They thought a deserted rooftop was the perfect place to break the will of a black girl. But these geniuses didn't know that the quiet, well-behaved school girl they pushed into the water was actually a highly trained judo champion with no tolerance for racism. One push turned into a full-blown disaster as the victim they thought would drown became the force that turned their world upside down. And believe me, the moment she stopped gasping for breath and began to fight back, their fate was sealed. The wind on the rooftop of Grantville High was sharp enough to sting, slicing between the metal railings and rattling loose screws along the ventilation pipes.
It was the kind of wind that warned people to leave early, not linger. But Nadira Cole didn't have that luxury. She just wanted to cut through the rooftop and get to the parking lot faster. No noise, no crowds, no eyes judging her skin, her clothes, her accent, just silence. But silence died the moment the metal door slammed shut behind her.
Riker Hail stepped out from the shadows with that cocky half smile he wore like a badge. Behind him, Zayn, Milo, and Trent fanned out, blocking every possible exit. Four orange and white varsity jackets glowing under the late afternoon sun. Blaze jackets. The school's untouchable golden boys.
The same boys everyone told her to avoid. Unfortunately, they had no intention of avoiding her. "Well, well," Riker drawled, dragging his words like a knife. "Look who thinks she can skip past us like we're invisible." Nadira didn't respond.
She didn't break stride. Didn't give him even half a glance. She simply angled her path toward the stairs on the far side of the roof. That was enough to set Riker off. "Oh, she's ignoring you, man," Zayn laughed.
"Doesn't even respect the king of Grantville." Milo joined in, mocking her voice with a fake accent. Trent clapped loudly, barking like she was some kind of circus act. Nadira inhaled slowly, keeping her eyes ahead. They weren't worth her breath.
They weren't worth anything. But Riker couldn't accept that. He stepped forward, cutting her off completely. "Say something when your betters talk to you." Nadira sidestepped clean, silent, precise.
And that was the last straw. Riker's face twisted. "Teach her a lesson." Zayn and Milo moved instantly, dragging a metal bucket from the maintenance corner, the rooftop cleaning water tank, half full, always cold. They slid it behind Nadira like setting a trap.
Trent cracked his knuckles. Riker grabbed her. His fist knotted into her curls, jerking her backwards so hard her spine arched. The shock stunned her just long enough for him to shove her head down toward the bucket. "You think you're too good for us?" he snarled.
Her breath caught, then splash. Her face plunged into freezing water. The shock hit like electricity. Water rushed into her nose, burning up her sinuses. Her hands shot out instinctively, gripping the rim of the bucket as she tried to lift herself.
But Riker's weight bore down harder, stronger. Zayn whooped. "Drown that attitude out of her." Milo slapped the metal railing. "Yeah, teach her what real Grantville looks like."