Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 171

ALLISON’S POV

Mrs. Tompson is going on and on at the podium, and thanks to Katy’s notes, I sort of know what she’s talking about.

But sort of won’t save me for midterms. There’s no amount of tutoring Katy could give that would help me now, not even if she handed over her brain on a silver platter. And of course, she’s still bent on making me read and prep like I actually have a chance. Like, thanks, but I’m already circling then drain here.

“Stop drawing that bug,” she whispers in my ear, and I flinch.

See? She’s just so mother-hen sometimes.

“It’s a butterfly,” I whisper back, and she scrunches her nose like she can’t even with me.

Sometimes, I let my brain wander and picture her future husband or how she’s gonna boss her kids around. I just want a little peek into that world.

Forty minutes drag by, ticking slower than molasses, until finally Mrs. Tompson leaves. The room erupts in cheers, everyone’s excitement obvious…everyone except Katy, of course.

“She should’ve given one more example on predictive analysis,” she mutters, shooting a longing look at Mrs. Tompson’s retreating back.

I wrinkle my nose, repulsed. I thought all that time with Braydon would soften her a bit but nope. Same person she’s always been. And honestly? I wouldn’t be shocked if Braydon ends up picking up a few academic hobbies just to keep up. The fall of my first crush, complete.

As we leave class together, I catch people staring at me but mostly guys. Their gazes linger, trailing after me, and for a second, I tell myself it’s harmless. Maybe my dress just looks too good today, maybe I’m imagining it.

But then the whispers start and suddenly it doesn’t feel flattering anymore.

My stomach tightens, unease curling in my gut. Did something happen? Did I miss something? Katy’s talking beside me, her voice fading into background noise while my mind spirals, running through a hundred possibilities-each worse than the last-trying to figure out why everyone’s suddenly looking at me like this.

Did those photos get out?

Bile rises in my throat, cold shivers running down my spine. No… it can’t be. There has to be another reason they’re staring.

“Are you even listening?” Katy asks, snapping me out of the spiral.

I flinch, forcing a shaky smile. “Sorry, I was… um…” My eyes dart to a few more pairs of staring eyes, and I shake my head. “I’ll be right back, Katy.”

Before she can say a word, I dart away, not stopping until I’m out of her line of sight. Only then do I force myself to approach a group of guys talking nearby, some I recognize from one or two classes.

“Hey,” I say, waving a little too eagerly. “Mind if I… interrupt?”

They exchange quick glances, that kind of dude-to-dude glance that makes me feel weird.

“Any problem?” one of them finally asks, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m Allie, and you’ve probably seen me in some classes,” I glance around nervously. “I… I just wanted to ask if you’ve heard anything about me. People have been looking at me weirdly, and I feel like it’s something only guys would know.”

The one who spoke earlier shrugs and then nudges the one next to him. “Haven’t heard anything.”

Heat rushes to my face. Am I wrong? Seriously… I can usually tell when people are gossiping, and I just want to know what it’s about. My gut says it’s probably the car accident, but I can’t be sure.

“Anyway… thank you,” I tell them, forcing a smile before turning away.

I walk a few steps, and then one of them speaks.

“It’s her, right?”

My steps slow.

“Yeah. Allison Carter.”

Cold sweeps over me, goosebumps erupting like I’ve been doused in ice water. My stomach drops. They know. Whatever it is, they know about it and they looked me in the eye and lied.

My fingers curl at my sides as I keep walking, my pulse thudding in my ears.

What’s being said about me? What’s going around campus with my name attached to it?

I pace my room for what has to be the hundredth time tonight. I’ve never been a nail-biter, but now I’m chewing them raw. Why won’t anyone just tell me what’s going on?

I spent most of today trying to figure it out. I asked everyone I could without completely losing my mind: guys from my classes, obvious nerds, wannabe artists, the intimidating-looking ones, the judgmental ones. I even talked to a group of French guys, which should count for something. And every single one of them said the same thing.

Nothing. They haven’t heard anything or at least, that’s what they claimed.

And the worst part? I can see the lies from their faces. They’re messing with me on purpose and it’s driving me insane.

The only good thing is that I’ve ruled out the photos. If those were going around campus, I’d know. People would be glued to their phones, whispering behind screens, not staring at me like this. This feels different like everyone’s in on some shared secret about me and I’m the only one locked out of it.

I slump onto my bed, my foot bouncing against the floor. If I finally find out what this is about and it’s bad, I’m done. I’ll drop out of Cadston without looking back. I can’t do this anymore. This place is toxic and it’s slowly eating me alive.

I pick up my phone, and at the exact same moment it starts ringing. David’s name flashes on the screen. I roll my eyes, then answer anyway.

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