Chanelle sat at her usual table in the cafeteria, her brow furrowed in fury as she recounted the news that had just spread like wildfire through Hera Academy. Felix Riether had declared that Faerie was his girlfriend, and it felt like a personal affront. She glanced at her friends, who were equally stunned, trying to wrap their heads around the audacity of the scholarship kid daring to take up space in their world.
"I can't believe it," Chanelle spat, slamming her hand on the table, causing her friends to jump slightly. "That nobody thinks she can just waltz in and claim him like she's royalty or something. She's nothing but a charity case!"
"Exactly!" one of her friends, Tiffany, chimed in, her eyes narrowing. "What does Felix even see in her? She's a loser."
"Maybe we should dig into her past," another friend suggested, her voice dripping with malice. "There has to be something we can find to expose her. If we show everyone what she really is, maybe Felix will finally see her for the pathetic wannabe she is."
Chanelle's eyes glinted with determination. "Let's do it. I want to know everything about Faerie's life. We'll show everyone that she's not fit to be with Felix."
With their plan set, Chanelle picked up her phone and called in a favor. "I need you to dig up everything you can on Faerie. I want to know about her family, her friends—everything."
A few hours later, Chanelle and her friends gathered in the library, flipping through the information their private investigator had uncovered. They huddled around a table, a mix of excitement and disbelief filling the air as they pored over the documents.
"Wow, look at this," Tiffany said, pointing at the screen. "Her father has been in prison for murder since she was five years old! That's crazy!"
Chanelle's smirk widened. "No wonder she's a scholarship kid. She's basically a charity case. But wait, there's more. Apparently, her mom is an alcoholic and a drug addict. I mean, look at her—what a mess!"
The girls exchanged glances, their laughter echoing through the library. "That explains so much," Chanelle said, unable to contain her delight. "She's basically a walking tragedy. Who would want to date someone like that?"
"Let's not forget about her friends," another friend chimed in, scrolling through the investigator's findings. "It says here she hangs out with a girl named Luna. She works in a bar and is known for her gambling addiction. Sounds like a perfect match for Faerie, don't you think?"
Chanelle's mind raced as she processed the information. "So, Faerie's life is basically a soap opera. This is perfect! We'll make sure everyone knows about her past. If Felix finds out, he'll drop her like a hot potato."
The girls exchanged ideas on how to spread the information, each more malicious than the last. They knew that if they painted Faerie in the worst light possible, it would hurt her reputation and possibly drive a wedge between her and Felix.
"Let's create some flyers," Chanelle suggested, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "We can pass them around the school, expose her for who she really is."
The group quickly got to work, typing up the shocking revelations about Faerie's life. They printed out flyers, each adorned with phrases like "Father in Prison," "Mother a Junkie," and "Friends with a Barmaid." They giggled with excitement, reveling in the idea of unleashing their plan.
As the day progressed, whispers began to spread through the hallways of Hera Academy. Chanelle and her friends moved through the crowd, planting the seeds of doubt in every ear they could find. Students gathered in clusters, exchanging looks of disbelief as the rumors about Faerie's past took root.
At lunch the following day, Chanelle felt a rush of satisfaction as she watched students whispering and pointing in Faerie's direction. The cafeteria buzzed with gossip, and the atmosphere was thick with tension.
"Did you hear about her dad? He's a criminal!" one girl whispered.
"I can't believe Felix would choose her. She's a loser!" another chimed in.
Chanelle leaned in to listen, a satisfied smirk plastered on her face as she caught snippets of the gossip swirling around.
"Yeah, she's probably just using him to get ahead," a boy sneered. "Have you seen her friend? I heard she works in a bar, probably teaching her some tricks."
Suddenly, Faerie walked into the cafeteria, oblivious to the storm brewing around her. She took a seat at her table with Felix, who greeted her with a bright smile.
"Hey, beautiful," he said, leaning closer to her.
Faerie smiled back, but it didn't reach her eyes as she sensed the stares. She tried to brush it off, focusing on her food and enjoying Felix's attention. However, the whispers grew louder, making it impossible for her to ignore the weight of their judgment.
"Hey, Faerie!" Chanelle called out from across the room, her voice dripping with mockery. "How's it feel to be the school's charity case? You must be so proud to have a dad in prison!"
Gasps echoed through the cafeteria, and laughter erupted from Chanelle's table, echoing like nails on a chalkboard. Felix's expression shifted from playful to tense, and he glared at Chanelle, who seemed to revel in the chaos she had created.
"Chanelle, back off," Felix warned, his voice low but filled with intensity. "You don't know anything about her."
"Oh, but I think I do," Chanelle replied, enjoying the attention. "You think she's special because you have a crush on her? Newsflash: she's just a girl trying to ride your coattails!"
Faerie's heart raced as she felt the weight of the words. She opened her mouth to respond, but the noise drowned her out, and Chanelle continued her tirade.
"Why don't you tell everyone how you really feel about being the daughter of a criminal?" she taunted. "Or how your mother's a junkie? What's it like being friends with a barmaid?"
With each word, Faerie felt the tears prickling at the corners of her eyes, but she stood her ground. "You don't know me, Chanelle," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "You don't know my story. You don't know anything about my life."
"Stop pretending to be something you're not," Chanelle sneered, clearly enjoying the attention. "You're just a loser pretending to fit in with the elite. Everyone knows it!"
As Faerie took a deep breath, she glanced at Felix, whose jaw was clenched tightly, anger radiating from him.
"Let's go," he said softly, standing up beside her, ready to shield her from the onslaught of Chanelle's cruelty.
But as they made their way toward the exit, the whispers and laughter trailed behind them like a shadow. Faerie felt the sting of Chanelle's words burning in her chest, but she forced herself to keep her head high, refusing to let them break her spirit.
Outside, the air felt fresher, but the weight of the rumors clung to her like a heavy cloak. She turned to Felix, who looked both angry and concerned. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It's not your fault," he replied, his hand brushing against hers. "They don't know you like I do. You're stronger than they think."
Faerie wished she could believe that. As she looked back at the cafeteria, she knew the battle was far from over. With Chanelle and her friends digging into her past, she would have to confront not just the rumors, but the truth of who she was. And that was a battle she wasn't sure she was ready for.