“No.”
Naomi looked directly at her.
“You need it to be true.”
Lauren’s expression changed.
Kara stopped moving.
Naomi continued.
“If I’m angry, then every stupid thing you said suddenly looks like a warning instead of a stereotype.”
Lauren’s jaw tightened.
“You think you’re so smart.”
“No.”
“You think everybody believes you.”
“No.”
“Then why are you smiling?”
Naomi had not realized she was.
It was not amusement.
It was disbelief.
“You lost your captain title because you kept doing things you were told to stop doing.”
Lauren’s right arm moved.
Fast.
The first swing came toward Naomi’s face.
Naomi leaned back.
The hand missed.
Kara gasped.
Naomi stepped away.
“Stop.”
Lauren came forward again.
Second swing.
Naomi blocked with her forearm.
She still did not counter.
She moved toward the center aisle between sinks and stalls.
Lauren followed.
“Stop!”
Third swing.
Naomi slipped outside the arm.
Lauren tried grabbing the front of her denim jacket.
Naomi broke the grip.
Terrence’s voice appeared automatically.
Create space.
Leave.
Lauren moved again.
Naomi caught her wrist and upper arm.
Lauren’s momentum carried forward.
Naomi turned her hips.
The movement happened almost before she consciously decided.
Lauren’s feet left the floor.
For a fraction of a second, her red cheer skirt and white shoes tilted upward.
Then she landed across the restroom floor.
The impact sounded louder than it was.
Naomi released immediately.
She backed away.
Lauren lay stunned.
Naomi raised both hands but did not approach.
That should have been the end.
Kara screamed.
“You hurt her!”
Naomi turned.
“Kara, stay back.”
Kara rushed forward.
Naomi stepped away.
“Kara!”
The girl in pink swung.
Naomi blocked.