The hallway was thick with a silence so heavy it felt physical. Every student stood frozen, their breath hitching as they watched the unthinkable: Ethan, the untouchable king of the school, sprawled on the floor.
Ethan’s hand flew to his jaw, his fingers coming away stained with a smudge of crimson. He looked up, his eyes wide with a shock that quickly sharpened into a jagged, dangerous edge. He wasn't used to pain, and he certainly wasn't used to it coming from her.
"Is this your way of saying thank you?" he barked, his voice echoing off the lockers. He stood up slowly, looming over her, his presence usually enough to make anyone wither.
"Thank you?" Bella’s voice was a jagged blade. She let out a short, hysterical scoff that sounded more like a growl.
"Yes," Ethan snapped, stepping i
