Chapter 4

Kai Anderson

For four days now, I’ve been stuck at the center of the school’s rumor mill, like a bug under a magnifying glass. All it took was one interaction with Keith—the infamous "school heartthrob"—and suddenly, everyone thinks I’m his new target. Every hallway feels like a spotlight is aimed right at me.

Jackson, Tasha, Nina, and Josh seem to be having way too much fun with it. They’ve been teasing me nonstop, treating me like some kind of celebrity in their friend group. And the worst part? They now feel obligated to keep me updated on Keith’s life as if I’m secretly obsessed with him. It’s exhausting.

Today, we’re lounging on the school rooftop for lunch, one of the few places where I can usually find some peace. But with my so-called friends around, that’s not going to happen.

"So, Josh, got a date today?" Jackson asks, lounging back against the wall with a smirk.

Josh grins, nodding. "Yup. Meeting up with that girl from the last meet-and-greet. Why, you wanna join? I can ask her to bring a friend or two."

Jackson nudges me, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "What about you, Kai? Wanna come with? We don’t have school tomorrow, so no excuses."

I roll my eyes, keeping my voice flat. "Hard pass. I’d rather watch paint dry."

Josh snickers, and Tasha gives me a mock pout. "Oh, come on, Kai! It wouldn’t hurt you to be social for once. Besides, wouldn’t it be more exciting than watching your dramas alone?"

"Actually, no," I reply, crossing my arms. "My dramas are dependable. They don’t come with a side of irritating gossip and random people I barely know."

Jackson sighs dramatically, throwing his arm over his face like he’s been mortally wounded. "Fine, fine. Kai’s too good for our social outings."

He pauses, then glances at me with a mischievous glint. "But how are you getting home today? Should I text Keith, ask him to give you a ride?" His grin stretches wider, and Josh snorts, clearly amused by my discomfort.

I groan, shoving my sandwich into my mouth to avoid answering. "I don’t need Keith to drive me anywhere," I say, muffled but firm. "I have two perfectly good legs, thank you very much. Besides, I barely know the guy! I bumped into him, like, twice."

"Yeah, but he’s been asking around about you," Jackson says, raising an eyebrow. "You know that’s not his style. Keith doesn’t chase people. Girls and guys practically throw themselves at him. If he’s asking about you, that’s… unusual."

I feel my face heat up, and I scowl at my lunch, stabbing it with a bit too much force. "How am I supposed to know what he wants? All I know is, now every time I walk through the hall, people give me these looks, like I’m some kind of rare species."

Tasha giggles, poking my shoulder. "Well, maybe you are! The mysterious, introverted guy who somehow caught Keith Morgan’s attention. Honestly, I think it’s kinda romantic."

"Yeah, real romantic," I mutter. "My life was perfectly fine before all of this. If this doesn’t die down by next week, I’m faking a fever and staying home."

Josh and Jackson exchange amused glances, clearly loving my misery way too much. "Oh, don’t worry, Kai," Josh says with a grin. "You’re practically famous now. Just lean into it!"

I shoot him a glare, slumping against the wall. "No thanks. I’m counting the days until this dies down and people move on to the next big thing. Can’t wait to go back to being invisible."

But as I say the words, I can’t shake the image of Keith’s amused, confident smile the last time I saw him. And despite everything… a tiny, traitorous part of me wonders what it would be like if he did ask me for a ride home.

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It’s only been a few days, but the rumors are starting to feel like they’ve been following me forever. Even walking home feels like a relief—away from the stares, the whispers, the endless comments from my so-called friends. Jackson usually gives me a ride, but today he’s off at basketball practice, so I’m on my own. Fifteen minutes of peace and quiet… hopefully.

When I get home, I drop my bag by the door and call out, “I’m home!” There’s no answer, but I hear voices drifting in from the backyard. My mom is outside, chatting with Mrs. Denzel—Jackson’s mom. Typical. Those two are practically their own neighborhood news network.

I wander over to the back door, intending to wave a quick hello and slip upstairs to my room, but as soon as my mom spots me, she lights up.

“Kai!” she calls, waving me over with a grin. “Come say hi to Mrs. Denzel!”

I sigh, already sensing a trap. There’s something about the way she’s smiling that tells me she’s been waiting to corner me. With a resigned shrug, I step outside, bracing myself for whatever she’s about to spring on me.

“So,” my mom says, her voice suspiciously innocent, “Jackson told me you’ve made a new… friend.”

My stomach drops. I shoot a glare toward Mrs. Denzel, silently cursing her son for his big mouth. “I’ve made a lot of friends, Mama.”

“Oh, I know,” she says, but her smile only widens. “But this one sounds special. Keith, was it?”

I feel my face heat up. “He’s just a guy from school, Mama. I barely know him.”

She gives me a look that’s equal parts amusement and suspicion. “That’s not what Jackson said. He said this Keith fellow’s been paying quite a bit of attention to you.” She raises an eyebrow, leaning in like she’s about to hear the juiciest gossip of her life.

“He’s not ‘paying attention’ to me,” I mumble, trying to keep the embarrassment out of my voice. “We’ve just… bumped into each other a couple of times.”

“Mmhmm,” she says, clearly unconvinced. “Honey, I’ve seen enough dramas to know how these things go. Two people meet by accident, there’s a spark, a little tension, and next thing you know…”

She trails off with a mischievous grin, while Mrs. Denzel chuckles softly beside her. I can’t tell if she’s amused at my mom or at my obvious discomfort—or both.

I roll my eyes, trying to play it cool even though my cheeks feel like they’re on fire. “Mama, real life isn’t like your dramas. Not everyone who talks to me is secretly in love with me.”

“Who said anything about love?” she teases, giving me a playful nudge. “But you never know, sweetheart. Sometimes, the best stories start with a little bit of mystery.”

“Yeah, well, this one’s going nowhere,” I mutter, trying to ignore the tiny flicker of curiosity that’s buried somewhere under my embarrassment. “He’s just… a guy.”

My mom waves me off, clearly enjoying herself. “Alright, alright. I’ll stop prying. But just know, if he turns out to be someone special, I’m here for it.” She winks, and I can’t Help but groan.

“Thanks, Mama,” I say, trying not to smile. As much as her teasing drives me nuts, there’s something oddly comforting about it. At least I know she’s in my corner—even if she’s rooting for a romance that’s definitely not happening.

Or… probably not happening. Definitely not happening. Right?

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