Ethan wrapped a protective arm around Maya's shaking shoulders, wiping a tear from her cheek as the crowd continued to whisper.
Ethan: Are you okay, Maya? Did she hurt your neck?
Maya: My... my cheek is burning, Ethan... I didn't do anything to her...
Ethan: I know you didn't. I'm so sorry I wasn't here two minutes earlier.
Chloe: Ethan, why are you taking her side?! You're the student council president!
Ethan: Which means it's my job to stop vicious bullies like you from terrorizing innocent students!
Chloe: She's a nobody! Her family doesn't even have a house on the main estate road!
Ethan: Money doesn't give you the right to put your hands on anyone, Chloe!
Maya: Please, Ethan... let's just go to the nurse's office. Everyone is staring...
Ethan: We're going to the principal's office first, Maya.
Chloe scoffed, crossing her arms over her navy sweater, trying to hide her growing anxiety behind an arrogant smirk.
Chloe: Go ahead! Call Principal Harrison! My father is the head of the school board!
Ethan: Your father isn't above the law, Chloe, and neither are you.
Chloe: My father donates five hundred thousand dollars a year to this academy's trust fund! One word from him and you'll lose your athletic scholarship!
Ethan: Try me. Let's see what the board says when they watch the cafeteria security cameras.
Chloe's smirk faltered for a second as her eyes darted toward the black camera dome mounted on the ceiling.
Chloe: The cameras don't show everything! She stepped on my shoes first!
Maya: I didn't touch your shoes, Chloe... I was three feet away from you...
Ethan: Stop lying, Chloe. You're making yourself look even more pathetic.
Student 3: Yeah, Chloe! We all saw you slap her for no reason!
Student 4: You've been picking on Maya all week just because she wears simple clothes!
Chloe: Shut up! All of you, shut up!
Ethan: Come on, Maya. Hold onto my arm. We're getting you an ice pack.
Ethan helped Maya walk away from the spilled tray, leaving Chloe standing alone in the middle of the crowded cafeteria as students snickered and shook their heads.
Chloe clenched her fists, her blood boiling with humiliation.
Chloe: You'll regret this, Maya! I'm going to make sure you get expelled by tomorrow morning!