His footsteps quickened. You think you can just walk away? She reached the landing and turned to face him, keeping her distance. Leave me alone, Evan. You're not even supposed to be in school.
He laughed. Yeah. Who's going to stop me? The teachers? the principal. He took another step closer.
Your mom the judge. Back off. Maya's voice was firm despite her pounding heart. Or what? You'll get me arrested.
His face twisted with rage. Give me that phone. I know you're recording. He lunged forward, grabbing for her pocket. Maya jerked away, but he had her cornered against the railing.
I said, "Give it to me." His fingers clawed at her jacket. Maya ducked under his arm and sprinted down the stairs, not stopping until she reached the main office. She reported the incident immediately, still shaking. Principal Harrison sighed heavily. Ms. Kingsley without witnesses or evidence.
I have a recording, Maya said, pulling out her phone. Unauthorized recording on school grounds is against policy. Waters cut in smoothly. And Mr. Lauren denies being on campus today. So, you're just going to ignore this again?
Maya stared at them in disbelief. We'll look into it, Harrison said wearily. That's all we can do. The rest of the day was a powder keg. Students picked sides openly now, some wearing blue ribbons like the parents, others quietly showing support with small purple ribbons that had started appearing.
The two groups glared at each other in hallways. Whispered arguments broke out in classrooms. After school, Mia met her mother at a small cafe far from their usual spots. Judge Kingsley wasn't alone. A sharp-eyed woman in a crisp suit sat with her.
Maya, this is Patricia Martinez from the Civil Rights Legal Defense Fund, her mother said. She's going to help us fight this properly. Ms. Martinez smiled. I've reviewed your evidence so far. Very thorough documentation.
That will help immensely, but we need to move quickly. They're already trying to control the narrative. She showed them news clips where the police union spokesman defended officer Lauren, painting him as a dedicated public servant being persecuted. Other coverage questioned Maya's attitude and suggested she had provoked the incident. They're trying to drown out the truth with their own version, Ms. uh Martinez explained.