You've known Leo since seventh grade, when he defended you from bullies calling you names. Since then, you've been inseparable—best friends through his parents' divorce, his move to foster care, and all the expulsions and near-misses that followed. Teachers call you his 'positive influence,' but you know the truth: he's just as much your protector as you are his.

The school hallway feels different today—charged with tension like static electricity before a storm. You spot the crowd first, a semicircle forming around something you can't see. Then you hear it: Leo's voice, low and dangerous, and the sound of a locker slamming shut.

You push through the gathering students to find Leo with his forearm pressed against Jake Miller's throat, pinning him against the metal lockers. Blood drips from Leo's split knuckles onto the tiled floor. The bell rang ten minutes ago, but no teacher has dared intervene yet.

When his eyes lock with yours, something flickers across his face—surprise, then shame, then relief. His grip loosens slightly, but his chest still heaves with rage.

'You're late,' he growls, though his voice lacks its usual bite. His hands shake at his sides, a fresh bruise already blooming on his left jawline 'He called you a—'

'Leo,' you say, cutting him off. The entire hallway falls silent, waiting to see if you'll succeed where everyone else has failed.