Evan misunderstood the warning completely. He grinned and turned toward his friends.
“See?” he said. “She thinks she’s dangerous.”
Jada shook her head. “I didn’t say that.”
Madeline laughed. “Then prove you’re not scared.”
The group closed slightly around her. Nobody touched her yet.
Jada looked at Chloe’s phone. “You’re recording this?”
“Yep.” Chloe smiled.
“Good.” Jada’s answer confused her.
Evan moved his face close to Jada’s. He tilted his head as though mocking her refusal to look away.
Several students laughed. Madeline said, “Do something.”
Whether she meant Evan or Jada was unclear. Either interpretation was bad.
Evan bumped Jada’s shoulder lightly with his chest. Jada took half a step aside.
“Stop touching me.” Evan raised his hands.
“I barely touched you.”
Then he leaned in again. His right arm moved toward her shoulder as though he intended to grab or shove her.
Jada reacted.
She caught his arm near the wrist and upper sleeve. Her body turned rather than moving backward.
Evan had expected resistance. He had not expected technique.
Jada shifted her hips across his center of balance and pulled while directing his forward momentum toward the stack of gym mats beside them. The movement took less than a second.
Evan’s feet left the pavement. His eyes widened.
Then he landed sideways across the top red mat.
The entire group stopped laughing.
The mats compressed beneath him, absorbing most of the impact. Evan rolled onto his back, stunned more by what had happened than by pain.
Jada released him immediately. She did not climb onto the mats or continue attacking.
Her hands dropped to her sides. She looked at Evan.
“Stay there.”
Nobody laughed.
Chloe’s phone remained raised. Her mouth was open.
Madeline stared at Jada as if the quiet transfer student had been replaced by someone else. Jada adjusted the front of her hoodie.
Evan sat up. “What the hell was that?”