Maryland did too.
She chose Howard after visiting twice.
Denise cried.
Anthony asked whether he could wear Howard gear before she officially enrolled.
Nia told him no.
He ignored her.
By graduation, the science-fair video had largely disappeared from current conversation.
New scandals replaced old ones online.
Evergreen seniors worried about commencement, prom, college housing, and whether anyone would survive final exams.
Claire crossed the graduation stage before Nia.
Her family applauded.
Nia did not.
She did not boo either.
Dylan graduated later.
Same response.
When Nia’s name was called, she crossed wearing a blue STEM cord.
Her parents stood.
Caleb screamed louder than necessary.
Dr. Harris shook her hand afterward.
“Saturn still leaning?”
“Always.”
He laughed.
The rebuilt model remained at home because Nia refused to donate it to Evergreen.
College began in August.
Her roommate at Howard, Imani Fields, knew nothing about the viral clip.
For two months, Nia was simply the girl who hoarded cereal, stayed up too late, and decorated half the room with astronomy prints.
Then Imani found the video.
She stared at her phone.
“Is this you?”
Nia looked over.
“Depends what I’m doing.”
“You’re fighting two people next to a destroyed solar system.”
“Probably somebody else.”
Imani watched the full version.
Claire destroying the model.
Dylan blocking the exit.
First punch.
Claire joining.
Nia stopping.
When it ended, Imani asked, “What happened before this?”
Nia smiled.
“That’s the useful question.”
She explained seven months.
Not thirty seconds.
The orientation remark.
The brochure joke.
The hidden bag.
The accusation.
The no-contact order.
The plan to provoke her.
By the time she finished, the fight seemed like the least sophisticated part of the story.
Nia liked that.