Walking down the hall at school on Monday morning Emily could hear the whispers. She could feel the stares as people watched her. She knew what they were thinking. She also knew they were wrong.

Making her way to her locker she overheard someone say "I knew all along she slept around. Now everyone else knows too."

Fighting against the tears burning her eyes, she turned and went back the way she had come. It would do no good go confront any of them. They all believed what they wanted to believe. She didn't know what to do.

"Emily?" Todd's deep voice caused her to jump as he spoke from behind her, "Are you ok?"

"No," she said simply, finally losing the battle against her tears.

"Things here or at home?" he asked sincerely concerned.

Wiping the tears from her eyes she answered, "Both."

At 15, Emily was a beautiful young lady. The type of girl the boys dreamed about and the girls were jealous of, physically at least. her long blonde hair, blue eyes and flawless complexion were the source of envy among many less attractive girls.

Many of them assumed, that because of her looks, she slept around. They were so wrong. She did notice boys of course, but they weren't her priority. She was Vice-President of the Abstinence Club, an honor student and captain of the debate team just to name a few offices she presently held. Her first priority was her education. She wanted to be a child advocate attorney and everything else took a back seat.

She had met Todd in her honors English class. He was popular and good looking, captain of the football and baseball teams and also an honor student. He was three years older and had a reputation with the girls but he had always been respectful to Emily.

"You need to talk to someone," Todd said. "You need to let someone know what is going on."

"I don't know if I can," she said sadly. "Now on top of everything else, everyone at school thinks we had sex because of how they found us at my pool party."

"I'm sorry about that," Todd said, his sincerity showing in his voice as well as his eyes.

"It's not your fault Todd. People are just stupid sometimes. I do need to go talk to Mrs. Marks though."

"Want me to go with you?"

"No, I think I need to do this on my own," Emily replied. "I did nothing wrong."

"Neither of us did," Todd said, his eyes suddenly brightening as if he had an idea. "I do know something I can do though. I will put a stop to the rumors."

Before Emily could respond Mrs. Marks came down the hall. "Mrs. Marks,

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