THE BOY NEXT DOOR
Abby asked, gently holding Maya’s arm.
Maya shook her head, unable to find the words to explain.
***
Liam sat in the principal's office, his eyes staring at the ground. The principal, Mrs. Smith, looked at him sternly. "Liam, we have absolutely zero tolerance towards violence and bullying on our campus," she said. "Your behavior was unacceptable, and action will be taken."
Liam remained silent; his jaw clenched tight.
Suddenly, the door opened, and in walked Maya. "Excuse me, Mrs. Smith," she said. "I need to speak with you."