The rumors didn't disappear.
They just became background noise.
Andrea learned something quickly—people eventually got bored. Not because they suddenly respected her, but because gossip always needed something new to survive.
For a few days, the whispers slowly faded.
But the looks stayed.
Especially from Samuel Daňko.
Andrea noticed it during class.
During lunch.
Even in the hallway.
Samuel wasn't laughing about her anymore. He wasn't openly mocking her either.
He was just… watching.
Like he was trying to figure something out.
Andrea hated it.
One afternoon, the class had a free period. The teacher hadn't arrived yet, so most students were either talking loudly or scrolling through their phones.
Andrea sat in the back, pretending to read something on her phone.
In reality, she was just trying to exist quietly.
A chair suddenly scraped across the floor.
Someone sat down across from her.
Andrea looked up.
Samuel.
Of course.
She rolled her eyes.
"What do you want?"
Samuel leaned back in his chair casually.
"Relax."
Andrea scoffed.
"You've been staring at me for three days."
Samuel smirked slightly.
"You noticed."
"Hard not to."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Samuel tilted his head slightly, studying her.
Then he asked something completely unexpected.
"Why are you like this?"
Andrea blinked.
"What?"
Samuel shrugged.
"Like… angry at everything."
Andrea stared at him.
"You literally started rumors about me."
Samuel lifted a hand slightly.
"I didn't start them."
"You told everyone."
"I told one person," he corrected.
Andrea laughed bitterly.
"Oh, sorry. That makes it so much better."
Samuel ignored the sarcasm.
"I'm serious," he said.
Andrea frowned.
"About what?"
"You."
Andrea stared at him like he had lost his mind.
"What does that even mean?"
Samuel leaned forward slightly.
"You act like everyone is your enemy."
Andrea felt her patience snap.
"Maybe because people treat me like one."
Samuel shrugged again.
"You start half the fights."
Andrea slammed her phone onto the desk.
"Because people like you exist."
Samuel didn't react to the anger.
Instead, he watched her carefully.
"You kissed Neyman."
Andrea's entire body stiffened.
"Don't."
Samuel raised his eyebrows.
"Touchy subject?"
Andrea stood up abruptly.
"Shut up, Samuel."
Samuel leaned back in his chair again, completely calm.
"See?"
Andrea glared at him.
"What?"
"You explode immediately."
Andrea clenched her fists.
"Maybe because you keep talking."
Samuel tilted his head again.
"You know what I think?"
Andrea laughed coldly.
"Oh, this should be good."
"I think," Samuel said slowly, "you want attention."
The words hit something deep.
Andrea's anger flared instantly.
"Wow," she said sarcastically. "Great psychological analysis."
Samuel didn't smile.
"I'm serious."
Andrea leaned over the desk toward him.
"You don't know anything about me."
Samuel met her gaze without flinching.
"Then explain it."
Andrea's voice rose.
"Explain what?"
"Why you act like the world owes you something."
That was the wrong sentence.
The absolute wrong sentence.
Andrea felt something inside her snap.
"Shut up!" she snapped.
Several students turned to look at them.
Samuel remained calm.
"See?"
Andrea's breathing was heavy now.
"You think you understand everything, don't you?"
Samuel shrugged slightly.
"I understand people."
Andrea laughed bitterly.
"No. You don't."
Samuel's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Then tell me."
Andrea stared at him.
For a moment, it looked like she might actually say something real.
Something honest.
But instead—
She grabbed her bag.
"Go to hell, Samuel."
And walked out of the classroom.
Behind her, Samuel watched the door close.
For the first time since he met Andrea Paisley…
He wasn't amused.
He was curious.