Someone challenged her.
Zoe played.
A crowd formed because the tower grew unusually tall.
Students began filming.
Not because Mallory was nearby.
Because giant Jenga became entertaining once failure looked inevitable.
Block.
Turn.
Block.
Turn.
The tower reached nearly Zoe’s shoulder.
Then higher.
Naomi stepped away.
“You are taking this too seriously.”
“Quiet.”
“It’s wood.”
“Quiet.”
Zoe slid one block from near the top.
The tower moved.
Settled.
Students cheered.
She smiled.
Then reached to place the block on top.
That was when Mallory approached from behind.
Olive-green cropped jacket.
White shirt.
Black pants.
Light sneakers.
Red hair loose around her shoulders.
Zoe did not see her at first.
Several people did.
One phone captured Mallory smiling before she reached the tower.
The movement happened fast.
Mallory stepped beside the structure.
Put one arm toward the middle.
And shoved.
Hard.
Not a playful tap.
The entire tower tilted.
Zoe looked up.
Blocks came down.
Fifty-four pieces of wood collapsed toward her chest and legs.
She threw both arms upward.
Duck.
Step back.
Wood struck her shoulder.
Thigh.
One block clipped her forearm.
Most hit the grass.
The crash drew people from thirty feet away.
For one second, Zoe crouched in the middle of the pile.
Then laughter.
Not everyone.
Enough.
Mallory stood behind her smiling.
“Well.”
Zoe slowly looked up.
Mallory opened both hands.
“Guess you’re not good at everything.”
Naomi’s face changed.
“What the hell?”
Mallory laughed.
“It’s Jenga.”
Zoe stood.
One wooden block remained in her hand.
The one she had been placing.
She looked at Mallory.
“You pushed it.”
“Did I?”
“Everyone saw you.”
Mallory glanced at the phones.
Then smiled.
“So?”
The word landed strangely.
Zoe looked at the blocks.
Then back at her.
“So why?”
“Because it was funny.”
“You dropped fifty pounds of wood on me.”
“Oh my God.”
Mallory rolled her eyes.
“You’re fine.”
A block had scraped Zoe’s forearm.
A red mark already appeared.
She held the wooden piece at her side.
“Stay away from me.”
Mallory stepped closer.
“See?”
“See what?”
“You make everything huge.”
“You shoved a tower onto me.”
“It’s a game.”
“You deliberately knocked it over.”
“Because you were standing there acting like everybody needed to watch you.”
Zoe stared.
“I was playing Jenga.”
“Exactly.”
That answer made no sense.
Unless the problem had never been the game.
Naomi moved toward them.
Zoe held out one hand.
“Don’t.”
Mallory noticed.
Smiled.
“You always need backup?”
Zoe looked at her.
“I’m trying to keep my friend out of this.”
“Why?”
“Because you want a scene.”
For the first time, Mallory’s smile weakened.
Zoe saw it.