It involved me when it happened in my cafeteria. Karen Bennett appeared at the far entrance. Maya saw her before Brooke did. For half a second, hope rose, then disappeared just as quickly. Karen stopped, surveyed the crowd, saw Maya standing, saw Brooke beside her, saw Evan.
She did not move closer, not yet. Maya noticed. So did Brooke. That was all Brooke needed. She stepped toward Maya again.
See, nobody believes you. Maya's voice stayed low. This is your last warning. Back up. Brooke laughed.
Warning. Evan stepped in front of Maya. You threatening her now? Maya turned toward him. No.
Sure sounded like it. Maya tried to walk away. Evan shoved her. Hard. Her lower back struck the edge of a table.
The impact rattled trays and sent silverware skittering across the marble. A woman gasped. Maya caught herself before falling. Pain flashed up her spine. The room stayed silent.
Evan looked almost surprised at what he had done. Then he covered it with a grin. What? Maya straightened slowly. Her breath shortened.
Her hands were open at her sides. Every instinct she had trained for years rose at once. Distance, balance, hands, exits, threats. Brooke two steps away. Evan directly in front.
Table behind. Crowd on both sides. Maya shifted one foot. Not enough for anyone else to notice. Enough for her.
Evan took another step. Thought you were some fighter. Maya said, don't touch me again. The words were quiet. He heard them.
So did Brooke. So did the front half of the commons. Evan looked around at the phones. That audience changed him. Maya saw it.
He wanted a reaction now. Something big enough to justify everything they had already said about her. He reached for her shoulder. Maya stepped back. His hand missed.
Brooke laughed. Look at her. Evan reached again. Maya moved away. Karen finally started toward them.
Everyone calmed down. Too late. Evan's face tightened. He lunged forward and caught Maya's upper arm. Her body went still.
For one second, the entire room seemed to contract around that single point of contact. Maya looked at his hand. Then at his face. I said, don't. Evan tightened his grip.
Maya heard Walter in her mind. "Restraint only looks like weakness to people who've never had any." Her scholarship. Denise. The rent notice.
David. Room 214. Every sacrifice sat on one side of the choice. Her own safety sat on the other. Evan pulled her toward him.
Maya's posture changed. Nothing dramatic. Her weight settled. Her breathing slowed. Her eyes sharpened.
Brooke saw it first. Her smile disappeared. Evan saw it next. Too late. The students around them stopped whispering.
Phones remained raised, but nobody laughed now. Maya looked at Evan one last time. Let go, he didn't. And for the first time since Brooke had knocked that tray from her hands, Maya stopped asking herself how much humiliation she could endure. She asked a different question.