Liam and Charlotte, unfazed by the stares and whispers, made their way toward a pair of open seats. Liam would have preferred to sit elsewhere—preferably far away from Charlotte—but she had other plans. With a smug grin, she plopped down right beside him, making it clear she wasn't about to let him sit alone.
As they settled in, murmurs spread across the room, sharp and filled with barely concealed resentment.
"Why the hell is he sitting with her?" one of the boys muttered under his breath.
"Of all people… him?" another scoffed. "What does she even see in that guy?"
"She wouldn't even look at me when I tried talking to her," a third grumbled, voice dripping with jealousy.
The girls weren't any kinder.
"Of course she just waltzes in like she owns the place," one sneered.
"Does she not own a mirror? That outfit—ugh," another whispered, her tone thick with disdain.
"I swear, if she starts acting all flirty in this class too…" a final voice grumbled.
