Nadia turned toward the hallway. “I’m going to Dean Cole.”
Brielle stepped in front of her. “Of course you are.”
“Move.”
“You can’t handle one joke without running to an administrator.”
“Move, Brielle.”
Brielle came closer until their faces were less than a foot apart. Nadia kept her hands down.
Kelsey moved from the back of the room toward them. She still held the phone.
Brielle said something quieter about Nadia believing she was better than everyone because teachers had spent the year protecting her. Nadia shook her head.
“I wanted you to leave me alone.”
“You wanted everyone punished.”
“You did things that got you punished.”
Brielle’s face tightened.
She raised her right hand. Nadia saw the movement a fraction of a second before the swing.
Nadia leaned backward. Brielle’s hand missed most of her face.
A student shouted. Nadia immediately stepped away.
“Stop.”
Brielle came forward again. She swung a second time.
Nadia blocked with her forearm. Brielle reached toward her jacket.
Only then did Nadia strike back. She used one short counter and pushed Brielle away.
Brielle stumbled but stayed standing. Nadia backed toward an empty row of desks.
“Stay back.”
Brielle rushed again. Nadia slipped another wild swing and redirected her.
Brielle nearly lost balance, recovered, and attacked once more. Nadia blocked and shoved her toward the side.
For a moment there was distance. Nadia stopped.
Brielle did too. Both were breathing hard.
The confrontation could have ended there. Then Kelsey ran forward from Nadia’s side.