Kiara’s face changed.
“Get away from me.”
“There’s the attitude.”
That phrase.
Months of it.
Tone.
Aggressive.
Defensive.
Fake calm.
Now attitude.
Kiara took one step sideways.
Madison matched her.
“Move.”
“You always order everybody around.”
“I am trying to leave.”
“Then go.”
“You are standing in front of me.”
Madison laughed.
Kiara moved right.
Madison moved right.
Somebody behind them said:
“Madison, stop.”
Madison ignored it.
Kiara looked toward the greenhouse.
McCall still inside.
Too far to see clearly through condensation.
She stepped left.
Madison again blocked.
Kiara’s voice rose.
“Move.”
Madison smiled.
“There.”
Kiara stared.
“There what?”
“That.”
Madison pointed.
“The real you.”
Kiara laughed from disbelief.
“You dumped dirt on me.”
“So?”
“So I’m angry.”
“There she is.”
Kiara looked around.
Phones.
Students.
Lauren.
Madison.
Something became clear.
This was not about dirt.
It was about reaction.
Kiara lowered her voice.
“You wanted me angry.”
Madison’s smile changed.
Tiny.
But enough.
“You think everything is about you.”
“No.”
Kiara pointed at the empty soil bag.
“I think that was about me.”
A few students laughed.
Madison’s face reddened.
The joke had turned.
She stepped closer.
“Always performing.”
Kiara backed away.
“Do not touch me.”
“I’m not touching you.”
Then Lauren did.
From behind.
Her hand closed around Kiara’s right shoulder.
“Why are you walking away?”
Kiara reacted instinctively.
She turned.
Pulled her shoulder free.
Lauren held on.
Kiara caught the wrist.
“Let go.”
Lauren shoved.
Kiara rotated with the movement and pushed the arm away.
Lauren had been leaning forward.
Her foot struck a plastic bucket.
She lost balance.
Fell sideways onto the grass.
Three empty white buckets scattered around her.
The yard erupted.
Phones came up.
That was the moment most student recordings began.
Lauren on the ground.
Kiara standing above the path.
Soil across her white shirt.
Madison shouting.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
Kiara stared.
“She grabbed me.”
Lauren sat up.
“You threw me!”
“You grabbed me.”
“You’re crazy.”
Madison lunged forward.
Her hand caught the front of Kiara’s bomber jacket.
Kiara pushed it away.
“Stop.”
Madison grabbed again.
Kiara blocked.
Madison shoved.
Kiara stepped backward into the edge of the raised bed.
“Stop.”
Madison swung one arm toward her upper body.
Kiara ducked slightly.
The movement passed.
Kiara came up.
Caught Madison’s forearm.
Redirected it away.
Madison stumbled.
Recovered.
Came forward again.
Kiara pushed outward with both hands at Madison’s shoulders.