Rumors
Authors: Erica Kiefer
Tags: #fiction, #mystery, #relationships, #young adult, #grief, #healing, #contemporary romance
Erica Kiefer
Clean Teen Publishing
This is a work of fiction. The
characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s
imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to
actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely
coincidental.
Rumors
Copyright © 2013 by: Erica
Kiefer
All rights reserved. No part of this
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PO Box 561326
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To my father for his devotion to education and
love of all things written, and to my mother for her relentless
spirit and constant ability to find the light beyond the
shadows.
Rumors—they spread fast like a virus, mutating and growing
stronger with each person they touch. Rumors travel so fast that no
one even knows where they started. The difference between a rumor
and virus, though, is that no one wants a virus. We do all we can
to protect ourselves and to eradicate the spreading germ. On the
other hand, the moment we get a taste of a rumor, we want
more—taking pride in being the source of delivery. Fortunately, we
can kill a virus with medicine. The only way to kill an infectious
rumor, though, is to tell the truth—but if the truth hurts more
than the rumor, perhaps it’s better to let the rumor run
rampant.
Rumors
were the reason I often hid in the bathroom, avoiding the
questioning eyes of my high school peers. It was definitely not the
ideal way to start my senior year, but it was easier to hide than
risk the questions. Besides, from my position inside the handicap
stall, I sometimes overheard tidbits of scandal, like how Derek
cheated on Anna, even though everyone swore at the beginning of
summer that they were going to make it. Now everyone hates Noel
because of it. Still, even from inside the bathroom, sometimes I
couldn’t escape playing the lead role in the circulating
rumors.
All the
stories, since school began two months ago, suggested I was in an
accident. The details of this accident became hazy, depending on
who it came from. Some tales were way off base and suggested I lost
control of my four-wheeler and smashed my head into the ground.
That would explain why I didn’t say much to anyone about what
happened. They chalked it up to partial amnesia. Others were
adamant that I fell off a Jet Ski and was hit by a boat, rendering
me unconscious. Most people, however, seemed to know that I almost
drowned in a river. Word spread that my cousin fell in the river,
too. Although, the difference between my cousin and me was that she
drowned. Since this happened in California, nobody here in Portland
knew my cousin. Nobody really cared. They just liked to watch me
from a distance, talking about me like I was an animal on display.
They thought I couldn’t hear them whispering or catch them in my
peripheral gawking in pity, but I did.
Rumors
aside, no one understood why I wouldn’t talk about it—why I refused
to clarify the details of the accident last summer. It was simple
really. Like I said, rumors can hurt—but sometimes, the truth can
hurt more.
“
What do you mean, you quit?” Coach Robbins leaned forward in
his chair, his large forearms resting on the edge of the
desk.
I
sighed. I knew he wouldn’t make this easy. “I can’t—I’m not playing
basketball this year.” With wavering eye contact, I fidgeted on the
squeaky, plastic cushion beneath me, wishing the chair had wheels
so I could roll my way out of the office.
Coach
Robbins shook his head. He made visible efforts to maintain
composure—a skill he often lacked on the court. Pausing, he took a
deep breath and spoke again. “Allie, I know it’s been a rough start
to your senior year. I’m very sorry about your cousin drowning over
the summer, and I can only imagine how hard that must be—but this
is your year!” His hand swept to his Wall of Fame, pointing to a
framed article. The headlines stated with boldness: “RISE OF THE
COLLINS TRIO!”
I didn’t
need to skim last year’s article to remember what it
said:
Sisters, Allie, Taylor, and Leah Collins dominate the court
at
Sectional Championship, but come up two baskets
short
After a sluggish start, the Pelicans’ second-half run was
sparked shortly after Taylor and Leah Collins—Allie Collins’
younger twin sisters—entered the game from the bench. The Collins
trio exploded for a 22-4 run that brought the Pelicans within 4
points, with only two minutes remaining… With nearly nothing left
in the tank, Allie Collins launched a three-point shot from NBA
range, which fell a centimeter short and desperately clanked from
the iron. A fast rebound, followed by a quick foul, placed the
Tiger’s best shooter on the line with 1.3 seconds remaining. The
Tiger’s sharpshooter nailed both free throws, sealing the trophy.
Despite the anguish of defeat, the Pelicans faithful should be
proud of a brilliant effort, and look forward to the rise of the
Collins Trio.