She clearly possessed the skill to control the situation without violence. Aaliyah remained silent, but her hands clenched into fists under the table. The room felt like it was spinning around her. Doctor Rodriguez looked uncomfortable. "Are you suggesting that trained martial artists should allow themselves to be attacked?" "I'm suggesting they follow the law," Patterson said firmly.
Miss Brooks's black belt certification comes with legal responsibilities. She violated those responsibilities the moment she chose violence over restraint. Victor Vale nodded approvingly. My son and his friends made poor choices, but they were teenagers acting impulsively. Miss Brooks is a trained fighter who escalated a verbal disagreement into physical assault.
They surrounded her, Marcus repeated, his voice rising. She couldn't retreat because they wouldn't let her. The video evidence suggests otherwise, Patterson said smoothly. Miss Brooks could have called for help. She could have submitted to avoid conflict.
Instead, she chose to demonstrate her fighting skills on untrained students. The panel members exchanged troubled glances. The legal argument was clearly affecting their judgment. Based on these new considerations, Patterson continued, I recommend immediate suspension pending a full investigation. Miss Brooks's access to classes and scholarship funding should be frozen until we can determine whether criminal charges are appropriate.
Criminal charges? Aaliyah finally spoke, her voice barely controlled. Assault with a deadly weapon, Patterson replied without emotion. Your training makes this a felony case. The room erupted in angry whispers from students packed in the gallery.
Several people shouted protests before security restored order. Director Walsh called for a brief recess. The panel huddled together, reviewing Victor's documents and Patterson's recommendations. When they returned, Dean Morrison delivered the verdict with obvious reluctance. Given the serious legal questions raised, this panel accepts Administrator Patterson's recommendation for temporary suspension.
Miss Brooks's enrollment and scholarship access are frozen, pending final review. The words hit Aaliyah like physical blows. Everything she had worked for was disappearing. The hearing will resume once we've completed our investigation, Morrison continued. Until then, Miss Brooks is barred from attending classes or accessing campus facilities.
Outside the hearing room, Grayson waited with a satisfied smile. As Aaliyah walked past, he whispered just loud enough for her to hear, "Told you my father would handle this. Enjoy your last night on campus, scholarship girl." Students who had gathered to support Aaliyah looked shocked and angry. Some called out encouragement, but their voices sounded hollow. Now, as Aliyah reached the exit, Brett appeared beside her.
His face was pale, but determined. Wait, he said quietly, pulling out a folded paper. I wrote everything down. The truth about what Grayson planned. How he threatened us to keep quiet.
Everything. He pressed the signed statement into the investigator's hands. I'm done protecting him. Evening shadows stretched across campus as Aaliyah stepped outside. Her entire future felt suspended, hanging by threads that Grayson's father was systematically cutting.