Obsession & Desire

Rumors and Reputation

Chapter 4: Rumors & Reputation

The next morning, Crestwood High hummed with the usual chaos of lockers slamming, sneakers squeaking, and voices overlapping in a constant murmur. But for Lily, the energy of the school felt different, heavier, charged. The previous afternoon’s incident with Xander replayed in her mind like a vivid, unrelenting film. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the glint in his dark eyes, the slight curl of that impossible smirk, the protective way his hand had grasped her.

Chloe, always perceptive, caught the change immediately. They walked side by side toward the library before first period.

“You’ve been quiet all morning,” Chloe observed, her tone sharp with concern. “Don’t tell me you’re still thinking about… him.”

Lily’s stomach twisted. “I… I can’t help it. It’s like—like he’s everywhere, Chloe. Even when he’s not.”

Chloe sighed, adjusting her backpack. “He is everywhere. You saw it yesterday. He doesn’t do normal. And now? Now everyone’s probably talking.”

Lily winced. Chloe’s words weren’t exaggerated. Even in the short walk to the library, she felt the subtle shift of attention, the way students whispered when she passed, the barely audible giggle as some boys nudged each other. She knew immediately, Xander’s reputation had reached the corners of every hallway, spilling into gossip faster than fire through dry leaves.

By the time they reached the library, Lily’s nerves were frayed. She set her books down at their usual corner table, heart thumping as Chloe shot her a worried glance.

“Are you okay?” Chloe asked, sitting across from her, eyes scanning the nearby tables.

“I… I think so,” Lily muttered, but her fingers trembled slightly as she opened her notebook. “It’s just… everyone’s looking at me differently.”

Before Chloe could reply, a hushed giggle came from the next table. Two girls were whispering, casting glances in Lily’s direction, their expressions a mix of curiosity and amusement.

“You know him, right?” one whispered, loud enough for Lily to hear just the edges.

Lily’s stomach sank. She swallowed hard, trying to appear unaffected, but the flush on her cheeks betrayed her. “I… I barely even—” she started, but Chloe grabbed her arm, squeezing reassuringly.

“Ignore them,” Chloe hissed. “Don’t give them the satisfaction of a reaction.”

But ignoring it was easier said than done. Every movement Lily made, every glance she gave, seemed to feed the swirling rumors. Xander’s shadow loomed large, not physically, but everywhere, in whispers, in sideways glances, in the way students now subtly monitored her reactions.

By mid-morning, it became clear that Xander’s reach extended beyond mere observation.

During math class, Lily felt it again, the faint prickling of being watched. Her pencil trembled in her hand as she tried to focus on equations, but the dark presence in the back of the classroom was unmistakable. Xander. He leaned casually against a desk at the back, seemingly uninterested in the lesson, yet his eyes were locked on her, scanning her every movement.

She knew she should feel scared. She knew she should look away, refuse to meet that gaze, but something inside her couldn’t. She wanted to see him, to challenge him, to understand him.

The bell eventually rang, releasing a flood of students into the hallways. Lily moved quickly, hoping to slip past unnoticed, but the whispers were louder now, voices following her like shadows.

“Did you see what happened yesterday?” a voice called from behind, dripping with excitement.

Lily’s cheeks burned, and she kept her head down, pushing through the crowd. Chloe caught up with her outside, hands on her shoulders.

“You can’t just walk around like this,” Chloe said firmly, eyes scanning the throng of students. “Everyone’s talking. He’s… he’s dangerous, Lily. And now, they’re feeding off it.”

“I know,” Lily whispered. She felt helpless, frustrated, and strangely exhilarated all at once. There was a rush in knowing Xander’s presence could change the entire dynamic of the school, a thrill she didn’t entirely understand.

By lunchtime, the cafeteria had transformed into a stage. Tables buzzed with speculation. Every glance from Xander or his friends seemed magnified, every whisper amplified. Lily and Chloe secured their usual table near the windows, but Lily’s mind was elsewhere.

Kelvin and Timothy were sitting near Xander, clearly aware of the storm brewing. They threw knowing smirks her way every time she looked up, relishing the tension she exuded. Xander, however, didn’t move. He didn’t approach, didn’t speak—he simply sat, eyes fixed on her, as though measuring her, challenging her, daring her to react.

Chloe’s hand pressed against Lily’s arm. “Stop looking,” she whispered urgently. “Just… just eat your lunch and ignore him.”

“I… I can’t,” Lily admitted quietly. She didn’t understand why, but she couldn’t pull her eyes away. There was a gravity in Xander’s stare that held her, an invisible tether she felt with every heartbeat.

As the lunch period progressed, Lily noticed something subtle yet alarming. Several students were starting to whisper directly to her, throwing casual questions about Xander, all laced with curiosity, judgment, or admiration.

“You know he’s bad news, right?” one girl said casually as she passed, a sly grin on her face.

Lily stiffened, unsure how to respond. Before she could answer, a tall boy from another table leaned over. “I wouldn’t mess with him if I were you,” he murmured, barely audible, though his eyes lingered on her in a way that made her pulse quicken.

Chloe groaned. “See? This is exactly what I’m talking about.”

Lily’s thoughts spiraled. The incident on the street yesterday wasn’t meant to become gossip, yet here it was, dissected and exaggerated in ways she couldn’t even imagine. And at the center of it all, Xander sitting calmly as though orchestrating the chaos without uttering a single word.

The bell eventually rang, scattering the students. Lily and Chloe gathered their trays and walked toward the exit, tension clinging to them like a second skin.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Chloe asked again, concern etched into every line of her face.

“I… I think I am,” Lily said, though the uncertainty in her voice betrayed her. “It’s just… everything’s different now.”

Chloe’s expression softened. “Different in what way?”

Lily hesitated, glancing back at the cafeteria. Xander’s dark silhouette was still visible near the back, almost ghostlike in his calmness, his smirk just barely visible from this distance.

“I… I don’t know,” she admitted finally. “It’s like… he’s everywhere. And even though I know I should be afraid, part of me… wants him to be.”

Chloe’s hand tightened on hers. “Lily, listen to me. You’re playing with fire. He’s not like anyone you know. He’s… obsessive. Dangerous. And you’re letting him in.”

Lily’s chest tightened, the truth in Chloe’s words hitting harder than she expected. She knew Chloe was right. Every instinct screamed that Xander was dangerous. Every rational thought warned her to stay away. And yet, her heart betrayed her, racing at the mere memory of his hand on her waist, the intensity of his stare, the thrill of their close call just a day ago.

That evening, as Lily returned home, she noticed subtle changes in her own behavior. She walked past the mirror and caught her reflection, eyes wide, lips slightly parted, cheeks flushed. A small part of her recoiled in embarrassment. Another part, a deeper, more primal part, couldn’t deny the thrill she felt when she thought of Xander, the dangerous pull he had over her.

Her phone buzzed on her desk. A text from an unknown number:

"I hope you got home safely today."

Lily’s fingers froze over the screen. A chill ran down her spine. The text wasn’t threatening… not overtly. But it carried a weight, a reminder that Xander’s reach was longer than anyone imagined.

Chloe’s warning echoed in her mind: “Obsessive. Dangerous. Don’t let him in.”

Yet, as Lily stared at the message, a strange thrill ran through her. Her pulse quickened. The fear was there, undeniably, but so was something else; curiosity, fascination, and the undeniable pull toward someone who shouldn’t exist in her life but had claimed a place in her thoughts, in her day, in her very heartbeat.

She knew one thing with terrifying clarity: life at Crestwood High would never be the same again.

And Xander… Xander would never let it be.