It started with a whisper.

I first heard it while grabbing my books from my locker. Two students walked past, giggling, one of them nudging the other before whispering, “Did you hear? They’re totally a thing.”

I didn’t think much of it—until I caught my name in the same breath as Andy Shen’s.

Andy Shen. My academic rival, my perpetual thorn in the side, the guy I had spent the last three years arguing with over test scores and student council debates. The idea of us together was ridiculous.

But apparently, the entire school disagreed.

By lunchtime, the rumor had taken on a life of its own.

“I heard they’ve been sneaking around for months.”

“Someone saw them leaving the library together—late.”

“I swear I saw them holding hands behind the gym.”

I nearly choked on my drink when a friend leaned over and smirked, “So… how long have you and Andy been keeping it a secret?”