Maybe you're the one who won't stop. Nia's pulse climbed. She kept her hands at her sides. Move, Ryan. He smiled.
Then he bumped her shoulder. Not hard enough to knock her down. Hard enough to provoke. Nia stepped back. Madison's phone stayed trained on her.
Did you get that? Ryan asked. Madison laughed. Nia understood. They wanted a reaction.
She turned to leave. Derek moved into the hallway, not touching her, just standing there, blocking the easiest exit. Nia looked toward the trainer at the towel counter. He had seen it. Their eyes met.
He looked away. Something inside Nia sank. Trevor stepped behind her. Where are you going? Away from you.
Ryan moved again. This time his shoulder struck hers harder. Nia instinctively raised her arm and pushed his forearm away. Stop touching me. Madison's camera moved closer.
Ryan staggered back theatrically. Whoa! Nia froze. Trevor smiled. There it was.
The moment they wanted. Madison lowered the phone just enough to check the screen. Perfect. Nia felt cold. Perfect for what?
Nobody answered. Ashley looked sick. Guys, that's enough. Trevor turned sharply. Then leave.
Ashley didn't. Nia looked again toward the hallway. A cluster of adult students had stopped. Watching. Not helping.
Always watching. Never helping. Nia stepped around Ryan. This time Derek let her pass. She walked away without hurrying.
Behind her, Trevor called out. See you around, scholarship girl. Nia kept walking. By lunchtime the video was everywhere. She found out because her phone would not stop vibrating.
Messages, tags, screenshots. A classmate sent the clip with one sentence. What happened? Nia opened it. Eight seconds.
That was all. Ryan appeared standing calmly in the athletic center. Nia stepped toward him. Her hand pushed his arm. Ryan moved backward.
Audio caught her saying, stop touching me. But the beginning was gone. No first shove. No second shoulder check. No Derek blocking the exit.
No Trevor provoking her. No Madison saying perfect. Just Nia moving toward Ryan. Just Nia pushing him. Just enough context removed to change the story.
The caption read, scholarship student gets aggressive after complaint drama. Nia stared at the screen. Comments rolled beneath it. Some defended her. Most didn't know enough.
A few had already decided. Maybe Sloan was right. She looks unstable. Why is she touching him? People like that always play victim.