All Chapters of My Secret Boyfriend : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

CHAPTER ELEVENThe second I walked into school, I knew something was off.Whispers. Heads turning. That weird buzz, like everyone just got free tickets to the same movie andI was the star. My stomach dipped before I even made it to my locker.“Yo, Donalds,” some sophomore called from down the hall. “Sweet dreams last night?”Laughter.My chest tightened. No clue what he meant, but it couldn’t be good.I shoved books into my locker, trying to act chill. My hands weren’t listening—they were shakingso bad I almost dropped my math binder.Then I saw it.A folded sheet of paper taped right above my locker. My name scribbled across it in Sharpie.Oh no.I ripped it down before anyone else could grab it. My eyes scanned the words.And my blood went ice cold.Sometimes I dream about him. I know it’s wrong, but I can’t help it. I see his smile, his hands, theway he looks at me when he thinks I’m not watching. Last night it went further—I don’t even wantto write it down, but I did anyway be

The next morning felt like waking up after a dream you don’t want to end.Except it wasn’t a dream. Cole had actually kissed me. Twice. And told me I wasn’t some mistakecarved into the high school rumor mill.But then my alarm blared, and reality shoved me back into its ugly arms.School. Bullies. Ariana lurking somewhere with her perfect smirk.Yeah. Back to hell.I dragged myself through the morning, every move slower than usual. Brushed my teeth like I wasscrubbing away nerves. Stared in the mirror too long, searching for proof on my face that last nighteven happened.There wasn’t any. Just me. Same glasses. Same messy hair. Same kid everyone thought waspathetic.But inside? Inside, I was buzzing.Like I’d swallowed electricity.At school, the halls felt narrower than ever. Conversations dipped when I walked by. Peoplesnickered, whispering behind their hands.Normally, I’d shrink. Hug the lockers. Pretend I was invisible.But now? My stomach twisted, sure. My jaw clenched, yea

By Wednesday, things had hit a new level of awful.The hallways were war zones. Every time I turned a corner, someone had a new joke locked andloaded.“Hey, lover boy, waiting for your prince?”“Bet Cole keeps him on a leash.”One guy even mooed at me. Mooed. Like I was livestock.Peak comedy.I kept my head down, shoving books into my locker like they might shield me. My stomach twistedso tight I thought I’d hurl right there.And then it happened.Kendal—Cole’s oh-so-hilarious best friend—slammed my locker shut, missing my fingers by a hair.“Oops,” he said, grinning. “Did I scare you, sweetheart?”My jaw locked. “Get lost.”“Ooo, feisty.” He leaned in, voice loud enough for the crowd. “What’s Cole see in you anyway?You don’t exactly scream ‘upgrade.’”Laughter exploded. My face burned.Then Kendal’s hand shoved my shoulder. Hard. I stumbled back, books spilling everywhere.That was the breaking point.Not for me.For Cole.“Back off, Kendal.”The hallway went dead silent.Cole w

When I got back to school, the whispers started before I even reached my locker.“There he is.”“Did you hear? He passed out.”“Kendal almost broke his ribs.”“Serves him right.”My stomach twisted so hard I thought I might hurl right there. Every step felt like wading throughquicksand. My bruises throbbed under my hoodie, a constant reminder.I told myself to keep my head down. Just survive the day. That was the plan.But plans? Yeah, they don’t survive high school.Kendal was waiting. Of course he was. Leaning against the lockers like he owned the hallway, hissmirk sharper than a knife. His crew scattered around him, laughing before he even said anything.“Well, look who crawled back,” he drawled, loud enough for the whole hallway. “Thought thehospital might keep you. Guess the freaks don’t get upgraded rooms.”The laughter hit me like another punch. My cheeks heated. My chest squeezed.“Shut up, Kendal,” I muttered, trying to push past.Big mistake.He shoved me back into the lo

The thing about rumors? They travel faster than Wi-Fi.By the time I dragged myself back to school, everyone already knew I’d shouted I was gay in thehallway. Some people looked at me like I was contagious. Others smirked like they’d been givenfree entertainment for the rest of the year.But none of that compared to the way I felt—raw, hollow, bruised in places fists hadn’t eventouched.I kept my head down, books hugged tight to my chest, just trying to survive another day.Then the universe decided to laugh in my face.Because when I rounded the corner near the cafeteria, there he was—Cole Michaelson—standingdead center in front of the trophy case. And the whole school? Packed around him like he was aboutto announce the cure for teenage misery.My stomach flipped. My legs froze.What the hell was he doing?Cole’s jaw was tight. His eyes scanned the crowd, sharp and steady. He wasn’t hiding today. Noteven a little.“This won’t take long,” he said, his voice loud enough to cut th