A decision.
She grabbed Tessa's wrist and pulled it away from her face. Tessa tried to yank free, but Maya held on long enough to create space between them.
"Do not touch me again."
Tessa laughed through clenched teeth. "You think one little shove makes you tough?"
"No," Maya said. "I think you just showed everyone who you are."
The words landed harder than the shove.
Several phones were pointed at them now. Paige stood near the table, pale and silent. Nia was still on the ground, shouting that Maya should be expelled.
Tessa looked around and understood what the cameras meant. Her expression shifted from anger to calculation.
"She started it," Tessa said loudly.
Maya looked at the soaked phone in her hand. "You ruined my things."
"She pushed me."
"You grabbed me first."
"She's lying!"
A campus security officer ran through the cafeteria doors. He was followed by a student adviser wearing a navy Westbridge polo shirt. The officer raised both hands and told everyone to separate.
Maya stepped back.
Tessa immediately pointed at her.
"That girl attacked all three of us."
Nia got to her feet with Paige's help. "She kicked me for no reason."
Paige opened her mouth.
Then she looked at Tessa.
Maya saw the hesitation. It lasted less than a second, but it was there.
The security officer turned to Maya. "Did you strike them?"
Maya looked at the crowd. At the phones. At her ruined notebook. At the lemonade dripping from the table onto the concrete.
"Yes," she said.
The officer's expression hardened.