Chapter 5 Rumor Mill And Reckless Joy

Judith rolled her eyes with a playful smile, but the expression shifted quickly into something more serious. "Ooh Ann!" she began, hesitation creeping into her voice. "I don't want to upset you or make you feel sad... but the rumors and stories are really bad, I mean-really bad. Every social group-like the nerds, the athletes, even the business school kids-has their version. And each one's worse than the last." She swallowed, fidgeting with the corner of her notebook, then shot Ann a worried look. "I don't even know if I should be telling you this." Ann's lip twitched.

She frowned, pouted, and rolled her eyes-her signature gesture whenever she felt anxious, deep in thought, or backed into a corner. But this was different. Discomfort twisted behind her eyes. "Stop overreacting, Jud," she said, voice steady, though the rush of adrenaline beneath it made her hands tremble just a little. "I'm not a child. I won't die from hearing what they think. And I'm not weak. These are just rumors-empty nonsense. Go on. You can tell me." Judith sighed, knowing there was no escape. Ann wasn't about to walk away from this conversation. With a defeated nod, she began in her softest, most hesitant voice: "Okay. So-the nerds said you went to Rex's house last night, that you were trying to cut a deal with him to avoid being expelled. They claim you bribed him-by agreeing to do all of his assignments, all his projects, even term papers-for the next year." Ann blinked, mouth open a fraction, but didn't interrupt. She watched Judith process the memory and embarrassment before continuing. "They said you thought this was a good bribe for insulting him publicly, but apparently... Rex rejected you, told his father what happened, and Mr. Radford- your 'escape route'-got so furious he had you thrown in with the white Caspian tigers they keep as pets," Judith finished quietly. "And they said-" "Stop," Ann interjected softly, though her laughter erupted before the last word left Judith's mouth. It was childish, defiant laughter that began as a giggle and soared into full-blown hysterics. She threw her head back, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. The image of Ann, terrified and humiliated, forced into a cage with exotic tigers-she found it... utterly ridiculous. Judith snapped her mouth shut but couldn't resist a giggle of her own. Eyelashes fluttered, voice breathless. "Judith? Did people actually believe that?" Ann gasped between laughs. "That's insane." She laughed so hard her stomach ached, tears streaming unchecked. Judith joined in soon enough, the two of them laughing louder and longer than they had in months. Absurdity was a rare savior. When the laughter finally subsided, Ann wiped her eyes, gasping softly for air. For a moment, the shadows under her eyes didn't feel like shame-they felt human. "Okay," she whispered, voice lighter. "That one... that one's almost funny. Next hierarchy. Who's next?" Judith took a long breath and smiled-with both relief and embarrassment. "All right. The 'populars,' you know... Avirina and her crew. They said you deliberately humiliated Rex, trying to get attention. That you work as a stripper-yes, a stripper-ever since you left the orphanage, and that you're using drugs. Apparently you're desperate for money-so when you heard about Rex being a billionaire's son, you targeted him to make him sponsor you." She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "And they mock the bags under your eyes-saying those are proof you live under a bridge or something. So this is your 'proof' that you're... reduced to nothing and you need drugs to survive." Ann stared at her, expression unchanging, but inside she burned with defiant laughter. "And this has to be particularly creative," Judith added with an awkward half-smile. "They even said you go to school without concealer because you're proud of... your 'truth'? Yeah, I couldn't make that up." Ann shook her head so hard her hair knocked over a loose pencil. "Let me fix that," Judith murmured, pulling out a concealer compact from her bag. "Here-I'll cover the bags. Subtle, natural. No one has to know." Ann shrugged, expression calm but firm. "No, thank you. If I change anything, it'll look like I'm hiding and they are right about their perception. And I'm not hiding, not from anyone. They want to pretend I'm broke? Fine. A lot should have broken me to nothing but it didn't. I didn't. I survived. I don't owe them-or you-concealer. Not today. I won't conceal anything, I have nothing to hide. I own my past like a badge." Judith exhaled, admiration mingling with relief. "Damn," Ann said quietly. "When did I start standing up for myself like this?" Judith snorted. "Probably the moment Rex opened his mouth to throw downgrading words at you. You found your backbone, girl. Though, maybe we could get lip balm on the lips," she teased, prompting actual laughter from Ann. They fell silent, both lost in thought-and perhaps in relief. Judith breathed deep. "There are more." Ann watched her, expectant. "Some-get this-think Alfred Radford sent his bodyguards to dump you in a desert. Others say you were... sold into slavery. Or prostitution. Some even say you fled to Mexico, assumed a new identity." Judith shook her head and laughed, not mockingly, but in wonder at the cruelty of rumors. "It's just unbelievable." Ann closed her eyes and inhaled. A fragile peace had replaced her earlier shame. "I-thank you," she whispered. "I needed this. Needed to laugh." Judith shrugged, a grin slipping onto her face. "Hey, I nearly believed some of that stuff. I panicked. Straight up panic. I ran here to check on you because I didn't know what to believe. But what I can say-no. None of it. You're not shallow. You're not desperate. You didn't make strange deals. You didn't chase illusions." She paused, sincerity in her smile. "You're real." Ann nodded and replayed the scene in her head: the memory of Rex's insult. Her reaction. Their shared laughter now. The edges of rebellion curling in her chest. And then an idea. "Jud... wanna do something else?" she asked quietly, a playful light in her eyes. Judith raised an eyebrow. "Yes? You mean-do we have to go to class today?" Ann smirked, faint and warm. "No. How about we go to that town fair? Shake things up. Let rumors chase us instead of the other way around." Judith squealed as if decisions like this were fresh thrills. She bolted toward the door, excitement beaming in her face. Ann laughed louder than she had in weeks. She followed, fingers threading with Judith's. As they descended the cramped stairs of the apartment building-Judith bounding ahead, Ann trailing with a mini bag swung low-they looked ridiculous. It was perfect. For a moment, neither of them was ashamed, worried, nor ashamed. They were simply two girls walking out into the future-brash, bold, defiant, and very much alive. Their laughter echoed into the hall and burst open the front door like a sunbeam in winter. Ann was laughing so loudly like she had no fear in life and it was truly a rare sight to behold. Her past was dark, she had a lot of fear in her heart, a lot of deep hidden secret and scary skeletons in her cupboard but she was ready to live a little.