Lavinia was running with anxious steps behind Michael on the road.
Her breathing came out in short, broken gasps.
He didn't look back at her,
he just kept walking.
She finally lifted her hand and grabbed his wrist, holding on tightly as if clinging to the last thread between them.
But Michael yanked his hand away violently, hard enough that her fingers trembled.
He stared at her, his eyes tired, with something strange glimmering in them… something she couldn't understand.
He said in a low but sharp voice: "Lavinia… stop. Let's stay away from each other for a few days."
Her eyes widened,
as if the words struck her soul.
Her throat tightened, and the air no longer seemed to enter her chest. She whispered in a trembling voice:
"What… what do you mean, Michael?"
He didn't answer.
For a moment she thought he would say something—something to ease her pain—but he only gave her one last look.
Then he turned and left.
He left her standing alone in the road, and everything around her felt faded.
She murmured in a broken voice: "I didn't want you to get involved with George… please…"
---
When Lavinia reached the school yard,
the students were staring at her in a way that made her steps slow down.
Their eyes were a mix of fear, confusion, and disgust.
Every time she approached, they stepped back.
"Impossible… is she the one who'll be bait for George?"
"I don't want to get involved with her."
"Don't go near her…"
Her fingers trembled as she looked around.
Everyone avoided her…
everyone fled from her as if she were a walking curse.
She entered the classroom,
and the looks there were even harsher. Pity… fear…
and sharp whispers.
Karen approached her, worry written on her face.
"Lavinia, are you okay? I heard you fought with George last night."
Lavinia nodded quickly, avoiding her friend's eyes: "Yes."
Karen said nervously: "Just… be careful. You know he's dangerous."
"I know," Lavinia whispered.
Suddenly, the classroom door swung open forcefully, and Rocky walked in.
There were light bruises on his face, signs of some confrontation.
He walked straight toward her in front of everyone, then hugged her…
A warm, sudden hug that froze her heart for a moment.
He said with deep worry in his voice: "I was really worried about you."
For the first time since morning, Lavinia felt something that resembled safety… something she desperately needed.
She lifted her arms and hugged him tightly.
Then she noticed the entire class staring at them. She quickly stepped back and said:
"I'm fine, Rocky… don't worry."
Rocky smiled a little, but his voice carried real anger: "Don't worry. If he messes with you again… I'll end him."
Lavinia let out a nervous little laugh: "Thank you, Rocky…"
But the moment didn't last.
The classroom door opened again.
Michael walked in.
His face was completely swollen.
Worse than it had been yesterday.
Silence filled the classroom, and everyone stared at him as if he had become another victim of George.
Rocky's eyebrows shot up in shock.
He walked slowly toward Michael, and the two of them exchanged a long, silent look…
Charged with everything that wasn't being said. Then they both stepped away without a word.
Michael sat down in his seat, not looking at anyone… not even at Lavinia, who kept watching him with worry gnawing at her chest.
---
On the other side of the school…
Fred was sitting in his chair, surrounded by the girls who loved listening to him talk.
He acted as usual, with exaggerated confidence, like a king sitting among his servants.
One of the girls approached him and said: "Fred… did you hear about it?"
"Hear about what?" he replied, uninterested.
She leaned in and whispered: "That girl you hang around with… Lavinia. They say George hit her last night. The strongest bully in the school."
Fred raised his eyebrows: "Impossible… you're joking."
But another girl interrupted: "I saw everything. I think it was his fault… he pushed her first, then slapped her in front of everyone."
Fred listened to the rest of the story, and for the first time, real anger appeared on his face.
Another girl beside him said: "But Fred… I know she's just a friend to you. We don't want you to get yourself hurt."
Another added: "Yeah, George is dangerous. Don't get involved… he'll hurt you."
Fred let out a short laugh and said: "Oh… as if I would. This has nothing to do with me anyway."
But the frown on his face and the tension in his features said the complete opposite.
With the beginning of the class,
the teacher was explaining, but Lavinia's mind was completely elsewhere.
She felt like she had fallen into a trap, and that she hadn't only dragged herself into it… but Rocky and Michael as well.
"How am I going to get out of this?" she thought, her eyes drifting toward Michael sitting in complete silence.
She remembered the past days of bullying… when he always told her, "I'm fine."
But now? He wasn't fine. He couldn't even look at her.
Her mind swirled with guilt and fear.
---
When break time came,
Lavinia stayed in the classroom.
For the first time, she felt afraid to leave.
A chill spread through her body as she stared at the closed door.
"What if I apologize to him?" she thought.
"Will they leave me alone? Will George back off?"
Then another thought… worse: "Or should I tell Fred…? But he's just a magician… I'll drag him into this too… What if he uses the forgetting spell? Maybe…"
But her thoughts were suddenly cut off.
She heard rough laughter, heavy footsteps, and the classroom door being flung open. Her blood froze.
George and his group walked in.
Lavinia's eyes widened… her fingers trembled.
George approached slowly, his eyes observing her trembling with sharp mockery.
He leaned slightly toward her ear and whispered in a cold voice:
"Wow… look who's shaking. You look amazing."
He patted her shoulder, then said: "Don't worry… I won't hurt you. But I'll hurt anyone who gets close to you."
Then suddenly, he kicked one of the desks violently.
It fell to the floor, scattered supplies everywhere.
He ordered his group: "Trash the place."
They began flipping desks, breaking pens, throwing waste bins…
Chaos filled the entire classroom.
Her classmates stayed frozen in fear, not daring to move.
As for Lavinia…
she sat on the floor, collapsing, tears burning her eyes.
George left laughing, his gang behind him, leaving destruction in their wake.
---
Outside the classroom, George walked with a wicked smile.
He turned to his crew and said:
"So guys… what do you think of this plan?"
One of them asked: "Plan? What is it?"
George grinned a devilish grin and said: "It's…"