Chapter Seven: Rumors & Restlessness
926 Words
Scarlett didn’t go to class the next morning.
Or the next.
She stayed home, wrapped in silence, replaying everything in her head—the fall, the panic…
And him.
The way his voice changed.
The way he held her like she mattered.
“Ugh,” she groaned, burying her face into her pillow. “Why am I even thinking about him?”
A knock came from downstairs.
Soft.
Then again.
More firm.
Scarlett frowned.
“Who—?”
She dragged herself out of bed, walking down the stairs slowly.
When she opened the door—
She froze.
Blake.
Standing there.
Hands in his pockets.
Looking… different.
Less confident.
Less untouchable.
“Hi,” he said simply.
Scarlett blinked, then her expression hardened instantly.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to check on you.”
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine.”
“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”
A brief silence.
Blake exhaled slowly.
“Look,” he said, running a hand through his hair, “about what happened—”
“You mean when you pushed me into a pool knowing I couldn’t swim?”
“I didn’t know.”
“Well now you do.”
Her voice was sharp. Defensive.
Blake nodded slightly. “Yeah… I do.”
Another pause.
“I’m sorry.”
That stopped her.
Scarlett frowned slightly, caught off guard.
He continued, quieter now. “I shouldn’t have done that. It was stupid.”
She crossed her arms. “You think?”
“I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Well, you did.”
Their eyes met.
And for once—
Blake didn’t have a comeback.
Scarlett looked away first, her chest tightening again for reasons she didn’t understand.
“…You can go now,” she said, softer—but still guarded.
Blake hesitated.
Like he wanted to say more.
But instead, he nodded once.
“Alright.”
He turned and walked away.
Scarlett watched him leave…
And hated the way something in her chest felt… off.
By the time she returned to campus—
Everything had changed.
Whispers.
Glances.
Laughter that stopped when she passed.
Scarlett frowned.
“What is going on?”
Then she heard it—
“That’s her.”
“Blake’s girl.”
“The one from the pool.”
Her steps slowed.
Her eyes darkened.
Excuse me?
She walked into class—
And it got worse.
People were staring openly now.
Smirking.
Watching.
Her friends rushed up to her immediately.
“Scarlett…”
“What?” she snapped.
They hesitated.
Then one of them said it—
“Everyone thinks you and Blake are… together.”
Silence.
For one second.
Then—
Scarlett laughed.
Cold. Sharp.
“You’re joking.”
“I wish we were.”
Her jaw clenched.
“Who started it?”
“No one knows. But after the pool thing… people are saying he carried you, stayed with you, and then left with you—”
“Oh my God,” Scarlett muttered, dragging a hand down her face.
Her eyes scanned the room—
And landed on him.
Blake.
Sitting like nothing was wrong.
Like the entire campus wasn’t buzzing because of them.
Their eyes met.
And for the first time—
He didn’t smirk.
He didn’t tease.
He just… looked at her.
Serious.
Scarlett stood up abruptly.
“I’m not doing this,” she muttered, grabbing her bag.
And she walked out.
By the end of the day—
She was exhausted.
Mentally. Emotionally.
Done.
Her phone was already ringing before she even sat down.
Sam.
Scarlett answered instantly.
“Please tell me you’re free because I’m about to lose my mind.”
Sam didn’t even hesitate. “What happened?”
Scarlett groaned, pacing her room.
“Everything! That stupid party, that stupid boy, that stupid—ugh!”
“Start from the beginning.”
So she did.
The pool.
The panic.
Blake saving her.
Him showing up at her house.
The rumors.
Everything.
By the time she finished—
There was silence on the other end.
Then—
“…Wow.”
Scarlett flopped onto her bed. “Exactly.”
“Okay, first of all,” Sam said, “people love drama. You and a hot football guy? Of course they’re going to talk.”
“I don’t care about them!” Scarlett snapped. “I care that my name is being dragged into something that’s not even real.”
“Fair,” Sam admitted.
Scarlett sighed, staring at the ceiling.
“And him…” she added quietly.
Sam caught it instantly. “What about him?”
Scarlett hesitated.
“I don’t get him,” she admitted. “One minute he’s annoying, arrogant, and insufferable… and the next…”
“The next?” Sam pressed.
Scarlett swallowed.
“…he’s different.”
Sam hummed softly. “Different how?”
Scarlett closed her eyes.
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “Like he actually cares. And I hate that I noticed.”
Sam chuckled lightly.
“You don’t hate it,” she said.
“Yes, I do.”
“No… you’re just confused.”
Scarlett didn’t respond.
Because maybe—
Just maybe—
Sam was right.
Sam’s voice softened.
“Hey… whatever this is? You’ll figure it out. Just don’t let rumors decide things for you.”
Scarlett exhaled slowly.
“Yeah…”
She stared up at the ceiling again.
Her mind drifting—
Right back to him.
And that look in his eyes.
“…I’m in trouble,” she muttered.
- Writer
