The laughter weakened. Sloane told her to relax because they were literally giving her money. Amara asked why Sloane believed she needed it.
“Because you’re the scholarship girl,” Sloane said. Amara nodded slowly. “Connor has a scholarship.”
Sloane said Connor was different. Amara asked how.
The classroom became quiet. Sloane told her not to start making everything racial again. Amara stared at her.
“I didn’t say race.” Several students reacted immediately because they had heard the same sequence before.
Delaney told Amara they had only been joking. Amara looked at the bills covering her notebook and said, “You violated a no-contact order to throw cash on me because you decided a Black girl on a merit scholarship must be poor.” Sloane told her she was being dramatic.
Amara took one step toward the aisle. “Move.”
Sloane did not. Delaney shifted behind her, still holding her phone.
Amara tried stepping around. Sloane reached toward the front of her hoodie.
Amara knocked the hand away. “Do not touch me.”
Sloane’s face changed when students around them stopped laughing. She stepped toward Amara again, while Delaney reached from the side as though trying to separate them. Amara moved backward into the open aisle.
There was still room for everyone to stop. Amara remained several feet away with her hands down. Sloane came forward.
She swung first. The punch was wide and fast, aimed toward Amara’s face.
Amara leaned away and caught part of the arm with her forearm. Sloane came forward again, grabbing at the hoodie. Amara turned with the momentum and redirected her.
The movement happened too quickly for most students to understand. Sloane’s upper body tipped forward while her feet lost position beneath her. She went over sideways and landed hard on the classroom floor among the scattered bills.
Amara stepped backward immediately. She did not kick Sloane, bend over her, or throw another punch. Delaney stood frozen beside the desk.
Students around the room stared. Sloane remained on her back, shocked more than injured.
Then she said the sentence that made the next part famous. “Go ahead, pick up your money.”