By morning, Michelle had had enough.
No more whispering. No more hiding. No more letting someone who didn't matter anymore control her life — or her heart.
She sat on her dorm bed, still holding the note that had been slid under Steve's door.
"She'll break you too."
Steve sat across from her, jaw tense, eyes still locked on the paper. "He's trying to get in my head."
"And mine," Michelle whispered. "And he's succeeding. But only because we let him."
Steve looked up. "So what do you want to do?"
Her eyes blazed.
"End this. Now. With everyone watching."
That afternoon, Michelle walked into the student union in jeans, a pale pink sweater, and purpose radiating from her every step. Steve walked beside her, calm but alert, his hand brushing against hers in silent solidarity.
Students murmured as they passed. Some had already seen the fake messages. Others just knew drama was in the air.
Ryan was in the back corner. Like he knew she'd come.
She didn't give him time to speak.
"Everyone!" she called, turning to face the small crowd. Her voice was clear. "If you've seen messages from me to Ryan, they're fake."
Eyes turned. Silence fell.
"I don't care if you believed them," she said. "Because Steve does. And that's the only truth I care about."
Someone muttered, "She's lying."
Steve stepped forward. "She's not."
Ryan stood, folding his arms. "Little dramatic, don't you think?"
Michelle laughed bitterly. "Dramatic? You're the one forging messages and sliding anonymous notes under dorm doors. What are you so afraid of, Ryan? That people will see how pathetic you really are when you can't control someone anymore?"
Gasps. A few chuckles.
Ryan's smirk faltered.
Steve's voice cut the air like a blade. "You ghosted her. And now that she's actually happy, you can't stand it. So you're doing everything you can to poison that."
Ryan's eyes narrowed. "She was mine first."
"She was never yours," Michelle snapped. "Not really. You don't get to disappear and show back up when it's convenient. You don't get to play with people like that."
Ryan scoffed. "You think anyone here really cares?"
"I don't care," Steve said, "because she knows who she is. And I know who I'm with."
Michelle stepped closer to Ryan, her voice now deadly calm.
"Walk away, Ryan. Before I report you for harassment. And trust me—I have the screenshots. Real ones."
Ryan opened his mouth, but something in her stare made him hesitate. For the first time since his return, Ryan seemed… small.
He turned and walked out of the student union without another word.
And just like that — he was gone.
Michelle stood in the echo of her own strength, her breath quick, her heart pounding. But not from fear.
From relief.
Steve reached for her hand, squeezing it tightly. "That was… incredible."
She turned to him, her voice softer now. "So are you."
They left the student union together.
This time, no one whispered.
They didn't need to.