---
EPISODE 12 — Clearing the Headlines
(Layla's POV)
The morning sunlight filtered through the dorm windows, but it felt heavier than usual, weighted with anticipation. The campus was alive with murmurs and furtive glances, as if everyone was waiting for something—or someone. I pulled my hoodie tighter around me, forcing a calm I didn't feel. Chloe and Mia were already up, sitting cross-legged on our dorm room floor, sipping coffee from paper cups and scrolling through their phones.
"You're up early," Chloe said, tilting her head as she watched me move to the window. "Or maybe you're just avoiding the chaos out there."
I didn't answer immediately. The quad had been buzzing all week, and the recent video—the one of Ethan and me—was the epicentre of a storm that refused to die down completely. Even with Marcus on cleanup duty, there was still the residue of whispers, furtive glances, and gossip that hung like a cloud over every hallway and courtyard.
"Marcus handled most of it," I finally said, trying to keep my voice even. "The video is being removed from all the major social channels, and he's tracking reposts. It won't stay up for long."
Chloe let out a dramatic sigh. "Thank God. I was about to go full-on Marshall security breach mode."
Mia gave a small, amused smile. "You mean she wasn't already doing that?"
I shot them both a look but couldn't hide my relief. Marcus was efficient—calculating, precise, and loyal. Without him, the aftermath of yesterday's viral post would have been a disaster. He had already coordinated with the campus IT department, reached out to moderators of popular student forums, and even leveraged Ethan's father's influence behind the scenes. In other words, the video was already disappearing, just like Marcus promised.
"I don't know how you do it," Chloe muttered, shaking her head. "You just… disappear, and then Marcus comes in like some secret agent and fixes everything."
I laughed softly, though tension still pressed at my chest. "We survive carefully. That's the trick."
Chloe rolled her eyes. "Careful? I call it being invisible. I don't have your nerve."
Mia, as always, was calm, serene even. She folded her hands in her lap and regarded us both with a faint smile. "Sometimes chaos doesn't last forever," she said quietly. "It's just about surviving the moment. After that, life goes on."
I wanted to believe her. I really did. But the truth was, nothing had ever felt this heavy. The attention from the video wasn't just social media drama—it was amplified by the Marshall name. Ethan's father, Gregory Marshall, wasn't just a man with influence; he was a man whose reach could ripple across the city and beyond. One viral video in the wrong hands could have consequences far beyond Avalon University.
And for a moment, I wondered how much Marcus had to lean on Ethan's father to make this happen so quickly.
---
By mid-morning, we were walking toward the campus quad, Chloe's energy practically vibrating as she scanned every student who crossed our path. Mia walked calmly beside me, and I tried to focus on each step instead of the lingering weight on my shoulders.
"Just… don't let anyone catch you off guard," Chloe whispered, glancing at her phone as if she expected someone to try recording us at any moment. "Even with Marcus, there's always someone trying to be clever."
I nodded. "We'll be careful. No photos, no posts. And Ethan will handle the rest. His father's influence is already moving behind the scenes. It won't take long before this dies completely."
The quad was bustling now, students chatting, tossing frisbees, some gathering near the fountain where Ethan and I had been photographed. I felt my pulse quicken at the thought. But Marcus appeared at just the right moment, moving with his usual calm precision. Hoodie up, phone in hand, scanning the area like a silent guardian.
His gaze met mine, a subtle nod confirming that the work was going according to plan.
"The video?" I asked quietly as he approached.
"Almost gone," Marcus replied, voice low. "Reposts flagged, accounts tagged, moderators contacted. All major channels are clearing it. By tonight, it should be like it never existed."
Relief surged through me, so strong I had to catch my breath. "Thank you," I whispered.
"Part of the job," Marcus said lightly. But his eyes didn't leave the quad, alert and calculating. "Stay low for the next few days. No hints, no selfies, nothing that could undo the work. Leave Ethan to handle the rest."
I nodded, feeling both grateful and tense. Marcus's presence was a reminder that even with his efforts, nothing could erase the anxiety. There were always risks when a Marshall was involved. Always consequences.
---
By late morning, Ethan found me near the library fountain, sitting on the edge with my sketchbook open but largely untouched. His hoodie was half-zipped, hands stuffed into the pockets, eyes scanning our surroundings before settling on me.
"Handled?" he asked quietly, relief threading through his calm tone.
I nodded. "Marcus cleared most of it. The video is disappearing, fast. By the end of the day, there won't be a trace."
His jaw relaxed slightly, the tension easing. "Good. My father… he would've gone ballistic if it had stayed up longer."
I hesitated. "Handled… thanks to Marcus. You've got a good team."
He allowed himself a small, faint smirk. "Loyal. Efficient. And worth every ounce of trust."
Chloe and Mia appeared behind me, carrying books. Chloe's expression was equal parts curiosity and suspicion. "All quiet? No firestorm?"
"For now," I said.
Mia's gaze flicked between Ethan and me. "I don't think I've ever seen either of you so tense and relieved at the same time."
I laughed softly. "Welcome to our lives."
Ethan's eyes softened, the faintest shadow of a smile tugging at his lips. "This… chaos? It's not over. My father—the Marshall reputation—it's never really over."
I stepped closer, letting my voice be steady. "Then we survive it. Together. Carefully."
He nodded, letting a quiet smile linger. "Together."
---
By afternoon, the campus began to return to its usual rhythm. Students laughed, classes resumed, and the faint hum of activity filled every corridor. The whispers about the kiss and the viral video faded, replaced by other conversations. Marcus's efforts had worked, the video was erased, and even the social media chatter had been neutralised.
Still, there was a residual tension in the air, a lingering reminder that some things weren't fully controllable. Even though the digital traces had been erased, the memory of recent chaos lingered. I could see it in Ethan's eyes, in the subtle way he checked his phone, always alert, never fully relaxed.
Chloe leaned closer as we walked toward the dorms. "You know… this is the calm before the next storm, right?"
"Maybe," I admitted. "But we've survived the worst. Marcus, Ethan… they've got our backs."
Ethan's hand brushed mine as we walked, a brief, unspoken reassurance. The chaos of the morning felt like a distant memory, momentarily replaced by something quieter, more profound.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the quad, I realised something important: some things were untouchable, even under the pressure of viral headlines, family expectations, and the Marshall influence.
Some things were ours.
Some people… were worth every risk.
And I would navigate every storm, every headline, every expectation… for them.
---
By nightfall, our dorm room was quiet. Chloe sprawled across her bed, scrolling through her phone, Mia worked on notes at her desk, and I sat on the windowsill, gazing out at the campus lights. The sky was painted in deep shades of purple and gold, reflecting the quiet victory of the day.
My phone buzzed. It was my mother. I hesitated for a moment, knowing the conversation wouldn't be just small talk. But after yesterday, after the chaos that had unfolded, I answered.
"Layla," her voice was calm, measured, though I could hear the faint undertone of concern. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Mom," I replied quickly, keeping my voice steady. "Marcus handled everything. The video is being erased, and Ethan… we're fine."
There was a pause. "I know Marcus is trustworthy. I just… I worry about you, about the attention. Promise me you'll be careful."
"I promise," I said softly, feeling the weight of her concern. It was the first time in days that I felt truly grounded, knowing my family, my friends, and even Ethan were aligned to keep me safe.
"Good," she said finally. "Call me tomorrow, okay? I just want to make sure you're… really okay."
"I will," I assured her, hanging up with a quiet sense of relief.
---
The evening faded into the night, and as I lay in bed, the memory of the kiss, the chaos, the video, and the small victories of the day played over and over in my mind. Some risks weren't just worth taking—they were unavoidable. And some people… some people were worth every storm.
I closed my eyes, letting that thought carry me into sleep, knowing that whatever came next, I wouldn't face it alone.
---