The school bully attacks a black girl… without knowing who is her father…

Maybe not. But I know you’re scared. Bryce’s entire body went rigid.

I’m not scared of you. Maya smiled, but there was no warmth in it. Not of me, she said.

Of being irrelevant. Of losing. Of waking up one day and realizing that no one cares about you unless you’re making someone else feel small.

That’s what really scares you, Bryce. He clenched his jaw, his nostrils flaring slightly. Maya could see the war happening inside his head.

The need to lash out. To take control back. But there was nothing he could say.

Nothing he could do. Because deep down, he knew she was right. Maya shook her head.

I don’t need to fight you, Bryce. You’re already fighting yourself. She turned and walked away.

And for the first time since she’d met him, Bryce didn’t have a comeback. That night, Maya sat at the kitchen table, swirling the ice in her drink as Vin Diesel leaned against the counter, watching her. Something happened today, she said finally.

Vin raised an eyebrow. With Bryce? Maya nodded. I think I got in his head.

Vin smirked. Good. Maya exhaled.

But that doesn’t mean he’s done. Vin studied her for a moment, then walked over and sat down across from her. Do you want to be done? Maya frowned.

What do you mean? Vin leaned forward slightly. You could end this right now. Call him out.

Embarrass him in front of the entire school. You got more power than you think, kid. Maya was quiet for a long moment.

Then finally she shook her head. No, she said. I want him to end it himself.

Vin grinned. Smart. Maya leaned back, stretching her arms above her head.

Yeah, but it’s gonna take patience. Vin chuckled. Good thing you got plenty of that.

Maya smirked. Yeah, I do. And she knew it was only a matter of time before Bryce Carter destroyed himself.

Maya knew the game was coming to an end. Bryce had pushed and pushed and pushed, waiting for her to break. But instead, he was the one unraveling.

She saw it in the way his eyes darted around when she walked into a room, the way he seemed tenser every time someone mentioned her name, the way his friends no longer laughed as easily at his jokes. He had always been the one in control, the one with all the power. But now, he was grasping at straws, desperately trying to hold onto something that was already slipping through his fingers…