"Mom! I don't want to do this!" Nathan's voice cracked with frustration, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. "Aiden… he's been lenient until now because I've kept my head down. But last time—" he broke off, his voice lowering as if the mere mention of it filled him with dread, "he already warned me. If I pull any more underhanded stunts, he won't tolerate it."
Smack.
The sharp crack of the slap echoed through the cafeteria. Serena flinched, her body tensing instinctively, even though she couldn't see what had happened, she could guess. And she'd guessed correctly, she realized as she caught Nathan's reflection in the mirror. For a moment, everything went still.
She shifted in her seat, trying to look back without getting attention and strained to catch a glimpse over her shoulder. That sharp had been quite harsh but Nathan remained silent behind her.