Logan hesitated, chewing on the inside of his cheek. Carter, there's something you don't know. Carter stopped pacing. What? Logan swallowed.
Yesterday, after last period, I was walking down the back hallway by the gym. She was outside by the fence alone on her phone. And and Logan glanced at Bryce, then back at Carter. She wasn't talking like some scared new girl. Her voice was commanding, like an officer talking to a subordinate.
Carter's eyebrows lifted. She used German, Logan continued. Short words, sharp. I don't speak the language, but I've heard enough dog training videos to recognize the tone. She was giving orders.
Real orders. Bryce sat up straighter. German? Like K9 commands? Yeah.
Logan replied. Exactly like that. The locker room went silent. Carter narrowed his eyes, absorbing the information. For a moment, doubt flickered, but only for a moment.
Then it twisted into something darker, fueled by pride and insecurity. "So what?" Carter scoffed. She probably memorized some YouTube videos to make her fake badge look real. Logan shook his head.
"No, man. It wasn't some amateur impression. It sounded professional, like she does it everyday." Carter's lips curled into a mocking smile. Then all the more reason to expose her.
Bryce frowned. Carter, this is getting out of hand. What if she's legit? What if the dogs actually listen to her? Carter stepped forward, eyes blazing.
That's exactly why we're doing this, to prove she's nothing but a wannabe, a performer, a liar. Logan and Bryce exchanged worried glances. Something in Carter had shifted. This wasn't just about ego anymore. It was an obsession.
Bryce tried one more time. Bro, maybe leave it alone. No, Carter said, voice low and final. We're taking her to that rooftop after school. Just the four of us.
He grabbed his backpack and swung it over his shoulder. She wants to play expert, he muttered. Let's see how good her act is when those dogs are barking in her face. He walked toward the locker room exit. Determination burning like wildfire.
And the more Logan revealed, the more desperate Carter became to prove Ayana was nothing but a cheap actress. The sun was ruthless that afternoon, hanging above building B like a burning spotlight. The rooftop was mostly empty, just cracked concrete, rusted fences, and the distant sound of K-9 dogs barking from the training yard below. The wind whipped across the open space, tugging at loose debris and carrying the sharp scent of metal and asphalt. Ayana stepped out of her last class, holding her books against her chest when she felt the shift, the subtle pressure of footsteps closing in behind her.
Before she could turn, Carter blocked her path. Logan and Bryce flanking him like shadows. Going somewhere? Carter asked, voice dripping arrogance. Ayanna kept her tone calm.