The hallway stayed frozen for too long.
Lockers still trembled faintly, like the building itself had felt Andrew's anger and didn't know how to settle again.
The football player looked around wildly, face red.
"What the hell was that?!"
No one answered.
Students were staring now.
Whispers started like insects.
Steve's grin was gone.
Matt's entire body was tense.
Cypriana's heart hammered.
Andrew stood perfectly still, hood shadowing his eyes.
The football player took a step closer, scanning faces.
"You freaks messing with me?"
Matt moved instinctively, blocking Cypriana slightly.
"Just drop it," Matt said, voice sharp.
The football player scoffed.
"Or what?"
Andrew's hand twitched.
Cypriana saw it.
Her stomach dropped.
Matt saw it too.
"Andrew," Matt warned quietly.
The football player laughed.
"Oh my god. Is this Detmer? What, you finally got a spine?"
Andrew's jaw clenched so hard it looked painful.
Cypriana whispered, "Stop…"
Andrew's eyes flickered.
The football player stepped forward again.
"You gonna cry? Go film it, freak."
That word.
Freak.
Something snapped.
The lockers behind the football player slammed open violently.
BANG—BANG—BANG.
The sound echoed down the hall like gunshots.
Students screamed.
The football player stumbled back, eyes wide.
"What the—"
Matt lunged forward immediately.
"Andrew!"
Andrew's breathing was uneven.
His voice was low.
"He should shut up."
Matt grabbed Andrew's arm hard.
"Are you insane? People are watching!"
Andrew yanked his arm away.
"So?"
Cypriana's chest tightened.
Matt stared at him like he didn't recognize him.
"This is exactly what I mean," Matt hissed. "We don't do that."
Andrew's eyes sharpened.
"Do what?"
Matt's voice rose.
"We don't punish people!"
Andrew laughed bitterly.
"Punish?"
He stepped closer.
"Matt, he shoves kids into lockers every day. Nobody punishes him."
Matt snapped, "That's not our job!"
Andrew's eyes burned.
"Why not?"
Silence.
Steve stood a few feet away, frozen, like he wanted to disappear.
Cypriana's voice trembled.
"Guys…"
Matt pointed sharply at Andrew.
"Because this isn't a game of deciding who deserves what!"
Andrew's voice cut through, sharp as glass.
"It's not a game."
Matt flinched.
Andrew's jaw clenched.
"You're the one playing."
Matt's face reddened.
"Oh my god, listen to yourself."
Andrew's gaze flickered toward Cypriana.
And that made everything worse.
Matt noticed immediately.
His voice dropped, dangerous now.
"Don't look at her."
Andrew's eyes narrowed.
"What?"
Matt stepped closer.
"Don't bring her into this."
Cypriana's breath caught.
"Matt—"
Matt didn't look at her.
His eyes were locked on Andrew.
"You're scaring her."
Andrew's lips curled slightly.
"I'm not doing anything to her."
Matt's voice cracked with anger.
"No, you're doing it for her."
Andrew froze.
The air went tight.
Steve whispered, "Oh shit…"
Andrew's voice went low.
"What does that mean?"
Matt's chest rose and fell hard.
"It means you want someone to see you."
Andrew's eyes darkened.
"You don't know anything."
Matt's voice was relentless now.
"I know you're acting like this power is some excuse to finally hurt people back."
Andrew stepped forward, voice shaking.
"And what if it is?"
Cypriana's breath stopped.
Matt blinked.
Andrew's eyes burned.
"What if I'm tired of being stepped on?"
Matt snapped, "Then talk to someone!"
Andrew laughed—sharp, ugly.
"Talk to who? You?"
Matt's jaw clenched.
"Yes!"
Andrew's gaze flickered.
Then—
Quietly—
"You don't actually care."
The words hit harder than shouting.
Matt stared.
Andrew's voice was bitter, almost trembling.
"You care because she cares."
Cypriana's heart dropped.
Matt's face went pale.
"Andrew…"
Andrew looked at Cypriana now.
His eyes were too intense.
Too exposed.
"You followed me," he said softly.
Cypriana flinched.
"I—"
Matt stepped between them immediately.
"Don't."
Andrew's gaze hardened.
Cypriana's throat tightened.
"Andrew, I was worried."
Andrew's laugh was empty.
"Worried."
He nodded slowly.
"Right."
Steve finally stepped forward, voice frantic.
"Okay! Okay, guys, stop. This is getting—this is getting bad."
Matt rounded on Steve.
"This was your idea!"
Steve's eyes widened.
"Mine?! I said pranks, not… whatever that was!"
Andrew's voice cut through like ice.
"You wanted fun."
Steve swallowed.
Andrew's hand lifted slightly.
Cypriana's stomach dropped instantly.
Matt saw it.
"Andrew," Matt warned again, voice sharp. "Don't."
Andrew's eyes flashed.
"Or what?"
The air around them vibrated.
A trash can slid across the floor by itself.
Students were staring from a distance now, terrified whispers spreading.
Cypriana stepped forward quickly, voice shaking.
"Andrew, please."
Andrew's gaze flickered to her.
For a second…
Just a second…
He softened.
Then he looked at Matt again.
And the softness died.
Andrew's voice was low.
"You don't get to tell me what to do."
Matt's voice was equally low.
"Yes. I do."
Andrew's breathing turned ragged.
"You're not in charge."
Matt snapped, "Someone has to be before you hurt someone!"
Andrew's eyes went cold.
"Maybe someone deserves to get hurt."
Cypriana's blood ran cold.
Matt stared at him like he'd been slapped.
Steve whispered, "Dude…"
Andrew took a step back.
His voice was quiet now.
Almost calm.
"You're all scared of me now."
Cypriana's chest tightened.
"No—"
Andrew shook his head.
"It's fine."
He backed away slowly.
Matt's voice cracked.
"Andrew, don't walk away."
Andrew's eyes flickered.
Then—
"You already left."
And with that…
He turned.
Walked down the hallway alone.
The lockers stopped rattling.
The air settled.
But the damage didn't.
Cypriana stood trembling.
Matt's fists were clenched.
Steve looked sick.
The world around them kept moving.
But something had broken.
A line had been crossed.
And Cypriana knew—
This was the beginning of the end.