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“What the fuck do you mean am I alright?!” I snap and he holds his hands up defensively. “What kind of stupid question is that?!” I pant, getting hotter.

“Whoa… relax. It’s not that deep, Jessica. Worse shit’s gone down at those parties. Yours was just… unexpected. But not even top ten in my book, so don’t freak out.” I stare at him, stunned in the midst of my panic… is… is Duval… trying to comfort me?That’s new.

“I was heard having sex with my boyfriend in my best friend’s house! And the whole damn campus knows about it! That is a big fucking deal!” I grit but he shrugs.

“I’m sure there was a reason… it was better than the alternative…” He cringes and I scrunch up my face, trying to understand what the fuck he’s talking about, but fuck all that. I’m just not in the mood….I need to tell Frank!“Seriously,” he assures, nudging my shoulder. “People will move on. They always do. Next week, someone else will take a bathroom L, and you’ll be back to being our frosty queen.”

I want to believe him, but my gut twists. Because it’s not just gossip. It’s me. My image. My control. My perfect line between athlete, anime nerd, and good girl.

I pull out my phone to text Frank, but I see that my girls messaged me on my two group chats.

The Otaku Baddies™

Sky: U ok??

Wanda : Yeah a buncha shit going around about U fren…

Jess : Yeah I’m good. All that shit is a lie… well… not the me getting my back blown out by Frank in the bathroom, but I’ma have to tell y’all about it later..

Sky: Of course! Let us know if we can do something for you

Wanda : Hell yeah girl we got yo back… I’ll threaten to beat up any person I hear talking about it.

Jess : thanks y’all! I think Ima leave campus early have a good day.

Wanda : You too boo.

A1’s Day 1’s

Faye : Morning y’all what y’all up too?

Bebe : Hey Faye I’m good, about to head to the library. Jess what you got going on today?

Jess : Morning you guys! Hope you have a good day today!

I text Faythe and Bebe not wanting to worry them because I know them two would be on the first flight here if they heard about the rumors, and I can’t have that.They have their own shit to worry about…

I stagger, lightheaded from how my heart is racing, but I feel a hand on my elbow steadying me.

“Hey chill, Jess… seriously it ain’t that bad…” Duval looks down at me, but I look around, and I see people staring at us, and I see girls whispering, giggling, and some dude passes by us.

“First, Frank. Now, Duval… what a hoe.”

“Chill!” Duval shakes his head, removing his hand. “You’re going to fuck around and find out,” he warns and the guy just snorts and mean mugs me.

Normally I wouldn’t give one, two, three, four fee fi fo fums about what someone has to say about me… but this is my perfectly curated image we’re talking about here…

As the only girl on the team, this could not only affect the teams morale if they think I’m going around fucking niggas that isn’t even my boyfriend… this for damn sure could affect my ability to stay on the team if coach choose to believe I was sleeping with Duval.

I step away from him, heart pounding.

“Jess, don’t worry about it… I’ll dead anything attached to me, so tell your boyfriend everything is good over here.” He holds up his hands taking a step back and quickly walking away and I stand there, lost. No matter how good last night felt in the moment, I can’t stop wondering…

Did I just burn down everything I worked so hard for?

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club illicit