Rachel was asleep across the room. The digital clock on Maya's desk read 5:42. She closed her eyes again. The studio came back to her. Daniel beneath the flickering sign, the heavy bag, the old stance.
Then the other memory tried to follow. Bright competition lights, a sudden fall, people moving fast. Maya sat up before the memory could finish. She reached for the black bracelet on her nightstand. The cord was frayed from years of wear.
The bronze disc had been scratched badly enough that the surface no longer caught light evenly. She wrapped it around her wrist. Then she braided her hair, pun the rain had stopped, but the sky over Hawthorne remained the color of wet concrete. Maya entered the main dining hall wearing the black Brooks Corner shirt beneath her gray jacket. She had worked an early breakfast shift before class, and the faint smell of coffee still clung to her sleeves.
The room was crowded. Nearly every table was occupied. She found one seat near the windows, opened her sociology textbook, started eating. For 5 minutes, nothing happened. Then Kyle Mercer appeared at the end of her table, phone in hand, already recording.
Maya looked at him once, then back at her book. Lauren's voice came from behind her. There she is. Maya stopped chewing. Evan pulled out the chair across from her and sat without asking.
Lauren remained standing. Kyle angled his phone. Maya set down her fork. What do you want? Evan smiled.
We're worried about you. That's new. Lauren laughed. See, that's what I mean. Always acting like you're better than everybody.
Maya glanced around. Students nearby were beginning to notice. A few faces turned, then turned away. I'm eating lunch, Maya said. Evan leaned back.
In your work shirt. Maya looked down at the small Brooks Corner logo. Yes. Doesn't Hawthorne give scholarship students some kind of clothing allowance? Lauren covered a smile.
Kyle snorted behind the phone. Maya's expression did not change. No, that's rough, Evan said. I'm fine. Lauren leaned closer.
You always say that. Maya looked at her. You keep asking. The smile left Lauren's face. Across the dining hall, Professor Denise Walker was carrying coffee toward the faculty section.
She heard the shift in nearby conversation before she saw its cause. Then she noticed Maya, Evan, Lauren, Kyle filming. Denise stopped walking. At Maya's table, Evan lowered his voice. You know, some people would be grateful to be here.
Maya's eyes hardened slightly. I am. Could have fooled me. Lauren touched the end of Maya's braid. Mia moved away instantly.
Don't. Lauren raised both hands. Relax. Mia's voice remained level. Don't touch my hair.
There it was again. That change in the room. A few people stopped eating. Rachel, seated two tables away, away with classmates, looked over sharply. Lauren glanced at the attention gathering around them.