"Aaliyah," Nia called out breathlessly as she reached the security perimeter. I got your message from Jessica. Are you okay? What happened? Officer Santos raised his hand to stop her approach.
Ma'am, we're conducting an investigation here. Please step back. Wait, Nia said urgently, holding up her phone. I recorded part of what happened. I was coming out of the library when I saw the crowd gathering, so I started filming.
Every head turned toward her as the implications sank in. Video evidence could settle the dispute immediately, proving who was telling the truth about how the confrontation had started. Grayson's face went pale as Nia approached Martinez with her phone extended. I started recording when I saw someone being aggressive. Look at this.
The security officer took her phone and pressed play, squinting at the small screen as the video began. The footage was shaky, but clear enough to show the final moments of the confrontation. Grayson charging at Aaliyah while she held her defensive position, followed by her controlled response that left him against the wall. This shows her defending herself," Martinez said slowly, replaying the video. The male student is clearly the aggressor in this footage.
But Grayson's expression quickly shifted from panic to calculated relief as he realized something crucial. Officer, that video doesn't show how it started. It only shows me trying to defend my friends after she had already attacked them. His voice gained confidence as he pressed his advantage. Of course, it looks like I'm the aggressor.
You're seeing me react to her violence, not seeing her initial attack on Brett and Cody. The video proves nothing about who started this. Tessa nodded quickly, seizing on Grayson's logic. Exactly. By the time anyone started recording, she had already hurt Brett and Cody.
Grayson was just trying to protect us. Martinez frowned as he looked at the video again, realizing that Grayson had identified a critical weakness in the evidence. The recording clearly showed defensive action from Aaliyah, but it did not capture the initial moments that had triggered the entire confrontation. Officer Santos approached his partner, speaking in a low voice. We need to report this to student conduct immediately.
This is beyond campus security's authority now. Martinez nodded grimly and addressed all five students. I'm going to need all of you to report to the student conduct office right now. They'll handle the formal investigation and determine what disciplinary action is appropriate. As the group prepared to move toward the administrative building, Grayson moved close enough to Aaliyah that only she could hear his whispered words.
You're the one getting expelled, he said softly, his voice filled with cold satisfaction. My father donated millions to this university. And your little scholarship won't protect you from what's coming. The walk to the administration building felt like a funeral march. Campus security escorted the group along the treelined pathway, their radios crackling with updates every few steps.
Students stopped to stare as the procession passed, whispering behind cupped hands and pointing at the visible scratches on Brett's arms and the redness around Grayson's wrists. Aaliyah kept her eyes forward. She could feel the weight of every stare, every whispered comment. This was exactly what she had feared most, becoming the center of campus drama that could destroy everything she had worked for. The administration building's glass doors reflected their approach like a mirror.
Inside, fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting harsh shadows across polished floors and beige walls lined with motivational posters about academic excellence and campus community. A receptionist with gray hair and wire- rimmed glasses looked up from her computer as they entered. Security called ahead. Please have the students wait in separate rooms while we prepare for interviews. Officer Martinez nodded.
We'll need the conduct administrator immediately. This involves potential assault charges. Within minutes, a middle-aged woman in a navy blazer appeared from a side office. Her name plate read, "Dr. Patricia Hendris, assistant director of student conduct. She surveyed the group with practice deficiency, her gaze lingering on the visible marks on Brett and Grayson.
I'll speak with each student individually, Dr. Hrix announced. Let's start with the injured parties first. Aaliyah's stomach dropped. The phrasing made it clear who the administrator already considered the victim and who she considered the threat. Grayson went first, disappearing into Dr. Hendrick's office for nearly 30 minutes.
When he emerged, his expression was calm and satisfied. Brett followed, glancing nervously at Aaliyah before vanishing behind the same door. Cody and Tessa were interviewed quickly, their stories apparently straightforward enough to require minimal time. Then Dr. Hrix called Aaliyah's name. The office was cramped and windowless, dominated by a metal desk covered in manila folders.
Dr. Hrix gestured to a hard plastic chair while she settled behind her computer. "Miss Brooks, I need to understand why a trained martial artist felt it necessary to use physical force against fellow students," she began without preamble. "Gayson Vale has provided a detailed account of being attacked without warning." Aaliyah straightened in her chair. I defended myself when they surrounded me and grabbed. Grayson mentioned you have a black belt.
Dr. Hendris interrupted, typing rapidly. With that level of training, surely you could have deescalated the situation without violence. They blocked my path deliberately. Brett grabbed my backpack. Cody seized my wrist.
I only used the minimum force necessary to Dr. Hendrick's phone rang, cutting through Aaliyah's explanation. She glanced at the caller ID and her expression shifted to immediate deference. "Excuse me," she said, answering quickly. "Yes, Mr. Vale, I understand your concern. Your son has provided his statement, and we're taking this matter very seriously." Aaliyah's blood ran cold as she realized who was calling.
"Absolutely," Dr. Hendrickx continued, her voice becoming more formal. A full investigation with appropriate disciplinary action. Yes, sir. The safety of our students is our highest priority. The call lasted five more minutes with Dr. Hrix mostly listening and making reassuring noises.
When she finally hung up, her attitude toward Aaliyah had hardened noticeably. That was Victor Vale, Grayson's father and one of our most generous alumni. She explained, "He's understandably upset that his son was injured by another student." "Dr. Hris, if you would just listen to what actually happened. I have Mr. Vale's account along with corroborating statements from three witnesses," Dr. Hendrix replied curtly. What I need to understand is why you felt justified in using martial arts training against students who posed no real threat to someone with your abilities.
The questions continued for another 20 minutes, each one framing Aliyah as the aggressor who had escalated a minor disagreement into violence. By the time the interview ended, Aaliyah felt like she was drowning in assumptions and accusations. Outside in the hallway, Nia waited anxiously. She grabbed Aliyah's arm as soon as she emerged. They're only showing part of what happened.