She turned the smile toward Flora again, pity threaded through the warmth.  "You've always been brave about your feelings.  I just hope you're not rushing into something to make Austin jealous."

A hush.  Every eye flicked to Flora.

She didn't take Suzain's words to heart, it made sense. I'm the ex of her best friend's boyfriend. But that doesn't mean I'll let them turn me into gossip.

 Exhaling once, she voiced.  "If I ever start something new, it'll be because I want to, not because someone else matters that much."

Her voice never rose, yet it carried, enough to make even Grace's friends falter. Picking on someone who never fought back suddenly felt like bullying the quiet.

Grace's smile stayed fixed, a porcelain calm.  "Of course.  That's healthy.  I just hope people don't start wondering what you're after this time."

Her tone never sharpened, yet her words turned the crowd's gaze, gentle in sound, lethal in effect

Suzain laughed softly, the sound light but her eyes gave her away.

"Of course she did, now that Austin was out of reach, her best move was someone with influence in the student union."

The remark caught like a spark. In an instant, the fire was lit again.

 "Does she really think the vice president's on par with the Moore heir?" one girl murmured, voice laced with disbelief.

Then wore a fake smile layering it with another meaning. "When the heir's taken, the title will do."

"Some people just can't stand being unchosen."

Suzain with mocking gaze: "Second choice suits her better anyway."

Laughter, not loud, just cruel.

Jennifer cut in, sharper now.  "Enough.  You're crossing a line."

"Jen, please," Grace said sweetly.  "They're just joking.  Flora's stronger than that."

Then turned to her group "Don't judge, it isn't fair. We both come from humble homes. Some people just… look for what feels attainable its their choice we have no right to question."

Her words sounded like defense; the subtext landed like a slap.

She'd reminded everyone that Austin had chosen her.

A friend giggled behind her hand.

"Still, it says something, right?  Same background, but Austin picked the better one."

Another chimed in, emboldened.

"I think quiet vice president would suit Flora better anyway.  She shouldn't reach for the moon being like this."

"Moon" meaning Austin.  The laughter grew again.

Flora's jaw tightened, Both come from humble homes?

 I Never said that. Just never saw the point of flaunting what others chase. Silence keeps things simpl, less to twist, less to prove.

It was never about names. Just love, and being loved back. Not that they'd understand.

 

 "He might be a moon worth chasing for you,"Flora said softly, "but never the kind that shone in the sky I looked up to."

The laughter broke, surprise first, then an uneasy hush.

Student leaned in, lowering her tone just enough to sound intimate.

"She still acts like she's the school heart-throb's girlfriend.  Look at that attitude."

Grace's eyes glinted, still smiling.  "You always had a way with words."

She turned toward her friends.  "Come on, girls, we're going to be late.  Let's stop teasing; it's not nice."

Her tone was light, charitable, making herself the reasonable one.

They followed, still murmuring, still glancing back.

  Jennifer's hand brushed Flora's sleeve.

"I don't think they get your point," she whispered.

Flora smiled faintly.  "They only win when you answer louder than them."

They walked away together.  Behind them the chatter shifted again, whispers curling like smoke.

"She still thinks she's something."

Yeah totally, "Grace was being nice.  I'd have snapped."

"Maybe she really is after the vice president."

Each word small, ordinary, harmless on its own, together, the start of something that would grow teeth by evening.