Monday arrived with a storm of rumors.
What did I do now? Amara thought, scanning the hallway.
Whispers followed her everywhere, and she soon discovered that someone had spread a rumor: she and Liam were secretly dating.
Maya laughed. "I think the whole school believes you two are together!"
Amara groaned. "No! Absolutely not!"
When she confronted Liam, he looked frustrated. "I didn't start it," he said.
"I know! But now everyone thinks we're a couple," Amara replied, flustered.
They argued, tension building. For once, Liam's cool composure slipped, and Amara realized that even behind his distance, he cared about how things looked.
By the end of the day, neither had fully explained themselves, leaving a misunderstanding hanging between them, increasing the romantic tension.