Maya finally turned to face him. Or about why you're more concerned with damage control than actually addressing the problem? Vice Principal Waters hurried up, clutching a clipboard. We take these incidents very seriously, she said, her voice dripping with rehearsed sympathy. We'll conduct a thorough investigation.
Like the thorough investigation into Evans harassment? Maya asked. Waters pursed her lips. That matter is being handled through appropriate channels. Down the hall, Mia spotted three of Evan's friends watching the scene unfold.
They weren't even trying to hide their smirks. One of them, Jake Peterson, made a show of taking out his phone and pretending to film her. Maya opened her bag and pulled out a small notebook. In clear view of the administrators, she wrote down the date, time, and exactly what she observed, including the names of students present and the administrators responses. "What are you doing?" Waters asked sharply.
"Documenting everything," Maya replied calmly. just like my mother suggested. The mention of Judge Kingsley made both administrators stiffen. There's no need for that, Harrison said quickly. We assure you this will be addressed. I'm sure it will, Mia said, continuing to write.
And now there will be a record of exactly how it was addressed. Throughout the day, Maya methodically recorded every incident. The whispered threats as she walked between classes. The teachers who suddenly couldn't meet her eyes. The way Evan's friends accidentally bumped her desk in shared classes.
She noted names, times, and witnesses. After school, she met her mother at the courthouse. Judge Kingsley reviewed Maya's notes with a grim expression before adding them to a growing file of complaints. "They're stonewalling us," Judge Kingsley said, showing Maya an email from the police department claiming they needed more time to process their records request. The school board is doing the same thing.