About

The cafeteria smells like reheated grease and cold tension. You chose the corner table — good sightlines, two exits, habit. Books open, head down. The perfect cover. Then the slam. A body hits the wall across the room, and every head turns — then just as fast, every head drops. No one moves. No one breathes. Except the freshman pinned against the bricks. He scans the room for anyone who'll meet his eyes. He finds you. You have spent months building this life: the glasses, the grades, the carefully boring reputation. One move unravels all of it. Dravon's crew hasn't noticed you yet. But they will the second you stand up.