Monday morning, and I am thankfull for going home for this weekend the party was crazy and I tried everything to forget the craazyness of Kingsford but that didn't last much.

I froze, staring at one of the dozens-no, thousands-of fliers plastered all over campus. They clung to every wall, filled every bulletin board, and even littered the campus pathways, each one marked with the unmistakable Kingsford crest. It was a spectacle of sheer chaos, and a curious buzz filled the air as the students huddled together in groups, some laughing, some gasping. On the glossy paper on the stone walls was a headline in obnoxiously bold typeface:

THE KINGSGOSSIP

"PINK ELITE SCANDAL ROCKS THE CAMPUS: THE FALL OF AVERY MEDICI?"

The biggest party of the season delivered the scandal of the year, with the famed "Pink Elite" social queen, Avery Medici, getting blindsided in the worst way imaginable. Wandering into a private room looking for her boyfriend, Paul Tisdale, Avery instead stumbled upon him mid-embrace with her best friend, Francesca DuPont, and that was just the start!

Witnesses confirm that Avery discovered the two in a rather compromised state, with more clothes off than on. Scandalized and furious, Avery took matters into her own hands, grabbing Francesca by the hair and dragging her into the main hall for all to see. In her barely-there lingerie, Francesca was left humiliated, while Avery announced the betrayal to the entire party. Ouch!

Not to be outdone, Avery's protective older brother, Daniel Medici, immediately came to her defense. The infamous Kingsford Wild Card charged at Paul, fists flying. Friends desperately tried to hold him back, including our favorite heartthrob Max Ashford, but to no avail. It took none other than the crowds favourite Alexander Beaumont, with a single commanding look, to finally stop the fight. #thatwashotAlex

Curious? Scan the QR code below to watch exclusive footage of Avery, Francesca, Dan, and the infamous showdown-if you dare!

Before I could fully process it, Maeve and Julia slid up beside me, each with an expression that said guilty thrill. Maeve glanced at me and chuckled.

"Ah, the Kings Gossip. If you didn't already know, now you do-this school has zero shame." She nudged me. "Welcome to Kingsford. Or should I say, welcome to the zoo?"

I raised an eyebrow, shaking my head. "Wait, this is... real? Like, people actually write this stuff and just... post it everywhere?"

"Oh yeah," Julia chimed in, crossing her arms as she looked around. "It's our lovely in-house tabloid. Anyone with a reputation can end up as front-page material. They'll print anything, as long as it has the potential to blow up someone's life."

I shook my head, incredulous. "So people just wake up and... decide to ruin someone else's day?"

Maeve shrugged. "It's the school's heartbeat, basically. People would get bored otherwise."

I laughed, though I couldn't hide the edge of horror in my voice. "So, who actually writes this trash?"

Julia tilted her head. "Ah, and that's the million-dollar question. The writer's anonymous. Has been for years. People say it's one person, others say it's a whole team with eyes everywhere."

I squinted at the flyer in my hand. The details were sharp, almost like the writer had been there, lurking in the background. "And nobody ever finds out? Or, I don't know, questions it?"

"Oh, they try," Maeve said, a hint of amusement in her voice. "But whoever's behind this has a knack for staying invisible. All we know is that the content is disturbingly accurate, and whoever writes it is untouchable. Which makes it all the more dangerous."

The absurdity of it struck me, and I scoffed. "And people are... okay with this? Isn't this just social execution on paper?"

Maeve chuckled. "In this place, reputation's everything. You'll see people obsess over keeping their name clean, and yet, they all scan the code and devour the latest scandal like it's gourmet. It's like a game, where everyone tries to climb to the top without slipping."

Julia gave me a sidelong glance. "You'll see what we mean soon enough. No one's immune."

My instinct was to toss the flyer right there, but Maeve saw my expression and grinned. "Curious to scan it?"

"Absolutely not," I replied, throwing it in the trash. "I think I'll keep to a drama-free life, thanks."

Maeve snorted. "Good luck with that, rookie. I mean, that's what everyone says, but look at what happened over the weekend. Trust me, even if you want to stay out of it, drama finds you here."

I took a last look at the QR code, a strange feeling settling in the pit of my stomach. I came here to study, to make something of myself. But it was becoming clear: at Kingsford, staying out of the mess wasn't going to be as easy as I'd hoped.

Chapter 7

I realized that Alex was actually right about Kingsford's social game. He had warned me about the next few weeks, and despite my instinct to disregard him, I couldn't deny that his insights were somewhat spot-on. He wasn't the good guy I wanted him to be, but he had given me a glimpse of his concern for Dan, which was unexpected. It unsettled me, but not as much as the lingering doubt I felt about Alex himself. There was something beneath his polished exterior that I couldn't quite put my finger on, and it made me wary.

After a much-needed weekend of coffee and gossip with Julia and Maeve, I made my way to International Relations class on Monday. I hoped to find the class devoid of Alex's presence, but deep down, I knew that wasn't going to happen. The "Golden Boy" of Kingsford never bailed on anything that could bolster his reputation.

The moment I stepped into the classroom, my heart sank. There he was, seated with his usual air of confidence, his blonde hair perfectly tousled, and those blue-grey eyes scanning the room like he owned it. I gritted my teeth, reminding myself not to let him get under my skin today.

The teacher launched into a debate about realism versus liberalism. I perked up at this; it was a topic I found intriguing. After a quick vote, I raised my hand without hesitation for liberalism. The teacher encouraged me to explain my choice.

"Liberalism emphasizes cooperation and the belief that states can work together for mutual benefit," I explained passionately. "It's rooted in the idea that diplomacy and international organizations can lead to peace. Unlike realism, which often views the world as a zero-sum game, liberalism acknowledges the potential for collective security."

The teacher nodded, clearly impressed. But of course, that was the moment Alex had to interject. "While I see the merits in that perspective, it's important to note that realism is much more pragmatic," he said, his tone smooth and infuriatingly composed. "In reality, states act primarily in their self-interest. The international system is anarchic, and power dynamics dictate actions more than lofty ideals."

I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks. "Not everything is about power, Alex!" I shot back, unable to restrain my frustration. "Human nature can be better than that. You can't reduce everything to a power struggle."

As the class continued, I simmered in my seat, my mind racing with annoyance. Did he thrive on irritating me? It felt that way, and it was maddening.

When the bell finally rang, I gathered my things and tried to make a quick escape. But before I could reach the door, Alex's hand shot out, grabbing my arm and pulling me aside into a small, dark corner of the classroom, away from prying eyes.

"What are you doing?" I asked, confusion washing over me. I was suddenly acutely aware of how cramped the space felt, surrounded by cleaning supplies and mops.

He leaned in slightly, his expression serious. "Listen, Evelyn," he said, his voice low. "We need to talk about the assignment."

"Okay..." I replied, still bewildered by the urgency of his tone. "Why are we talking here? It feels a bit... weird."

"It's better this way," he replied quickly, glancing around as if someone might overhear. "If you want to do this assignment together, that's fine. But I'd prefer if we kept our distance outside of class."

"Distance? What do you mean?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him. This was unexpected.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You know how it is here. My name carries weight, and I'd like to keep it that way. If we're seen together, especially after the party and everything, it could draw unwanted attention to you. Let's just agree to keep at least two meters between us when we're outside this classroom."

I stared at him, half in disbelief and half annoyed. "So, we can work together, but I should pretend you don't exist in the hallway? Is that really how you want to play this?"

He met my gaze, his expression unyielding. "It's just a precaution, Evelyn. You've seen how quickly rumors spread here. Trust me, it's for the best."

I took a deep breath, processing what he was saying. Part of me wanted to refuse, to assert my independence and not let him dictate how I navigated the social scene. But another part of me recognized the truth in his words. Kingsford was a battleground of gossip, and I had already seen how quickly things could spiral out of control.

"Fine," I said, finally relenting. "But I'm not going to like it."

He gave me a curt nod, the tension in his posture easing just slightly. "Great. I'll let the teacher know we're working together."

With that, I stepped back, eager to get out of the cramped space. As I walked out of the classroom, I couldn't shake the feeling that this arrangement was just the beginning of more complications. But as I stepped back into the bustling hallway, the familiar noise of students laughing and gossiping surrounded me. I needed to focus on what was important: the assignment, the drama surrounding Dan, and avoiding any more entanglements with Alex.