Welcome back and we are off to a great start!!
Despite the effort not to escalate the issue with the football team and Alex, Quarterback Sam can't/won't begin to understand/take/accept any sort of challenge to his perceived top-dog status...it is not something he is willing to negotiate...The only way is to find another way to reason with him, which may be just as difficult as the first effort...
He's coming from a place of self-indulgent power and will unreasonably meet any challenge head-on...
I stepped in front of his path and stood with my nose inches from his. “IF they are, it’s none of my business, and it sure as hell isn’t any of yours. You need to get your goons to back down, Sam. Verbal abuse is bad enough, but if this keeps up, someone’s gonna get hurt.”
“I don’t know where you think you are, Fowler, but in this school, the football team runs shit. That little fag mouthed off to one of my guys, and he’s gotta learn his place. You and your rats need to stay in your lane.” He glanced at Tommy, then back to me. “Are you going to let me get to class? Or is your rent-a-cop going to claim that I attacked you and put me in cuffs?”
One hopes that reason will prevail, is it time for the next chapter yet???