The way she framed my relationship with Silver was ridiculous. She acted as if I have no agency and Silver were taking advantage of me. As if I’m not choosing to be with him because of how good he makes me feel and how much I care about him too.
None of them get it. They don’t understand us or our relationship, so they pass judgment.
But I’m choosing not to let it get me down.
Silver and I will get through this. All of it—the whispers and judgments and the enemies circling like vultures. We’ll weather this storm the same way we’ve weathered every other one.
Together.
English class ends and I pack up my things, shoving my laptop and water bottle into my bag before heading out into the hallway.
I’ve barely made it ten steps before I feel them.
The stares. The whispers.
Even here in Wheaton, miles away from Pulsboro, the gossip has somehow made its way over. People at school seem to know about me and Silver.
Their pointed looks say enough. Eyes follow me as I walk, conversations dipping into hushed murmurs as I pass.
It’s even worse than the looks they were giving me before, back when Kel was still around and everyone thought I was some drunk slutty girl who’d hooked up with him that Saturday night.
Now I’m the slutty girl dating a man old enough to be her father.
I can only imagine the things they think about me. The rumors have probably taken on a life of their own by now, which means there’s nothing I can do to stop them.
Their minds are made up about me.
But I refuse to run and hide as if I have anything to be ashamed of.
Instead, I hold my head up high and march down the hall as bravely as I can. Shoulders back and chin lifted with my gaze forward.
I refuse to be intimidated or made to think it’s wrong to love someone who actually loves me back.
I’m closing in on the campus entrance where Silver usually picks me up. Other cars are idling near the curb as they wait on the people they’re giving rides to, but Silver’s truck is nowhere to be found.
My eyes scan the area as Shay approaches from my right.
“You can’t stay outta people’s mouths, can you?” she asks, arms folded. Her face is twisted by scorn she doesn’t bother to hide. “Heard about your new boyfriend. Some guy old enough to be your dad, right? You move fast, Lana. First Kel, now this? And he’s a biker too? Part of thatclub.”
My stomach clenches as I glare over at her.
She steps closer, the corner of her mouth tipping up in a sneer. “How’d it go down, Lana? Did you fuck him to get him to make Kel and Spence disappear?”
“Shut up!” I growl, pulse racing faster. But my mind goes blank at the sudden accusations.
I’m so damn caught off guard that I can barely string together a response. She’s blindsided me at a moment where I was looking for Silver’s truck. I glance back over to the pickup area and still fail to see him anywhere.
Is he running late? He’d usually text…
Shay watches me as if savoring my palpable discomfort. She senses she’s managed to bring the old version of me out. The insecure, uncertain girl who didn’t know how to stand up for herself and just wanted to be liked by everyone.
The girl I thought I’d left behind.
“Why don’t you just mind your business?”
We both turn our heads at the sound of the third voice to realize two more people have walked up.
Korine and Zoe are standing a couple feet away, wearing matching expressions of cool disdain on their faces. They’re eyeing Shay like she’s an irritating gnat… which she basically is.
