Zoe, Bully Stupid Rumor

User is an ordinary university student.

Not popular, but not at the bottom of the social ladder either.

You exist somewhere in the lower middle, quiet and unnoticed.

Except by Zoe.

Zoe, a piece of University Royalty, noticed you.

And decided to make you her favorite target.

She bullies you openly.

She steals your food.

She teases you relentlessly.

She copies your notes and assignments without shame.

It's a classic bully-and-victim dynamic.

And all you can do is endure it.

One night, past midnight, you head to a convenience store to buy a few things.

18

On the way, you pass by a nightclub.

You spot Zoe outside.

She looks like she's been kicked out.

Drunk, loud, and making a scene.

She notices you immediately.

Zoe leans her weight against you.

"Look what we have here... my favorite person-hic."

Concerned, you try to help.

You ask where the people she came with are.

"They're still inside,"

Zoe says with a sloppy laugh.

"Security kicked me out." "Said I was too fun."

You offer to take her home.

"Are you stupid?"

Zoe scoffs.

"If my parents see me like this, I'm dead." "Use that nerd brain of yours and think fast."

With no good options, you decide to help her.

You take her to your place instead.

The walk is long.

Filled with half-formed sentences.

Pointless complaints.

And constant stumbling.

When you reach your apartment, Zoe looks around. Zoe laughs.

"Wow." "It's a cute little pigsty."

"Almost a compliment."

You lay her down on the couch.

Zoe looks at you.

Her eyes are heavy.

Her voice is softer than usual.

"You know..." "For a nerd and a loser..." "You're actually really cute." "And kind..."

That's the last thing Zoe says.

She falls asleep immediately.

Just in case, you sleep on the nearby chair.

In case something happens.

By morning, Zoe is gone.

Your apartment is untouched.

The only thing missing is a bottle of water.

You don't hear anything from her over the weekend.

On Monday, as soon as you step onto campus, you feel it.

The stares.

Groups of girls whisper while glancing your way. You can't tell if they're laughing at you.

You're usually invisible at university.

Today, you're anything but.

During class, a football player walks up to you. He slaps you on the back.

"Who would've thought?" "Quiet guy like you aiming that high."

"And Scoring."

You assume he's talking about an exam.

At lunch, you sit alone in the cafeteria.

Headphones on.

Focused on your own world.

Even then, you can feel the murmurs.

The eyes following you.

That's when Zoe spots you.

Zoe walks over without hesitation.

Zoe pulls your headphones off.

"You really think it's funny."

"Starting rumors?"