Behind it, Crownbridge came into view. Stone gates, glass buildings, flags moving in the wind. He had spent four years trying to get through those gates. Now a 14-second video was threatening to close them behind him. He folded his phone into his palm.
Around him, other passengers stared at their own screens, held coffee cups between both hands, or watched neighborhoods roll past. Nobody knew that one email had just reached into Jordan's future and put a hand around it. He got off the bus and called Professor Hayes before he reached the engineering building. She answered on the second ring. I saw it.
Jordan stopped beneath an awning. They froze my graduation. I know. And the internship certification. I know that company needs the university verification by next week.
I know. Jordan closed his eyes. Rain tapped against the metal above him. For several seconds, neither of them spoke. Then, Professor Hayes said, "Come to my office."
Jordan found her pacing beside the window. A printed copy of the conduct notice lay on her desk. Coach Brooks was already there. His jaw was tight. Jordan sat.
Professor Hayes pushed the paper toward him. The university says the hold is administrative, not disciplinary. Jordan looked at her. What does that mean? It means they're going to tell you they haven't decided anything, but they've already stopped me from graduating temporarily and stopped my employer from clearing me temporarily.
Jordan leaned back. That word is doing a lot of work. Professor Hayes said nothing. Coach Brooks did. It's pressure.
Jordan looked at him. Brooks pointed toward the notice. They don't have to expel you. They don't even have to accuse you formally yet. They just make every day cost more.
Jordan looked down. The words blurred slightly. He hated that. Not the fear, the helplessness. Three men had come at him on the terrace.
He had known exactly what to do. Shift weight. Control the wrist. Protect the head. Stop when the danger stopped.
There were rules in that kind of pressure. This was different. This pressure came through email forms, deadlines, language designed to sound neutral, while the consequences were anything but neutral. Professor Hayes sat across from him. Jordan, I requested the full evidence package and they sent the submitted video, the edited one.
Yes. Anything else? A statement from Chase, one from Tyler, one from Logan. Jordan looked up. All three say I attacked them.
Professor Hayes's face hardened. They say you escalated a verbal disagreement into physical violence. Jordan laughed once. There was no humor in it. And the papers, not mentioned.
Tyler punching me, not mentioned. Chase grabbing me, not mentioned. Logan grabbing my wrist, not mentioned. Coach Brooks looked away. Jordan sat very still.
Professor Hayes continued, "There is something else." Jordan already knew it would be bad. Richard Whitmore's firm contacted the university Saturday morning. Brooks swore under his breath. Jordan asked about what?