His right hand came forward, aimed directly toward my face.
But I’d already seen where his weight was moving.
I stepped aside and turned my shoulders, guiding his extended arm past me without trying to overpower him.
His momentum carried him forward.
Brody stumbled across the glossy hardwood, his sneakers squeaking as he fought to regain his balance.
The crowd reacted with a collective gasp.
He turned around.
His face had become bright red.
“You little—”
He approached again, faster this time.
I didn’t want to hurt him.
I didn’t even want to humiliate him.
I wanted the confrontation to end.
When he reached toward me again, I caught his wrist and elbow, moved with his forward momentum, and guided him down onto the floor in one controlled motion.
It happened quickly.
One moment he was advancing.
The next, he was on the hardwood.
I released him immediately.
No additional movement.
No unnecessary force.
I stepped away and lowered my hands.
For the first time since the confrontation began, I could hear the fluorescent lights humming above us.
Brody remained on one knee.
He looked bewildered.
He wasn’t injured.
His movements were normal, and he was already preparing to stand.
But his pride had suffered something far more difficult for him to understand.
He’d tried to humiliate someone who hadn’t even wanted to compete.
And the cameras had recorded the result.
I backed away another step.
“Are you okay?”
I asked.
He stared at me.
His expression twisted.
Then he pointed directly at my chest.
“HE CAME AT ME FIRST!”
The gym erupted into confused shouting.
Coach Miller finally raised his head.
He looked at Brody kneeling on the floor.
Then at me, standing six feet away with both hands open.
Then at the students holding their phones.
His face became unusually still.
He slipped his phone into his pocket and stood up.
“Nobody leaves this gym.”
His eyes moved toward me.
“Ethan, stay exactly where you are.”
Then he turned toward Brody.
And I heard him ask a question that made my stomach tighten.
“Did he put his hands on you?”
Brody answered immediately.
“Yes!
He grabbed me and threw me down for no reason!”
Coach Miller looked at me again.
For the first time, I understood the danger wasn’t necessarily over.
Because Brody had just discovered another way to win.
He could make me the one who got punished.
The story isn’t over yet.
Select “Next Part” below to see what happens next.
