[JASMINE – POV]
By Monday morning, the whispers had already begun.
I walked into school wearing my usual confidence like armor, but it didn't take a genius to know something was off. People turned, stared, smirked. Some girls gave me the evil eye, and a few boys looked at me like I was a walking scandal.
"Did you hear?" one whispered just loud enough.
"They spent the night together," another said.
I bit my lip and kept walking, straight-backed and head high, but inside I was crumbling.
How did they even know?
I hadn't even told my best friend yet.
Lucas was leaning on his locker like he always did—cool and collected. But even he looked tense as I approached. His smile didn't quite reach his eyes.
"You okay?" he asked.
I nodded, even though I wasn't.
Because in this school, the minute you're seen as his girl… everyone suddenly has something to say.
[LUCAS – POV]
I should've known this would happen.
Kingston High ran on gossip. One whisper turned into wildfire overnight. And now Jasmine was caught in the flames… because of me.
I'd barely shut my locker before Marcus showed up, grinning like an idiot.
"So… you and Jasmine, huh? No wonder she was wearing your hoodie this morning."
I shoved him lightly. "Mind your business."
But the damage was done. People were talking. And Jasmine was in the center of it.
I caught her eye from across the hall.
She looked like she was holding it all together.
But I knew her better now.
She was hurting.
And I was going to fix it—even if it meant putting my entire reputation on the line.