The final bell rang, but Janice didn't move.
The whispers had slowed down… but the stares hadn't.
Ian left class before she could even look at him.
That hurt more than anything.
She walked home alone.
Every step felt heavy.
By the time she reached her house, her phone had buzzed three more times.
Unknown Number.
She didn't open them.
She couldn't.
The front door creaked open before she could even reach for the handle.
Her mother stood there.
Anastasia.
Arms folded.
Face serious.
"Inside," she said calmly.
That calm tone?
Way more dangerous than shouting.
Janice stepped in slowly. "Mom—"
"Sit."
Janice sat on the couch.
Her heart started pounding again.
Anastasia held up her phone.
"I got a call today."
Janice froze.
"From who?" she whispered.
"Another parent," Anastasia replied. "Apparently there's drama at school. Gossip pages. Boys. My daughter's name in people's mouths."
Janice felt her throat tighten. "It's not what they're saying."
"Then what is it?" her mom asked, eyes sharp but not angry.
Just… disappointed.
And that hurt more.
Janice blinked back tears. "He texted me. I didn't reply. I didn't tell Ian because I thought it didn't matter. Now everyone thinks I did something."
Anastasia sat down slowly.
"Did you do something?" she asked softly.
"No."
"Did you hide something?"
Janice hesitated.
That tiny pause didn't go unnoticed.
Her mother sighed.
"Secrets are small," Anastasia said. "But small things grow when you don't shine light on them."
Tears finally fell down Janice's face.
"I didn't want to cause problems."
"And now?" her mother asked gently.
Janice swallowed. "Now I think I lost him."
Anastasia leaned forward.
"If someone can be taken from you by gossip… then they were already standing too far away."
That hit deep.
"But," her mom added firmly, "we are not raising a girl who hides and cries while people lie about her."
Janice looked up.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying tomorrow, you walk into that school with your head up. And if there's a problem? We handle it properly."
Her mom stood up.
"And if any boy thinks he can play with my daughter's name…"
Her eyes hardened slightly.
"He picked the wrong family."
For the first time all day—
Janice felt something other than fear.
Strength.
But upstairs in her room, her phone buzzed again.
Unknown Number.
This time, she opened it.
A photo.
Of her house.
Taken from outside.
Her heart stopped.
This wasn't just school drama anymore.
Someone was watching.
And now—
It was personal.