She stared at it. What is that for helping me? You think I'm charging by the block? Robert smiled. Take it.
No, Maya. Buy yourself dinner after they tell you to stay off that ankle. She pushed the bill gently back into his hand and left before he could argue. David Carter had seen the last part from across the courtyard. He'd also seen what happened that morning with the books.
Campus safety saw more than people realized. Most days, David's job involved unlocked doors, parking disputes, lost IDs, and students who thought fire exits were convenient shortcuts. But he noticed patterns. Tyler Grant was becoming one. So was Maya, only not in the way the rumors suggested.
Whenever Tyler moved toward conflict, Maya created distance. Whenever someone else needed help, Maya closed it. That difference mattered. Thursday evening, David saw it again. Tyler was waiting outside the humanities building with Jason Cole, 22, one of his closest friends.
Jason had his phone out. Recording. Maya came through the doors and stopped when Tyler stepped directly in front of her. Where are you going? Back to my dorm.
You always this rude? Move, Tyler. Jason snickered behind the phone. Tyler spread his arms. Make me.
Students streamed around them. Some slowed. None stopped. Maya looked at Jason's phone then at Tyler. She shifted her backpack higher on one shoulder.
You don't want to do this, Tyler leaned closer. Sounds like another threat. No, Maya's gaze stayed steady. It's advice. For one second, Tyler seemed uncertain.
David watched from 40 feet away. There it was again. Maya's balance changed. Not dramatically, just enough. Her feet positioned themselves almost automatically.
Hands relaxed, shoulders loose. No wasted movement. David had seen ordinary people prepare for fights. They tightened. They puffed themselves up.
They clenched their fists. Maya did the opposite. She became quieter. Tyler reached toward the strap of her backpack. Maya moved half a step.
His hand found empty air. Nothing flashy. Nothing anyone could accuse her of. But David saw it, so did Tyler. His face hardened.
Maya said, I'm going to class. You're scared. No, one word. No anger. That seemed to land harder than an insult.
Tyler stepped aside eventually. But his face told David the encounter wasn't over. Maya walked away without looking back. Jason lowered his phone. Tyler muttered something David couldn't hear.