Sophia had been leaning against the wall beside a group of her friends, arms folded, an amused, almost smug smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She didn't step in, didn't warn Graham, didn't even call out Ken's behavior. She simply watched, curious, almost eager to see what the new boy would do when pushed.
Hailey, on the other hand, looked stressed the moment Ken stepped closer. She moved between them quickly, hands out, trying to block him. "Ken, stop. Don't start anything. Not here. Not again."
Ken ignored her completely.
He didn't even acknowledge she had spoken. His anger had already locked onto Graham like he had singled out a target. Hailey tried again, grabbing his arm. "Ken, listen. He didn't do anything. Leave him alone."
"Move," Ken snapped, shoving her aside with enough force to make the class gasp. Hailey stumbled back, eyes wide with a mix of frustration and embarrassment.
Graham rose from his seat slowly, not because he wanted to fight, but because Ken's hand shot out and grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him forward with a jerk.
"Say that again," Ken growled, face inches from Graham's.
Graham stared him dead in the eyes, unflinching. "You heard me the first time."
Ken yanked him harder.
Graham didn't resist the pull. Instead, he leaned into it, and before Ken could understand what was happening, Graham drove his forehead straight into Ken's nose.
The crack was loud enough to silence the entire room.
Ken's grip loosened immediately. He stumbled back with a strangled sound, hands flying to his face. "What the hell..."
Graham didn't wait.
The moment Ken regained his footing and tried to swing a punch, Graham slid out of the way with a quick sidestep. Ken's fist cut through empty air. Graham lowered his stance, eyes sharp, and in one fluid motion, he drove his fist into Ken's ribs with a solid, precise punch.
Ken folded forward with a gasp.
The classroom erupted in stunned whispers, shuffling feet, wide eyes. No one had ever seen Ken struggle. No one had ever seen him overpowered this quickly.
Graham stepped back, breathing steady, not even winded. Ken stayed hunched, one hand gripping his side, the other still pressed to his bleeding nose. He tried to straighten up, but the pain forced him back down with a choked grunt.
Sophia's smug smile widened into something more impressed.
Hailey stared at Graham, shocked but also relieved.
Ken could only glare up from his crouched position, breath shaky, pride shattered.
Ken pushed himself upright with difficulty, still clutching his ribs. His face was red with anger and humiliation, blood trickling from his nose, but he couldn't muster another word. He glanced around the room, saw the shocked faces, the whispers, the students who had always feared him now looking at him with something closer to disbelief… maybe even satisfaction.
That made it worse.
He shot Graham one final glare, furious and shaken, then turned and stormed toward the door, each step stiff with pain.
As he reached the doorway, Graham exhaled slowly and shook his head. "Yeah, keep going," he said loud enough for everyone to hear. "Hurry away like a dog with its tail between its legs."
It landed perfectly.
The entire class erupted into laughter that came from weeks, months, even years of putting up with Ken's tyranny. Some students covered their mouths to hide it, others didn't bother. Even Hailey tried to stifle hers, failing miserably. Sophia didn't even try, she laughed openly, almost proud.
Ken froze in the doorway, shoulders tightening. He didn't turn back, didn't dare. He simply marched out, the laughter following him all the way down the hall like a shadow he couldn't outrun.
Graham sat back down, brushing off the front of his shirt as if nothing significant had happened at all. The noise slowly died down, replaced by curious glances.
One thing was clear to everyone now...The new boy was not someone to mess with.
Hailey slowly settled back into the seat beside him, still looking a little breathless from everything that had just happened. The class around them gradually returned to its usual noise, but several students kept sneaking glances at Graham as if he had grown a second head.
Hailey tucked a strand of blue hair behind her ear. "That was… something," she said quietly, still watching him with a strange mix of gratitude and disbelief.
Graham leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. "He won't bother you anymore," he said, matter-of-fact, as if he had simply solved a minor inconvenience. "People like him only act tough until someone shows they're not."
Hailey let out a small breath, almost a laugh. "You didn't have to step in like that, you know."
"He grabbed me first," Graham replied, glancing her way. "But even if he hadn't… I don't like watching people get pushed around."
Hailey's expression softened. "Well… thank you. Really."
Graham nodded once. "No problem."
A brief silence followed, not awkward, just calmer than the chaos before. Hailey tapped her fingers lightly against her notebook before speaking again.
"Um… look," she said, a little hesitant, "I was thinking… maybe you'd want to hang out later? We could get dinner or something. Just as friends."
Graham offered a small, polite smile. "I appreciate the invite, but I think I'll pass today. Still settling in… and I'm not really in the right headspace."
Hailey nodded immediately, not offended. "That makes sense. Another time, maybe."
"Yeah," Graham said. "Maybe."