“I hit the headphones.”
“They were on my head.”
Harper rolled her eyes. “You’re fine.”
Aaliyah pulled the headphones down and saw the cracked side. “You’re paying for these.” Harper told her they probably came from scholarship money anyway.
That was the line that changed the conversation.
Aaliyah stared at her. “You violated a no-contact order to walk across campus with a bat and make another scholarship joke.” Harper told her to stop acting like a victim.
Students nearby began watching. Somebody started filming.
Aaliyah pointed toward the bat. “Put it down.”
Harper smiled.
“Or what?”
Aaliyah took one step backward. “Put it down, Harper.”
Instead, Harper shifted the bat in her hand while continuing to argue.
Aaliyah kicked it away.
The bat spun through the air, bounced once, and rolled across the court. Several students reacted loudly.
Harper looked toward the bat and then back at Aaliyah.
Humiliation crossed her face.
“You think you’re tough now?”
Aaliyah shook her head.
“I think I don’t want you holding that near me.”
Harper rushed her.
The first punch came from Harper’s right hand. Aaliyah ducked and backed away.
Another followed.
Aaliyah blocked.
“Stop.”
Harper kept coming.
Aaliyah countered once and moved sideways.
The teammates shouted Harper’s name.
Neither woman listened.
Harper grabbed at Aaliyah’s jacket. Aaliyah shoved her off.
Harper threw another punch.
Aaliyah ducked again.
The confrontation moved toward the center of the court.
Students began forming a wide circle without intending to.