“I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“Here we go.”
“You called me a safe Black voice.”
“I said safe voice.”
“You called me perfectly articulate Black girl.”
“That was private.”
The crowd reacted.
Kendall realized too late what she had admitted.
Imani nodded.
“Exactly.”
Kendall looked around.
Phones.
Faces.
Students listening.
The social balance shifted.
She had expected Imani wet, embarrassed, maybe yelling.
She had not expected a timeline.
“You ruin everything,” Kendall said.
Imani stared.
“I ruin what?”
“Every joke.”
“Because I don’t laugh?”
“Because everything becomes a report.”
“Maybe stop doing things you don’t want written down.”
That sentence pushed Kendall over whatever boundary remained.
She grabbed Imani high on the shoulder near the collar.
Students shouted.
Imani pulled backward.
“Get off me.”
Kendall shoved.
Imani stumbled one step.
The recorder case remained safely on the ledge.
She looked down at Kendall’s hand.
“Do not touch me again.”
Kendall laughed.
“Or what?”
Imani stepped away.
“I’m leaving.”
She turned slightly.
Kendall caught her shoulder again.
Imani spun back.
“Stop.”
Kendall pushed a second time.
Harder.
Imani’s wet sneakers slid partly on the concrete.
She regained balance near the strip of grass beside the walkway.
Someone shouted Kendall’s name.
Kendall moved forward anyway.
Imani raised both hands.
“Back up.”
Kendall swatted one arm aside.
Imani backed onto the grass.
“You wanted the real me?”
Her voice was louder now.
“Here. I’m angry. Congratulations.”
Kendall smirked.
“There she is.”
Imani stared at her.
The phrase revealed everything.
“You wanted this.”
“What?”
“You wanted me angry.”
Kendall laughed.
“Please.”
“You dumped something on me from above and followed me down here because you wanted me to lose it.”
“You are losing it.”
“No.”
Imani pointed toward Kendall.
“I’m telling you what you did.”
Kendall’s expression changed.
She raised one hand.
The first swing came from the side.
Imani ducked instinctively.
The hand passed above her head.
Gasps moved through the crowd.
Imani straightened several feet away.
“What are you doing?”
Kendall stepped forward.
Imani raised her arms.
“Stop.”
Kendall swung again.
Imani blocked with her forearm.
The impact hurt.
She pushed Kendall’s wrist outward.
“Stop.”
Kendall kept moving.
Imani backed away.
The grass was uneven beneath both of them.
Kendall reached for her hair.