Solar and Fawn part 13

Fawn and Solar knew the threats were escalating, but the reality of a physical attack still came as a brutal shock. The incident took place during a crowded lunch period, a time when Solar had let his guard down slightly, thinking the public setting offered some safety. A football player, a friend of Lily's and a known bully, deliberately tripped him, sending his tray clattering to the floor. The bully's friends erupted in cruel laughter, but Fawn’s clear voice cut through the noise. "Leave him alone!" she demanded, moving to stand protectively in front of Solar. But the football player wasn't intimidated. "Back off, Fawn," he sneered. "I won't," she responded, her hands clenched into fists. The bully, seeing an audience, was determined to make a spectacle. "Or what? Are you gonna get your girlfriend to cry?" he taunted, shoving her hard. The unexpected force sent Fawn stumbling back, her head hitting the wall with a sickening thud. The world swam around her as she slid to the floor, stunned and disoriented. The sight of Fawn on the ground, hurt and helpless, shattered Solar's composure. All the fear and self-blame that had been suffocating him was replaced by a surge of pure, primal fury. The principal, who had been called to the scene, ignored Fawn's pleas, more interested in damage control than justice. Solar was whisked away to the principal's office, and a call was made to his parents, confirming his suspension and blaming him for the entire incident. At home, Solar was a wreck. He was not only in physical pain but was also overwhelmed by a torrent of self-recrimination. "I knew it," he muttered, his voice raw. "I always make things worse." Fawn, determined not to let him descend back into that dark place, became his champion. She made a decision right then and there: they would not be victims anymore. She documented the entire incident, the football player's bullying, his attack on her, and Solar's eventual retaliation. She planned to get his parents involved, and this time, they wouldn't back down. The fight was just beginning, and they were ready for it.