Chapter 4

For the next few days, Ethan tried to put the online drama behind him. He had a major paper due for his advanced physics class, a key component of his scholarship application. He buried himself in research, spending long hours in the quietest corners of the university library. He muted his social media notifications and tried to focus. His priority was his work, his future. The online noise was just a distraction.

He couldn't escape it completely, though.

"Dude, you're famous," his friend Mark said, sliding into the chair opposite him at a study table.

Ethan didn't look up from his textbook. "Don't start."

"No, I'm serious. That Brittany girl's posts went viral outside of our campus groups. People are sharing it all over the place. She's got this whole 'justice for Brittany' thing going on," Mark said, lowering his voice. "A lot of people are on your side, but she has a lot of followers who believe anything she says. It' s a real mess."

Ethan sighed, finally closing his book. "I know. I'm trying to ignore it. I have to get this paper done."

"I get it. Just... watch your back, man. She seems crazy," Mark said before turning back to his own work.

The warning proved necessary sooner than he expected.

He was walking across the main campus quad later that day, heading to the student union for a quick coffee. The afternoon sun was warm, and the quad was busy with students. He was lost in thought, mentally outlining the conclusion for his paper, when someone shoved him hard from the side.

"There he is!" a loud voice shrieked.

Ethan stumbled, catching his balance just before he fell. He turned and saw Brittany, pointing a finger directly at his face. She wasn't alone this time, she had two of her friends with her.

"That's the guy I was telling you about!" she yelled, her voice projecting across the quad. "The one who harassed me! Now he's following me!"

Heads turned. Conversations stopped. Suddenly, dozens of eyes were on him. He was standing in the middle of the quad, a public space he had every right to be in, but Brittany had framed it as an act of stalking.

"I'm not following you, Brittany," Ethan said, his voice low and firm, though his heart was hammering against his ribs. "I'm getting coffee."

"Liar!" she screamed. "You're obsessed with me! You can't leave me alone! He's a stalker! Someone do something!"

A murmur went through the small crowd that was now gathering. People were pulling out their phones, some of them starting to record. He could hear their whispers, their quick and certain judgments.

"Is that the guy from online?"

"Wow, he looks creepy in person too."

"She seems really scared. Maybe he is following her."

Ethan felt trapped. He was surrounded by a circle of strangers who were looking at him like he was a monster. Brittany stood at the center of it all, her expression a mix of feigned terror and triumphant malice. She was feeding off the attention, turning a public space into her personal stage. The online mob had materialized, and he was their target. He was completely alone, his quiet, academic life suddenly turned into a public spectacle of shame and accusation.