Second semester of college.
Things had been peaceful for exactly three weeks.
Then the drama started.
It began with a rumor.
Whispers in the hallway. Glances in the cafeteria. Posts on social media.
"Did you hear about Jay Mariano?"
"She thinks she runs the school."
"Her and that Keifer Watson. So full of themselves."
"Someone should take them down a notch."
Jay heard it first.
She was walking to class when a group of girls whispered loudly as she passed.
Girl 1: "There she is. The CEO princess."
Girl 2: "Thinks she's so special."
Girl 3: "Her boyfriend's probably only with her for the money."
Jay stopped.
Turned.
Jay: "Excuse me?"
The girls froze.
Girl 1: "We didn't say anything."
Jay: "You said plenty."
Girl 2: "Look, we're just repeating what everyone says."
Jay: "And what does 'everyone' say?"
Girl 3: "That you're arrogant. That you use your family name to get ahead. That Keifer's only with you for the connections."
Jay's jaw tightened.
But before she could respond—
Keifer's voice behind her.
Keifer: "Is there a problem?"
The girls paled.
Girl 1: "No problem."
Keifer: "Didn't sound like no problem."
Girl 2: "We were just leaving."
They scurried away.
Jay turned to Keifer.
Jay: "You heard?"
Keifer: "Enough."
Jay: "It's nothing."
Keifer: "It's not nothing."
Jay: "I can handle it."
Keifer: "I know. But you don't have to handle it alone."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
He kissed her forehead.
The rumors spread anyway.
By lunch, the whole campus was talking.
Section E gathered at their usual table. Tension high.
Ci-n: "I HEARD WHAT THEY'RE SAYING! IT'S NOT TRUE!"
Rakki: "Of course it's not true."
Mica: "People are just jealous."
Calix: "Really jealous."
Freya: "Pathetically jealous."
Edrix: "Ridiculously jealous."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Rory: "I've traced the rumors back to three sources."
Drew: "I'm taking bets on who started it."
David: "Chloe. 500."
Drew: "Chloe?"
David: "She's still mad about Keifer."
Drew: "Interesting theory."
Eren: "Wait, people are being mean to Jay?"
Josh nodded. Looked concerned.
Baster stopped humming.
Percy was on video call. "I HEARD! THIS IS DRAMA! DOCUMENTING!"
Ci-n: "I'M DOCUMENTING TOO!"
Rakki: "Those two."
Mica: "Always."
Aries and Ella arrived.
Aries: "We heard."
Ella: "Who do we need to fight?"
Aries: "Ella."
Ella: "What? I'm defending family."
Aries: "Violence isn't the answer."
Ella: "It's ONE answer."
Aries: "A bad answer."
Ella: "Not the POINT."
Jay laughed. Actually laughed.
Jay: "Thanks, both of you. But I've got this."
Aries: "You sure?"
Jay: "I'm sure."
Keifer squeezed her hand.
The source was revealed at the end of the day.
Chloe.
Of course.
She cornered Jay near the parking lot.
Chloe: "Enjoying the attention?"
Jay: "Enjoying your obsession with my relationship?"
Chloe: "I'm not obsessed."
Jay: "You started rumors about me. About Keifer. About us."
Chloe: "I just told the truth."
Jay: "The truth?"
Chloe: "Everyone knows you're only together because of your families. Because of Watson Enterprises. It's a business arrangement."
Jay stared at her.
Then laughed.
Jay: "A business arrangement?"
Chloe: "It's obvious."
Jay: "You really think that?"
Chloe: "I know it."
Jay: "Then you don't know anything."
Chloe: "Enlighten me."
Jay: "I've loved Keifer since I was seven years old. I loved him when we had nothing. I loved him when we were apart. I loved him when everyone told me to move on."
Chloe: "So?"
Jay: "So this—" She pointed at herself, then toward where Keifer waited. "—isn't business. It's fate. It's forever. It's everything."
Chloe: "Pretty words."
Jay: "Pretty truth."
Keifer appeared beside her.
Keifer: "Done?"
Jay: "Done."
Keifer: "Good. Let's go home."
Jay: "Okay."
They walked away. Hand in hand.
Chloe watched.
For once, she had nothing to say.
The next day.
The rumors were gone.
Replaced by something else.
"Did you hear what Jay said to Chloe?"
"She's loved him since they were seven!"
"That's actually romantic."
"Jayfer is endgame."
Section E celebrated.
Ci-n: "SISTER JAY SHUT HER DOWN AGAIN!"
Rakki: "Undefeated champion."
Mica: "Queen of shutting down haters."
Calix: "Really queen."
Freya: "Impressive."
Edrix: "Very impressive."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Percy: "I HAVE THE WHOLE CONVERSATION ON VIDEO!"
Ci-n: "FROM THREE ANGLES?"
Percy: "ONE ANGLE! BUT GOOD ANGLE!"
Rakki: "Those two."
Mica: "Perfect."
Jay and Keifer sat together.
Jay: "Another drama over."
Keifer: "Another win for Jayfer."
Jay: "Same thing?"
Keifer: "Same thing."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
He kissed her.
Percy: "DOCUMENTING!"
Ci-n: "FROM THREE ANGLES!"
Rakki: "Go home."
Percy: "HISTORY NEVER GOES HOME!"
But he followed them anyway.