Chapter 2

Mrs. Lang stared at Noah’s camera like it had become a weapon.

Brittany stopped crying so fast it was almost funny.

Almost.

My fingers tightened around the ripped notes.

Noah stood beside me, not close enough to make a scene, but close enough to show he was not moving away.

Mrs. Lang cleared her throat.

“Noah, this is a disciplinary matter.”

“It’s also recorded,” he said.

Brittany’s friend Madison scoffed.

“You’re not allowed to film people at school.”

Noah looked at her.

“You were filming Maya.”

Madison lowered her phone.

The students around us murmured.

Mrs. Lang’s jaw tightened.

“Everyone get to class.”

Nobody moved.

That was new.

Usually, when adults said move, people moved.

But now they wanted to see what would happen next.

Brittany’s face twisted.

“This is harassment,” she said. “He’s obsessed with me.”

Noah blinked.

“I’m in yearbook. I was filming morning hallway clips for spirit week.”

Mrs. Lang reached for his camera.

“Give it to me.”

Noah stepped back.

“No.”

Her eyes sharpened.

“Excuse me?”

“I’ll give it to Mr. Alvarez or the principal. Not you.”

That made my stomach drop.

No one talked to Mrs. Lang like that.

Especially not quiet boys from camera club.

Mrs. Lang’s face went cold.

“Young man, refusal to comply—”

“Is exactly what we’re doing now?” a voice interrupted.

Mr. Alvarez stood at the edge of the crowd.

My debate coach.

He had a coffee in one hand and his worn leather folder in the other.

His tie was crooked like always.

But his eyes were wide awake.

“What happened?” he asked.

I opened my mouth.

Nothing came out.

If I talked, I would cry.

And I hated that.

Noah answered.

“Brittany tore Maya’s debate notes and accused her of pushing her. I recorded it.”

Brittany gasped.

“That is not true!”

Mr. Alvarez looked at me.

Then at the papers in my hand.

His face changed.

Not loud anger.

Worse.

Disappointment so deep it made the air heavy.

“Brittany,” he said quietly, “did you touch her notes?”

“No.”

Noah lifted the camera.

Mr. Alvarez turned to Mrs. Lang.

“Let’s review it.”

Mrs. Lang smiled tightly.

“We should handle this in the office.”

“Good idea,” Mr. Alvarez said. “Principal Reed’s office.”

Brittany’s eyes widened.

Mrs. Lang said, “That isn’t necessary.”

“It is now.”

The crowd parted as we walked.

I felt every stare.

Every whisper.

My torn notes were pressed to my chest.

Noah walked behind me.

Brittany walked ahead with Mrs. Lang, already texting someone.

Probably her mother.

Probably her brother.

Probably the whole army that always arrived whenever a Vale got caught.

In Principal Reed’s office, the air smelled like lemon cleaner and old paper.

Principal Reed was a tired woman with silver hair and glasses on a chain.

She looked up from her desk.

“Why are there five of you in my office before first period?”

Mr. Alvarez placed the torn notes on her desk.

“Because Maya’s debate materials were destroyed in the hallway, and there appears to be video.”

Principal Reed’s expression sharpened.

“Video?”

Noah handed over the camera.

Brittany said, “I don’t consent to being recorded.”

Principal Reed looked at her.

“You were in a public school hallway.”

Brittany’s mouth shut.

Noah connected the camera to the office computer.

The video played.

There I was.

Stopping.

Bending.

Brittany smiling.

Her foot grinding my card into the floor.

Her hand slapping the notes from my grip.

Her voice sharp and clear.

“My brother doesn’t need to be scared of some scholarship case.”

Then her fake stumble.

Her lie.

Maya pushed me.

The office went silent.

My face burned as I watched myself standing there, frozen and humiliated.

Principal Reed paused the video.

Mrs. Lang looked pale.

Brittany crossed her arms.

“It was a joke.”

My head snapped toward her.

“A joke?”

“You’re always so dramatic.”

Mr. Alvarez said, “Enough.”

His voice cracked like a whip.

Brittany flinched.

Principal Reed folded her hands.

“Brittany, do you understand the seriousness of sabotaging another student’s academic competition materials?”

Brittany’s lip curled.

“They’re note cards.”

“They’re evidence of misconduct,” Principal Reed said.

Mrs. Lang finally spoke.

“Perhaps detention and a written apology—”

“No,” Mr. Alvarez said.

Everyone looked at him.

He set both hands on the desk.

“Maya competes in the state qualifier today. Those notes were part of her preparation. Brittany’s brother is Maya’s opponent. This is not random misbehavior. This is interference.”

Brittany’s face flushed.

“My brother had nothing to do with it.”

“Then he won’t mind an investigation,” Noah said.

Brittany glared at him.

Principal Reed leaned back.

“I will call both families.”

My stomach clenched.

“My mom is asleep,” I said quickly. “She worked all night.”

Principal Reed softened.

“We still need to inform her.”

Panic rose in me.

If Mom came to school, she would miss sleep before her second shift.

She would worry.

She would blame herself for not being there.

Brittany saw my panic and smiled.

Small.

Cruel.

Then Principal Reed said, “Brittany, I’ll call your mother as well.”

Brittany’s smile disappeared.

“No, don’t. She’s busy.”

“I’m sure she’ll make time.”

While Principal Reed called home, Mr. Alvarez helped me tape my notes together.

Piece by piece.

Some sentences were missing.

Some cards were ruined completely.

My hands shook too much to help.

“I can’t compete,” I whispered.

He looked at me.

“Yes, you can.”

“My argument is gone.”

“No,” he said. “Your cards are damaged. Your argument is in you.”

I wanted to believe him.

But my chest felt hollow.

Then my phone buzzed.

A message from Mom.

Principal called. I’m coming.

My heart sank.

Five minutes later, another message appeared.

I’m proud of you already.

I stared at the words until my eyes burned.

Then the office door opened.

Tyler Vale stepped in.

Tall.

Perfect hair.

Debate blazer.

Fake concern.

“Britt, Mom’s on her way,” he said.

Then he saw me.

Saw the notes.

Saw Noah’s camera.

His face changed.

Just for a second.

Guilt.

Not surprise.

Guilt.

Mr. Alvarez saw it too.

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And suddenly, I understood.

Brittany had not acted alone.