Tyler laughed. And Connor and Brad materialized beside him like they'd been waiting for this moment. I was being a gentleman. Maybe you don't recognize good manners where you come from.

Maybe you don't recognize the word no where you come from. Jamal shot back, his voice stronger than Nia had ever heard it. The confrontation was drawing attention now. Students stopped dancing to watch, their phones appearing like vultures sensing blood.

"Careful, Thompson," Connor said with a grin. "You're getting awfully brave for someone who usually runs away." "Yeah," Brad added, cracking his knuckles. "Maybe that punch is spiked." Tyler held up his hands in a gesture of peace. His voice loud enough for the growing crowd to hear.

Hey, no need for threats, guys. Jamal's just looking out for his girl. I respect that. The reasonleness in his tone made Nia's skin crawl.

He was performing now, playing the role of the misunderstood good guy. We don't want any trouble, Nia said firmly. Just leave us alone. Of course, no trouble at all.

Tyler's smile was razor sharp. You two have a wonderful rest of your evening. As they walked away, Nia heard Connor mutter something about uppety, and all three boys laughed.

The crowd dispersed, disappointed that the drama had ended so quickly. "You okay?" Jamal asked, his hands shaking slightly from adrenaline.

"I'm fine. You didn't have to do that."

"Yeah, I did. Nobody gets to touch you like that." For 20 minutes, they managed to enjoy themselves again, dancing and laughing like normal teenagers at prom.

But Nia should have known Tyler wouldn't let it go that easily. I need to use the bathroom, she said during a particularly loud song. You okay here for a minute? I'll be right here when you get back.

The bathroom was a refuge of sorts, quieter, cooler, with harsh fluorescent lighting that made everyone's makeup look garish. Nia took her time, needing a moment to decompress from the tension. Meanwhile, Jamal stood by their table, checking his phone and watching the other couples dance.

He didn't see Tyler, Connor, and Brad approaching until it was too late. Well, well, Tyler said, his earlier friendly mask completely gone. Look who thinks he's a knight in shining armor. I don't want any trouble, Jamal said, but his voice lacked the confidence it had held earlier.

Too bad. Trouble found you. Connor grabbed Jamal's arm roughly. Time for a little chat outside.

I'm not going anywhere with you. Yes, you are. Brad moved to his other side. unless you want to make a scene in front of all these nice people. They started moving him toward a side corridor away from the main crowd and the chaperones.

Jamal looked around desperately for help, but everyone was either dancing or deliberately looking away. "Where are we going?" he asked, panic creeping into his voice. "Just somewhere quiet where we can have a proper conversation," Tyler said smoothly. They pushed him through a service door into a narrow hallway used by hotel staff.

The music became muffled and the sudden dimness made Jamal blink. "Now we can talk properly," Tyler said, loosening his tie. "About what?" Jamal backed against the wall. "About respect, about boundaries, about the fact that you think you can embarrass me in front of the whole school." Connor stepped closer.

Nobody makes Tyler look bad. Nobody. You made me look like a racist in front of everyone. Tyler continued.

Like I was some kind of predator bothering your precious girlfriend. You were bothering her. I was being friendly. And you turned it into something ugly.

Tyler's voice was ice cold now. Time you learned some consequences. The first punch came from Connor, catching Jamal in the ribs and doubling him over. Brad followed with a hit to his shoulder, sending him stumbling against the wall.

"Nothing personal, Thompson," Tyler said, watching with detached interest. "Just business." Jamal tried to fight back, throwing a wild punch that grazed Connor's jaw. But three against one was hopeless, especially when he'd never been in a real fight in his life. "Had enough yet?" Tyler asked as Jamal slumped against the wall.

His tuxedo torn and dirty, blood trickling from his nose. Please, Jamal gasped. Just stop. When you learn your place, Brad kicked him in the ribs.

When you understand that heroes get hurt, they left him there, straightening their clothes and returning to the ballroom like nothing had happened. By the time the hotel staff found Jamal and alerted the chaperones, Tyler and his friends were back on the dance floor, their alibis solid. When Nia finally found him in the hotel's first aid room, her heart shattered. Jamal sat on a plastic chair holding an ice pack to his face while Mrs. Patterson filled out an incident report.

"What happened?" Nia demanded.

"Mr. Thompson says he fell down some stairs," Mrs. Patterson said without looking up. "Probably had a little too much excitement for one evening."

That's not what happened, Jamal said quietly. Do you have proof of anything else? Mrs. Patterson's tone was dismissive. Any witnesses?

Jamal looked at Nia and she saw the defeat in his eyes. They both knew the truth. But truth didn't matter here. Power mattered.

Money mattered. The right last name mattered. "No," he whispered. "No witnesses." As they left the hotel that night, Nia felt something harden inside her chest.

The system had failed them completely. Monday morning came like a slap in the face.

Nia found Jamal at his locker, a purple bruise blooming around his left eye despite the concealer he'd tried to use. Students walked past them with knowing smirks, and she heard whispered fragments of conversation.

"Heard Thompson got wasted at prom." "Finally got what was coming to him." "Should have minded his own business."

"How are you holding up?" Nia asked, keeping her voice low. "I've been better." Jamal's smile was weak.

My parents want to press charges, but apparently I can't identify my attackers in a dark hallway because it was Tyler, Connor, and Brad. Try proving that they were all on the dance floor when hotel security found me. Dozens of witnesses saw them there. Nia's hands clenched into fists.