Chapter 24

Aliyah's POV

I stormed down the hallway, my backpack slung over one shoulder, trying to ignore the whispers that had been following me like shadows all morning.

It started small, like side glances in the hallway, a few snickers behind my back, but now it felt like the whole school was buzzing. About me.

I rounded the corner toward my locker, and there she was: Dahlia Anderson, leaning against it like she owned the damn thing, her arms crossed and that smug grin plastered on her face. Her twin, Dawn, hovered a few steps behind, looking uncomfortable as usual.

"Well, if it isn't the professor's pet," Dahlia sneered, loud enough for the cluster of students nearby to hear. She flipped her ponytail and stepped forward, blocking my path. "Or should I say professors' pet? Plural. Heard you've been busy, Aliyah. Sleeping your way to the top with not one, but two Devilles? That's some scholarship strategy."

I froze, my cheeks burning. "What the hell are you talking about? Move, Dahlia."

She laughed, a sharp, mocking sound that echoed off the lockers. "Oh, come on. Don't play innocent. The pictures are everywhere. You pinned under Tyler in combat class–real intimate, huh? And then cozying up to Skylar in his office? Twins? Brothers? Professors? Girl, you're disgusting. How do you even look at yourself in the mirror?"

Pictures? My stomach dropped. I yanked out my phone, scrolling frantically through the group chats and social feeds. There they were– the blurry shots were circulating like wildfire. One from combat class: Tyler pinning me during sparring, but cropped to look way too suggestive, his body pressed against mine. Another: me in Skylar's office, him leaning close during one of our arguments, this one was twisted to seem like a kiss.

Who the fuck took these? Leah? Whyte? It didn't matter; the damage was done. Comments flooded in: "Slut." "Homewrecker." "She's banging brothers? Gross." "She has always been disgusting, I know her from middle school."

"See?" Dahlia shoved her phone in my face, the images were glaring back at me. "The whole school's talking. You're the campus whore now. Bet you thought you could hide it, huh? Desperate scholarship girl spreading her legs for grades. Pathetic."

"Shut up," I snapped, shoving her phone away. "You don't know anything about me."

"Oh, I know plenty," she shot back, getting right in my face. "Leah filled me in. Said you're a troublemaker who can't keep her pants on. And now these pics? They're enough proof. You're done here, Aliyah. No one's gonna want to be seen with you."

A group of girls from the cheer squad walked by, giggling. One of them, a blonde I recognized as Kelly's teammate, spat, "Professor-fucker," under her breath. Another guy from my literature class muttered, "Bet she aces everything now." I tried to push past Dahlia, but she grabbed my arm, her nails digging in.

"Not so fast," she hissed. "You think you can just waltz around like nothing's wrong? Everyone knows you're screwing the Deville brothers. Twins, for fuck's sake. That's some next-level freak shit. What, one wasn't enough? Had to collect them like Pokémon?"

Dawn tugged at her sister's sleeve. "Dahlia, stop. This is too much."

"Shut it, Dawn," Dahlia barked, shaking her off. "This bitch needs to hear it. You're done for, Aliyah. No friends, no respect. Just a walking scandal."

I yanked my arm free, my voice shaking. "You're just Leah's lapdog. Spreading her lies because you can't think for yourself."

Dahlia's eyes flashed with anger. She shoved me hard against the locker, the metal clanging. "Lies? The pictures don't lie. You're the one who's a liar–and a fucking slut. Stay away from me, or I'll make sure the whole pack knows every dirty detail."

Students were gathering now, their phones were out and recording. "Fight!" someone yelled. "Slut vs. Newbie!" another chimed in.

I felt tears prick my eyes, but I wouldn't give her the satisfaction. I shoved her back and bolted down the hall, their laughter chasing after me.

By lunch, it was worse. I headed to the cafeteria, hoping to find Kelly or Becca, but the usual spot under the tree was empty. Whispers followed me everywhere: "There she is." "Professor's side piece." "Both brothers? Ew."

A group of guys from the hockey team catcalled as I passed. "Hey, Aliyah! Got room for one more?" I kept my head down, but then a wad of paper hit my back. I turned to see Dahlia again, flanked by a couple of her new minions– Leah's lapdogs like her, probably.

"Missed you already," she called out, crumpling another paper and tossing it at my feet. "That's your new rep: trash. Pick it up, whore."

I ignored her and scanned for Kelly. And I finally found her. There she was, sitting at a table with the cheer squad, but when our eyes met, she looked away, fiddling with her phone. My heart sank. I walked over anyway.

"Kelly? Can we talk?"

She glanced up, her face was tight. "Aliyah... I can't. My dad–he's the chairman, remember? He warned me to stay away from you. He said the rumors are bad for my rep. And.... and I can't really go against my father, he has eyes everywhere. You know it."

"But we're friends," I pleaded, my voice cracking. "I know you can't against your father but---"

"I'm so sorry, Aliyah!" she pleaded with her face down, "My father threatened to kick me out if he ever sees me with you again. I gotta protect myself. Sorry." She turned back to her squad, laughing at something one of them said, like I wasn't even there.

I understood Kelly. I genuinely understood her but it still hurt so much.

I looked around and Becca was nowhere in sight– she was probably avoiding the drama too. I wouldn't blame her.

I slunk to a bench alone, pulling my knees up, trying not to cry. I couldn't believe how everything went south in like twenty four hours. It's not like I wanted to sleep with two brothers, the goddess just decided to play a sick joke on me!

I felt so angry and frustrated.

The rest of the day was hell. In biology class, the professor was busy throwing shades at me instead of actually teaching us. "Miss Marcus might think this school tolerates students with no morals but she's wrong, just like you all were wrong in question four in your test yesterday."

The class erupted into laughter. Dahlia, who was in the back row now–great, she transferred to my classes too–piped up. "Yeah, Aliyah. We all know how much you lack morals. Sleeping with two brothers is just proper gutter behaviour and I think she should be expelled like yesterday!"

The professor shot her a fake glare. "Enough, Miss Anderson. Class, page 210." As if he did not start it.

But the damage was done. Notes started passing around, phones started buzzing. After class, I tried to leave quickly, but Dahlia blocked the door. "Running to your next professor hookup? Whore."

"Move," I growled.

She shoved me. "Or what? You'll cry to Professor Tyler? Or Professor Skylar? Pick one, slut."

I pushed past her, but she grabbed my backpack, yanking me back. "Hey, everyone! Aliyah's got a type: old, related, and forbidden!"

Laughter erupted everywhere.

Afterward, as I headed to my locker, a crowd had formed. Dahlia was there, again. Why the fuck was this bitch everywhere?! And why was she so relentless?? It was like, when she woke up this morning, she vowed to dedicate the day to making my life miserable and she was succeeding.

"Look, it's the brother-banger! Hey, Aliyah, which one's better in bed? The literature nerd or the fighter?"

"Shut the fuck up!" I snapped.

Someone threw a soda can at me, the content splashing all over my shirt. "Slut!" "Whore!" The chants started. I backed away, tears streaming down my face.

By the end of the day, I came out of class to find the entire quad packed– like some assembly or something.

No, wait. Everyone was gathered with their phones out. Skylar stood on the steps, looking pissed.

"Aliyah Marcus," Skylar called out, his voice booming and loud. The crowd parted as I approached, whispers turning to jeers.

"Professor?" I said, confused.

He stared down at me, emerald eyes cold. "I've heard the rumors and I've seen the pictures. This is a stain on my job and my dignity."

My heart raced. "Skylar, please–"

"No," he cut me off in a mean and sharp way. "You're nothing but trouble. A stain. I reject you as my mate. Here, now, in front of everyone. I want nothing to do with you. Stay away from me, or I'll make sure you're expelled for good."

The crowd gasped, then cheered. Dahlia's voice rose above: "Told you! Rejected slut!"

I stood there, frozen, pain ripping through me like the rejection was physical.

That fucking asshole.

But Skylar turned and walked away, leaving me shattered in front of the whole school.