Chapter 5 - THE TRAP
On Tuesday, the atmosphere at Sherwood High shifted from icy isolation to active hostility. Leo’s mother had begged the principal for a three-day extension on the disciplinary hearing to gather evidence, which was granted, but it only prolonged the agony.
"We need to get close to Marcus's inner circle," Maya whispered as she, Leo, and Sam huddled near the vending machines during fifth period. "They know who filmed it. Jax was there right after it happened. He knows something."
"I'll talk to him," Leo said, his voice trembling but resolute.
"No way, Leo, he’ll pulverize you," Sam said.
"He won't do it in front of cameras," Leo argued, gesturing to the hallway. "If I provoke him slightly, he might brag. Bullies love to brag when they think they've completely won."
Ten minutes later, Leo intercepted Jax near the weight room. The hallway was relatively empty, save for a few students packing up their gear.
"Jax," Leo called out, keeping his distance.
Jax turned around, a cruel smirk immediately forming on his face. "Well, look who it is. The walking ghost. Come to beg me not to press charges?"
"I want to know who gave you the video, Jax," Leo said, stepping closer, keeping his hands visibly at his sides. "You posted it within minutes of it going viral. You know it’s fake. You know Marcus started it."
Jax laughed, a booming, ugly sound that echoed off the concrete walls. "It doesn't matter who started it, scholarship. What matters is what people see. And right now, everyone sees you as a monster. The guy who gave us the footage? Let's just say he did the school a favor."
Suddenly, a loud crash came from around the corner. Maya had been filming the exchange from the shadows of the stairwell, but one of Jax’s massive linebacker friends, who had been lingering nearby, had spotted her. He snatched Maya’s phone straight out of her hand.
"Hey! Give that back!" Maya yelled, reaching for it.
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The football player laughed, tossing the phone to Jax. Jax caught it seamlessly, looking down at the recording screen. "Nice try, Lin. Trying to play detective?" Without a second thought, Jax dropped the phone onto the concrete floor and slammed his heavy sneaker down on it. The glass shattered with a sickening crunch.
"Oops," Jax smiled wickedly. "Accident. Keep sticking your nose in Marcus’s business, and your little blog won't be the only thing that gets broken."
