The Captain's Dirty Little Secret

Chapter 162: Chapter 162 - Rumors

Chapter 160

Monday Consequences

Monday morning came anyway.

Roxie woke up sore in places that had nothing to do with cheer practice.

Her cheek still carried a faint mark from Claire’s hand. The swelling had gone down, but the skin under her eye held a shadow that makeup could only soften. Her throat felt raw from crying at Raven’s Point. Her shoulders ached from the Sunday shift, from the motorcycle, from holding herself together when every part of her had wanted to fold.

Her lips remembered Zac.

That was the worst part and the best part.

She remembered the truck bed, the cold air, his blanket around them, and the way he had gone still when she asked if she could kiss him. She remembered his mouth after that. The heat of him. The way he touched her like he was afraid of hurting her and wanted her so badly at the same time.

He had taken her home after.

He had stayed until she pretended to fall asleep on the couch.

Roxie knew he knew she was pretending. Zac had looked at her for a long time before he left, his hand resting near her hair, his face heavy with everything he still wanted to say. She had kept her eyes closed because if she opened them, she might have asked him to stay.

And if he stayed, she knew herself.

She was hurt, lonely, angry, and desperate to feel wanted by someone who meant it.

That was a dangerous mix.

She felt no regret about Raven’s Point.

That was the problem.

She only knew that if they kept going while she was that raw, she might use his body to cover a wound he had nothing to do with.

Not that he would mind.

Roxie smiled to herself.

By the time she reached school, her head was quieter.

But the second Roxie stepped through the front doors, she knew something was up.

People looked at her.

Some looked away too fast. Some stared directly. Some whispered behind binders and phones, like covering half their faces made them invisible.

Whatever.

They could spread all the rumors they wanted.

She could handle staring.

She had been stared at all year.

Then she heard the first whisper clearly.

”Prescott’s mom talked to her at the bonfire.”

Another voice answered, ”I heard his family found out.”

Roxie’s steps slowed.

A girl near the lockers lowered her voice badly. ”That guy who picked her up, they said the adults are covering it.”

Someone else laughed. ”That’s so messed up.”

Roxie’s stomach tightened.

The rumor had grown legs overnight.

She walked faster.

Karen appeared beside her like she had been waiting to attack the hallway itself. Angela came up on Roxie’s other side, quieter, her eyes moving over every face that turned their way.

”I hate everyone,” Karen said.

Angela’s eyes dropped to Roxie’s cheek. Her face changed, but she said nothing.

Roxie appreciated that.

She also hated it.

They reached the lockers near the science wing when Bianca passed with two girls behind her. Bianca’s gaze dropped to Roxie’s stomach, then lifted to her face.

”Oh, Jones,” Bianca said sweetly. ”You never fail to entertain Briarwick.”

Roxie stopped.

For a second, all the noise in the hallway faded.

Karen’s eyes stayed on Bianca. ”Say one more word.”

Bianca smiled. ”What? I’m just concerned.” She flicked her hair back. ”It’s not every day one of the cheer captains gets pregnant this young.”

Roxie’s hand curled around the strap of her bag.

She wanted to hit her.

It would be easy. One step. One shove. One swing. A few seconds of relief, followed by office chairs, discipline reports, Coach Miller’s disappointment, and Bianca walking away with exactly what she wanted.

Roxie forced herself to move.

Karen stared at her. ”We’re walking away?”

”Yes.”

”Roxie.”

”I said yes.”

Even Angela looked like she wanted to fight Bianca.

Roxie forced herself to keep walking. ”She’s expecting a big reaction. Giving her one would be stupid.”

Karen muttered, ”I’ll kill her.”

Then the intercom crackled above them.

”Roxie Jones, please report to Ms. Gonzalez’s office. Roxie Jones to Ms. Gonzalez’s office.”

A few heads turned.

Roxie closed her locker slowly.

Karen’s face darkened. ”I hate this school.”

Angela touched Roxie’s arm. ”Want us to wait near the office?”

Roxie shook her head. ”Go to class.”

Karen opened her mouth.

Roxie gave them both a look. ”I need you two out of trouble.”

Karen’s mouth shut, but she looked offended by the request.

Twenty minutes later, Roxie walked into first period with Ms. Gonzalez’s voice still sitting in her head.

Same advice.

Same warning.

Be smart.

Protect the scholarship.

Protect the image.

Keep your head down.

The advice sounded simple enough until Roxie remembered she wanted to hit Bianca, cry in the bathroom, sleep for three days, and maybe throw up in that exact order.

Mr. Callahan looked up when she entered.

The class went quieter.

Roxie felt every face turn toward her, but she walked to her seat and sat down like the floor was steady.

Mr. Callahan handed review packets down the rows. When he reached her desk, he placed hers in front of her and tapped the top once.

”Miss Jones,” he said quietly, ”page two. We’re reviewing acids and bases.”

Roxie looked at him.

He held her stare for half a second, then moved on like he had not noticed the whole class watching her.

Fine.

She could accept that.

Her phone buzzed in her bag during review.

She waited until Mr. Callahan turned to the board before she checked it.

Zac: You okay?

Roxie stared at the screen.

Roxie: Office again.

The typing bubble appeared almost immediately.

Zac: Because of the rumor?

Roxie: Because apparently you got me pregnant.

Their eyes met across the room.

To her irritation, the man had the audacity to turn red.

His ears went pink first. Then he looked down at his review packet like the periodic table had suddenly become fascinating.

He was blushing.

Actually blushing.

Roxie stared at him.

Zac glanced up again, caught her face, and his mouth twitched like he was trying not to smile.

She narrowed her eyes at him.

He pressed his lips together and looked down.

Unbelievable.

Her life was collapsing in public, and Zac Prescott was sitting across AP Chemistry with red ears because she had typed the word pregnant.

Roxie put her phone away before she did something stupid, like smile back.

By lunch, Roxie had survived Ms. Gonzalez, two review packets, and at least seven people looking at her stomach like it might answer questions.

She dropped into her seat beside Angela and across from Karen.

Karen took one look at her face. ”So? What happened?”

Roxie stared at the milk carton on her tray. ”Same old. Ms. Gonzalez told me to keep my head down.”

Karen’s expression darkened. ”That’s it?”

Roxie nodded. ”Because this rumor is apparently my problem now, not theirs.” She opened the milk even though she had no intention of drinking it. ”She said the school can’t control gossip, but they can control discipline. So if I hit Bianca, I lose.”

Karen leaned back, offended. ”I hate when adults make sense in the worst possible way.”

Angela looked across the cafeteria, where two girls were whispering near the vending machines. ”This rumor is getting ridiculous.”

”Pregnant by Zac Prescott is, apparently, my current storyline.” Roxie said.

Angela’s mouth twitched. ”Maybe tomorrow you should wear low-rise jeans.”

Roxie stared at her.

Angela shrugged, sweet as ever. ”Just so everyone can see your stomach.”

Karen grinned. ”Plus your ass. Win-win.”

Roxie choked on air. ”Karen.”

”What? I’m supporting your image.”

Angela smiled into her straw.

Roxie pointed at both of them. ”I hate when you team up.”

Karen leaned forward. ”I hate that we’re joking because I’m still close to violence.”

Angela’s gaze softened. ”What did Zac say?”

Roxie froze.

Karen stopped chewing.

Angela’s eyes widened a little, like she had surprised herself by saying it out loud.

Roxie looked down at her tray. ”Shut up.”

Karen’s fork lowered slowly. ”You shut up.”

Roxie’s head snapped up. ”Excuse me?”

Karen rolled her eyes. ”After that stunt at the bonfire, you don’t get to deny something.”

Angela nodded. ”You disappeared with him. That was not exactly genius.”

Roxie looked at the plate in front of her.

She could tell them they were imagining things. She could make a joke, roll her eyes, insult their observation skills, and let the secret sit inside her for another day.

Then she looked at them.

Karen was annoyed, but underneath that, she was worried. Angela was waiting patiently, like she had already decided she would forgive Roxie, but she still wanted the truth.

What was one less truth in a sea of lies?

Roxie took a breath. ”We’re together.”

Karen’s mouth opened.

Angela’s eyes widened.

Roxie rushed on before either of them could explode. ”Secretly. Because his parents are insane and my life is messy and school already turns everything into a circus.”

Karen slapped both hands flat on the table. ”I knew it.”

Angela whispered, ”Oh my God.”

Roxie winced. ”Please lower the volume of your face.”

Angela leaned closer. ”Since when?”

”Officially? Recently.”

Karen’s eyes sharpened. ”Unofficially?”

Roxie looked away.

Karen pointed at her. ”Jail.”

Roxie looked back. ”For what?”

”For friend betrayal.”

Angela squeezed Roxie’s hand. ”Karen.”

”No, I need a minute.” Karen sat back, staring at Roxie like Roxie had brought something dangerous to lunch. ”You have been secretly dating Zac Prescott while Bianca is spreading pregnancy rumors about you and his mother is circling you like a rich shark?”

Roxie smiled despite herself. ”He’s a good guy. I like him.”

Karen made a gagging sound.

Roxie kicked her under the table.

”Ow.”

”Good.”

Angela’s cheeks turned pink. ”But he likes you?”

Roxie looked at her.

Angela lifted both hands. ”What? I’m asking the important part.”

Karen scoffed. ”The important part is whether he is worth the amount of disaster he brings.”

Roxie looked down at her milk carton.

The answer came too fast in her chest.

Yes.

That scared her.

”He is,” Roxie said quietly.

Angela softened at once.

Karen did not. Karen studied her face for a long moment, then her anger shifted into something heavier.

”Did his mom say something to you at the bonfire because of him?”

Roxie’s throat tightened.

Angela’s hand squeezed hers again.

Roxie nodded once.

Karen’s face changed. ”What did she say?”

”Enough.”

”That is not an answer.”

”It’s the answer I can give in a cafeteria.”

Karen looked like she wanted to argue.

Angela shook her head slightly.

Karen caught it and shut her mouth, but her jaw stayed tight.

Roxie looked between them. ”You can be mad.”

”Oh, I am,” Karen said immediately.

Angela gave her a look.

Karen pointed at Roxie. ”I am mad because you didn’t tell us sooner.”

Roxie blinked.

Angela nodded slowly. ”That part did hurt.”

Roxie’s throat tightened. ”I didn’t know how to tell you.”

Karen’s voice went blunt. ”You open your mouth and make words.”

”Wow. Thank you. That cured me.”

”I’m still mad.”

”I noticed.”

Angela kept holding Roxie’s hand. ”Are you okay?”

Roxie thought of Miranda.

Claire.

Bianca.

Zac waiting on her porch.

Raven’s Point.

Her cheek.

Her phone.

The whole school staring at her stomach.

”I don’t know,” Roxie admitted.

Karen’s anger dropped a little.

Angela swallowed.

Roxie tried to pull her hand back, but Angela held on.

Karen leaned forward again, voice lower now. ”Does Zac know everything?”

Roxie shook her head.

Karen closed her eyes for a second. ”Roxie.”

”I know.”

”Tell him.”

”I know.”

”No. I mean it.” Karen opened her eyes. ”Before his mother uses something he doesn’t know.”

Roxie went cold.

Angela looked between them. ”What does that mean?”

Roxie forced herself to breathe. ”It means Karen is annoying and right.”

Karen pointed at her. ”Put that on my grave.”

Roxie let out a weak laugh.

The bell rang a minute later.

Everyone around them started standing, trays scraping and chairs dragging across the floor.

Angela stood first, but she kept Roxie’s hand until the last second. ”We’re mad, but we’re here.”

Karen shouldered her bag. ”I’m more mad than here.”

Angela looked at her.

Karen rolled her eyes. ”Fine. I’m here while mad.”

Roxie looked down, then back at them.

For the first time all day, the hallway did not feel like something she had to walk into alone.

The afternoon dragged.

Teachers watched her more than usual. Students whispered less when Karen was close and more when she left. Bianca stayed away, which probably meant she had gotten what she wanted for the day.

By the time cheer practice started, Roxie wanted to crawl under the bleachers and live there until graduation.

Coach Miller had other plans.

”From the top,” he called. ”Counts clean. Facials up. Nobody looks like they’re waiting for sentencing.”

Kendall shot Roxie a look.

Roxie ignored it.

The music started.

Her body moved before her brain caught up.

That was the one mercy of cheer. When the count started, Roxie knew what to do. Hit. Step. Turn. Snap. Smile. Lift. Land. Breathe. Again.

Anger helped.

Her jumps were clean. Her arms hit sharp. Her timing stayed tight. Every whisper from the hallway fed the routine. Every look at her cheek made her push harder. Every word Miranda had said became another count she refused to miss.

Coach Miller watched her closely.

She hated it.

At the water break, he stood near her but gave her room.

”You dizzy?”

”No.”

”Eat today?”

Roxie paused.

Coach Miller’s eyebrows rose.

”Yes,” she said.

”You better.” He crossed his arms. ”I don’t need another rumor about me being a monster.”

Roxie almost smiled. ”That rumor would be true.”

”Hydrate before I make you run.”

”You can’t make me run. This is cheer.”

”I can get creative.”

She drank water.

Practice kept going.

By the end, Roxie’s lungs burned and her legs shook, but she hit the last full-out clean. The final formation landed sharp enough that even Kendall looked satisfied.

Coach Miller kept talking about travel time, permission slips, uniforms, luggage, and hotel assignments, but Roxie heard only that one word.

Football State Championship.

Roxie took one slow breath.

Her name was still moving through the hallway.

Her cheek still ached.

Her head still felt crowded.

And this time, falling apart was not on the schedule.