The hallway buzzed with noise — that sharp, electric kind that meant trouble was brewing. A ripple of whispers moved through the students like wildfire, words spilling too fast for Raye to catch until she heard one name that made her freeze.
"Kyle's fighting someone—outside the gym!"
Her heart skipped. "What?" she whispered, clutching her books tighter.
Before Jane could even ask what was wrong, Raye was already running — her shoes slapping against the floor, her breath coming short and sharp. Students crowded near the gym entrance, phones raised, voices gasping and shouting. She shoved her way through the crowd just in time to see a wild swing connect.
"Please don't be him," she whispered, weaving through students. "Don't let it be Kyle—"
Kyle.
He wasn't just fighting — he was furious. His jaw was tight, his eyes blazing with something she'd never seen before. His fist met the other boy's face again, sending him stumbling back. The guy, a tall senior with a mouth that never knew when to shut up, spat blood and laughed hoarsely.
"Still the poor orphan boy, huh? No wonder your mom and dad—"
He didn't finish. Kyle lunged at him, slamming him into the lockers so hard the sound echoed across the hallway.
"Say that again," Kyle growled, his voice low, trembling with rage. "Say that again, and I swear—"
The guy only sneered. "Oh, what? Gonna hit me because you can't handle the truth? Or is it because your little girlfriend—"
Raye's breath caught.
She couldn't move , partly because she was shocked and the other she didn't know what to do .
This was the first time she was seeing him this furious .
Kyle's punch came like a thunderclap, even Raye winced at the impact ; eyes wide open .
The boy dropped, nose bleeding, before a teacher and two students managed to pull Kyle back. His chest rose and fell heavily, his knuckles raw, split open from the impact. His shirt clung to his back, damp with sweat.
"Enough!" Mr Daniel ,voice roared through the chaos. "Both of you — my office, now!"
The crowd broke apart as teachers swarmed in. Students whispered in disbelief, phones disappearing into pockets.
Raye just stood there, frozen.
Kyle—who never lost his cool, who always seemed calm even when everyone else wasn't—looked like a storm. His hair was messy, his jaw clenched so tightly she could almost feel the anger radiating off him.
When one of the teachers grabbed his arm to drag him off, she finally moved.
"Kyle!"
Her voice cracked.
He turned for a moment — their eyes met. There was blood on his lip, a bruise already darkening on his cheek, but his gaze softened when he saw her. For half a heartbeat, she thought he'd say something. But then he looked away, letting the teachers lead him down the hall.
Her chest ached.
By the time she got to the nurse's office, Kyle was gone.
Rod said he needed air when Raye came to see him .
She needed to know what had happen to make Kyle lose his cool so much.
Yeah he fought , but from what raye saw , he was really pissed_ like angry .
Unfortunately, Rod didn't seem to be in the mood to talk .
She couldn't ace her finger why he was angry , whether it was from the fact Kyle fought and might get expelled_ or he was among the fight.
You know how close friends work _ you hrut me thing , you hrut my friend .
Rod didn't couldn't say anything, he was too angry to speak, he left through the back gate angrily cursing through gritted teeth .
Raye was only to get one information from him and that was Kyle whereabout .
He said ,Kyle was in the counsellors office .
Raye didn't care much . She needed to find him.
Maybe if she found him , he would tell her .
She had never felt worried about someone ever .
Something tugged hard in her when she saw him bruised , angry .
Jane appeared beside her, breathless.
She had been trying to find Raye , since she had ran off .
She heard some news ,from some student in class and thought of finding her friend .
Thankfully she was able to find Raye rounding the crners to the counsellor office .
"Holy crap, what happened? Why was Kyle—"
Raye couldn't speak. She felt tears sting her eyes, confusion swirling with worry and disbelief.
"I don't know," she whispered. "I just— I don't know."
"Jane hold on I need to look for him okay ". Raye said quivjly running her finger in her hair .
She was confused at to what to do now .
But own thing was for sure , she needed to see Kyle to find out if he was okay .
Jane nodded looking worried , she hoped everything would be fine .
She could Helo but curse as she kicked a can heading towards her class . They couldn't stay for a long time without problem.
She hoped things would be alright with her friend and Kyle .
Raye turned the corner near the art _. building—and slammed right into a boy named Jace .
Muttering a quickly apology , she continue sprinting towards the counsellor block , breathing heavily .
Raye's heart was still pounding as she hurried down the hall, her palms slick with sweat. She didn't care that classes had started or that people whispered her name as she passed — she just wanted to see him. To make sure he was okay.
She was still running , climbing down the stairs , as she turned to the next corner bumping into someone.
Raye felt like crying at the sudden block again , catching her footing she held the wall for support .
First Jace .
Now _
Her breath cut in her throat .
Joshua .
"Raye sorry about that ," he said quietly, his usual smart tone gone. "Don't go after him. Not now."
She blinked at him. "What? Why not? He—he's hurt, Josh!"
She didn't even know why she was even trying to reaosm with him . She tried to side step him but he blocked her again immediately.
Raye felt like pulling her hair in frustratiom , was it not obvious in her face that she was worried and in a hurry .
I heard what happened." He looked genuinely sorry. "Is he okay? Are you okay?"
She nodded. "I'm fine. I just… need to find him. I messed up—"
"Raye, listen." Joshua rubbed the back of his neck. "I was a jerk. I get it. But I wanted to say I'm sorry."
"Josh , don't—"
Raye stared at Joshua with wide eyes .
Was he really doing this right now !!!
"I know." He glanced toward the hallway , the door to the counsellor office a few steps away ,then back at her, eyes serious. "But whatever that guy said… it wasn't just about him. It was about you too."
Raye's stomach dropped , she paused trying to process Joshua words ; then it hit .
He was talking about the guy kyke had beaten up .
"What?"
Joshua sighed. "You don't need to hear it. Just… give him space, okay? Please."
Her voice came out shaky. "He wouldn't have fought if it wasn't bad, would he?"
Joshua didn't answer, as he held Raye hand from walking further .
"Joshua please let go ".
"Raye what you doing , you can't barge into the counsellor office , you still need wait for him to step out ".
Gosh .
Raye moved back and forth.
He had a point though .
Raye's knees felt weak as she leaned against the wall, watching the hallway where Kyle had been dragged away.
And for the first time, she realized — she didn't just like him. She cared about him. Enough that seeing him broken and bloodied made her heart feel like it was splitting in two.
Raye was still walking briskly , panicking in front of the counsellor office .
Every nerve in her body screamed that she should open it , but she didn't want him to get into more trouble than he already was .
The hallway outside the counselor's office was strangely quiet — too quiet for what had just happened. The fight had ended, but the tension still clung to the walls, thick and heavy like leftover smoke.
"Raye, don't go in you might worsen things " he said quickly, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it. "Wait—please."
"Josh, not now." She tried to move past him, but he stepped in front of her again.
"Please," he said again, eyes wide. "I need to say this. I didn't know. I swear I didn't know what Danielle was planning. I would never have gone along with that if I knew it'd hurt you."
Raye froze, her hand still on the door.
Joshua suddenly dropped to his knees right there in the hallway.
Students passing by turned to stare, but he didn't seem to care. "I'm sorry, okay ...I know this is not the right time to do this but I feel very guilty _too guilty to think or do anything ?" His voice cracked as he looked up at her. "You can slap me, yell at me — just don't keep hating me like this. I didn't do anything, Raye. I was stupid, but I wasn't cruel."
Raye blinked, caught between frustration and disbelief. "Josh, get up. This isn't—"
"No." He shook his head stubbornly. "Not until you forgive me."
She sighed, rubbing her temples. "Joshua, this isn't the time. Kyle's inside—"
"I know," he muttered. "And I'm sorry about what happened with him too. But please, I'm trying to make things right. I lost my friends, my rep, Layla—" His voice broke slightly when he said her name.
Raye's frown softened.
"I still love her, Raye," he confessed quietly. "I messed everything up, and I just want to fix it. You're close to her, right? Could you… talk to her for me?"
Raye hesitated. "You really think she'll listen to me after everything?"
"I don't know," he admitted, his tone desperate but sincere. "But if anyone could get through to her, it's you."
She crossed her arms, exhaling slowly. "…Fine. I'll try. But not because you begged. Because I know what it feels like to be stuck in the middle of something stupid."
Joshua's face lit up in relief. "Thank you. You don't know how much that means to me."
Before she could say anything, he got up and opened his arms slightly. "So… friends again? Just a quick hug?"
She rolled her eyes but stepped forward, giving him a light, awkward hug. "Don't get used to it," she mumbled.
Joshua laughed softly. "I won't."
But the second she turned around, the air shifted.