The bully's redemption

Lunch hour buzzed with chatter and the clinking of trays, but Kamsi and Zendaya had only one focus: Julian and Joanne. The two girls sat across the table, their casual posture betrayed by the occasional flicker of unease in their eyes.

Kamsi nudged Zendaya with her elbow, tilting her head slightly as if to say, Go on ask them. But Zendaya only arched a brow in return, silently shaking her head. She leaned back, arms crossed, her expression impatient. When Kamsi's wide, pleading eyes met hers, Zendaya sighed deeply, the exasperation rolling off her like a heavy fog.

Then, as though she'd rehearsed it, Zendaya broke the silence. "Doesn't the school feel dry without Xavier around?" Her tone was casual, but her gaze pierced Julian and Joanne, daring them to slip up.

Julian and Joanne exchanged a quick glance, one so fleeting it might have gone unnoticed—but not to Kamsi.

"I guess," Joanne said hesitantly, fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.

Julian shrugged, but his voice was edged with tension. "Sure."

Zendaya smirked, leaning forward slightly. "Deep down, I think Jimmy had it coming, you know? The guy's a complete…" She let the insult dangle, her lips twisting into a mocking grin.

Joanne's eyes widened, but before she could respond, Kamsi chimed in, her voice deliberate and firm. "I mean, someone had to put him in his place. After all the crap I've heard about him, I can't help but stan Xavier for dealing with him."

The room seemed to hold its breath for a moment as Julian and Joanne froze, exchanging yet another glance. This time, Kamsi noticed the slight crack in their composure—the tightening of Julian's jaw, the quick blink from Joanne. But just as quickly as it appeared, the mask returned.

"What rumors?" Joanne asked, forcing her tone to remain steady.

Kamsi leaned forward, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "There's this one… about him harassing girls. Pretty vile, don't you think?" Her eyes searched their faces, noting how Julian's hand clenched the edge of the table and Joanne's gaze darted to her lap.

Joanne hesitated, her lips parting as if to speak, but Julian's hand shot under the table, pinching her arm. She yelped, recoiling slightly. "Ouch!"

"We don't know anything," Julian said quickly, his voice sharp.

Kamsi's shoulders slumped as she forced a tight-lipped smile, frustration bubbling beneath her calm exterior. *This wasn't going to be easy.*

As they walked toward their lockers after lunch, Zendaya let out a groan. "Why won't they just spill the damn name? Is it really that hard?" She yanked her locker open, her movements jerky with irritation.

"I don't know why they're protecting him," Kamsi muttered, leaning her head against the cool metal of her locker. "It's so frustrating… I'd literally do anything to get the name." Her voice cracked slightly, betraying her exhaustion.

"Anything?" The familiar, honeyed voice of Patricia Newman cut through the hallway noise like a blade.

Both girls stiffened, turning to see Patricia leaning casually against a row of lockers. Her perfectly manicured nails tapped rhythmically against the surface, a smug smile curling her lips.

"What do you want, Patricia?" Zendaya snapped, masking her unease with a bold tone. She said Patricia's name like it was a slur, venom dripping from every syllable.

Patricia raised an elegant brow, unfazed. "To help." Her smile widened, but there was no warmth in it, only calculation.

Zendaya and Kamsi exchanged a bewildered look, their expressions a mix of shock and suspicion. It was as if they'd just heard a dog recite poetry.

---

Minutes later, in a dimly lit classroom, Patricia stood with her arms crossed, her posture exuding dominance. Zendaya and Kamsi huddled together, their hands clasped tightly as they stared at her with wary eyes.

"I heard you're digging up dirt on Jimmy," Patricia said, her voice dripping with mockery.

Kamsi flinched, her heart skipping a beat. *How does she know?*

As if reading their thoughts, Patricia chuckled darkly. "My uncle runs this school. I know everything that happens here. That, and I'm the school's belle. There's no gossip that escapes me." She tilted her chin smugly, as if daring them to challenge her.

Zendaya rolled her eyes, her lips curling into a sneer. "Cut the crap. Why are you really here? It's not like you to do anything for free."

Patricia's laugh was sharp and humorless. "Who said I'm doing this for free?" She stepped closer, her expression hardening. "Here's the deal: I'll tell you what you want to know. But you do something for me in return."

Kamsi's throat tightened as she asked, "What do you want?" Her voice was quiet but steady.

Patricia's smile turned into a predatory smirk, her next words slicing through the air like a dagger. "Stay away from Xavier."

Patricia's request hung in the air like a dense fog, suffocating Kamsi's thoughts. Her heart hammered in her chest as she stared at the key, its cold metal gleaming under the harsh fluorescent lights. What the...?Her thoughts spiraled in confusion.

"Are you out of your mind?" Zendaya snapped, her voice tight with outrage. She shot Kamsi a fierce, almost desperate look, her eyes wide with disbelief. This can't be happening. Zendaya seemed to say without words, her fists clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms.

But to Zendaya's shock, Kamsi slowly, almost reluctantly, took the key from Patricia's outstretched hand. The decision felt like it happened outside of her control, her fingers trembling as they curled around the cold metal. Patricia's smirk spread across her face like a predator that had just cornered its prey. "Good choice," she purred, her tone dripping with satisfaction.

Zendaya's face flushed with frustration, her gaze snapping to Kamsi, hurt flashing through her features. "You've got to be kidding me," she muttered, her voice low but edged with disbelief. "You're actually going to do what she wants?"

Patricia scoffed, rolling her eyes as if she were the one being inconvenienced. "I'd never stress myself," she said, dismissing them both with a flick of her wrist. Her expression turned sharp, her eyes narrowing as she fixed her gaze on Kamsi. "Finish by 1 PM. Lunch break's over then," she added, her words a command that left no room for negotiation.

Kamsi swallowed hard, her chest tightening. She nodded numbly, the weight of Patricia's gaze heavy on her, as though she were being measured and found lacking. Patricia turned on her heel, striding away with a purposeful swagger, leaving a trail of cold air in her wake. There was something in her smile—something dark—that made Kamsi's stomach churn. If Kamsi didn't meet her deadline, Patricia would find a way to make her pay.

Zendaya stood still, her arms folded tightly over her chest as she watched Patricia walk away. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, the edges of her mouth twitching with barely-contained frustration. I don't trust her, Zendaya's eyes said as she finally met Kamsi's gaze.

Kamsi's throat tightened, tears welling up as the reality of her decision sank in. Her voice cracked when she finally spoke. "It's the only way." Her words were small, barely a whisper, but they seemed to echo around her. The burden of what she had agreed to was crushing.

Zendaya's face softened, her eyes searching Kamsi's with a quiet intensity. Without a word, she pulled her into a hug, squeezing her tightly. It was a comforting embrace, warm and steady, but Kamsi could feel the tremors of doubt that rippled through her body.

"It's going to be okay," Zendaya murmured, her voice a low promise, though it trembled slightly, betraying the uncertainty she couldn't hide. "You don't have to do this alone. I've got your back, always."

Kamsi buried her face in Zendaya's shoulder, the tears slipping down her cheeks unbidden. The weight of everything she was hiding, everything she had endured, pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. She sobbed, her body wracked with emotion as she whispered brokenly, "He hates me..."