His Regret, My Revenge

Chapter 6 – Tainted

It’s strange how quickly people turn on you.

One week ago, I was invisible — and honestly, I preferred it.

Now? I was everywhere.

In hallways. In bathrooms. In whispers. In rumors. In that damn video that wouldn’t go away.

Girls I barely knew looked at me like I was dirt.

Boys stared at me like they knew every inch of my skin.

No one saw me anymore.

Only her — the girl who gave it up. The girl who let him.

And Knoxx?

Still silent.

No texts. No explanations. No comfort.

Just… gone.

I tried to hold it together. Tried to walk like my knees weren’t weak from shame. Tried to smile like my world wasn’t falling apart in front of everyone.

But it wasn’t working anymore.

⸻

The worst moment?

English class.

I sat in the back, like always, hoping no one would notice me. But Tiffani sat two seats over now — always too close, always too smug.

“Maybe next time don’t moan so loud,” she muttered, fake-smiling as she applied her lip gloss. “Or close the damn door.”

My fingers dug into my notebook. I didn’t respond.

She leaned in a little more. “You really thought he liked you, didn’t you? That’s so sad, Storme.”

I stood up and walked out before I could cry.

⸻

Lianne followed me to the restroom.

“Ignore her,” she said, gently rubbing my back as I leaned over the sink, my breath shaking. “She’s obsessed with Knoxx. Everyone knows it.”

“I don’t care about her,” I whispered. “I just… why didn’t he say anything, Lianne? Why is he acting like I don’t exist after—after what we did?”

She didn’t answer right away.

“I don’t care about her,” I whispered. “I just… why didn’t he say anything, Lianne? Why is he acting like I don’t exist after—after what we did?”

She didn’t answer right away.

I looked at her through the mirror.

“Do you think he regrets it?”

Her silence was louder than any rumor.

⸻

I didn’t eat lunch that day.

Didn’t check my phone. Didn’t talk to anyone. Just buried myself in books I couldn’t even read, trying to disappear between the pages.

After school, I walked home even though it was raining. I didn’t want anyone to see my face, my tears, or the mascara smudged down my cheeks.

I wanted to scream.

I wanted to vanish.

I wanted to erase every second I ever spent wishing for him.

Because the truth was, I didn’t regret giving myself to him…

I regretted giving him my heart.

And now?

Now I felt dirty.

Tainted.

Ruined.

⸻

When I got home, I went straight to the shower.

I stayed under the water until it ran cold.

Like it could wash away what they saw.

Like it could scrub off the shame.

But no matter how hard I tried…

I still felt like I wasn’t me anymore.

I was just… that girl.

The one in the video.

The joke. The scandal. The story.

And somewhere out there, Knoxx was living his life like I never even mattered.