Chapter One – The First Week
The late-summer sun baked the pavement of Greenwood College's courtyard, the air filled with the sound of chatter, squeaky sneakers, and the rustling of leaves in the tall oaks. It was the first week of the semester, and the campus buzzed with excitement, stress, and the smell of strong coffee.
Mike adjusted the strap of his backpack, scanning the crowd. He spotted her instantly—Jennifer—sitting on a stone bench, sketchbook open, earbuds in. She was drawing the fountain, its water sparkling in the afternoon light."I see the art department hasn't claimed you completely yet," Mike teased, dropping into the seat beside her.
"Give it a few weeks," Jennifer replied without looking up. "Soon I'll forget what sunlight looks like."
They'd been friends since their first year, brought together by a clumsy moment when Mike spilled an entire soda on Jennifer's notes during orientation. Most people would have been furious—Jennifer had laughed.
This semester felt different, though. Mike couldn't place why. Maybe it was the fact that more people seemed to notice them together.
Chapter Two – Derek and Samantha
It was during their history class that Derek first really started to stand out to Jennifer. He was handsome in a clean-cut, athletic way, with dark hair that always seemed perfectly in place. At first, his friendliness was charming. He'd ask her about assignments, share lecture notes, and make casual small talk.
Then, little things started happening. A sticky note on her desk—"You're killing it in class!". A cappuccino left beside her in the library with no explanation. And always that warm, almost too-long smile.
Mike's situation was unfolding at the same time. Samantha, a literature major with bright red lipstick and a laugh that carried across the cafeteria, had made it her mission to attend every single one of Mike's soccer games. She knew his schedule better than he did. Once, she'd even walked into the gym just to hand him a granola bar.
Your fan club is getting bold," Jennifer joked one day as they left class.
"I could say the same for Derek," Mike replied, smirking. "I think he's plotting to replace me as your favorite lunch partner."
Chapter Three – The Rumors
College gossip spreads faster than wildfire, and Greenwood was no different. By mid-September, the whispers had started.
"They're definitely dating," someone murmured in the cafeteria line.
"No, I heard Mike's actually with Samantha," another voice countered.
"Well, Derek told me Jennifer's giving him signals," a third added.
Mike and Jennifer ignored it at first. But the constant stares in the hallway and the knowing smirks from classmates made it harder.
The tipping point came during a group project meeting in the library. Derek "accidentally" brushed Jennifer's hand when passing her a notebook. At the same time, Samantha leaned over Mike's chair, close enough that he could smell her perfume, and whispered, "We should grab coffee alone sometime."
Mike and Jennifer locked eyes over their laptops. No words were needed—both knew this was getting out of hand.
Chapter Four – Cornered
Two weeks later, Jennifer was walking toward the art studio when Derek appeared out of nowhere.
> "Hey, Jen," he said with a grin. "We should hang out sometime. Just us."
"I'm… pretty busy," Jennifer replied cautiously.
"Come on, I see how you look at me," he said, stepping closer. "Why waste time with Mike when I'm right here?"
Jennifer froze. "Derek, Mike is my friend. I'm not interested in you like that."
Instead of backing off, Derek smiled knowingly. "You'll change your mind."
The encounter left her unsettled for the rest of the day. When she told Mike about it later, he clenched his jaw.
"That's not okay," he said flatly. "Samantha's doing the same thing—pretending we've already got some secret thing going."
Chapter Five – The Halloween Party
The annual Greenwood Halloween Bash was legendary, and the student center was transformed into a haunted carnival—dim lights, fake cobwebs, a fog machine hissing in the corner.
Mike was dressed as a pirate, complete with a ridiculous plastic sword. Jennifer was a witch, her black hat slightly crooked.
They'd barely been there ten minutes when Samantha swept in, dressed as a vampire, hooking her arm through Mike's and whispering, "I'm stealing him for a dance." Almost immediately, Derek appeared behind Jennifer in a sleek suit, his hand landing on her shoulder.
The air felt heavy.
> "Want to get out of here?" Mike asked quietly.
"Please," Jennifer replied.
They slipped out the side door, into the cold night air.
Chapter Six – The Conversation
They sat on the concrete steps outside, their breath visible in the chilly air.
> "This is getting ridiculous," Mike muttered.
"It's exhausting," Jennifer admitted. "It's like they've turned us into trophies."
"Do you think we're giving the wrong impression?" Mike asked.
Jennifer shook her head. "We're just… friends. If people see something else, that's on them."
There was a long silence. Then Mike smirked faintly. "Maybe they're scared we'll end up together if they don't step in."
Jennifer laughed softly. "Well, that's their problem."
Chapter Seven – Drawing the Line
The next week, Jennifer met Derek outside the library. Her voice was steady.
> "Derek, I'm not interested. I value being classmates, but I don't want a relationship. Please respect that."
Mike had his own talk with Samantha in the campus café.
> "Samantha, you're great to hang out with, but I'm not looking for anything romantic. I don't want to give you the wrong idea."
The reactions were… mixed. Derek stopped showing up to group study sessions. Samantha avoided him for days, then acted overly cheerful whenever she had to talk to him.
But slowly, the tension faded.
Chapter Eight – A Quiet Understanding
By December, campus was blanketed in snow. Mike and Jennifer were back to their usual rhythm—late-night library sessions, inside jokes, and coffee runs before morning lectures.
One evening, walking through the quiet quad, Mike said,
> "You know, Jen… the right kind of love never needs to chase you down. It just walks beside you."
Jennifer smiled, linking her arm with his—not because she was in love, but because he was her friend. And in the chaos of unwanted attention, that friendship was worth more than any rumor.