If I Fell

5 | Rumor Has It

❂ CHAPTER FIVE ❂

Besides boredom, people knowingly started fake rumors to ruin reputations. I had been both in the giving and receiving end of rumors. Despite what people have said, I never poured scorching hot coffee on Grace Patterson's back in freshmen year. It was lukewarm at most and I 'tripped' and just happened to spill the coffee on her back...

At least that was how I made it seem.

The incident was premeditated, I obviously knew that, but since nobody could read my thoughts and intentions, it became a matter of seeing and wording.

Poured, spilled, an unintentional action that caused small-scale harm, or an intentional one; either way, it wouldn't have undone the incident, only changed the consequence. Making it seem like I tripped and spilled the coffee on her spared me from the detention or expulsion I would've gotten. As an honor student with no marks in her record, it also helped that I had credibility on my side.

The biggest damage done was a stain on her Versace jacket, which made her sobs look overdone and the rumors exaggerated by people who weren't even there. Unlike her jacket, I was left mostly unscathed.

The damage had already been done. Before she had transferred schools, Grace was known around to have the terrible habit of starting shit. She talked crap about just anyone and spread rumors too. Her mistake was spreading a real nasty one about my family. One that dealt with my sister and wasn't too far from the truth.

I had almost lost my growing popularity because of it.

So knowing how damaging rumors could be, I started one about Peter as payback. But its purpose was different. Fabricating the lie that he recently had to have a sizable piece of his genitals snipped off because doctors found a formidable tumor inside them would cause the opposite of ostracism. And that was what I wanted.

It didn't sound like revenge but it was. I knew the rumor would be so easy to carry out and prompt people to give their unwanted attention onto Peter, which he'd absolutely hate.

It was perfect. All I had to do was ask one friend in class the next day, "Did you hear about Peter Foster? I wonder if it's true."

"No, what do you mean? What about him?" Genevieve perked up after thirty boring minutes of learning how to draw hands.

Although Genevieve and I were in cheerleading and also in the same social circle, I wouldn't really qualify us as close friends. Even just 'friends' was a stretch.

Sure, we got along well enough. And since we were the only ones in our art class to also be in the popular crowd, the rest being edgy hipsters, I didn't feel bad for tricking her. We were friendly because it was convenient— not because we necessarily liked each other.

"Okay, so don't tell anyone but I heard..." Since I was behind her, I leaned into her ear confidingly and told the lie. Quiet enough to seem secretive, but loud enough for someone to overhear. Someone that would spread it to their friends and so on. And if that failed, then I could always count on Genevieve to never hold a secret.

"That's so sad," Genevieve lamented, but she had this glint in her eye. She couldn't wait to tell other people.

The lie had an instant effect. Thanks to social media and technology, the rumor quickly spread and soon everyone didn't care where it had started.