The Shifters Chronicles Book 2: Rivers Road

Chapter 17: Whispers in the Hallways

As River and Jake walked hand in hand towards the school gates, a sense of nervous excitement tingled in the air between them. It was their first day back at school since they had officially become boyfriends, and they were both acutely aware of the attention they were sure to attract.

As they stepped onto the school grounds, whispers rippled through the crowd like a gust of wind, heads turning to catch sight of the two boys walking side by side. River and Jake exchanged a glance, their grip on each other's hands tightening as they braced themselves for the inevitable onslaught of gossip and speculation.

Sure enough, as they made their way down the crowded hallways, the whispers grew louder, the curious glances more frequent. It seemed that news of their relationship had spread like wildfire, igniting a storm of rumors and innuendo that swept through the school like a tidal wave.But despite the stares and the hushed conversations that followed in their wake, River and Jake refused to let the attention faze them.

They walked with their heads held high, their love for each other shining like a beacon in the darkness.As they reached their first class of the day, they were met with a mixture of curiosity and admiration from their classmates. Some whispered behind their hands, casting furtive glances in their direction, while others offered smiles and words of encouragement.

But through it all, River and Jake remained unfazed, their bond stronger than ever before. They knew that they had each other, and that was all that mattered.

As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, River and Jake made their way to the locker room to change for Soccer practice. The atmosphere was tense as they entered the room, the air thick with anticipation and the sound of chatter echoing off the walls.

But as they began to undress, a group of football jocks approached, their demeanor aggressive and their intentions clear. River's stomach churned with unease as he recognized the familiar faces of the boys who had tormented him in the past.

"Hey, look who it is," one of the jocks sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "It's the new lovebirds."

River tensed, his fists clenching at his sides as he braced himself for what was to come. He knew that the jocks had never been friendly towards him or Jake, but he hadn't expected them to escalate things like this.

Jake swallowed nervously, his eyes darting between the jocks and River. He knew that they were outnumbered and outmatched, but he refused to back down in the face of their hostility.

"What do you want?" River demanded, his voice steady despite the fear coursing through his veins.

The jocks exchanged smirks, their expressions gleeful as they closed in on Jake, their intentions clear. "We just wanted to have a little chat," one of them said, his tone mocking.

Before River could react, one of the jocks grabbed Jake by the collar of his shirt, pulling him roughly towards him. "So, how's it feel to be dating a fairy, huh?" he taunted, his breath hot against Jake's face.

Jake's eyes widened in shock, his heart pounding in his chest as he struggled against the jock's grip. "Let go of me," he demanded, his voice trembling with anger.

But the jocks only laughed, tightening their hold on Jake as they continued to jeer and taunt him. River felt a surge of rage building within him as he watched his boyfriend being harassed, his hands curling into fists at his sides.

"Leave him alone," River growled, his voice low and dangerous.

The jocks turned their attention to River, their expressions mocking. "What's the matter, loverboy?" one of them sneered. "Can't handle a little teasing?"

River felt his temper flaring, his patience wearing thin as he fought to keep his anger in check. But before he could respond, a voice cut through the tension like a knife.

"What's going on here?"

The jocks froze, their faces paling as Coach Johnson strode into the locker room, his expression stern. "I want an explanation, now," he demanded, his voice brooking no argument.

As the jocks scrambled to come up with excuses, River and Jake exchanged relieved glances. They knew that Coach Johnson wouldn't tolerate bullying of any kind, and they were grateful for his intervention.

With a warning glare at the jocks, Coach Johnson dismissed them from the locker room, leaving River and Jake alone once more. As they breathed a sigh of relief, they knew that they had faced yet another challenge together, their bond stronger than ever before. And as they left the locker room, hand in hand, they knew that no matter what obstacles lay ahead, they would face them together, united in their love and determination.

As the day wore on, the whispers gradually died down, replaced by an atmosphere of acceptance and understanding. It seemed that their classmates were coming to terms with the fact that River and Jake were simply two people in love, no different from anyone else.

And as they walked out of school together at the end of the day, hand in hand just like they had arrived, River and Jake knew that they had weathered the storm together. With the support of each other and their friends, they were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, secure in the knowledge that their love would see them through.