Whispers in the Hallway

River leaned against her locker, pretending to check her phone while watching Liam across the hallway. He was laughing with his friends, his perfect smile making other girls swoon as usual. Only she knew the truth about her boyfriend.

"Did you see what happened at lunch?" Sarah whispered, sliding up next to River. Her best friend's eyes sparkled with gossip.

"What now?" River asked, though she already knew. Sarah had caught Liam kissing Emma behind the cafeteria yesterday.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," Sarah said quietly. "How long are you going to pretend you don't know?"

River's jaw tightened. The hallway buzzed with students rushing to class, their voices echoing off the colorful murals painted on the walls. Teachers smiled at passing students, completely unaware of the drama unfolding.

"I'm not pretending anything," River said, her voice sharp.

But inside, her heart was breaking. Everyone thought she was mean and popular, but right now she felt small and betrayed.

Sketches by the Fountain

River slammed her locker shut harder than necessary. The metal clang echoed through the hallway as students hurried past.

"I need some air," she muttered to Sarah, then pushed through the heavy doors leading to the school courtyard.

Outside, she spotted Mark sitting alone on a bench near the fountain. He was new to school, quiet and different from the boys she usually noticed. His dark hair fell across his forehead as he sketched something in a notebook.

River found herself walking toward him without really thinking about it. When he looked up, his green eyes caught hers, and something inside her chest fluttered.

"What are you drawing?" she asked, sitting down beside him.

Mark showed her the page - a detailed sketch of the fountain's water cascading down the stone tiers. "I like drawing water," he said simply. "It moves like it has feelings."

River stared at the drawing. Nobody had ever said anything like that to her before. "That's beautiful," she whispered.

When their eyes met again, time seemed to stop. Without thinking, River leaned closer. Mark didn't pull away.