~ Sylara POV ~ "Are you alright?" Ashley asked, her voice laced with concern as she bent down to help me scoop my bag from the floor. "Yes... I'm—I'm fine," I stammered, swallowing hard against the sudden, bitter lump of panic rising in my throat. I forced my trembling hands to take the bag. "Who... who did you say started the rumor?" I managed to ask, my heart already thudding violently against my ribs like a trapped bird. "It was Stephanie, from the music class," Ashley whispered, leaning in close. "She's the one who sparked the whole fire." I quickly rushed over to the students, shoving my way through the crowd, until I was standing dead-center, staring face-to-face with the bold, cruel letters taped to the wall: I THINK A PROFESSOR IS SLEEPING WITH ONE OF THE STUDENTS HERE IN COLLEGE. My eyes flared wide, a sickening jolt of electricity shooting down my spine. The hallway around me blurred, and all I could hear was the deafening, frantic roar of my own heartbeat in my ears.
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