“You love doing this.”
“Doing what?”
“Getting people punished.”
Janelle stared at her.
“You keep doing things that get you punished.”
Noah looked away because he knew the sentence had landed.
Sophie stepped closer.
“You came here one year ago and act like everyone has to change for you.”
Janelle answered calmly.
“I asked you to stop talking about me like I’m a charity case.”
“You are literally on scholarship.”
“So is Claire.”
Sophie had no answer.
Janelle continued.
“You never ask who buys her clothes.”
“You never say she got into college because she’s white.”
“You never call her the diversity brochure.”
Sophie’s face reddened.
“There you go again.”
“Again what?”
“Making it about race.”
Janelle laughed once.
“You made it about race in August.”
Several students had stopped nearby.
One began recording.
Janelle stepped backward.
“I’m done.”
She turned toward the fountain.
Sophie followed and pressed one hand against Janelle’s back.
Janelle spun around.
“Stop touching me.”
Sophie stepped forward and shoved both hands into Janelle’s upper chest.
Janelle stumbled backward.
Ethan moved away from the bench.
“Enough.”
Sophie looked toward him.
“Stay out of it.”
Janelle held both hands low.
“Walk away.”
Sophie did not.
She stepped forward.
Then swung.
Janelle ducked.
The punch missed.
Sophie’s momentum carried her sideways.
Janelle backed away again.