Theo replied coldly. I just don't like her attitude. Logan clapped Theo on the shoulder. All right, then. We'll go all in.
He grabbed Mason's phone from his hand and flipped it to video mode. This is perfect. We'll corner her in gym class today. No teachers around. No one paying attention.
Just us and her. Mason grinned, rubbing his palms together. And the moment she reacts, boom, got it on camera. She'll be famous by lunchtime. Theo crossed his arms, expression unreadable.
Just make sure it's clean. No hesitation. She moves fast. Logan scoffed. Bro, she's a tiny girl.
What's she going to do? Punch me? Theo didn't answer. He simply stared at Logan. His silence carrying a warning no one bothered to interpret.
Logan stretched, confidence bubbling. All right, boys. Today, we make a statement. Mason raised his phone like a trophy. Theo stood still, his gaze distant, calculating something the others couldn't see.
But none of them understood the truth. The moment they chose Ariana as prey, they had already stepped into the lion's den. They weren't hunting her. They were walking straight toward their own downfall. But the three of them had no idea they were about to open a door leading to the worst nightmare of their lives, and they chose the perfect moment to strike.
E-class that afternoon. The gym echoed with the thud of basketballs, the shrill whistle of sneakers on polished wood, and the chatter of students who were more focused on gossip than physical education. Sunlight streamed through the high windows, casting long beams across the floor like spotlights on a stage, an unintentional omen of the confrontation brewing beneath the surface. Ariana Brooks stepped inside quietly, her gym uniform crisp and simple. She tied her hair back, eyes calm as always, though anyone watching closely might have noticed how she scanned the room, not nervously, but analytically.
Every corner, every exit, every person. She had learned to do that long before arriving at North View High. Coach Duran, a tall man with a whistle permanently hanging around his neck, blew sharply. All right, class, split into groups of four. We've got circuit drills today.
Within seconds, chaos resumed as students rushed to join friends. But Ariana didn't rush. She simply waited, which made her the perfect target. From across the gym, Logan elbowed Mason. "Watch this, " he muttered, swaggering toward the center.
The moment Coach Duran glanced away, Logan raised his hand theatrically. "Coach, we're one short over here. Put the new girl with us. " The request was loud, loud enough for everyone to hear, but subtle enough to pass as innocent. Coach Duran turned, eyes landing on Ariana with the faintest irritation.
He never liked transfer students. They disrupted routines, asked questions, and needed attention he didn't care to give. Ariana, however, had something else he hated. Composure. She didn't look scared or lost like most new kids.
She made him uncomfortable. Brooks, " he barked, pointing in Logan's direction. "Group four, go! " Ariana nodded politely and walked toward Logan's group. Mason smirked.