Madison, if your family puts its name on a university project, people are allowed to discuss the project. Tyler laughed once. You've been here half a day and already think you know how this place works. Danny turned toward him. I know how conversations work.
Tyler moved closer. Do you? Danny didn't move. He took another step. Close enough now that she could smell mint and coffee.
His friends watched. Madison watched. A couple of students passing through the courtyard slowed down. No one came closer. Tyler lowered his voice.
You should be careful about disrespecting people who can make things difficult for you. Danny looked up at him. There it was again. Not a direct threat. Something smoother.
More practiced. The kind of sentence that could later be denied. Danny let the silence sit between them. Then she said, please step aside. Tyler's eyebrows lifted.
Madison gave a small laugh. You hear that? Tyler did not move. Danny repeated herself. Please step aside.
He shifted just enough to block her more clearly. Danny's shoulders relaxed. The same way they had in the lobby. Rachel Morgan was crossing the far end of the courtyard when she noticed the group. She slowed.
Tyler leaned closer. What if I don't? Danny met his eyes. You will. His smile faltered.
Not because she raised her voice. Because she didn't. For one strange second, the space beneath the stone archway felt smaller. Tyler glanced at her hands. They hung loose at her sides.
No fists. No panic. No bluff. Just stillness. Madison noticed his hesitation.
Her face hardened. Tyler. He looked back at his sister. Then stepped aside. Barely.
Danny walked past him. No smile. No victory speech. Nothing. That made it worse.
Behind her, Madison said, You think you're better than us? Danny stopped but did not turn around. No. Then she looked back over her shoulder. I just don't think you're better than me. The words landed harder than anything she had said in class.
A student nearby looked down at the ground. Rachel stopped completely. Tyler's jaw tightened. Madison went still. Danny walked away.
Her footsteps faded across the brick courtyard. Only when she reached the next building did she allow herself to breathe fully. She had handled it. No shouting. No scene.
No one touched her. She should have felt relieved. Instead, a cold unease settled in her stomach. Back beneath the archway, Madison stared after her. Tyler shoved his hands into his pockets.