Behind her, Madeline entered the station.
Nobody had assigned her there.
Chloe noticed immediately.
She watched Madeline pick up one large purple container.
Then another.
“Madeline.”
Madeline glanced over.
“What?”
“You’re supposed to be at finish-line photos.”
“They’re fine.”
Chloe looked at the containers.
“Don’t.”
Madeline smiled.
“It’s a Color Run.”
Chloe’s stomach dropped.
Jordan still had her back turned.
Madeline approached from behind.
Students nearby noticed.
One raised a phone.
Another laughed because they assumed a harmless powder prank was about to happen.
Jordan adjusted the edge of her goggles.
Madeline lifted both containers above her head.
Then she dumped them.
Not a handful.
Not a small cloud.
Two large containers of purple powder poured directly over Jordan’s hair, goggles, face, shoulders, chest, arms, and jeans.
A dense violet cloud swallowed her.
Students shouted.
Some laughed from surprise.
Jordan froze.
Powder coated her curls so completely they appeared bright purple.
Her goggles turned violet.
Her beige shirt disappeared beneath thick patches of pigment.
Purple dust fell from her shoulders like smoke.
For two seconds, Jordan did not move.
Then she lowered her head and breathed carefully through her nose.
The field quieted.
Madeline stood behind her holding the empty containers.
She smiled.
“Now you actually look like you came to a Color Run.”
Jordan lifted one hand.
Purple powder fell from her fingers.
She removed the goggles slowly.
Her eyes were closed.
Chloe stepped toward her.
“Jordan, are you okay?”
Jordan opened her eyes.
Some powder had gotten around the goggles.
They watered immediately.
She blinked several times.
Then she turned toward Madeline.
“You dumped that in my face.”
Madeline shrugged.
“You’re fine.”
“The rule is below the shoulders.”
“Oh my God.”
Madeline laughed.
“Seriously?”
“You helped write the volunteer rules.”
“It’s powder.”
Jordan stared at her.
“You came behind me with two containers.”
Students around them had stopped laughing.
Several phones remained raised.
Madeline noticed.
Her smile changed.
“You always do this.”
Jordan wiped purple dust from one cheek.
“Do what?”
“Turn everything into some huge violation.”
“You dumped two containers over my head.”
“Because it’s a Color Run.”
“Then why did you wait until my back was turned?”
Madeline stepped closer.
“I didn’t wait for anything.”