CROSSING THE LINE

[Pink Savage Exclusive]

WHAT WAS THERE TO LIKE?

I sincerely fall out of pity for Billie Parker — if the rumors are true, of course. But what was there to like about Nate, really?

Because my ears are buzzing with whispers saying they both left the party together. Maybe Nate was the one chasing her — who's to say? I was too busy enjoying myself to keep track.

All we have today is just hints of the truth. But don't worry — Pink Savage is on detective mode.

—Pink Savage 💋

*_*

The second I hit "post," my stomach turned.

It was reckless, I knew that. I'd promised Bill I wouldn't write about his team, and Nate was his teammate. But I was angry — angry at the rumors, at Nate, at myself. I told myself it was harmless. A joke. Just me stirring the pot like I always did.

Except this time, the pot was already boiling over.

By Monday morning, I knew I'd made a mistake. My phone wouldn't stop buzzing, and the comments were getting out of control.

@CourtQueen: So Billie and Nate are a thing now?? Damn.

@DramaLama: Pink Savage out here dropping bombs as always. Detective mode ON.

@HoopsFan32: Nate really chasing after Bill's sister? Yikes. That's messy af.

I felt sick. But the second I walked into school, I realized the rumors weren't just online. They were everywhere.

People stared. Whispered. Laughed. And I kept my head down, trying to pretend like none of it bothered me — like my skin wasn't crawling and my heart wasn't pounding.

I hadn't seen Nate yet. Or Bill. And honestly, I wasn't sure which one scared me more.

When I finally made it to the cafeteria, I spotted them both — and my stomach flipped. Bill sat with his team, his head bent low in a serious conversation. Nate sat next to him, looking tense and furious.

But it was Tim who pushed things over the edge. Because of course it was.

"Yo, Nate!" he called, way too loud. "When's the wedding, man?"

Laughter rippled through the room — and I saw the exact moment Nate snapped.

"You wanna know the truth?" His voice rang out, silencing the entire cafeteria. My breath caught.

"Fine," Nate said, his face pale and furious. "I'm gay. There. You happy now?"

The words hung there like a slap, sharp and impossible to take back.

"And no," he added, his voice cracking. "I don't like Billie. I don't even like girls."

The silence was deafening.

And then Nate grabbed his bag and stormed out of the room.

The whispers started immediately — but I couldn't hear them. All I could hear was the rush of blood in my ears.

This was my fault. I did this.

*-*

"Billie!"

Bill's voice cracked like a whip behind me, and when I turned, his face was thunderous. He didn't even wait for me to speak.

"You promised me," he hissed. "You promised you wouldn't write about my friends. And then you go and pull this?"

"Bill, I—"

"Do you even care what you've done?" His voice rose. "Do you care what this means for Nate? Or were you just mad you're not the one he likes?"

The words hit like a punch.

"I didn't mean—"

"I don't care what you meant," he cut me off. "You crossed a line. And I don't know if you can fix this."

Then he turned and walked away.

And I was left there, drowning in guilt, knowing I'd shattered everything I was trying to protect.

The rest of the day passed in a blur — whispers behind my back, glances I couldn't meet, and a weight in my chest that got heavier with every step. I didn't see Nate again. I didn't see Bill either. And honestly, I didn't blame them.

When I finally got home and shut the door to my room, the silence was deafening. I sank onto my bed, my phone face down on the nightstand like it could somehow stop the damage I'd already done.

I thought I was just defending myself. Fighting back against the rumors. But really?

I was protecting myself — by throwing Nate under the bus.

I'd told myself I'd never cross that line. That Pink Savage Exclusive was just fun, harmless gossip. But this wasn't harmless. This was real. And the fallout wasn't just some headline I could scroll past — it was people I cared about.

People I'd hurt.

Is this what it feels like to be savage? To be the fearless voice behind the screen? Because right now, it didn't feel powerful. It didn't feel clever.

It felt like hell.

And maybe that's exactly what I deserved.