She'd learned that lesson at her last school. I'm talking to you. Evan's footsteps quickened behind her. Students shifted in their seats, phones appearing in hands as they sensed drama building. You can't just go around filming people without permission.
That's illegal. Maya turned slowly, keeping her voice steady. Recording someone who's harassing you is perfectly legal in public spaces. Maybe you should check the law before you try to quote it. The courtyard fell silent, except for the soft clicks of phone cameras.
Evan's face reened as he stalked closer, deliberately invading her personal space. "You think you're so smart, coming here, acting like you own the place?" "I think I have the right to attend school without being assaulted," Maya replied calmly. She noticed several teachers at the cafeteria windows, watching but not intervening. Their inaction spoke volumes about how things worked at Brookwood. Assaulted?
Evan laughed, but his eyes were cold. Nobody touched you. But girls like you always play victim, don't you? Always looking for attention, trying to cause trouble where you don't belong. The racial undertone, in his words, made several students shift uncomfortably.
Maya felt heat rising in her chest, but kept her expression neutral. The only one causing trouble is you, Evan, and I have the evidence to prove it. Evidence? His hand shot out suddenly, knocking her tray upward. Maya jumped back, but her lunch scattered across the concrete.
Her water bottle burst open, spraying across her shoes. Gasps rippled through the watching crowd. "Oops!" Evan sneered, stepping closer. "Guess you should watch where you're going." again. Maya's heart pounded, but she stood her ground.
That's another incident I'll be reporting along with the racist comments and the vandalism to my locker. Reporting? Evan's face twisted with rage. You think anyone here cares what you have to say? He gestured wildly at the scattered food.
Look what you did. You attacked me with that tray. Maya blinked in confusion as Evan suddenly clutched his arm, making a show of checking for injuries. "Everyone saw you," he shouted, voice echoing off the courtyard walls. "You tried to hit me." I could have been seriously hurt.
The performance was so absurd that Maya almost laughed, but the desperate fury in Evan's eyes stopped her. He was building a narrative and the realization of why hit her like ice water. There are dozens of witnesses, she said firmly, pointing to the sea of phones recording them. Everyone can see what really happened. Oh, yeah.
Evan backed away, pulling out his own phone. His fingers shook with anger as he dialed. We'll see what happens when someone with actual authority gets involved. Maya's stomach dropped as she heard his next words. Dad, you need to come to school right now.