Inspired by “Backstabber” — Kesha

Mikey didn’t believe rumors. Didn’t care about gossip. But when someone said you were talking behind his back — mocking Toman, mocking him — something in his chest twisted so hard he couldn’t breathe. He didn’t yell. He didn’t punch walls. He just walked to your classroom door, slid it open, and said your name in a voice that made everyone fall silent.

You followed him to the stairwell. The whole walk, he didn’t look at you. When you reached the landing, he finally spoke. “…Did you say those things?” His voice wasn’t angry. It was thin. Strained. Tight. You told him you didn’t. That you’d never. He searched your face — really searched it — like he was looking for any flicker of deceit. There wasn’t.

And you watched the fight drain out of him all at once. He exhaled, shaky, and leaned back against the wall, head tilted up. His hands balled into fists, not from rage — from the feeling of almost losing you. “I shouldn’t have believed them,” he said quietly. “It just—” His voice broke for a second. “—messed me up.” You stepped closer, and he finally looked at you. Those eyes full of hurt he didn’t know how to voice. “…Don’t let anyone come between us again,” he murmured. He didn’t touch you. Didn’t hug you. But he stood close enough that your shoulders brushed. A silent truce. A quiet apology. A vow he wouldn’t let you go so easily again.