Forced into the Spotlight

If Ethan had a sixth sense, it would have tingled the moment he walked into the quad that Tuesday. There were too many people hanging around, too many eyes flicking his way and then away, grins stifled behind phone screens.

Logan noticed it first. "We should go the long way around," he whispered, already edging toward the side path.

Ethan ignored the warning and kept walking. Maybe if he acted normal, nothing would happen. He was halfway across the stone plaza when Derek and his crew stepped into his path.

"Morning, Cole," Derek said, too friendly by half. "Heard you've been hiding behind your friends lately."

Tyler waved a phone. "Perfect timing. We're about to make your week interesting."

Mark just looked down, face red.

Claire appeared from behind, voice steady. "Leave him alone."

Derek grinned. "Actually, Monroe, you and the jester can watch. It's showtime."

A crowd was already gathering—students sensing drama, phones ready for a good meme.

Ethan felt his stomach drop. "What do you want?"

Derek's eyes flicked across the quad—to the marble steps, where Isabella Wynn was reading alone, sunlight turning her hair silver.

"Go on," Derek said. "Be a hero. Walk up to the Ice Queen and confess your undying love. Right here, right now. Or we upload those videos from last month."

Ethan froze. The memory was sharp—locker room, laughter, humiliation, a threat to keep quiet. He couldn't let that spread. Not again.

"Come on, Ethan," Tyler jeered. "What's the worst that could happen? Get turned to ice?"

The crowd egged him on. "Go, go, go!""Confess! Confess!"

Claire caught his arm. "You don't have to—"

But he was already moving, heart hammering, feet leaden. Logan whispered, "You don't owe them anything, man."

He barely heard. It was all white noise now—shame, anger, fear. Every step toward Isabella felt like another nail in the coffin of his quiet life.

He stopped a few feet from her. Isabella didn't look up. Silence fell. Every eye was on him.

Ethan swallowed. His voice barely made it out.

"Um… excuse me."

She turned a single page. "Yes?"

A nervous laugh rippled through the crowd. Ethan's mouth was dry. He heard Derek call out, "Louder, Cole! This isn't kindergarten!"

Ethan clenched his fists. This was it. He had to end it quick.

He took a shaky breath, dropped to one knee on the stone steps, and said—loud enough for everyone to hear:

"Will you marry me?"

For a second, it felt like the whole world stopped breathing.

Phones were out, catching every angle. A few people actually cheered, expecting to see Ethan crash and burn.

Isabella finally looked up, her gaze as cold as ice. For a moment, Ethan expected the usual—polite rejection, maybe a dismissive shake of the head.

But instead, in a clear, unwavering voice, she replied:

"All right. I accept."

Gasps. Laughter, then stunned silence. Derek's smirk vanished. Tyler fumbled his phone. Claire's mouth hung open. Logan looked like he'd seen a ghost.

Isabella stood, closing her book with a soft click. She stepped closer, giving Ethan a level look.

"Let's go," she said, so only he could hear. "We have a lot to discuss."

She walked past him, her hand brushing his sleeve just long enough for the crowd to wonder if it was real.

The students parted, some filming, others just gaping.

Ethan, still kneeling, realized he had no choice but to get up and follow.

Behind him, the quad exploded with chaos.