Mason's anger simmered just below the surface as he and his friends followed Ryan toward the school gate. The humiliation he'd felt during the football match had festered into something darker, something that demanded payback.
As the crowd of students leaving school thickened, Mason's plan solidified in his mind. He wanted to humiliate Ryan in front of everyone, to make him feel the sting of public shame.
Ryan, sensing the growing tension behind him, didn't quicken his pace. He could hear the low murmur of Mason's friends, could feel their resentment radiating toward him. But instead of fear, all he felt was a mild sense of amusement. 'They really think they're going to scare me?' he thought, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
