Rainwater dripped from Nexus CyberHub's corroded awning as Dean Blackwood's bicycle screeched to a halt. His tweed blazer clung to broad shoulders, eyes scanning the truants like misclassified specimens. Dylan Chen's retching ceased mid-heave.
"Eldenwood students!" The dean's bellow cut through traffic noise. "Explain this dereliction!"
Lily Rao flinched, mascara bleeding into rainwater. Bryce stepped forward, shielding Vivian with his body—a reflex honed since middle school when Cassandra Vaughn hired him as Vivian's "social buffer."
Dean Blackwood dismounted, leather soles slapping wet pavement. His gaze pinned Lily first. "Name. Year. House."
"L-Lily Rao. Sophomore. Oak Hall."
"Purpose for trespassing in this..." He gestured at the cyberhub's flickering sign, "...den of digital delinquency?"
Zane exhaled clove smoke. "Cultural immersion, sir. Researching socioeconomic disparities in—"
"Spare me the Xu family spin, Mr. Xu." The dean's palm sliced air. "Miss Rao?"
Tears streaked Lily's cheeks. "Dean Blackwood, I'll never—"
"Apology speech. Morning assembly. Eight hundred words." His stare swept the group. "The rest of you: Oak Hall lounge. Now."
Oak Hall Lounge
Dean Blackwood: (Looming over Lily) "Why fraternize with legacy brats? Your parents mortgaged their pharmacy for this education!"
Lily: (Shaking) "I'm sorry—"
Dean: "Sorry buys nothing! The Sterlings? Vaughns? Their futures are trust-fund stamped! Yours hangs on merit!"
He pivoted to the others. Vivian twirled a pearl earring—Cassandra's "gift" after the Yale incident.
Vivian: "Dean? Rhetoric isn't my strength. Perhaps summon my stepmother instead?"
Bryce: (Snickering) "Ditto. My father's assistant handles... disciplinary negotiations."
Dylan: "Mine's golfing in Monaco! Want his caddie's number?"
Zane: (Monotone) "Xu Legal Department. Extension 4."
Dean Blackwood's neck mottled crimson. These children weaponized privilege like switchblades.
Dean: "Detention. All of you. One week!"
Vivian: "Thursdays conflict with my equestrian therapist."
Bryce: "Mondays I shadow Senator Sterling's policy team. National security priorities, sir."
Dean: (Slamming a ledger) "Then audio apologies! Eight hundred words by sunrise!"
Lily's whimper cut through the stalemate. Dean Blackwood's shoulders slumped—a weary general conceding unwinnable wars. He scribbled hall passes.
"Miss Rao: speech delivered personally tomorrow. The rest..." He stabbed a finger at Vivian, "Keep your chaos contained. Not every student has generational safety nets."
As Lily scurried away, Vivian muttered, "Rao plays victim like a Stradivarius."
Bryce caught her elbow. "She's out of her depth. Your world drowns amateurs."
They passed Building A's leaded windows. Inside AP Physics, Adrian Stone's profile bent over equations—a study in concentrated ambition. Vivian's steps faltered.
What safety net catches falling stars?
Corridor Encounter
Melody: (Materializing from shadows) "Another scandal, sister? Father's trusteeship review is next month."
Vivian: "Alert the press. Melody Vaughn noticed someone besides herself."
Melody: (Smile glacial) "Merely safeguarding our... shared interests." She held up a voice recorder. "Dean Blackwood's 'safety nets' commentary might interest The Chronicle."
Bryce: "Publish it. I'll leak Sterling Inc.'s endowment withdrawal plans."
Melody: "Bluffing weakens your position, Bryce."
Zane: "Melody? Your debate coach is signaling. Something about 'ethics violations'?"
Melody's composure cracked. She vanished toward the Honors Wing.
Vivian: "Since when do you track debate schedules?"
Zane: "I track everyone's pressure points. Rao's is social oblivion. Yours is Stone. Melody's..." He pocketed his phone, "is appearing less than perfect."
Oak Hall's common room simmered with tension. Lily drafted her apology at Wendy's desk, tears blotting ink. Yueling watched from an armchair, Pride and Prejudice forgotten in her lap.
"'I succumbed to peer pressure'?" Roxy read over Lily's shoulder. "Blaming us? Bold strategy."
Lily's pen snapped. "What choice do I have? My parents can't donate a library wing!"
Wendy adjusted her glasses. "The dean targeted you because you're vulnerable. The system protects its investments." She nodded toward Vivian, sprawled on a Chesterfield dictating her "apology" to Bryce.
Vivian: (Into Bryce's iPhone) "...regret any distress caused by my absence from Comparative Government. Fortunately, Senator Sterling's NATO briefing provided superior geopolitical context..."
Yueling set her book aside. "Dean Blackwood wasn't wrong. Knowledge is our only armor."
Lily crumpled her draft. "Armor? I'm cannon fodder for their privilege!"
Roxy snatched the paper, smoothing it. "Then flip the script. 'I followed leaders Eldenwood celebrates—Vaughn heiresses, future senators. If my actions merit censure, perhaps the institution should examine its idols.'"
Silence fell. Even Vivian paused her dictation.
Wendy: (Slowly) "That's... thermonuclear."
Roxy: (Grinning) "Demolition derby rules, Rao. When you're outmatched? Accelerate toward impact."
Vivian's laughter rang out—sharp, approving, dangerous.