Rumors

She sat on the ledge overlooking the courtyard, her feet dangling as she leaned her head back against the cool window. She was out there just to clear her head. All the drama that had been going on was driving her insane!! No one could do anything at this school without someone else talking about it. She had taken part in the gossip, even enjoyed it, but when it was about her, all the fun seemed to end.
She decided to make a list of what not to do to survive high school drama.
Rule One. Never tell anyone you like someone.
Rule Two. Never talk about your fantasies.
Rule Three. Never cry over a stupid boy...
At that rule she had to squeeze her eyes shut to fight the inevitable fall of tears that occurred when she thought of what happened. There was a guy, Ian, that she'd liked forever. At first she knew better than to tell someone about her crush, but everyone in her group was sharing their stories, she felt like she had to. When she mentioned who she liked, the whole room erupted in eager, gossiping voices. "I always knew you had a thing for him!" "I think he likes you too!" "Let's get them together!"
"NOOO!" she yelled, trying to quash the outbursts. "I don't want you to do anything!" But it was too late. A whole room of girls knew and it was out of control. The next day, the very next day!, she heard whispers during English. "How long till he hears?" she asked herself.
At the lunch table, her friends all talked about it, as if it were the most interesting thing to ever grace their lives. She got caught up and described one of her daydreams to them, the one where he stood up in front of the class and asked her to go to homecoming with him. Her friends went wild! Telling them had been a big mistake, and all through the day, rumors of her amorous intentions toward Ian assaulted her.
She finally broke one of her own rules and cut class, just to escape the gossip. That's how she happened to be on the ledge, praying for this storm to pass her by. "He must know by now, they all must be laughing at me!" she screamed in her head. She was so lost in her misery, she didn't even notice when someone sat down beside her. Someone with dark, wavy hair, and bright blue eyes.
She looked up with a start to see the one person she would have liked to avoid for the rest of her life sitting beside her. "Hey," he said quietly. "You're Adrian, right?"
"Oh no," she thought, paralyzed by fear, "he's going to confront me right here and now."
He looked confused when she didn't answer and said, "We have Spanish together, I sit by you in Psychology..." He shifted uncomfortably, and managed, "I'm Ian. God, you probably don't even know I exist!" He got up angrily and started to walk toward the door.
"Wait!" she exclaimed. He turned to look at her, and she continued, "Haven't you heard the rumors?"
"What rumors?" he asked, clearly having no idea what she was talking about.
"So, you haven't heard the rumors? Then what do you want?" She was shocked that he'd even speak to her.
"You looked upset, so I came over to see if you were ok. I... I've been wanting to talk to you for a long time. So, are you ok?"
"Yes," she said quietly, not wanting him to disappear if he was a dream. "I'm must look awful."
"You look beautiful," he said, and he reached over and brushed the tears away from her eyes. He sat next to her, closer than before, and, as if he were scared she too was a dream, slowly touched his lips to hers, gently at first, and then more deeply. His hand pushed the hair back from her face, and as he drew away, he asked her quizzically, "What are these rumors about?"
"This," she breathed before touching her lips to his while ripping up her list.




The next day at school during Psychology, Ian wasn't there when the bell rang. Adrien had wanted to see him, and was a little crushed he wasn't there. Then, the door opened and in stepped Ian with a bouquet of Gerber daisies. With all eyes on them, he gallantly got down on one knee next to her, and grandly asked her, "Adrien Poloczyk, will you go with me to homecoming?"
All she could do was nod her head before the teacher called the class to order. Ian slid into his seat beside her and grinned. "How did you know?" she whispered.
"Rumors."