Call student affairs, too, Tyler said. I'm sure they'll be contacted. Tyler pointed at Maya. She attacked us. A woman from the crowd spoke for the first time.
No. Everyone turned. She wore blue hospital scrubs and held a textbook against her chest. Her voice shook. He grabbed her. Mason snapped.
You didn't see the beginning. Another student said, I did. A third voice came from farther back. They blocked her. The silence was breaking slowly, uncomfortably.
Not courage yet, but something close. Tyler's face tightened. Evan glanced toward his phone on the floor. Maya noticed. So did Daniel.
He picked it up. Whose? Evan raised his hand. Mine. Daniel looked at the screen.
Still recording. He handed it back without touching anything else. Don't delete that. Evan's eyes flickered. Tyler said, "Why would he?"
Daniel looked at him. I didn't say he would. Then Daniel bent to lift Mia's sports bag. The silver heron faced him. He stopped.
His hand remained frozen inches above the canvas. Maya saw the color drain from his face. Daniel leaned closer. The patch was old, uneven stitching, one wing slightly higher than the other. He touched it gently.
Where did you get this? Maya frowned. My father. Daniel looked up at her. Your father?
Yes. What was his name? The entire corridor seemed to recede. Rain, phones, Tyler, everything. Maya answered.
Marcus Bennett. Daniel's eyes closed for a second. When he opened them, they were wet. Marcus Bennett. He said the name like it belonged to another time.
Tyler looked irritated. What does that have to do with anything? Daniel ignored him. His eyes stayed on Maya. You're Maya.
She stared at him. Yes. Daniel let out a breath that sounded almost like disbelief. I saw you compete. Maya's brow tightened.
What? Richmond Regional Adult Division, then Nationals. He shook his head slowly. Your father wouldn't stop talking about how proud he was. Maya looked down.