The rain had stopped by morning, but Sunvale Academy buzzed like a hive in overdrive.
Whispers trailed after Eli and Riven the moment they stepped onto campus. It wasn't the usual background noise they'd learned to ignore — it was sharper, focused. Like every glance was a question they didn't get to answer.
By the third hallway, Eli caught it.
"They're saying we started it," he murmured to Riven. "That the fight last night was our fault."
Riven didn't slow down. "Let them talk."
"Riven—"
"They've already decided what they want to believe, Eli. Why waste breath trying to fix it?" His tone was even, but Eli saw the tension in his jaw.
The whispers grew into open stares as they entered the auditorium for morning assembly. The place was packed — every student, every teacher, every eye following them like they were walking onto a stage they never auditioned for.
Eli's pulse quickened.
The principal was speaking, but Eli barely heard a word until—
"…an unfortunate incident involving students from our school. I want to remind everyone that Sunvale values discipline and integrity. Let's not be swayed by rumors."
Half the room turned to look at them.
And then, as if fate had a flair for cruelty, the student council president — a tall, perfectly put-together girl named Amara Lim — stepped forward to make the announcements.
"There's one more thing," she said into the mic. "The administration has decided to nominate Riven Castillo and Eli Navarro to represent Sunvale at the upcoming Regional Science and Arts Exhibition."
The room erupted — not in applause, but in noise.
Riven's head snapped toward her. "What?" he muttered under his breath.
Amara's gaze found them in the crowd, unwavering. "Your performance will speak louder than anything else people have to say."
Eli felt his stomach twist. This wasn't just an honor. This was a stage. A spotlight. An opportunity they didn't ask for — but couldn't refuse without proving everyone right.
As they left the assembly, Riven's voice was low, almost dangerous. "They're using us."
Eli exhaled slowly. "Maybe. But maybe… we can use it back."
They locked eyes for a moment. The hall around them blurred into background noise.
And just like that, the next battle wasn't fists or whispers.
It was proving, to an entire school, that they belonged.
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