Let go. Madison gave a short laugh. You don't get to dismiss me. Let go of my wrist. Tyler smirked.
Relax. Nobody's hurting you. Danny's eyes flicked toward him. Then back to Madison. First warning.
Madison leaned closer. You're not in one of your little community programs now. Danny's face changed slightly. Not anger. Something colder.
Let go. Madison's grip tightened again. Second warning. Someone in the crowd whispered. Madison.
Just stop. But no one stepped forward. No one touched her arm. No one broke the circle. Danny looked past Madison at the people watching.
Donors. Students. Staff. Adults with enough experience to know exactly what they were seeing. Silence.
That was the part she would remember later. Not the chandelier. Not the cameras. Not even Tyler's grin. The silence.
Madison finally released Danny's wrist. There. She lifted both hands. Happy? Danny took one step back.
Yes. For half a second, it was over. Then Madison's face twisted. Her hand came up fast. The slap cracked across Danny's cheek.
A woman near the back gasped. Tyler laughed. One of his friends did too. Danny's head turned with the blow. She did not raise her hands.
She did not retaliate. She slowly faced Madison again. Her cheek burned beneath the chandelier light. Madison looked around at the room. No one had stopped her.
Something triumphant entered her eyes. Danny spoke quietly. Don't do that again. Madison tilted her head. Or what?
Tyler stepped closer behind her. The crowd remained frozen. Rachel's camera was still recording. Professor Miller finally saw the circle and began pushing toward them. Madison.
Too far. Too late. Madison lifted her hand again. This time, Danny saw the shoulder move first. Her expression emptied of everything except focus.
At her side, the edge of a battered bronze medallion slipped against her keys. Madison smiled. She thought the first slap had proven Danny was powerless. She had no idea that the second one was about to prove exactly how wrong she had been. Madison's hand came toward Danny's face.
It never arrived. Danny moved, not wildly, not angrily. Her left hand rose just enough to intercept Madison's wrist before the second slap could land. She turned with the motion instead of fighting against it. Stepped to the side and redirected Madison's momentum toward the padded rehabilitation wall beside the demonstration area.