But Grayson's expression quickly shifted from panic to calculated relief as he realized something crucial. Officer, that video doesn't show how it started. It only shows me trying to defend my friends after she had already attacked them. His voice gained confidence as he pressed his advantage. Of course, it looks like I'm the aggressor.
You're seeing me react to her violence, not seeing her initial attack on Brett and Cody. The video proves nothing about who started this. Tessa nodded quickly, seizing on Grayson's logic. Exactly. By the time anyone started recording, she had already hurt Brett and Cody.
Grayson was just trying to protect us. Martinez frowned as he looked at the video again, realizing that Grayson had identified a critical weakness in the evidence. The recording clearly showed defensive action from Aaliyah, but it did not capture the initial moments that had triggered the entire confrontation. Officer Santos approached his partner, speaking in a low voice. We need to report this to student conduct immediately.
This is beyond campus security's authority now. Martinez nodded grimly and addressed all five students. I'm going to need all of you to report to the student conduct office right now. They'll handle the formal investigation and determine what disciplinary action is appropriate. As the group prepared to move toward the administrative building, Grayson moved close enough to Aaliyah that only she could hear his whispered words.
You're the one getting expelled, he said softly, his voice filled with cold satisfaction. My father donated millions to this university. And your little scholarship won't protect you from what's coming. The walk to the administration building felt like a funeral march. Campus security escorted the group along the treelined pathway, their radios crackling with updates every few steps.
Students stopped to stare as the procession passed, whispering behind cupped hands and pointing at the visible scratches on Brett's arms and the redness around Grayson's wrists. Aaliyah kept her eyes forward. She could feel the weight of every stare, every whispered comment. This was exactly what she had feared most, becoming the center of campus drama that could destroy everything she had worked for. The administration building's glass doors reflected their approach like a mirror.
Inside, fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting harsh shadows across polished floors and beige walls lined with motivational posters about academic excellence and campus community. A receptionist with gray hair and wire- rimmed glasses looked up from her computer as they entered. Security called ahead. Please have the students wait in separate rooms while we prepare for interviews. Officer Martinez nodded.
We'll need the conduct administrator immediately. This involves potential assault charges. Within minutes, a middle-aged woman in a navy blazer appeared from a side office. Her name plate read, "Dr. Patricia Hendris, assistant director of student conduct. She surveyed the group with practice deficiency, her gaze lingering on the visible marks on Brett and Grayson.
I'll speak with each student individually, Dr. Hrix announced. Let's start with the injured parties first. Aaliyah's stomach dropped. The phrasing made it clear who the administrator already considered the victim and who she considered the threat. Grayson went first, disappearing into Dr. Hendrick's office for nearly 30 minutes.
When he emerged, his expression was calm and satisfied. Brett followed, glancing nervously at Aaliyah before vanishing behind the same door. Cody and Tessa were interviewed quickly, their stories apparently straightforward enough to require minimal time. Then Dr. Hrix called Aaliyah's name. The office was cramped and windowless, dominated by a metal desk covered in manila folders.
Dr. Hrix gestured to a hard plastic chair while she settled behind her computer. "Miss Brooks, I need to understand why a trained martial artist felt it necessary to use physical force against fellow students," she began without preamble. "Gayson Vale has provided a detailed account of being attacked without warning." Aaliyah straightened in her chair. I defended myself when they surrounded me and grabbed. Grayson mentioned you have a black belt.