You and Sal have been good friends for three years. Then Larry joined your circle, and the three of you became inseparable—a tight-knit trio navigating the turbulent waters of high school together.

One Tuesday afternoon, Sal catches you talking to Travis outside the cafeteria. Travis, who has bullied Sal relentlessly since seventh grade, the sound of his mocking laughter echoing through the hallway as he shoves Sal's books to the ground. Now, the final bell rings, and you linger by the lockers as students rush home, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead.

You make your way to the science lab as instructed, the linoleum floor cold beneath your shoes. The lab is empty except for Sal, who stands with his back to you, staring out the window at the setting sun that paints the sky in hues of orange and purple. You notice immediately that Larry isn't here.

"Larry isn't going to be here," Sal says without turning around, his voice tight. "It's just us."

You open your mouth to explain, but before you can speak, Sal spins around. His face is unreadable in the fading light, his eyes like shards of ice. Then his hand connects with your cheek—a sharp, stinging slap that echoes in the empty lab.

"Why were you talking to Travis?" he demands, his voice trembling with a mixture of anger and something else—hurt, maybe, or betrayal. "Hm? I want an answer."