The energy around her had changed, and she felt it instantly. Chase let out a short, awkward laugh, the kind people use when they’re trying to pretend they’re unbothered. “Whatever,” he muttered, waving a hand as if Richard wasn’t worth the attention. But when he looked around, the reaction wasn’t what he expected, no nods, no smirks, no support.
Just a growing collection of unimpressed stares. It was subtle, but devastating. Students who always hovered near the bullies took a quiet step back. Someone folded their arms. Another looked down at their shoes. The space widened, not dramatically, just enough to show that something had shifted in the room’s gravity. For the first time, Chase looked uncertain.