Her clothes were scattered across the floor.
Her phone screen was cracked.
Her necklace was gone.
Maya froze.
That necklace had belonged to her mother.
She searched frantically.
Nothing.
Grace saw her face.
"What happened?"
"My necklace."
"What necklace?"
"My mother's."
Grace's expression changed.
"I'll help you find it."
They searched beneath benches.
Inside bags.
Around the lockers.
Nothing.
Maya sat on the floor.
Her eyes filled with tears.
Grace crouched beside her.
"We'll find it."
Maya shook her head.
"No."
Then she stood.
She wiped her face.
"I'm going home."
Marcus was waiting when she arrived.
He knew immediately.
"What's wrong?"
Maya walked past him.
"Dad."
He followed.
"What happened?"
She showed him the cracked phone.
Then she told him about the necklace.
Marcus became very still.
"What did the school say?"
"I haven't told them."
"Why?"
"Because nobody listens."
Marcus looked at her.
"Then tomorrow, they will."
Maya shook her head.
"No."
"Maya."
"I don't want you to go there."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want everyone knowing you're my father."
Marcus frowned.
"What?"
She looked at him.
"I don't want them thinking I need my dad to fight my battles."
Marcus softened.
"You're not asking me to fight your battle."
"Then what?"
"I'm going to stand beside you while you fight it."
Maya looked down.
For the first time, she understood the difference.
The next morning, Marcus walked into Westbrook High.
He wore dark trousers.
A plain gray shirt.
No uniform.
No military insignia.
Nothing intimidating.
At first, nobody noticed him.
Then the principal saw him.
Dr. Ellen Parker approached.
"Mr. Reynolds?"
"Yes."
"I'm Dr. Parker."
"I know."
She looked surprised.
"You do?"
"Maya talks about school."
Dr. Parker smiled nervously.
"Of course."
Marcus glanced around the hallway.
"May we talk?"
"Certainly."
They entered the office.
Maya sat beside her father.
Dr. Parker folded her hands.
"Your daughter is an excellent student."
"I know."
"She's also an excellent cheerleader."
"I know."
"But there have been some conflicts."
Marcus looked at her.
"Conflicts?"
Dr. Parker hesitated.
"Teenagers."
"Teenagers don't accidentally steal someone's belongings."
The principal's expression changed.
"We're investigating."
"Good."
"And we take these matters seriously."
Marcus nodded.
"Then I'd like copies of every incident report involving my daughter."
Dr. Parker blinked.
"There are no official reports."
"Why?"
"No one reported them."
Marcus looked at Maya.
She lowered her eyes.
Then he looked back at the principal.
"That changes today."
Dr. Parker nodded.
"I understand."
A knock came at the door.
Coach Harmon entered.
He looked at Marcus.
"Mr. Reynolds."
"Coach."
"We're handling this."
Marcus stared at him.
"Are you?"
Coach Harmon frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"My daughter says students have been harassing her for weeks."