Peter was working on his test for Math as he heard Andrew whisper something to other students behind him, but he chose to ignore it. Many minutes later, he felt several wads of gum shoot at his back.

He jerked his head backward so quickly that someone misfired and shot at his face. A second later, he realized it was Andrew, who looked nearly as surprised as him. Peter pulled it off, fake-gagged and threw it back at Andrew. Then, his stomach turned as he saw Andrew open his mouth while there was a test going on!

"Mrs. Grane!" bellowed Andrew. "Peter's throwing gum wads!" 

The teacher faced Peter sternly. Behind him, kids were whispering, "He deserves it...I didn't know he hit a girl!" and "Oh, too bad for him..."  Peter was dumbfounded...his own friend?! Why would he tattle on me?  He thought earnestly.

After School

Peter grabbed his books as the bell rang, rubbed his back as to get the half-chewed bits of food kids threw at him, and rushed out of the school building, not hoping for more surprises. He did not get his wish... Kids were avoiding him in the shape of a lumpy omelet. They would not dare look at him, except when they thought he wasn't alert. 

"What is the matter with everyone?" Peter whispered to himself as he returns to his room, half and hour later. "Am I doing something wrong? Maybe I am being too nerdy...all I need to complete the package is a pair of thick glasses and helmet braces!"

Then, he realized what the matter was. He froze in his tracks, and began to collect notes.

Andrew's angry at me for tattling

He threw a piece of gum

Whispered things about me

"Maybe I can find a way to dislodge these rumors." As he said that, he had a sudden feeling that was like an angry, stirring piece of shrapnel searing through his stomach. Of course, he thought. Is Emma going to be angry at me? I mean--sure, we're friends--not romantic friends. But still, she might think that he's telling the truth.

He staggered, falling face forward onto his bed. "What've I done wrong?!" He yelled into his mattress melodramatically. "I just told on him. That doesn't mean it's the end of the world!"

Clearly, someone else agreed beside him. Eric did. But Peter didn't realize he would've. He thought that, he too, would've been sucked into the lies about him.

Then Peter gasped, scrambling up. "What if hear voices again? I don't feel too confident right now? Oh, gosh--" he said, slapping his forehead in realization. "I'm doing it again! That's what fueled the voices! Maybe, if I find the right amount of students that believe in me and not Andrew, we can cast the rumors out!" He sighed happily, imagining an Emma that begged at his feet to let her back. He was smirking ruthlessly, as if he were the king. Snapping himself back to reality, he laughed mirthlessly. "Like that'll ever happen. Oh well, better get started." He started the list on which neighborhood houses to visit. 

"First Emma's, then Oliver's, then Eric's," he circled the last house on his poorly-sketched map. "He's brilliant, maybe he knows something about this..."