The cafeteria buzzed with the usual chatter, the sounds of trays scraping against tables and students gossiping about the latest happenings on campus. But today, there was a weight in the air, something heavier than the routine banter. It was like everyone knew something was about to happen, and nobody wanted to be caught off guard when the truth came out. Alex had been preparing himself for this moment for weeks. He was going to stand up to his father, tell everyone the truth about us, and make it clear that he wasn't going to back down.
We sat at our usual table, our group of friends already gathered around us. Julie was sipping her iced coffee, talking about some assignment due in a few days, but I could tell her mind wasn't entirely there. Maeve was tapping her fingers nervously on the table, eyes darting around, probably imagining the chaos that was about to unfold. Dan and Max were lost in a conversation about some game, but I could see the tension in their eyes. They knew something big was coming. They all did.
I glanced at Alex, his jaw set and his hands clenched tightly around his coffee mug. His usual calm demeanor was gone, replaced with a flicker of nervous energy. He was excited, yes, but also anxious-he didn't know how the world would react to his declaration. Neither did I.
Suddenly, the familiar sound of my phone vibrating on the table caught my attention. I glanced down at the screen, my stomach dropping as I saw the headline.
"Breaking News: Alex Beaumont and Rose Jenkins Officially Engaged"
I froze for a second, then quickly opened the link to the Kigs Gossip Journal. The article was filled with cheesy, exaggerated headlines and photos of Alex and Rose from a recent event. The social media responses were already flooding in, full of excited comments, like "The perfect match!" and "Lovebirds from the same social class - this is the couple goals we needed!"
But the comments that followed were nothing short of hateful. My heart sank as I read through the flood of negativity that filled the comment section.
"Poor Evelyn. She was never good enough for him anyway." "Guess the 'poor girl' couldn't keep him. The rich always end up with their own kind." "Was she even worth it? Doesn't matter now, I guess. Rose is the perfect match." "She doesn't deserve him. Look at the difference in their status. It's not even close." "I knew it. She was just some school crush. His dad's right. It was never going to last."
The comments felt like a punch in the gut, each one more cutting than the last. I could feel the heat rising in my face, my vision blurring slightly from the sting of it all. But before I could say anything, Julie slid her hand over mine.
"Don't look at that crap," she said gently, trying to take my phone away from me, but I pulled it back, unable to look away.
Maeve, who had been quietly observing, slammed her fist on the table, her face red with anger. "This is ridiculous," she hissed. "They're all so damn pathetic. Why can't people just mind their own business? Who cares about their 'status'?"
Max leaned forward, his brows furrowed. "People are assholes, Evelyn. You know that. But look-this is what happens when you're in the spotlight. It's only going to get worse before it gets better."
Dan, who had been silent up until now, sighed heavily. "I didn't want to say anything, but I was expecting this. They don't care about your relationship. They just care about the damn status and who fits where in this stupid hierarchy."
I just nodded, feeling sick. I didn't care about status. I didn't care about what anyone thought about me. But seeing Alex, the person I loved more than anything, be dragged through the mud like this was more than I could handle.
YOU ARE READING
Our different worlds
RomanceEvelyn Pierce has always known what it means to work for everything she has. Raised in a humble family, she's determined to make her mark as a journalist, focused on her studies and future. Then she meets Alex Beaumont, a brooding, charismatic heir...