Chapter 3: The Aftermath
The afternoon bell finally rang, sending a muffled wave of slamming lockers echoing down the empty hallways of Oakridge High. In the nurse's office, the faint smell of antiseptic and rubbing alcohol hung heavy in the air. Leo sat on the edge of the examination table, an ice pack pressed firmly against his bruised right knee while a school nurse wrapped a light elastic bandage around his ankle. The physical pain had settled into a dull, throbbing ache, but the emotional weight of the morning’s events felt ten times heavier.
Principal Miller stood by the open door, holding a manila folder containing the signed fellowship documents. "The board is convening a special disciplinary hearing for Chad tomorrow morning at eight sharp," the principal said, his voice low and serious. "Given the video evidence captured by half the junior class, expulsion is heavily on the table. But the choice of how to proceed with the disciplinary report is technically yours, Leo, given that you were the direct victim of the assault."
Leo looked down at his hands, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. "I don't want to ruin his life, Mr. Miller. But I won't let him take credit for my work either."
"Your work spoke for itself," Principal Miller replied, giving Leo's shoulder a reassuring pat before stepping out into the hallway to take a phone call.
Alone in the small room, Leo picked up his phone from the tray table. The screen was lit up with dozens of notifications—text messages, tagged Instagram posts, and direct messages from local news outlets wanting to interview the boy who stood up to the school's golden boy. He swiped past most of them until a message from an unknown number caught his eye. The text contained a single, unedited video file captured from a different angle in the gym during the assembly, along with a short text.
May you like
You think you won, but Chad didn't act alone. Check who funded his project materials.
Leo frowned, tapping the video play button. The footage showed Chad shoving him down the bleachers, but in the background, near the soundboard, someone else was handing Chad the official fellowship envelope before the announcement even began. It was a face Leo recognized instantly, sending a cold shiver straight down his spine.
