When they returned from the cabin Sunday night, Michelle felt something inside her had settled — like dust after a storm.
They were stronger now. More certain. The weekend had reminded her not just of who Steve was, but of who they were together.
But the peace didn't last long.
Monday morning, Lila burst into the dorm room, waving her phone. Her expression was serious.
"You need to see this."
Michelle sat up, blinking sleep from her eyes. "What is it?"
Lila turned her screen toward her. "Someone's been creating fake accounts. Posting stuff about you. About Steve."
Michelle's breath caught.
There, on an anonymous gossip page — hidden in the dark corners of the student forum — were vague but pointed posts:
"Don't trust the golden couple. Secrets have a way of coming out.""Not everything about Steve is as clean as he pretends.""She's being lied to and doesn't even know it."
Michelle's chest tightened. "How long has this been up?"
"I only saw it because Jordan texted me," Lila said. "Apparently, it's been there a few days. But it's gaining traction."
Michelle swallowed. "Do you think it's Liam?"
Lila didn't answer immediately.
"I checked the account history. It's always active late at night. Posts come in waves. And get this — someone uploaded an old photo of Steve from high school. Not flattering. Like… purposefully chosen to make him look bad."
Michelle's thoughts raced. "Who would even have that?"
Lila hesitated.
"There's someone else," she said. "Someone I forgot about."
Michelle frowned. "Who?"
The Real Enemy
Her name was Aubrey Lin. She had dated Steve briefly in his first year — before he met Michelle. According to Lila, she and Steve had ended things quietly, but Aubrey never liked seeing him with someone else.
"She wasn't loud about it," Lila explained as they walked toward the student union. "But she always watched. Always… waiting."
"Creepy," Michelle muttered.
"And she's good with tech. Majoring in digital media. She could be behind the page."
Steve met them that afternoon under a tree behind the art building. Michelle didn't hold back.
"Did you ever date someone named Aubrey?"
Steve blinked. "Yeah. Briefly. But… how do you know that?"
Lila explained everything. The posts. The photos. The possibility of digital revenge.
Steve rubbed the back of his neck. "She took it badly when I ended things. I didn't think she'd still care."
Michelle stepped closer. "Is there anything she could be trying to use against you?"
Steve looked down for a moment. Then up.
"I told her things I never told anyone. Stuff about my dad. About growing up. She used to say I was 'too polished' for my own good — like no one would love me if I was honest."
Michelle touched his hand. "I love you because you're honest. Because you're real."
He smiled, soft and sad. "Then let's be real. Let's face this."
Fighting Back
With Jordan's help (and a very eager Lila), they tracked the IPs behind the posts to a specific dorm building. Aubrey's dorm.
Michelle wanted to confront her directly — but Steve stopped her.
"No. If we go through the school with proof, she'll face consequences."
By Thursday, the evidence was in front of the dean.
False identities. Defamation. Violation of digital conduct codes.
And by Friday, Aubrey was suspended from all student clubs and restricted from posting on university platforms. The gossip page was taken down.
Peace — and Something More
That night, Michelle and Steve lay side by side under the stars, on a blanket near the lake behind campus.
"She wanted to tear us apart," Michelle whispered.
"But she failed," Steve replied.
Michelle rolled toward him. "Thank you. For fighting this with me. For not running."
"I told you," Steve said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I'm not going anywhere."
She smiled, leaned in, and kissed him — soft and slow.
And then, after a long pause, Michelle whispered:
"I think I'm falling in love with you."
Steve's breath caught — then he smiled, the kind of smile that started in his chest.
"I think I already have."