Chapter 4 - Charity Case
Maya locked her phone and slid it into her pocket.
"Yearbook photos," she said.
Mr. Danner walked closer.
"During class time?"
"Lunch started two minutes ago."
He stared at her long enough to make the silence uncomfortable.
Then he looked at Ethan.
"You need to be careful who you involve in personal disagreements."
Ethan felt anger push against his ribs.
"You mean witnesses?"
Danner's expression tightened.
"I mean students who may not understand the consequences of spreading incomplete information."
Maya stepped forward. "Is that a threat?"
"It's advice."
He walked away.
Maya waited until he disappeared around the corner.
"He knows."
"Of course he knows. He watched Mason do it."
By lunch, a photo of Ethan's spilled backpack had appeared in a private student group chat.
Someone had added the words: WESTBRIDGE CHARITY PROGRAM - PLEASE DONATE A BACKBONE.
By sixth period, students were whispering "charity case" when Ethan passed.
At the end of the day, he opened his locker and found every book covered in red marker.
POOR.
RAT.
BE GRATEFUL.
His father's watch was gone again.
This time, a note hung from the locker hook.
ROOFTOP. 4:15. COME ALONE IF YOU WANT IT BACK.
Ethan crushed the note in his fist.
"Don't go," Maya said from behind him.
"I'm getting the watch."
"That's exactly what he wants."
"It was my dad's."
"Then we get an adult."
Ethan looked down the hall toward the administration office.
"Which one?"
Maya had no answer.
At 4:14, Ethan pushed open the stairwell door leading toward the old rooftop greenhouse.
The upper floor was quiet. Most students had gone home.
Mason stood beside the locked greenhouse entrance with Blake and Trent.
He held the watch over the stairwell railing.
"You came."
"Give it back."
"You really need new lines."
Mason dangled it between two fingers.
"Tell Bennett to delete whatever she saved."
Ethan's stomach turned cold.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Then your watch is going down four floors."
"Mason."
"Say you'll tell her."
Ethan stepped closer.
Blake blocked him.
"Don't."
Mason leaned over the rail.
"Last chance."
A door below slammed open.
Someone shouted, "Hey!"
Mason jerked in surprise.
The watch slipped from his fingers.
Ethan lunged.
His hand closed around the leather strap.
But his body went over the railing far enough that his feet left the floor.
For one terrifying second, he hung above the stairwell.
Then a hand caught the back of his blazer.
It was Ms. Ruiz.
She dragged him backward.
Mason stared at her.
Ms. Ruiz's face had gone white.
"My classroom," she said. "All of you. Now."
Mason gave her a slow smile.
"You sure you want to do that, Ms. Ruiz?"
Her grip tightened on Ethan's shoulder.
"Now."
Mason's smile vanished.
May you like
"My mother warned you once already," he said.
And Ethan saw fear flash across Ms. Ruiz's face.
