THE BOY WHO CHANGED EVERYTHING

Chapter Two — The Rumor

By Tuesday morning, the news about Daniel Carter had already spread through Rosewood Academy.

Amara discovered this before she had even reached her classroom.

Two girls standing near the lockers were whispering.

"That's him."

"The new boy?"

"Yes. Daniel Carter."

"I heard his family is extremely wealthy."

"I heard he used to attend a private school abroad."

Amara slowed down for a moment.

She wasn't sure why she was listening.

Maybe it was curiosity.

Maybe it was because Daniel was now sitting directly behind her.

Or maybe she simply wanted to know why everyone seemed so interested in him.

"Amara!"

She turned to see Tessa running toward her.

"You won't believe what I just found out."

Amara smiled.

"Good morning to you too."

"Good morning. Now listen."

Tessa grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the classroom.

"Daniel Carter isn't just some random transfer student."

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know exactly."

"Then why are you making it sound mysterious?"

"Because it is mysterious!"

Amara laughed.

"You're impossible."

"I'm serious. Apparently, he didn't transfer here because he wanted to."

Amara stopped walking.

"What?"

"That's what I heard."

"From who?"

"My cousin's friend."

Amara stared at her.

"Tessa, that's three people removed from the actual person."

"Still."

They entered the classroom.

Daniel was already there.

He sat quietly at his desk, reading a book.

Amara looked at him.

For a brief second, he looked up.

Their eyes met.

He smiled.

It was a small smile.

But somehow, it made Amara forget what she was about to say.

Tessa noticed.

She leaned close to Amara.

"You're in trouble."

Amara rolled her eyes.

"Stop."

The first lesson was mathematics.

Their teacher wrote several difficult problems on the board.

"Who would like to solve number four?"

The classroom became silent.

Nobody raised a hand.

The teacher looked around.

"Anyone?"

Daniel slowly raised his hand.

The teacher smiled.

"Daniel?"

He stood and walked to the board.

Within a few minutes, he had solved the problem.

The class stared.

Their teacher nodded approvingly.

"Excellent."

Daniel returned to his seat.

Tessa leaned toward Amara.

"Okay. He's smart too."

Amara whispered, "Can you concentrate on the lesson?"

"I'm observing."

"You're gossiping."

"Same thing."

Amara tried not to laugh.

Then a piece of paper landed on her desk.

She unfolded it.

You understand the last question?

She looked behind her.

Daniel was watching her.

Amara nodded and wrote underneath:

Not really.

He smiled.

He quickly wrote something else and passed it forward.

I'll explain it during lunch.

Amara stared at the note.

She wasn't sure why her heart suddenly seemed to beat faster.

She folded the paper and placed it inside her notebook.

But someone had noticed.

Jason.

From across the classroom, he watched Daniel pass the note to Amara.

His expression changed.

At lunch, Amara sat beneath the tree with Tessa.

She was halfway through her meal when Daniel approached.

"Hey."

Amara looked up.

"Hi."

Daniel held up his mathematics notebook.

"You wanted me to explain the question?"

"Oh, right."

Tessa immediately stood.

"I'll go get a drink."

Amara looked at her suspiciously.

"You just brought a drink."

"I need another one."

"You don't."

Tessa winked.

"I'll be back."

She walked away.

Daniel sat on the bench opposite Amara.

He opened his notebook and began explaining the problem.

Amara listened carefully.

After a few minutes, everything finally made sense.

"Oh."

Daniel smiled.

"Now you understand?"

"Yes. You make it sound so easy."

"It isn't that hard once you know the trick."

Amara smiled.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

For a moment, neither spoke.

The noise of the other students filled the garden.

Then Daniel asked,

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Why did you choose this school?"

Amara looked surprised.

"I've been here since junior school."

"Really?"

She nodded.

"What about you?"

Daniel's expression changed slightly.

"I didn't choose it."

Amara noticed.

"So Tessa was right?"

"About what?"

"That you didn't want to transfer here."

Daniel looked away.

"There's a lot you don't know about me."

Amara waited.

He seemed as if he wanted to say more.

But before he could, Jason appeared.

"Amara."

She turned.

Jason looked at Daniel.

"Can I talk to you?"

Daniel stood.

"I'll leave you two."

He walked away.

Jason watched him for a moment before sitting beside Amara.

"What's going on?"

Amara frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"You and Daniel."

"Nothing is going on."

Jason looked unconvinced.

"You've known him for one day."

"And?"

"And you're already spending lunch together."

"We were studying."

Jason sighed.

"I just think you should be careful."

"Why?"

"I don't trust him."

Amara looked at him.

"You don't even know him."

"Exactly."

"Then how can you say you don't trust him?"

Jason didn't answer.

Instead, he stood.

"Just be careful."

He walked away.

Amara watched him go.

Something about the conversation bothered her.

By the end of the day, the rumor had changed.

It was no longer simply about Daniel being wealthy.

Now people were saying that he had been expelled from his previous school.

Someone claimed he had gotten into a serious fight.

Another person said his family had paid to keep the incident secret.

By the time Amara heard the story, it had become almost unbelievable.

She found Daniel alone near the library.

"Daniel?"

He turned.

"Hey."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"People are saying you were expelled from your old school."

His expression became serious.

"Who told you that?"

"I don't know. It's just what people are saying."

Daniel looked down.

"People like making up stories."

"So it's not true?"

"I didn't say that."

Amara stared at him.

"Then what happened?"

Daniel was silent.

Finally, he said,

"I got into a fight."

Amara's eyes widened.

"With who?"

"Someone who deserved to be confronted."

"That's not really an answer."

"I know."

He looked at her.

"But it wasn't what people are saying."

Before Amara could ask anything else, a voice came from behind them.

"Amara!"

Tessa hurried toward them.

She looked nervous.

"We need to go."

"Why?"

"I'll explain later."

Amara looked at Daniel.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

Daniel nodded.

"Tomorrow."

As Amara walked away with Tessa, she glanced back.

Daniel was still standing there.

And for the first time, she wondered whether the rumors about him were only the beginning.

That evening, Amara sat at her desk trying to finish her homework.

Her phone buzzed.

She picked it up.

A message from an unknown number appeared.

Stay away from Daniel Carter.

Amara stared at the screen.

Another message arrived.

You don't know who he really is.

Her heart began beating faster.

She typed:

Who is this?

No response.

She waited.

Nothing.

She tried calling the number.

It was unavailable.

Amara put the phone down.

Maybe it was a prank.

Maybe someone was trying to scare her.

But deep inside, she knew something was wrong.

She looked at the message again.

You don't know who he really is.

The next morning, she would see Daniel again.

And this time, she knew she couldn't simply ignore the rumors.

Because someone at Rosewood Academy knew a secret about him.

And they clearly didn't want Amara to find out.

To be continued...