**Gemma's POV**
The news hit me like a slap in the face. I stared at my phone screen, blinking in disbelief. Liam's name was splashed across the headlines, attached to a scandal that felt surreal.
"Local Athlete Accused of Misconduct." The title echoed in my mind as I took in the photo of Liam, looking confused and vulnerable, and my stomach twisted in knots. How could this be happening to him?
I needed to talk to Nat; I was desperate for clarity. I quickly dialed her number, my heart racing as I waited for her to pick up.
"Hey, Gemma!" Nat answered, but I could hear the tension in her voice.
"Nat, have you seen this?" I blurted out, my voice trembling more than I wanted it to. "Liam... they're saying he's involved in some kind of misconduct. What is going on?"
"Yeah, I saw it," she replied, her tone clipped. "It's all over the news. Liam's name is everywhere. It's a mess."
"Do you think he could actually do something like this?" I asked, fear creeping into my words.
"Honestly, Gemma," Nat hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "I wouldn't get too involved. Things like this can ruin reputations."
Her words stung, but beneath the hurt, I understood her concern. Still, I couldn't just turn away. Not after everything we had shared.
"But Liam wouldn't—" I started, feeling a surge of defensiveness.
She cut me off, her voice firm. "You don't know that for sure."
I swallowed hard, doubt creeping in. Had Liam really changed that much? The memory of his kiss by the lake flooded my mind, full of warmth and promise, now clouded by uncertainty. I felt torn between the past and this shocking present.
"Why would anyone want to hurt him?" I asked, my voice softening as I pondered the thought aloud.
"I don't know, Gemma. People can be jealous, vindictive. You know how it is," she replied. "It doesn't mean he's innocent."
The idea gnawed at me, but I refused to let it take hold. "He's not that kind of person, Nat. You have to believe me!"
There was a pause on the line. "I want to believe you, but you have to be careful. This could be really damaging."
"Damaging?" I echoed, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "Liam deserves support, not judgment! I can't just abandon him because of a headline."
"I'm just saying, tread lightly. People will jump to conclusions, and I don't want to see you hurt," Nat cautioned.
"I appreciate your concern, but I can't just ignore this," I said, my resolve strengthening. "I need to talk to him, find out what's really going on."
"Okay, just promise me you'll be cautious," Nat replied. "I'll be here if you need to talk."
"Thanks, Nat. I'll keep you posted," I said, and we hung up.
As the night wore on, the warmth of that kiss became a distant memory overshadowed by the chaos of the moment. I couldn't abandon him just because of a headline. I had to believe in him, in what we had shared, even if the world seemed to turn against him.
With determination fueling my resolve, I grabbed my jacket and headed out the door. I needed to find Liam, to make sure he knew he wasn't alone in this.
No matter what, I wouldn't let this scandal define him—or us.
**Alex's POV**
I paced the floor, my phone pressed to my ear, listening to the tension crackling through the line. "Everything okay?" I asked, trying to keep my voice casual, but I could hear the strain behind my words.
"Not really," Gemma replied, her voice soft but heavy with worry. I imagined her, face illuminated by her phone, worry lines etched deep across her brow. "It's Liam. He's in trouble."
A wave of frustration washed over me. "What do you mean 'in trouble'? You really think it's your job to fix this?" The heat rose in my chest. "He got himself into this mess."
"Alex, you don't understand," she shot back, her tone sharper now. "Liam wouldn't do something like this. There's more to it."
I wanted to scream. The way she defended him set my blood boiling. Why couldn't she see it? Liam had always been a problem—her problem. And here I was, waiting in the wings, just as I always had, and now it felt like I was losing her again.
"Maybe you should just stay out of it," I suggested, my voice steady, even though the words felt like a betrayal. "You don't want to get dragged into something that could backfire on you."
"Alex, this isn't just about me! I care about him," she insisted, her frustration palpable even through the phone. "He's not the person the headlines say he is."
"Maybe not, but it's still his mess," I countered, struggling to keep my own emotions in check. Deep down, I wasn't just trying to protect her; I was trying to protect what we had—or what I thought we had. "You don't need to be involved in this."
"Don't you get it? I can't just walk away," she said, her voice rising. "I won't abandon him just because of a headline!"
I clenched my jaw, feeling the tension crackle between us. "And what about us, Gemma? What about what we have?" I asked, my heart racing.
There was silence on the line, and I could almost hear her weighing her options. "Alex, I... I need to figure this out first," she said finally, her voice softer now but still filled with resolve.
"Fine, but just be careful," I replied, my heart sinking. I had to let her go, but every fiber of my being wanted to pull her back. "Just promise me you'll think about what's at stake here."
"I will," she said quietly. "But I can't turn my back on him. Not now."
As the call ended, I felt a mix of anger and helplessness swirling within me. I wanted to be the one she turned to, the one she cared about. But as long as Liam was in the picture, it felt like I was fighting a losing battle.
*Liam's POV*
The summer heat hung heavy in the air, but the tension in my chest felt even more stifling. News had broken out that sent ripples through our small town: "Local Athlete Accused of Misconduct." My heart sank as I read the headline on my phone, my fingers shaking slightly. They were talking about me.
"Dude, have you seen this?" My friend Matt's voice cut through my thoughts as he called me. I picked up, trying to keep my tone steady.
"Yeah, I saw," I replied, the weight of the words pressing down on me. "It's… it's messed up."
"Are you okay? This is crazy! Everyone's talking about it," he said, concern clear in his voice. "You know it's just gossip, right? We'll figure this out."
"Yeah, I know. It just feels unreal." I ran a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling up. "It's like all the hard work I've put in is being overshadowed by… whatever this is."
"You need to talk to Nat. She's probably freaking out," Matt suggested.
"I will," I said, though I couldn't shake the feeling that my relationship with Natalie was just another layer of confusion. I had chosen her over Gemma, not because I didn't care for Gemma, but because she never seemed to know what she wanted. Now, with this scandal hanging over my head, I wondered if I'd made the right choice.
"Liam! You there?" another friend, Jake, chimed in on the call. "We're all heading to the park. You should come. Forget this crap for a bit."
"Yeah, I'll be there in a minute," I said, needing the distraction. But as I hung up, my thoughts flickered back to Gemma. She was at the campfire the other night, and I couldn't shake the feeling that our kiss had meant something deeper, something that might still linger between us despite everything.
I grabbed my keys and headed out, the weight of the headlines still pressing against my chest. I needed to get to the park, where my friends were waiting, and maybe I could forget for just a moment.
As I arrived, I was greeted with laughter and the sight of a football being tossed around. The normalcy of it all felt comforting, but the headline still loomed in my mind.
"Hey, Liam!" Matt called out, waving me over. "You're not going to believe what we heard about the scandal!"
"Yeah, I've heard enough," I replied, forcing a smile. "Let's just play."
"Come on, man. We need to stick together. No matter what, we've got your back," Jake said, clapping me on the shoulder.
"Thanks, guys," I said, grateful but still uneasy.
As we started playing, I tried to focus on the game, the familiar rhythm helping to ease my mind. But no matter how hard I tried, the shadows of doubt lingered, whispering reminders of the chaos that awaited me off the field.
*Natalie's POV*
The moment I saw the headline, my heart dropped. "Local Athlete Accused of Misconduct." I stared at the screen, disbelief washing over me. Liam? Involved in something so scandalous? It couldn't be true. My mind raced, spinning webs of thoughts and doubts.
I tried to appear calm, but inside, I felt a storm brewing. The article detailed allegations against him, and the way they described the situation made it sound so damning. All I could think about was how it would affect him, how it would affect us. I needed to act fast to protect him—and myself.
I grabbed my phone, my fingers trembling as I typed out a message to Liam. "Have you seen the news? We need to talk." I hit send, my anxiety creeping in like a shadow. What if this spiraled out of control? What if they connected him to the rumors floating around? The last thing I wanted was for Gemma to find out—her smug face was already too much to bear. She'd always thought she was better than me, that she could just waltz back into Liam's life whenever she wanted.
And now, with this scandal looming, I couldn't let her come near him again. I could already picture her smirking as she offered him comfort, pretending to care. I had to be the one to support him, to make sure he didn't feel the weight of this alone.
But how could I cover my tracks? I couldn't let anyone suspect that I'd known about the allegations before they broke. I couldn't let them see my worry—it might give them a reason to think I was involved somehow.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I needed to gather my thoughts. I had to make it seem like I was on his side, fully committed to helping him through this mess. I reached for my purse, pulling out my makeup to freshen up. I had to look composed when I saw him.
As I glanced at myself in the mirror, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling of jealousy. Gemma would try to swoop in, act like the supportive ex-girlfriend who just wanted to help. I wouldn't let that happen. I wouldn't let her take him back.
After a moment, my phone vibrated with a text from Liam: "I'm on my way." Relief and dread flooded through me at once. I needed to be ready, to have the perfect words lined up. I couldn't let my emotions spill over. I had to show him that I was the only one who could help him now.
---
Gemma paced her living room, phone in hand, unable to shake the feeling that something didn't add up. The more she thought about it, the more pieces seemed out of place. Liam wasn't reckless, and he'd never been the type to stir up trouble.
She dialed his number, but it went straight to voicemail. Panic surged in her chest. Something was wrong—really wrong.
Just as she was about to text him, a notification popped up on her phone. Another article, this one worse than the last. This time, the accusations were more detailed, more damning. And Liam's face, bruised and tired, stared back at her from a photo taken outside the police station.
Her breath caught in her throat. How had things spiraled so fast? Who could have done this to him?