Kaitlyn's warning still sat in Kevin's chest when the recess bell flashed the hallway lights. He wanted one thing outside: to find Kaitlyn and sign that Arjun's lie didn't scare him. But before he reached the door, four girls blocked his path on the playground. Britney Squalor stood in front, her blue hair bright, a gymnastics medal swinging on her chest. She waved a phone at him and mouthed slow, sure he could read her lips. "We don't believe it. Arjun's a liar. You're way too cute to be mean." The three girls behind her nodded like she'd read their thoughts. Britney was pushing them, and they followed. One girl scribbled on a notebook and shoved it at him. *Be my boyfriend?* Another grabbed his sleeve and did the same. Britney elbowed them both aside and pointed at herself. Kevin's ears burned. He didn't know these girls. He stepped back and hit someone standing right behind him. It was Tiffany. He didn't know her name, but she planted herself at his side like she'd waited all year for this. She held up a small bandage between two fingers. "You're bleeding," she said, flat. He looked down. A scrape ran across his knuckle from the door handle. He hadn't noticed. Tiffany pressed the bandage on before he could answer. "Four minutes," said another voice. Bridget Hartley pushed through the girls, glasses catching the sun, boots loud on the pavement. She glared at Tiffany, not Kevin. "That's how long you've stood here. I counted." She turned to Britney and the others. "He's deaf. You're all yelling at a boy who can't hear you. He likes someone. It isn't any of you." The four girls froze. Britney's face went red under the medal. Kevin caught the word *deaf* on Bridget's lips and understood she was defending him, in her own sharp way. Two of the girls backed off. Britney crossed her arms, but she stopped pointing at herself. Then a familiar figure cut across the yard. Roxie Tanaka, the older drama girl, Kevin's friend. She didn't speak. She lifted her hands and signed to Kevin, fast and clear, so everyone could see he had a language of his own. *You okay? Want out?* Kevin nodded. Roxie stepped between him and the crowd and waved them off like a stage director clearing a scene. The four girls scattered. Tiffany and Bridget stayed, staring hard at each other over Kevin's shoulder. Roxie tapped Kevin and pointed across the yard. Kaitlyn stood by the slide, watching all of it. She had seen the whole thing. Kevin's stomach dropped. He'd wanted Kaitlyn to know he was brave. Instead she'd watched four girls chase him and two more fight over him. Her face was unreadable. She turned and walked toward the school doors without waving back.