Noah finally explained the rookie tax.
Upperclassmen had been asking younger athletes to pay for snacks, sports drinks, and fast food after practice. The amounts were small enough that nobody viewed each payment as serious. Together, Noah had sent more than eighty dollars in seven weeks.
He was not the only freshman.
The school investigated.
Several basketball players admitted taking money but claimed everyone understood it as a tradition. Some freshmen said they participated voluntarily.
Others said they were afraid refusing would make practice worse.
Logan had received twenty-six dollars from Noah.
Bryce had received thirty-one.
Coach Dalton suspended both players for one game and made the entire basketball program attend an anti-hazing meeting. Logan also lost the captain title temporarily while coaches reviewed whether he should keep it.
He blamed Camryn immediately.
She had not even known about the money.
That did not matter.
In Logan’s mind, everything started when she complained about the bags.
“You happy?” he asked when he found her outside the weight room.
Camryn stared.
“About what?”
“I’m suspended.”
“I heard.”
“Don’t pretend.”
Camryn frowned.
“Pretend what?”
“You started all this.”
“Noah’s mother found payments.”
“Because you made him think he was being bullied.”
Camryn looked at him for several seconds.
Then she laughed.
That was the worst possible response.
Logan’s face reddened.
“What’s funny?”
“You.”
Camryn shook her head.
“You took money from a freshman and somehow I did it.”
“It was twenty-six dollars.”
“Then refund twenty-six dollars.”
“I did.”
“Great.”
Camryn stepped around him.
“Problem solved.”
Logan watched her leave.
The problem was not solved.
By December, someone had edited a photograph of Camryn receiving her wrestling medal and replaced the medal with a cartoon police badge. The caption read SUMMIT RIDGE’S FAVORITE SNITCH. The image circulated through student group chats for almost a week.
Camryn saved screenshots.
Coach Ramirez saw one too.
This time she brought Camryn into her office.
“Who made it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you think Logan did?”
“I don’t know.”
“That’s very careful.”
Camryn smiled without humor.
“Everybody keeps asking me questions they want me to guess at.”
Ramirez leaned back.
“Fair.”
Camryn showed her the documentation folder.
Coach Ramirez stopped smiling.
Fourteen incidents were listed.
The teacher forwarded everything to Assistant Principal Michael Trent.
Trent interviewed Logan.
He denied touching Camryn’s equipment or creating memes.
There was not enough evidence to attribute most incidents directly to him.
He did admit calling her a snitch.
Trent gave him a formal warning and told him to stop targeting Camryn.
For approximately three weeks, he did.
Christmas break helped.
January began quietly.
Then Camryn qualified for the state wrestling tournament.
Summit Ridge held a winter pep rally recognizing athletes who had reached regional or state competition, and Camryn walked onto the gym floor wearing the same white varsity jacket she had earned after her sophomore season. The large red S over her heart had three small pins beneath it representing wrestling, track, and academic athletics.
Students applauded.
Renee recorded from the bleachers.