Mr. Peterson hadn't been on campus the day before.
A family emergency had pulled him away shortly after third period, but not before he stopped by the gym office. "Keep an eye on Liam Cooper today," he told Coach Daniels. "Just in case."
Coach Daniels gave a lazy nod. "Yeah, sure."
But when gym period came and went, and Adam shoved Liam into the lockers with whispered threats, Daniels stood at the far end of the court, clipboard in hand, watching nothing.
After school that day, Liam didn't go home alone.
Ryan, Theo, and Anika were waiting by the front steps, already tightening their backpack straps when he walked out.
"We're coming with you," said Ryan, keeping his tone casual, but his eyes were scanning.
"Strength in numbers," Theo added, falling into step beside him.
Liam didn't argue. They took the long way home, talking about everything but the obvious. By the time they reached Liam's house, the weight on his shoulders had lightened—just a little.
They ended up around his kitchen table, splitting a plate of reheated spaghetti and arguing over superhero movies.
"You guys are seriously underrating Iron Man," Ryan insisted.
"Overrated," Theo said, stabbing a meatball. "If we're talking arcs, Spider-Man wipes the floor."
"Into the Spider-Verse is literally art," said Anika, flicking crumbs off her notes.
Liam laughed more than he had in weeks. For a while, it felt like the world had paused—like the threat hanging over him didn't exist.
But it did.
And it was listening.
The next morning, things felt… off.
Liam kept catching people watching him longer than usual. Conversations paused when he walked by. Someone muttered something just loud enough: "Shouldn't have opened your mouth."
During recess, Liam sat near the edge of the soccer field, his notes untouched in his lap. Mr. Peterson approached, expression unreadable.
"Hey, Liam," he said. "Can I ask—did anything happen yesterday during gym?"
Liam hesitated.
He wanted to tell him. Wanted to say how Adam slammed him against the lockers. Wanted to tell him how Coach Daniels ignored it.
But all he could think of was Adam's glare. Jeremy's laugh. The memory of his backpack hitting the floor.
"No, sir," he said softly. "Nothing happened."
Mr. Peterson studied him for a long moment. "You sure?"
Liam nodded.
"All right," the teacher said. "But if that changes—you come to me. Understood?"
"Yeah," Liam said, eyes on the grass.
Mr. Peterson walked away.
Someone saw them talking.
A junior named Cole, eager to score points with the cool crowd, mentioned it to Harper during lunch. Harper rolled her eyes and passed it to Oliver. By last period, Adam had heard it too.
"So he did go crying to the new teacher," Adam muttered.
Jessica snorted. "Can't even take a shove without snitching."
By the end of the day, the gang had already made their decision.
Liam's friends had club meetings and tutoring that afternoon.
For the first time in two days, Liam walked home alone.
And Adam was waiting.
By the time Liam passed the alley behind the laundromat, the gang had fallen in around him—Oliver behind, Jeremy to his left, Harper and Jessica leaning against a fence, phones already in hand.
Adam stepped into his path like he was strolling through a movie scene.
"I thought we had an understanding," he said, his voice low, dangerous.
"I didn't tell him anything," Liam said quickly, chest tightening. "I swear—"
Adam got close, nose to nose. "Funny. Because I heard you had a nice little heart-to-heart."
Oliver cracked his knuckles. Jeremy laughed softly.
"No more warnings," Adam said. "This time you are in for a lesson—"
His fist curled.
Liam's heart pounded.
Little far away in a car parked on the road a someone was watching all this unfold