The bully's redemption

Few minutes ago...

The hallway pulsed with life—chatter, footsteps, and laughter mingling in an unrelenting buzz. But one sound pierced through it all—laughter. Loud. Cruel.

Three boys—Charleston, Sidney, and Jimmy—huddled near the lockers, shoulders shaking as they watched a video on one of their phones. Kamsi's video.

"Look at that," Jimmy said, his voice dripping with mockery and something far worse. "She's a damn masterpiece. That ass…" He let out a low whistle. "I'd pay to taste fire like that."

Charleston choked on his laughter. Sidney punched Jimmy's arm, grinning. "Damn. Someone's brave today."

Jimmy, emboldened, pushed further. "I bet Xavier's had his fill. But if not…" He shrugged with exaggerated nonchalance. "I'll gladly take over. Hell, I'll even send her back in one piece. If she's not broken."

Their laughter splintered the air.

From across the hall, Xavier froze mid-step. Damon, Gilbert, and Alexander flanked him, their conversation dying as Jimmy's words reached them.

Xavier's head turned slowly, his gaze locking onto the trio. Damon felt it instantly—the shift in the air. "Shit," he muttered under his breath, exchanging a look with Gilbert.

Alexander barely moved, his voice cold as ever. "And here I thought the day would be boring."

Xavier stepped forward, his posture loose but dangerous, like a wolf stalking prey. His voice cut through the lingering laughter, low and sharp as a blade. "What the hell did you just say?"

Jimmy straightened, a cocky smirk on his lips. His friends stiffened, nudging him to back down, but Jimmy ignored them. A crowd was already forming—an audience. Jimmy wanted a show.

"You heard me," he said, chest puffing out. "It's not my fault you're too soft to handle her. Or too slow. I'm just—"

He didn't finish.

Xavier moved faster than Kamsi could comprehend. His fist cracked against Jimmy's jaw, a sickening thud that silenced the hallway. Jimmy stumbled back, clutching his face, eyes wide in disbelief.

The crowd gasped, but Xavier wasn't done. He grabbed Jimmy's collar, slamming him into the lockers so hard they rattled. Jimmy's head snapped back, metal meeting bone with a dull, resonating clang.

"Xavier!" someone whispered, but no one dared intervene.

Xavier's face was a mask of pure fury. His breathing was shallow, controlled—but his eyes burned with something raw and unrelenting. He raised his fist again.

"Say it again," Xavier hissed, his voice deathly quiet. "I dare you."

Jimmy's lip trembled, but the stupid smirk lingered. "What's the matter?" he taunted weakly, blood trickling from his nose. "Scared I'll—"

The next punch came harder. And then another.

Her feet moved before her mind caught up.

"Xavier!"

He didn't hear her. His fists kept coming. Jimmy's face was barely recognizable now, blood smeared across his skin, pooling on the floor.

"Xavier, stop!" Kamsi's voice cracked, louder this time, ringing through the hallway.

The fist Xavier had drawn back froze mid-air. He blinked as if surfacing from deep water, his breath ragged, shoulders rising and falling. Slowly, he turned his head toward her.

Kamsi stood there, her face pale but resolute. Her wide eyes searched his, and for a fleeting moment, something shifted in Xavier's expression—recognition. Shame, maybe.

"Please," she whispered.

Xavier's fingers loosened. Jimmy crumpled to the floor, unmoving. Xavier rose to his full height, his fists still trembling at his sides. His knuckles were raw, blood streaking down his skin.

The crowd held its breath as Xavier turned to Kamsi. Without a word, he grabbed her wrist—gently, but firm enough to pull her away. The hallway parted like a sea, murmurs rising in his wake.

---

Kamsi stepped into the classroom, her head low, haunted by the scene burned into her mind—Xavier's blood-smeared face, the brutal force of his punches raining down on Jimmy, and the horrifying sound of flesh meeting metal. The sight had left her shaken, her thoughts a tangled mess.

"Girl, where have you been?" Zendaya's voice yanked her back to reality. Zendaya was already striding toward her, brows furrowed with both concern and curiosity.

Kamsi tried to gather herself, forcing a weak smile. "I just… needed some air."

Zendaya squinted at her, as if reading between the cracks. "Mmmhmm. You sure? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Before Kamsi could come up with an answer, Zendaya dropped her voice to a whisper, leaning in conspiratorially. "But forget about that for now. You won't believe what's going on."

Kamsi frowned, curiosity flickering through the haze of her thoughts. "What are you talking about?"

Zendaya glanced around the classroom, ensuring no one was paying attention. She leaned closer, clearly savoring the moment. "It's about Xavier. They just announced his punishment."

Kamsi stiffened. Her chest tightened. "Punishment? What do you mean?"

"Two weeks' suspension," Zendaya said, voice tinged with disbelief, "and he's benched for the next basketball game."

Kamsi blinked, the words ringing in her ears. "Wait… the game? The one with the scouts?"

"Yep. The scouts are gonna be there. Can you imagine? Xavier Alastair—The Xavier Alastair—sidelined for that," Zendaya emphasized, shaking her head. "Oh, and they slapped him with community service too. Probably scrubbing graffiti or picking up trash."

Kamsi stared at Zendaya, shock still settling in. Her mind reeled at the magnitude of it. Suspension. Benched. Community service.

"Why?" Kamsi managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper.

Zendaya's brows shot up as if Kamsi should already know. "You haven't heard?" She paused for effect, her tone taking on a mix of drama and intrigue. "Jimmy. Apparently, he was running his mouth about you."

Kamsi froze, her blood turning cold. "What?"

"Yeah," Zendaya continued, her expression sharpening with disgust. "He said… awful stuff. Like how you were hot and that he'd…" She grimaced, clearly struggling to repeat it. "Let's just say he said things no one should ever say out loud. Then he threw in some trash about Xavier too—something about sharing you or whatever. That's what set Xavier off."

The room suddenly felt smaller, suffocating. Kamsi's heart pounded painfully in her chest. Because of me.

Zendaya's tone turned thoughtful, almost impressed. "I mean, I get why Xavier lost it. Jimmy's lucky to be alive after spewing that garbage." She shook her head. "Still, two weeks' suspension? That's serious. And his parents are lawyers, so they're threatening to sue. That's the real reason the school came down on Xavier so hard. They can't afford a scandal."

Kamsi's pulse roared in her ears, drowning out Zendaya's voice. The guilt hit her like a weight, settling deep in her chest.

This is my fault.

She could still see Xavier—his fists flying, his eyes blazing with unrelenting fury. For the first time, she truly understood that it wasn't mindless violence; it was defense. He had snapped because of her. And now he was paying the price.

"Kams?" Zendaya's voice broke through, pulling her back. "You good? You're just standing there."

Kamsi blinked, jerking her focus back to Zendaya's worried face. "Yeah… I just…" Her voice trailed off, cracking under the weight of everything she couldn't say.

Zendaya softened. "Hey, don't let it get to you. It's not like it's your fault."

But it is,Kamsi thought bitterly. Her stomach twisted at the lie she wanted to believe.

Forcing herself into her seat, she stared blankly at her desk, her mind spiraling. She thought of Xavier—benched, forced to sit out a game that could change his future, suspended for two weeks, and sentenced to community service.

He had done it to defend her.

Her chest tightened painfully. *What kind of person does that?*

The guilt gnawed at her like a persistent ache. And for the first time, a question slipped into her mind—uninvited, unwelcome, but impossible to ignore.