Behind the school rumours

CHAPTER 3

Chapter Three: The Pairing

The anonymous message stayed in Sophie's mind for the rest of the day. Whoever had sent those warnings clearly wasn't joking.

The next morning, Evercrest Academy was as noisy as ever. Students gathered in small groups, whispering as Ethan walked past them. Every rumor was different, yet everyone repeated them as though they were facts.

Ethan ignored the stares and quietly walked into his classroom. He took his usual seat at the back, placed his bag on the floor, and opened a book.

A few minutes later, Sophie and Jemimah entered the classroom.

"Don't even think about talking to him again," Jemimah whispered.

Sophie frowned.

"You don't even know him."

"I don't need to," Jemimah replied. "The whole school can't be wrong."

Before Sophie could respond, Mrs. Wilson walked into the classroom carrying a stack of notebooks.

"Good morning, class."

"Good morning, ma," the students replied in unison.

"I have an assignment for all of you," Mrs. Wilson announced. "You'll be working in pairs."

The room immediately filled with excited chatter.

Mrs. Wilson began reading names from her register.

"Bryan and Caleb."

"Jemimah and Lawson."

"Dylan and Olivia."

One by one, the students found their partners.

Then she paused.

"Sophie Williams..."

Sophie looked up.

"...and Ethan Johnson."

The classroom fell silent.

Someone laughed nervously.

Another student muttered, "She's finished."

Sophie glanced across the room.

Vanessa Collins, the most popular girl at Evercrest Academy, folded her arms. She had been watching Ethan ever since he arrived—not because she liked him, but because she believed every rumor she had heard about him.

Sophie stood up without complaining, while Ethan quietly rose from his seat.

"Your assignment is due in three days," Mrs. Wilson continued. "I expect excellent work from every pair."

As soon as the lesson ended, Sophie walked over to Ethan.

"I guess we're partners," she said with a friendly smile.

Ethan gave a small nod.

"It seems so."

After a brief silence, he spoke again.

"If you're uncomfortable working with me, you can ask Mrs. Wilson to change the pairing. I won't mind."

Sophie looked at him for a moment before smiling.

"I'm not uncomfortable."

For the first time since arriving at Evercrest Academy, Ethan's expression softened ever so slightly.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

Sophie nodded.

"Besides," she added, "I'd rather find out who you are for myself than believe rumors."

Ethan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked at her with quiet surprise, as though he wasn't used to hearing someone say that.

Around the classroom, students whispered behind their backs.

"I can't believe she's really going to work with him."

"She must be out of her mind."

"This isn't going to end well."

Sophie ignored every word.

She picked up her notebook and smiled at Ethan.

"So... when do we start?"

For the first time since arriving at Evercrest Academy, someone had chosen to stand beside him instead of walking away.