CHAPTER 84: CAMPUS ARRIVAL

The late-morning sun cast long shadows across the campus as Alex, Danny, and Mike walked through the main gates, the air thick with tension after their hours of preparation.

Sarah didn’t come... she had decided to stay with Nina and the family, just in case any emergency arose.

Conversations that had been flowing naturally among groups of students stuttered to a halt when they spotted the three approaching.

"There he is," someone whispered, not quite quietly enough.

"Can’t believe he actually showed up," another voice added.

Alex kept his expression neutral. His enhanced hearing caught fragments of heated debates erupting around them as they passed.

Near the student center, two girls were arguing in hushed but intense tones.

"He went too far," one was saying. "I don’t care what William and Brad did during the match. Beating them half to death? That’s crossing a line."

Her friend shook her head vigorously. "Are you kidding me? Those traitors sold out their own teammates. They deserved everything they got."

"Violence isn’t the answer, Chloe. This makes Alex just as bad as Marcus and his crew."

"Sometimes it’s the only language bullies understand," Chloe shot back. "At least someone finally stood up to them."

Danny shifted uncomfortably beside Alex. "This is getting ugly fast."

Mike nodded toward another cluster of students. "Look at that group over there... they’re practically celebrating. Half the campus thinks you’re some kind of hero."

Indeed, several students near the cafeteria entrance were nodding approvingly in Alex’s direction, a few even giving subtle thumbs-up gestures.

"The other half thinks I’m a thug," Alex replied quietly, noting the disapproving stares and whispered condemnations from other quarters.

"What do you think happened to William and Brad?" Danny asked as they navigated through the increasingly divided crowd.

"Exactly what Pierce planned to happen," Alex said grimly. "Marcus and his boys did the dirty work, then pointed everyone’s anger at us."

Danny hesitated, lowering his voice. "I’m just not sure if William and Brad themselves are even involved... or if they’re just pawns in this."

Alex’s gaze hardened. "Doesn’t matter. Willing or not, they let themselves be used... and that makes them part of it."

As they approached the academic building, the weight of dozens of eyes tracking their movement was palpable.

Some students stepped aside respectfully, while others made sure to block their path with obvious hostility.

Then, cutting through the murmurs, Theo’s voice erupted:

"See? I told you guys, he’s seriously into black magic," Theo declared, sounding more certain than ever about his own theory.

"He couldn’t handle their betrayal, so he went full berserk on them... totally unstoppable!"

One of his friends raised a brow, skeptical. "Wasn’t that just some bullcrap you made up?"

Theo shot him a look. "You really forget the video I showed you... the one where people were fighting like they were straight out of a Superman movie?"

His friend opened his mouth, then closed it again, speechless.

"My Theo’s right," a junior girl chimed in brightly, clutching his arm. She was his girlfriend now, and clearly his biggest believer.

His friends exchanged a mix of awe and exasperation... half convinced, half rolling their eyes at his theatrics.

Alex spared Theo a sidelong glance, suppressing a smirk.

The absurdity didn’t bother him; if anything, it made the scene even more entertaining.

Mike muttered under his breath, shaking his head. "This is going to be a long day."

***

Tisha’s office felt like a sanctuary compared to the hostile atmosphere of the campus.

She was pacing behind her desk when they arrived, her usual composed demeanor replaced by barely contained energy.

"Close the door," she said the moment Alex stepped in, leaving Danny and Mike in the waiting area.

As soon as the door clicked shut, her professional mask vanished. She crossed to him in quick strides, hands gripping his shoulders.

"Are you alright? How’s Nina? I’ve been worried sick." Her eyes searched his face, every line of strain reflected in her own.

"Nina’s stable. The treatment’s working." Some of the tension eased from his shoulders at her touch. "And I’m fine. Frustrated, but fine."

She pushed him gently into the chair by her desk, then settled on his lap instead of taking her own seat. Arms circling his neck, she leaned close,

"Well, your girlfriend isn’t the type to sit back while they try to railroad you." Tisha’s lips curved, pride flickering across her expression as she said it.

Alex’s hand slid to her waist, a smile tugging at his lips. "You’re incredible, Tisha. I don’t know how I got this lucky."

Her pride melted into a softer glow, as if his words made every sleepless hour worth it. She brushed her forehead against his and whispered, "Then don’t ever make me regret it."

"What did you do?" Alex asked, though he could already see the satisfaction in her eyes.

"I’ve been pulling strings... calling in favors, gathering evidence. Even if you’d been in the wrong, I wouldn’t let anything happen to you." She shifted slightly in his lap, arms folding as her eyes flicked to him, gauging his reaction.

"For starters, I stopped Pierce from expelling you on the spot. Yesterday, he tried to push it through... no hearing, no investigation, just William and Brad’s word against yours."

Alex’s jaw tightened. "This bastard..."

"And I made sure that didn’t happen." Her smile was sharp with triumph.

"I have friends in high places too, Alex. Miranda Pierce... the Vice President for Academic Affairs... is a close ally of mine."

"Pierce’s wife?" Alex echoed, a hint of confusion in his tone.

"Ex-wife, practically," she said, lowering her voice as if letting him in on a secret. "She stopped using his name months ago and goes by her maiden name, Miranda Whitman, now."

Tisha stood up from his lap, straightening slightly, her eyes narrowing with the weight of the revelation. "Their marriage is hanging by a thread... and professionally, they’re on opposite sides of almost everything."

Tisha moved around her desk, settling into her chair.

"Miranda was the one who helped me stop your expulsion attempt last time. " She revealed.

"She believes in due process, academic integrity, proper investigation. Everything her husband seems to have forgotten lately."

Alex leaned back slightly, a teasing edge in his voice. "Then I have to thank her properly..."

Tisha rolled her eyes at him, a hint of amusement in the gesture.

"So what’s the situation now?" Alex asked, his tone steady.

"Formal inquiry. This afternoon. You’ll face a panel including Miranda, three neutral board members, and unfortunately, Pierce himself." Tisha’s expression grew more serious.

"But here’s the thing... you have ironclad evidence you weren’t even on campus when the attack happened. Hospital records, security footage, medical staff testimony."

Alex nodded. "That should be enough."

"It will be, especially with Miranda chairing the panel. She’s fair but tough... she won’t let Pierce railroad this process."

Tisha paused, her expression troubled. "Alex, I have to tell you something about Pierce. He wasn’t always like this."

"When I first started here, he was a decent administrator. Sure, he showed some favoritism toward students like Marcus... but it was subtle, within reasonable bounds."

"What changed?" Alex asked, genuinely curious.

"I don’t know, but it’s been getting worse over the past year. More blatant, more reckless."

"And him targeting you repeatedly... it means he has some other goal, something we don’t know yet."

She leaned forward, concern evident in her voice. "Whatever’s driving this obsession with you, it’s making him sloppy. And that’s going to work in your favor today."

Alex processed this information, filing away the details about Pierce’s changing behavior. It aligned with what he’d observed - the man seemed increasingly desperate to find something he could use against Alex.

"Thank you," he said simply. "For everything you did."

Tisha’s professional demeanor cracked again, revealing the woman beneath. "You don’t need to thank me, Alex. I told you I’d handle things here while you took care of your family. I meant it."

She stood, moving closer to him again. "Besides, I rather enjoyed outmaneuvering Pierce and his cronies. Reminded me why I went into academic administration in the first place - to fight for students who deserve better."

"Still," Alex said, reaching for her hand, "I know what you risked for me."

"Then you can make it up to me later," she replied, her tone shifting to something warmer, more intimate. "After we embarrass Pierce in that inquiry room and clear your name completely."

The promise in her voice was unmistakable, and Alex felt a familiar warmth at the connection between them... not just romantic, but the deeper bond of two people who had each other’s backs when it mattered most.

Suddenly, Tisha remembered Mike and Danny were still waiting outside.

"Let’s not be rude... let’s call Mike and Danny in," she said, a hint of mock accusation in her voice, as if he’d made her forget the time.

Alex’s eyes widened. "Ohh, shit..."

Tisha gave a small shake of her head, lips twitching in amusement.

***

Author’s Note:

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