The familiar sound of his phone camera starting made Amamira's stomach tighten. Rough hands grabbed her shoulders, pushing her forward. The heat of the fire grew stronger. Someone, Tyler, by the grip strength, knocked her cane aside. Careful there, blind girl.
Chase taunted. Fire's pretty hot. Better watch your step. The crowd had gone quiet, waiting for the show. Amamira could hear Leah's voice in the distance, calling out in protest, but she was too far away.
Another push brought Amamira closer to the fire's heat. Her heart raced, but her mind was clear. She could hear Chase's breathing to her right, smell his cologne. Tyler's heavy presence was behind her, while Ethan's excited whispers came from slightly further back, just like training, track their positions, use their movement against them. Chase's hand reached for her arm.
She heard the rustle of his jacket, felt the air shift. Perfect. In one fluid motion, Amamira sidestepped, her hand catching his wrist, just as her father had taught her. She twisted, using Chase's own momentum to pull him off balance. His surprised grunt confirmed she had him.
"What the? " Chase started, but Amamira was already moving. She dropped her weight, pulling down and forward while sweeping her leg back. Chase's feet left the ground. The impact of his body hitting the dirt sent vibrations through the earth she could feel through her bare feet. The crowd gasped.
Someone whispered, "Holy—" Tyler lunged forward. His footsteps were heavy, predictable. Amamira pivoted, blocking his grab with her forearm and pushing him back. He stumbled, cursing. "Someone get this on video," a voice called out.
"Already am! " Ethan replied, excitement making his voice crack. Chase groaned from the ground. My wrist. You crazy by. Choose your next word carefully.
Amamira cut him off, her voice steady. She had retrieved her cane and stood in a ready stance, just as she'd practiced countless times in her backyard. The party had gone completely silent, except for the crackling fire and Chase's labored breathing. Amamira could feel dozens of eyes on her, but for the first time, they weren't staring at her blindness. They were seeing her strength.
"You're dead, Johnson," Chase spat, but his voice wavered. "You hear me dead? " "No, I'm not. " Amamira replied calmly. "And everyone here just watched you try to push a blind girl into a fire. How's that going to look on Ethan's video? " More whispers rippled through the crowd. Footsteps approached quickly.
"Leah, slightly out of breath. " "Amira, are you okay? " Leah's hand touched her shoulder. "I'm fine," Amamira said loud enough for everyone to hear. "Just teaching some boys about personal space. " Chase was still on the ground, cradling his wrist. Tyler had backed away, his confident swagger gone. Ethan's camera was still recording, capturing every second of their humiliation.
The crowd's whispers grew louder, a mix of shock and grudging admiration. "Someone in the back started a slow clap, but it died quickly in the tense atmosphere. " "My father's going to hear about this," Chase threatened. But his voice was small now, wounded pride mixing with physical pain. "Good," Amamira replied. "Tell him everything.
Tell him how brave you felt. Three guys against one blind girl. Tell him what you were trying to do to me. I'm sure he'll be really proud. Monday morning, sunlight streamed through the school's front windows as Amamira walked through the doors, her cane moving in confident sweeps.
For the first time since starting here, her shoulders weren't tight with anxiety. Students whispered as she passed. "But these whispers were different, tinged with something like respect. "Everyone's talking about what happened," Leah said, falling into step beside her. Chase wasn't even at football practice yesterday.
Amamira allowed herself a small smile. "Maybe he needed time to nurse his bruised ego. " The first period bell hadn't rung yet when a secretary's voice crackled over the intercom. Amamira Johnson, please report to Principal Harris's office immediately. The smile faded from Amamira's face. Leah squeezed her arm. ""Want me to come with you? "" "No, I'll be okay," Amamira said, though her stomach churned.
She'd expected some fallout, but not this soon. The office carpet muffled her cane's taps as she entered. Voices drifted through Principal Harris's open door, angry, demanding voices. She recognized Chase's father's baritone from football games. "Come in, Miss Johnson," Principal Harris called out.
His voice had that forced cheerfulness she hated, the kind adults used when they were about to do something unfair. The office smelled of coffee and leather. Multiple people shifted in their seats as she entered. At least three others besides the principal based on the sounds. "Please sit down," Principal Harris said.
"We have Mr. And Mrs. Miller here, as well as our school resource officer. " Amamira's fingers tightened on her cane as she found the empty chair. "A police officer? " Her father's warnings about authority figures rang in her ears. "Miss Johnson, Mr.
Miller spoke first, his voice tight with barely controlled rage. "Would you care to explain why you assaulted my son Saturday night? " "I defended myself," Amamira said clearly. "Chase and his friends were pushing me toward a bonfire. " "There are witnesses. " "That's not what Chase told us," Mrs. Miller cut in. "He said you attacked him without provocation.
You broke his wrist. He might miss the rest of the football season. " Principal Harris cleared his throat. We've reviewed the situation carefully. Several students have given conflicting accounts of what happened. There's video, Amamira said.
Ethan was recording the whole thing. Yes. Well, Principal Harris shuffled some papers. The video we've seen only shows the actual incident, not what led up to it. And regardless of provocation, we have a zero tolerance policy for violence.
Amamira's heart sank. She knew that tone they'd already decided. Everything else was just ceremony. Given the serious nature of Chase's injury, Principal Harris continued, "And considering the tension this has created, we feel it's best if you take some time away from school for your own safety, of course. You're suspending me? " Amamira's voice cracked.
"But they were the ones who one week," Principal Harris said firmly. "During which time we expect things to calm down. Officer Brooks here will escort you to clean out your locker. This is completely unacceptable. " Leah's voice suddenly burst from the doorway. She must have followed despite Amamira's assurance.