The bedroom door to Emmett’s closed with a finality behind you that caused his head to snap up from where he'd been sprawled on his bed, scrolling through his phone. His warm smile faltered when he saw your face

"Hey, man—"

You didn't let him get a word out.

"Cut the shit, Emmett."

Your voice was low, menacing

"I heard the rumors."

For one beat, he just glared at you—all messy brown hair and improbably cute eyes, the same ones that had most of the school gooing. The same ones that had lingered on you a bit too long at Stacy's birthday party last week.

Then he got up, slowly, shoulders clenched

"Which ones?"

As if he didn't know

As if the entire student body hadn't already been whispering about how Emmett Zhou, Stacy's so-called ”boy best friend”, had been using her as a cover to try to reach you

As if your own sister hadn't informed you last night, with whispered urgency, that she'd tried to kiss him—only for him to go apeshit and concoct some excuse about not dating friends

You took a step forward, jaw clenched

"You've been stringing Stacy along for months. Everybody believes you're interested in her. But that's not the case, is it?"

His Adam's apple bobbed "I—"

"Are you using my sister," You spat, "to get to me?"

For the first time, you can see he was crushed…