Screenshots.
Comments.
People arguing about what I meant.
None of them knew.
“That’s wild,” Lucasaid.
I didn’t respond.
Because it didn’t feel like gossip anymore.
It felt like pressure building around something that wasn’t supposed to be public.
Coach walked past us.
“Block it out,” he said.
I almost laughed.
Because it wasn’t something you block.
It’s something that follows.
ROWAN
Serena looked at me differently now.
Not softer.
More aware.
“You’re part of something messy,” she said.
“I’m part of an assignment.”
“No,” she said. “You’re part of a narrative now.”
I sighed. “Stop saying that word.”
“It’s true.”
I looked at her.
“I didn’t ask for it.”
She nodded.
“I know.”
That was the first time she didn’t argue with me.
Which scared me slightly more than if she had.
MASON
Coach changed drills again.
