want you getting hurt because of me.”

Maya stepped closer. “You’re not hurting me, Kade. They are.”

Kade nodded slowly. “Okay, nerd. Let’s go to class.”

They walked in together, hand in hand.

Kendall was watching from across the hall.

Maya met her eyes and didn’t look away.

Kendall looked away first.

*Scene 9: The Quiet Win

By the end of the week, the rumor was dead.

People had moved on to the next drama.

Maya and Kade were still together.

On Friday night, Kade took Maya to the diner off Main Street.

They sat in their usual booth, sharing fries and milkshakes.

“You okay?” Kade asked quietly.

Maya nodded. “Yeah, Kade. I’m okay.”

Kade smiled. “Good. Because I’m not done with you yet, Maya.”

Maya grinned. “Good. Because I’m not done with you either, Kade.”

Kade reached across the table and took her hand.

“Not his type, huh?” Kade said softly.

Maya smiled. “Never his type, Kade. Always mine.”

Kade laughed and leaned forward to kiss her.

Outside the world was quite . inside,it felt the whole world was their's