The air outside felt different.
Cooler.
Quieter.
Like the world hadn't just watched me nearly throw hands in the hallway.
I exhaled slowly as we stepped out of the school building.
"Okay," I said. "I need a reset."
Ethan stretched beside me.
"Same. That was intense."
Austin didn't say anything at first. He was watching me.
Carefully.
"You sure you're okay?" he asked.
"I already said yes."
"I know," he said. "I'm asking again."
I looked at him.
And for a second…
I dropped the tough act.
"…I didn't think I'd actually do that," I admitted.
Ethan let out a low whistle.
"Well, you did."
"I know."
Austin stepped a little closer.
"You didn't start it."
"I still escalated it."
"She escalated it first," Ethan cut in. "Let's be clear."
I sighed.
"Maybe."
"No 'maybe,'" he insisted. "She came at you."
Austin nodded.
"He's right."
I looked between them.
"You two agreeing is weird."
Ethan grinned.
"Write it in history."
Despite everything, I laughed a little.
The tension in my chest eased just slightly.
"Come on," Austin said. "Let's walk."
"Where?" I asked.
"Away from here."
"Best idea I've heard all day," Ethan added.
We ended up at a quiet street a few blocks away.
No crowds.
No whispers.
Just the sound of distant traffic and the occasional breeze.
I sat down on a low concrete ledge.
Ethan leaned against a pole nearby.
Austin stayed standing in front of me.
"You're still thinking about it," he said.
I shrugged.
"Of course I am."
"What part?"
"All of it."
Ethan nodded.
"Valid."
I looked down at my hands again.
"They're still shaking."
Austin noticed.
Without saying anything, he reached out and gently took one of my hands.
Warm.
Steady.
My heart skipped.
"You're fine," he said quietly.
I looked up at him.
"I don't feel fine."
"You will."
Ethan made a small face.
"Okay, that was low-key comforting."
"Don't ruin it," I said.
"Too late."
Austin smiled slightly but didn't let go of my hand.
And for some reason…
That helped.
A lot.
After a moment, Ethan straightened.
"So," he said, "next topic."
I groaned.
"Can we not?"
"No, we must."
Austin sighed.
"What now?"
Ethan pointed at me.
"Mary said 'this isn't over.'"
I frowned.
"Yeah, I heard that."
"So what does that mean?" he asked.
"I don't know."
Austin's grip on my hand tightened slightly.
"It means she's not done being upset."
"That's obvious," Ethan said.
I sighed.
"I don't want more drama."
"Unfortunately," Ethan said, "drama wants you."
I glared at him.
"Not helping."
Austin finally let go of my hand and sat beside me.
"We'll handle it," he said.
"We?" I repeated.
"Yeah."
Ethan nodded.
"Team effort."
I raised an eyebrow.
"When did we become a team?"
"Since the fair," Ethan said proudly.
"I did not sign up for this."
"Too late."
Austin chuckled.
"You're part of it now."
I shook my head.
"This is chaos."
Ethan grinned.
"This is friendship."
I paused.
Then muttered,
"…That was actually kind of nice."
Ethan froze.
"Wait— say that again."
"No."
"Please."
"Never."
Austin laughed.
A few minutes passed.
The mood slowly lightened again.
Until—
My phone buzzed.
I froze slightly.
Ethan noticed immediately.
"Who is it?"
"I don't know yet."
I pulled it out.
And my stomach dropped.
Mary.
Again.
I hesitated.
Austin noticed.
"You don't have to open it."
"I want to."
Ethan leaned in.
"Group viewing?"
"No."
I opened the message.
Mary:
Meet me after school. Alone.
My heart skipped.
"That's not suspicious at all," Ethan said.
"Don't," I warned.
Another message came.
Mary:
If you don't come, I'll make things worse.
I stared at the screen.
"What does that even mean?" I whispered.
Austin's expression hardened.
"You're not going."
I looked at him.
"I don't know—"
"You're not going," he repeated, firmer this time.
Ethan nodded.
"Yeah, that sounds like a trap."
"I can't just ignore her."
"Why not?" Ethan asked.
"Because she clearly wants something."
Austin shook his head.
"She wants a reaction."
"And she's getting one," I said.
He leaned closer.
"Then don't give it to her."
I hesitated.
Because part of me knew he was right.
But another part…
The part that hated how she talked to me…
Didn't want to back down.
"What if I go?" I said.
Both of them looked at me like I just said something ridiculous.
"No," Austin said immediately.
"Absolutely not," Ethan added.
"What? I can handle myself."
"That's not the point," Austin said.
"Then what is?"
"The point is you shouldn't have to."
That stopped me.
Ethan crossed his arms.
"And if anything happens, we're not letting you deal with it alone."
I looked between them.
"You guys are overreacting."
"Maybe," Ethan said. "But I'd rather overreact than regret it."
Austin nodded.
"Same."
I sighed.
"This is frustrating."
"I know," Austin said.
"But you're not going alone."
I looked down at my phone again.
Mary's message stared back at me.
If you don't come, I'll make things worse.
I clenched my jaw.
"She doesn't get to threaten me."
"No," Austin said. "She doesn't."
"Then I should go."
"With us," Ethan added quickly.
Mary said alone.
But honestly?
After everything that happened today…
There was no way I was walking into that alone.
I looked at them.
"…Fine."
Ethan grinned.
"Team meeting confirmed."
Austin nodded slightly.
"We'll be there."
I exhaled slowly.
Because something told me—
After school wasn't going to be simple.
Not at all.
And whatever Mary had planned…
We were about to find out.