Maya’s jaw clenched. She hadn’t been asking. She’d overheard two girls talking about Derrick’s schedule during lunch. Apparently, half the school knew his routines by heart.
“Look, I get it,” Derrick continued. “You’re playing hard to get. It’s cute, but you should know I always get what I want.”
Maya stopped walking. “What makes you think I’m something you can get?”
Derrick’s smile faltered for just a moment before returning full force. “Everything’s for sale, sweetheart. Just got to find the right price.”
The next day, Derrick was waiting by her car in the parking lot after school. Maya had borrowed her mother’s Honda for the day—nothing fancy—but Derrick ran his hand along the hood like he was appraising it.
“Nice ride. Little beat up, but it’s got character. Like its owner.”
“Get away from my car.”
“Relax, I’m not gonna hurt it. Just admiring.” He moved to block her path to the driver’s door. “You know, I could give you rides to school. My Mustang’s a lot nicer than this thing.”
“I don’t need rides from you.”
“What do you need then? Money? I got plenty. My dad owns three car dealerships.” Derrick stepped closer. “Or maybe you need protection. This school can be rough for outsiders.”
Maya felt her hands curl into fists. “Is that a threat?”
“Just facts. Things happen to people who don’t fit in. Accidents. Misunderstandings.” Derrick’s voice dropped lower. “But stick with me and nobody will bother you.”
Maya unlocked her car and got in, but Derrick grabbed the door before she could close it.
“Think about it,” he said. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
The harassment escalated throughout the week. Derrick appeared everywhere: outside her classes, in the cafeteria, by her locker. His comments became more explicit, his “accidental” touches more frequent. He’d brush against her in the hallway, put his hand on her lower back when talking to her, stand too close when she was at her locker.
Maya tried going to the guidance counselor first.
“Mrs. Patterson, I need to report a problem with another student.”
The counselor, a tired-looking woman in her fifties, barely looked up from her paperwork. “What kind of problem?”
“A student named Derrick Mitchell has been following me, making inappropriate comments, touching me when I tell him not to.”
Mrs. Patterson’s pen stopped moving. “Derrick Mitchell? Are you sure you’re not misinterpreting friendly behavior? Derrick’s a good kid. Star athlete, honor roll, comes from a good family.”
“He told me he could be my master, like in the old days. He follows me to my car. He touches me when I tell him not to.”
“Well,” Mrs. Patterson set down her pen and looked at Maya for the first time. “Sometimes when we’re new to a place, we can misread social cues. Boys here might be more forward than what you’re used to. It’s probably just his way of being welcoming.”
Maya stared at her. “Welcoming?”
“I suggest you try to be more open-minded. Give Derrick a chance. He’s really quite nice once you get to know him.”
Maya left the office feeling sick.
Meanwhile, across the school, Jake Santos watched Maya walk past his table in the library, her jaw tight with frustration. He recognized that look—the same expression he wore after his own failed attempts to report Derrick’s group for shoving him into lockers and calling him “Taco Boy.” Jake had been at Westfield for two years, ever since his family moved from El Paso. Derrick and his friends had made those years miserable, but Jake had learned to keep his head down, take different routes through the halls, and eat lunch in hidden corners.
Watching Maya, he saw someone who hadn’t learned to disappear yet. Part of him admired her refusal to back down. Another part of him feared what Derrick would do to someone who kept saying no.
That Friday, Derrick cornered Maya by the gym doors after last period.
“You’ve been avoiding me all week. That hurts my feelings.”
“Good.”
Derrick’s smile turned cold. “You think you’re better than me? Than this place? Let me tell you something, princess. You’re nothing special. Just another—”
“Just another what?” Maya stepped closer, her voice dangerous.
Derrick’s eyes gleamed. “You know what. Don’t make me say it.”
Maya felt something snap inside her chest. “Say it. I dare you.”
For a moment, Derrick looked like he might actually do it. Then his smile returned, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Soon,” he said quietly. “Real soon, you’re gonna learn your place.”
Monday morning, Derrick huddled with his friends by the trophy case, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “Today’s the day, boys. Little Miss Attitude is about to learn her place.”
“What you got planned?” asked Tyler, the stocky one with acne scars.
“Public humiliation. Gonna make her beg for my attention in front of everyone.” Derrick’s eyes gleamed. “She thinks she’s too good for me? Wait till she sees what happens to girls who don’t show proper respect.”
“Dude, you’re gonna get in trouble,” said Connor, the tall, lanky one.
“For what? Flirting? My dad’s on the school board, remember? Besides, it’ll just look like playful banter to anyone watching.” Derrick cracked his knuckles. “Time to break this filly in.”
His friends exchanged glances but said nothing. They’d seen Derrick’s “playful banter” before.
Derrick spotted Maya at her locker and straightened his shoulders. “Showtime.”
“There’s my girl,” Derrick announced loudly, striding up with his usual entourage. “Miss me over the weekend?”
“I’m not your girl,” Maya said without turning around.
“Come on, don’t be shy. Everyone knows we’ve got something special.” Derrick moved closer, his voice carrying across the hallway. “Been telling everyone how exotic you are. How different.”
Maya slammed her locker shut and faced him. “Stop calling me exotic.”
“Why? It’s a compliment. You’re not like the basic girls here. You’ve got that wild, untamed thing going on.” Derrick’s friends laughed, and Maya noticed more students gathering to watch. “Like a beautiful animal that needs to be broken in.”
The hallway went quiet. Maya felt every eye on her, waiting to see how she’d respond to being compared to an animal that needed breaking.
“You want to know what’s wild and untamed?” Maya’s voice was steady, but her hands were shaking with rage. “Your breath. When’s the last time you brushed your teeth or showered? You smell like a locker room that’s been closed up all summer.”
Derrick’s smile faltered. “Hey now—”
“And speaking of basic, let’s talk about your personality. You’ve got the depth of a puddle and the intelligence of a brick. The only reason girls talk to you is because daddy’s money buys you fake friends and a fake reputation.”
Derrick’s face was turning red. His friends shifted uncomfortably.
“Your idea of flirting is calling girls exotic animals and talking about ‘the old days’ like you’re some plantation owner. News flash: those days are over, and they’re not coming back. You’re just a scared little boy who can’t handle being told no.” Maya stepped closer, her voice rising. “You think you’re intimidating? You think you’re special? You’re nothing. You’re a walking cliché with a trust fund and daddy issues. The most interesting thing about you is your car. And that’s only because someone else designed it.”
The crowd had grown larger, phones coming out to record. Derrick’s face was now crimson.
“And one more thing,” Maya said, her voice cutting through the silence. “I wouldn’t date you if you were the last boy on Earth. I have standards, and you don’t even register on the scale.”
Derrick stood there for a moment, his mouth opening and closing like a fish. The laughter from earlier had died completely. Students were looking at him with expressions ranging from shock to barely concealed amusement. Derrick felt the humiliation burning through his chest like acid. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. She was supposed to break, not fight back. His friends were staring at him, waiting to see what he’d do…
