Behind her, she heard him say to his friends, "Don't worry, she'll come around. They always do." By third period, Derek had found her schedule. He appeared outside her chemistry class, waiting with that same predatory smile. "Maya! What a coincidence!"

"I was just walking by." "Your next class is on the other side of the building," Maya said without stopping. "How do you know where my next class is?" Derek fell into step beside her. "You've been asking about me? That's sweet."

Maya's jaw clenched. She hadn't been asking. She'd overheard two girls talking about Derek's schedule during lunch. Apparently, half the school knew his routines by heart. "Look, I get it," Derek continued.

"You're playing hard to get. It's cute. But you should know I always get what I want." Maya stopped walking. "What makes you think I'm something you can get?"

Derek's smile faltered for just a moment before returning full force. "Everything's for sale, sweetheart. Just got to find the right price." The next day, Derek was waiting by her car in the parking lot after school. Maya had borrowed her mother's Honda for the day.

Nothing fancy, but Derek ran his hand along the hood like he was appraising it. "Nice ride. Little beat up, but it's got character, like its owner." "Get away from my car." "Relax, I'm not going to hurt it."

"Just admiring." He moved to block her path to the driver's door. "You know, I could give you rides to school. My Mustang's a lot nicer than this thing." "I don't need rides from you."

"What do you need then? Money? I got plenty. My dad owns three car dealerships." Derek stepped closer.

"Or maybe you need protection. This school can be rough for outsiders." Maya felt her hands curl into fists. "Is that a threat?" "Just facts. Things happen to people who don't fit in."

"Accidents, misunderstandings." Derek's voice dropped lower. "But stick with me and nobody will bother you." Maya unlocked her car and got in, but Derek grabbed the door before she could close it. "Think about it," he said.

"I'll make it worth your while." The harassment escalated throughout the week. Derek appeared everywhere, outside her classes, in the cafeteria, by her locker. His comments became more explicit, his accidental touches more frequent. He'd brush against her in the hallway, put his hand on her lower back when talking to her, stand too close when she was at her locker.

Maya tried going to the guidance counselor first. "Mrs. Patterson, I need to report a problem with another student." The counselor, a tired-looking woman in her 50s, barely looked up from her paperwork. "What kind of problem?" "A student named Derek Mitchell has been following me, making inappropriate comments, touching me when I tell him not to."

Mrs. Patterson's pen stopped moving. "Derek Mitchell? Are you sure you're not misinterpreting friendly behavior? Derek's a good kid. Star athlete, honor roll, comes from a good family."

"He told me he could be my master like in the old days. He follows me to my car. He touches me when I tell him not to." "Well," Mrs. Patterson set down her pen and looked at Maya for the first time. "Sometimes when we're new to a place, we can misread social cues."

"Boys here might be more forward than what you're used to. It's probably just his way of being welcoming." Maya stared at her. "Welcoming?" "I suggest you try to be more open-minded."

"Give Derek a chance. He's really quite nice once you get to know him." Maya left the office feeling sick. Meanwhile, across the school, Jake Santos watched Maya walk past his table in the library, her jaw tight with frustration. He recognized that look, the same expression he wore after his own failed attempts to report Derek's group for shoving him into lockers and calling him Taco Boy.

Jake had been at Westfield for 2 years, ever since his family moved from El Paso. Derek and his friends had made those years miserable. But Jake had learned to keep his head down, take different routes through the halls, eat lunch in hidden corners. Watching Maya, he saw someone who hadn't learned to disappear yet. Part of him admired her refusal to back down.

Another part of him feared what Derek would do to someone who kept saying no. That Friday, Derek cornered Maya by the gym doors after last period. "You've been avoiding me all week. That hurts my feelings." "Good."

Derek's smile turned cold. "You think you're better than me? Than this place? Let me tell you something, princess. You're nothing special."

"Just another..." "Just another what?" Maya stepped closer, her voice dangerous. Derek's eyes gleamed. "You know what. Don't make me say it."

Maya felt something snap inside her chest. "Say it. I dare you." For a moment, Derek looked like he might actually do it. Then his smile returned, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Soon," he said quietly.

"Real soon, you're going to learn your place." Monday morning, Derek huddled with his friends by the trophy case, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Today's the day, boys. Little Miss Attitude is about to learn her place." "What you got planned?" asked Tyler, the stocky one with acne scars.