As William briskly crosses Kadic's bustling school grounds, hushed whispers and furtive glances follow his every step. His pace quickens as the weight of the attention bears down on him, mingling with a growing sense of unease. The students, like a murmuring tide, eye him with a mix of curiosity, intrigue, and speculation. It seems that rumors are already spreading like wildfire, and there is no escaping the scrutiny.

With each stride, William can hear snippets of conversation, some excited about the news, others skeptical. He assumes they speak of the very article he has in his hands, the exact one he rushes to tell Aelita about before anyone else can.

"Did you see the article?"

"They're so cute together."

"That Belpois dude must be pissed."

"I bet you they break up before the school year ends."

"I bet William is just using her."

"I'm jealous of her. He is such a hottie."

William clenches his jaw, almost breaking into a run as he tries to ignore the mounting pressure. He knows that the article is already causing a stir, but he is determined to protect Aelita from the inevitable onslaught of unwanted attention.

"Hey, Dunbar," a voice calls out to him.

William stops in his tracks and turns to see a couple of the guys on the basketball team approaching him. "What."

"You might as well be the official face of Kadic, at this point," one of them says, grinning. "You and Aelita are, like, the hottest couple right now."

William narrows his eyes. "Yeah, thanks. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to be."

"No, for real," the other guy says, stepping in front of him. "You really snagged a good one there. She's, like, super hot."

William feels his blood boil, his hands curling into fists. "Watch it, Deschamps."

"Or what?" Deschamps challenges, a smirk playing on his lips. He continues on. "Seriously, though. When do I get a turn with her? You have no idea how many times I've fantasized about fucking her. I totally wouldn't mind sharing."

William snaps. He lunges forward, grabbing Deschamps by the collar of his shirt and slamming him against a tree. "Shut your mouth. She's not your plaything," he growls, his voice low and dangerous.

Deschamps' eyes widen, his expression a mixture of shock and fear. "Woah, chill, Dunbar. I was just messing with you."

William tightens his grip on Deschamps' shirt, his knuckles white. "I'm not fucking around, Deschamps."

Deschamps swallows hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry, man. It was a joke. I didn't mean anything by it."

"Right. A joke," William releases his hold on Deschamps, his gaze cold and unwavering. Without another word, he storms off, his anger simmering just below the surface. He can't believe the nerve of some people, talking about Aelita like that.

When he finally reaches the Hermitage, he knocks hard on the door, his heart pounding. Aelita answers, her eyes wide.

"What are you doing here, Will?" she asks. "Is everything alright?"

"I need to talk to you." He pushes past her and plods into the living room.

Aelita's eyebrows shoot up, her curiosity piqued. "Okay... come in, I guess. What's going on?"

William looks up at her, his expression neutral. He takes a deep breath, then produces the tabloid from his back pocket.

Aelita leans forward to study it. "What is this?"

William hands it to her. "Just read it."

Aelita takes the tabloid and begins to scan the article, her eyes widening as she takes in the details. "Oh my God..."

William watches her, his stomach churning. "I'm so sorry, Lita. I had no idea this was going to happen. I should have been paying attention to our surroundings that night."

Aelita shakes her head. "It's not your fault, Will. You didn't do anything wrong."

"I know, but I feel responsible. This is my world, not yours. I should've known better."

"William, it's fine. You can't control what the media does. Besides, did you actually read the article? It's kind of flattering in a sleazy tabloid way." She smiles. "What, are you trying to keep me a secret or something?"

"No, I'm not trying to keep you a secret. But I also don't want the world to think I'm parading you around." William sighs. "It's just... I know how crazy soccer fans can be. I've seen the way they treat other wives and girlfriends of players across the board. I just don't want you to have to deal with that."

"Will, I'll be fine." She places a hand on his shoulder. "I appreciate you worrying about me, but I can handle myself. Okay?"

William nods, his expression serious. "Okay. But if anything happens, you let me know, alright?"

"I will."

"Good. Now, go enjoy the rest of the night. What are you up to, anyway?"

"Well, before I was so rudely interrupted," she starts with a coy smirk, "I was trying to catch up on this month's book club selection because I'm super behind and if I don't catch up, Sissi will murder me."

William chuckles. "That's fair. Well, I'll leave you to it, then. See you tomorrow, Lita." He gives her a quick goodbye peck on the lips and gets up to leave the Hermitage.

"Why don't you stay? You're already here, so stay and keep me company."

He lets a small smile creep along his face before he turns around and plops down on the couch next to her.

The hum of the reformer machines fills the bright studio as the early Saturday morning Pilates class approaches its conclusion. Aelita and Sissi, fatigued and sweaty, lay limp on their respective reformers, unable to move after the intense workout. Beads of sweat glisten on their foreheads as the soothing melody of the instructor's voice guides them through their final stretches.

Aelita lets out a satisfied sigh, pulling her pink ponytail tighter as she glances over at Sissi. "Sissi, you were right; this reformer class is something else. My abs are going to be thanking you tomorrow. And possibly screaming."

Sissi, who appears equally fatigued but invigorated, flashes a grateful smile. "I'm glad you enjoyed it, Lita. It's always more fun when we're in this together. We should definitely make this a regular thing."

Feeling accomplished and rejuvenated, the two women disconnect themselves from the reformers. They grab the rest of their belongings and walk towards the studio's front door. Ready to face the day ahead, they exit the studio with a newfound sense of well-being.

"I'm feeling an açai bowl." Sissi tells Aelita as they walk out onto the busy Parisian street. "You want one?"

"Always," Aelita responds with a spirited smile.

They make their way to their favorite açai bowl spot, chatting and laughing along the way. When they get there, they sit down at their favorite table, ready to dig into the refreshing blend of frozen açai, fresh fruit, and granola.

"So, how are you and William?" Sissi asks casually with a hint of suggestiveness.

Aelita shrugs. "We're doing okay, I guess. He's been really stressed out lately. It's playoff season, so the team is really working hard."

"I can only imagine. I'm sure he's under a lot of pressure."

"Yeah. I just wish there was something I could do to help him."

Sissi smiles. "You're already helping him just by being there for him. He might not say it, but he appreciates it."

Aelita returns the smile. "Thanks, Sissi. That means a lot."

Sissi miraculously is able to keep the conversation interesting even while she absentmindedly scrolls through social media on her phone. Suddenly, her eyes widen and her mouth drops open. "Ooh. Juicy juicy," she mutters to herself.

Aelita raises an eyebrow, curious. "What's 'juicy juicy?'"

"Oh, you know, the usual. People wilding out on the gossip forums. This one thread I'm on has new comments coming in so fast that I can barely keep up."

"Oh yeah?" Aelita takes a heaping bite of her açai. "Comments like what?"

Sissi clears her throat dramatically. "'Who is this skank anyway?' 'Ugh, he's way too good for her.' 'She looks like a nobody, she's not even pretty.'" Sissi shakes her head and laughs. "How's that for some insecurity and projection?"

"Damn. I wonder who they're talking about."

"I do too, but I can't get to the top of the thread!" Sissi exclaims, tapping her phone in frustration. "No matter how many times I press 'See More Comments' it's just not stopping!" She finally gets to the top of the thread and the picture scrolls into view and she gasps. "Oh no."

Aelita jerks herself to look at Sissi. "What? What's 'oh no?'"

Sissi gulps and turns her phone so Aelita can see. "The thread is about you..."

Aelita's eyes widen as she takes in the sight of the photo of her and William walking hand-in-hand along the Seine. She's looking up at him smiling widely while it looks like he's in the middle of saying something.

"Wow. That's actually a really good picture of us," Aelita says proudly. "How did neither of us notice this being taken?"

"Lita. It's not the picture that's the problem. The comments are. The things I was saying out loud earlier? They're insults. Aimed at you."

"Whatever. They don't know me. I'm not going to let people I neither know nor will ever meet get a rise out of me."

"You're stronger than I would be."

"It is what it is." Aelita shrugs. "Come on. We should clean up and get back to campus. I desperately need a shower after that class."

The two women start their walk back to Kadic in silence. Aelita is lost in thought, thinking back to what William told her the night before about how soccer fans can be crazy.

They walk past a couple of other women around their age, pointing at Aelita and whispering to themselves. Aelita brushes it off until she hears from behind her, "William deserves better than you!"

Sissi whips around ready to fight back but the other group is already gone. She turns back around to see Aelita frozen, her face scrunched and her eyes squeezed shut. She's gripping her bag so tightly that her knuckles are going white.

"Hey, Aelita?" Sissi grips her friend's shoulders. "Aelita, you alright? Don't worry about them, okay? They're probably jealous at how great you and William look together."

Aelita loosens her face and hangs her head. "Or maybe they're right. Apparently it's not an uncommon thought going around Paris."

Aelita stands before Sissi's mirror, silently ruminating over her attire for the afternoon's soccer match. The world outside is beginning to embrace the high noon hours, casting a hot, harsh light into the cozy dorm room. Her heart races a bit faster—not due to excitement—but the growing anxiety of the media attention she's been receiving lately. The press and paparazzi are starting to take an interest in her life, but she would prefer to keep a low profile. This afternoon, she has no intention of drawing attention away from William's game.

In pursuit of anonymity, Aelita persuaded Yumi to lend one of her signature all-black outfits. She'd chosen a pair of sleek, form-fitting black jeans and a simple black turtleneck, both chosen by design to blend into the shadows of the stadium. Her glossy pink hair hangs freely around her shoulders, ever a deterrent to true anonymity. If only Yumi had a wig I could borrow, too, she thinks to herself, grabbing a handful of her hair. Wordlessly, she puts on a black cap and pulls her loose hair into a tight low bun. As she slips into comfortable black sneakers, she can't help but sigh, hoping that her choice of attire will allow her to remain unnoticed, even if just for a couple hours.

Sissi pipes up. "It's fine, Lita. No one will recognize you. Hell. I barely recognize you when you wear this much black."

Aelita forces a small smile. "Thanks, Sissi. I just really don't want to stand out too much."

"You'll be fine. Just stay close to William's parents. I'm sure they're inconspicuous enough to help keep the cameras off of you for a good bit."

"Yeah, you're right. I'm probably just overthinking it."

Sissi gives her a reassuring pat on the back. "You'll be fine. Now, go have fun at the game. I'll see you tomorrow."

Aelita heads out to the parking lot, where William's parents are waiting for her. They greet her warmly and usher her into the car, eager to get to the stadium before the game starts.

The drive to Rouen is relatively long, about an hour and a half. The three of them make idle chit-chat along the way, but Aelita is not too keen on conversing.

Yvonne picks up on this and turns to her from the passenger seat. "Is everything alright, Aelita?"

Aelita sighs. "No. Not really."

"What's wrong, dear?"

"I'm just... my friend Sissi found a gossip forum about me online. A paparazzo somehow managed to snap a picture of us out on a date recently. Apparently, a lot of people think I'm not good enough for William."

Yvonne frowns. "Oh, Aelita. I'm so sorry. Those people don't know what they're talking about. You're a wonderful young woman, and William is lucky to have you."

"Thank you, Yvonne. That means a lot."

"Of course, dear. We're here for you, no matter what."

Aelita manages a small smile. "I appreciate that."

The rest of the drive is spent in a comfortable silence, and soon, the three of them arrive at the stadium. They find their seats and settle in, eagerly awaiting the start of the game.

The Versailles team is up against Rouen—colloquially known as the Red Devils—a fierce rival. The stadium is a sea of roaring fans, divided by loyalty, but united in the intensity of their passion for the beautiful game. The rivalry between FC Versailles 78 and FC Rouen is legendary, and today's match promises to be another chapter in their fierce competition.

William watches the first half from the Versailles bench, his nerves growing as the game remains deadlocked at 2-2. He knows that his opportunity will come in the second half, and he is prepared to make it count.

After a fierce second half of the game, regulation time ends with neither team breaking the tie. The atmosphere in the stadium is electric as the referee signals for a penalty shootout to determine the winner.

As the shootout commences, tension grips the stadium. Rouen's first shooter steps up confidently, but his shot sails wide, missing the target. The Versailles fans erupt into cheers.

Rouen's second shooter, however, is cool under pressure and buries the ball into the back of the net. The shootout score is now 1-0 in favor of Rouen.

Their third shooter seems rattled by the earlier miss and sends the ball soaring over the crossbar. The Versailles faithful roar with enthusiasm.

Rouen's fourth shooter regains their composure and scores, bringing the score to 2-0 in their favor. The pressure is mounting on Versailles.

Rouen's fifth shooter steps up, knowing that a goal might very well secure a victory. But the pressure gets to him, and he misses his shot. The stadium erupts once more.

Versailles' first shooter calmly slots the ball into the corner, keeping their hopes alive. The stadium holds its collective breath.

Their second shooter, however, falters, sending the ball wide. The tension is palpable, and Versailles needs a miracle.

The third shooter, overcome by performance anxiety, also misses his shot.

Versailles' fourth shooter delivers a perfect strike, narrowing the gap to a score of 2-2 once again.

The outcome of the shootout now rests on William's shoulders.

The stadium falls into a hushed suspense as William steps forward, blocking out the world around him. With a deep breath, he approaches the ball, places it on the spot, and focuses on the goal.

In one fluid switch kick motion, he fakes out the goalkeeper—shooting with his left foot instead of his right—and sends the ball rocketing into the back of the net. The Rouen goalkeeper never stood a chance. The crowd explodes with joy as Versailles secures the victory.

William's teammates rush to congratulate him, knowing that his final shot has not only won the game but also fueled the flames of their rivalry with Rouen. The cheers of the fans echo through the stadium, celebrating the dramatic triumph that will be talked about for years to come.

Aelita excuses herself and rushes down to the locker room, eager to congratulate William on his incredible performance. When she gets there, she's stopped by a security guard, who asks for her name and identification.

"I'm Aelita Stones. I'm William Dunbar's girlfriend," she explains.

Neither Aelita nor the security guard notice the journalist lurking in the shadows, scribbling notes furiously.

The security guard checks his list and allows her to pass. She makes her way through the bustling locker room, searching for William.

"There you are!" she exclaims, finally spotting him.

"Lita!" William wraps his arms around her, pulling her in for a tight hug.

"You were amazing out there, Will. I'm so proud of you."

William beams. "Thanks, Lita."

They share a quick kiss, their hearts racing with adrenaline and excitement.

William takes a second look at his girlfriend, and a puzzled expression crosses his features. "Wait... why are you dressed like that? Did someone die?"

Aelita sighs. "I didn't want to draw any attention to myself at the game. There's been... a bit of an incident online."

"Didn't want to draw attention to yourself? It's almost April and you look like Yumi's twin." William's jaw clenches as he realizes what she said. "Hang on. What do you mean 'incident?'"

"Sissi found a gossip forum thread about us. She showed it to me the other day. There's a picture of us out on our date last week, and a bunch of people are trashing me."

William's eyes flash with anger. "What the fuck? Who the fuck do those people think they are?"

"Will, it's okay. I'm—"

"No, it's not okay, Aelita. Those people have no right to talk about you like that." He sighs. "Look, let me get out of here and I'll come over later. We can talk more about this then."

Aelita picks up her phone to send a quick text to William: "doors unlocked, just come in when you get here"

She buries herself deeper into her blankets and turns her focus to the television, which is currently playing crime procedural reruns.

William arrives at the Hermitage a few minutes later, his face flushed and his brow furrowed. "Hey," he says breathlessly. When Aelita looks at him in confusion, he adds, "I ran here from the dorms."

"As if you haven't done enough running for today," Aelita says with a playful smirk.

William rolls his eyes playfully. "Shut up. I'm here to check on you, not to be teased."

"I'm fine, William. Really."

He sits down beside her on the couch. "You don't seem fine to me."

Aelita grimaces. "It's hard to truly be fine when random women on the Internet are calling me a skank and saying I'm not good enough for you, among other things."

"I know. I saw. I asked Sissi to send me the link." William's eyes flash with anger, but he controls himself. "Fuck those people. They don't know you. They don't know us. They have no right to say those things about you."

"A small part of me wonders if they're right."

William's eyes widen. "What? Aelita, no. They're not right. You're more than good enough for me. If one of us is not good enough for the other, I'm not good enough for you."

"William, I'm just some girl who wants to be a teacher. You're a professional athlete. You're literally a local celebrity. I'm just... a nobody." Aelita starts tearing up.

William pulls her into a hug and starts to rub her back. "But you're not a nobody, Aelita. You're the most important person in my life. And if someone has a problem with that, well that's on them. I love you, and that's all that matters."

William's words hit Aelita like a ton of bricks. She's stunned into silence.

"What?" William asks quietly.

"I'm just not really sure what I did to deserve someone like you in my life."

William's eyes soften. "You didn't have to do anything, Aelita. You just being you is more than I could ever ask for and that's more than enough for me."

"I love you, Will."

"I love you too, Lita."

William leans down and captures her lips in a tender kiss, his heart swelling with emotion.

"I'm so lucky to have you," Aelita whispers.

"Wrong. I'm the lucky one," William replies, his voice thick with emotion.

They spend the rest of the evening curled up on the couch, basking in each other's presence.

William is sitting at his desk, trying to get some homework done. He leans his chair back on its two hind legs, trying to think of how he wants to word his answer for a particularly difficult psychological analysis. Staring at the paper on his desk, he starts flipping his pen in his hand absentmindedly.

Suddenly, Bastien bursts through the door of their shared room, scaring William and making him fall backwards and hit the floor.

"The fuck, man? You trying to kill me?" William scolds his now laughing roommate as he gets up from the floor.

"Sorry, dude," Bastien laughs. "Didn't mean to scare you like that."

William rolls his eyes. "Yeah. Right."

"Anyway, I've got something you're gonna wanna see." He pulls out another issue of Bavard Extraordinaire and holds it out for William to grab.

William sighs exasperatedly. "Great. What kinda smear campaign have they got going on now?" He takes the magazine and gets a good look at the cover. His brow furrows when he notices a small picture of a familiar head of pink hair covered by a black ball cap. He reads the caption out loud. "'William Dunbar's mystery girl not a mystery anymore? See page twelve!'" William looks at Bastien with an unreadable expression on his face. "When was this printed?"

"I don't know but it's obviously recent. That picture is almost a direct screen grab from the game broadcast. When you were preparing to kick your shot during the shootout, the camera found your parents. And by proxy, Aelita."

"Shit," William curses. "So what are they saying about her?"

"I don't know, I haven't read the article yet. I saw the issue, grabbed it, and ran straight here."

"Alright," William breathes deeply and opens the magazine to the article. "Here goes nothing."

Revealed: Small-Town Soccer Star William Dunbar's Lady Love!

By Bavard Extraordinaire

PARIS, FRANCE - The city of romance is buzzing with excitement as the mystery surrounding soccer star and heartthrob William Dunbar's love life is finally unveiled! Our beloved striker, known for his incredible skills on the field, has been keeping a passionate secret from the world, and it's sending shockwaves through the hearts of fans and admirers alike.

The beautiful and enigmatic Aelita Stones is the woman who has captured William Dunbar's heart. While Aelita's identity was once shrouded in secrecy, it's now clear that she is the muse behind our soccer sensation's recent success.

Their love story is nothing short of a fairytale, with whispers of secret rendezvous in the heart of Paris, the city of love. Whether they're dining at chic Parisian cafes or strolling along the picturesque Seine River, this couple has captivated the imagination of the world.

But who is Aelita Stones? This French beauty has been living a low-profile life, which makes her the perfect match for a celebrity romance. Her elegance and charm have not only captured William's heart but also the attention of fashion enthusiasts, eager to know more about the woman who's stolen our soccer hero's affections.

While William Dunbar has enjoyed the limelight for his talents on the pitch, Aelita Stones has been a quiet force of support and inspiration. Friends and insiders reveal that her unwavering encouragement has been the driving force behind William's outstanding performances.

The world may know William Dunbar as the star striker, but Aelita Stones is undoubtedly the muse who has transformed our soccer sensation into a goal-scoring legend. With love as their secret weapon, there's no telling how high they'll soar.

As the details of this love story continue to emerge, fans can't help but swoon at the thought of these two hearts entwined, and their love story is only just beginning.

William and Bastien look at each other. "Fuck," they say in unison.