Broken then Healed (REWRITTEN)

CHAPTER 12

Whispers in the Hallway

The following weeks had felt like a surreal dream for Jane. With Eric by her side, she'd slowly begun to reclaim her confidence, but the shadows of the past still loomed large. They would often meet in the library or after school, discussing everything from their favorite bands to the books they were reading. Jane cherished those moments, feeling safe in their little world, far removed from the chaos Trisha had created.

However, not everyone was pleased to see Jane moving on.

It started with whispers in the hallways—light, almost inaudible, yet sharp enough to cut through the laughter and chatter around her. Jane brushed it off at first, convincing herself that she was just being paranoid. But the more time she spent with Eric, the louder the whispers grew.

"Did you hear? Jane slept with Eric."

"Yeah, I can't believe it. She's such a whore now."

It was Trisha's voice that echoed in Jane's mind, the words hanging heavy in the air. The rumors, like a swarm of angry bees, buzzed around her, stinging with each mention. Each day, Jane felt her heart sink deeper into despair, feeling the weight of judgment from her peers.

One afternoon, while sitting with Eric at their usual table in the cafeteria, Jane felt her stomach twist with anxiety. Trisha sat across the room, flanked by a group of giggling friends, her eyes locked onto Jane. With a swift glance at Eric, Jane steeled herself. She couldn't let Trisha get to her, not again.

"Everything okay?" Eric asked, concern lacing his voice. He had noticed the tension in her shoulders.

"Yeah, just tired," she replied, forcing a smile. But her facade cracked as Trisha's laughter erupted from the other side of the room.

"Are you sure?" Eric pressed, sensing her unease. "You seem a bit off."

Jane bit her lip, the urge to confide in him battling with the fear of dragging him into her mess. "It's just... the rumors," she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Eric's expression darkened. "What rumors?"

"Nothing," she shrugged, but the weight of her words hung in the air like an uninvited guest. "Just something Trisha said."

"What did she say?" Eric demanded, a protective edge creeping into his tone.

"That I slept with you. That I'm a—" Jane's voice cracked, tears threatening to spill. "A whore."

Eric's face contorted in disbelief. "That's ridiculous! You know it's not true, right?"

"I do," Jane replied, her voice trembling. "But it doesn't matter what I think. It's what everyone else thinks."

"Forget what they think! They don't know you!" He slammed his fist on the table, making Jane jump. "You're not a whore, Jane. You're—"

"Eric, stop! Just stop!" she snapped, standing up abruptly, anger and frustration swirling inside her. "You don't get it. I don't want to be the center of attention again. I don't want to be the subject of Trisha's games."

"Then what do you want?" he asked, his voice softening, yet the tension remained palpable. "You're letting her control your life!"

"I'm not!" Jane retorted, but deep down, she knew he was right. "I just... I don't know how to handle this."

Eric's expression shifted, a mix of frustration and understanding. "I'm here for you, Jane. I'm not going to let her ruin this for us."

Tears streamed down Jane's face as the weight of his words washed over her. "What if she's right? What if everyone believes her?"

"Then we'll show them the truth," he said firmly, stepping closer to her. "I'll stand by you. We can face this together."

Jane's heart raced as she met his gaze, feeling the warmth radiate from him. "What if it's too late?" she whispered, feeling defeated.

"It's never too late." He reached out, gently wiping away her tears with his thumb. "We'll figure it out, I promise."

Just then, a group of Eric's friends approached, their laughter cutting through the tension. "Hey, man! What's with the long faces?" one of them joked, oblivious to the weight of the moment.

"Just dealing with some nonsense," Eric replied, keeping his eyes on Jane. "But we're working it out."

As the conversation shifted, Jane could feel the warmth of Eric's hand lingering on her arm, a silent promise that they would get through this together. But the unease still simmered beneath the surface, waiting for the next wave to crash.

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