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"A bear?" Feeny's shrill voice announced, "A ferocious predator mauling about my classroom?"
Madison's head popped up from her spot at the back tables of the student union - there Topanga, Cory, and Shawn were doused in honey and looking at Mr. Feeny with full fear in their eyes. It seemed that Rachel, Angela, and Jack's prank had fully worked. Both Eric and Madison had been left out of the vicious war that was occurring between the two groups, and thankfully so, as it ramped up intensely every single prank that came next. The animosity between them had grown and Eric and Madison were quietly terrified it would reverberate out to them and fully screw up the group dynamic permanently. Regardless of the consequences and contexts, Madison thought the whole thing was stupid.
"Well, you must've been glued to your seats!" Feeny cackled, crossing away from them.
"We could've died!" Cory shrieked.
"Yeah," Feeny sighed, snapping his fingers in exasperation.
Madison pursed her lips to keep from laughing at the exchange. She hoped this meant surrender.
--
"You kinda suck at this," Eric teased, coming over to her side to help her hit the cue ball.
"I'm sorry that they didn't teach me pool in school," Madison giggled.
Even after years of being together, it still made butterflies erupt in her stomach when he placed his arms around her to adjust the pool cue. She turned her head to the side with a smirk, pressing a chaste kiss to his cheek. A smile and blush crossed his face, him silently shaking his head.
"Focus Whirley," he snarked.
God, that damned nickname.
A chorus of heys pulled the couple's attention away from each other and the pool game in front of them as Rachel, Jack, and Angela entered the union. Shawn and Cory were already perched on the couches, brows furrowed. The flirting and closeness was paused for a moment and Eric took up his mediating and peacemaking role in the feud.
"Come on someone surrender already, let's just be done with this!" Eric groaned, exasperated.
"No, no surrender," Cory growled.
"Oh, and speaking of bear..." Shawn added, moving his gaze to the other side of the union.
The unknowing group followed his eye line, seeing a crowd of people hovering over an unseen object.
"What's that all about?" Rachel said darkly.
"We don't know," Shawn snickered.
Rachel didn't seem amused by their snickering and aggressively stomped forwards, pulling the viewers away from the... oh my god. Madison's mouth dropped open when it was revealed. A picture of a very scantily clad Rachel was posted on the length of the pillar, out for everyone to see. Madison was appalled and only Shawn and Cory were laughing.
"How could you?" Rachel sighed, her voice tight with embarrassment and hurt.
The laughter was cut short as the boys realized what they had done. In the silence, Jack stomped forwards to tear it down but was stopped by many copies hidden underneath. He moved to comforting a now sobbing Rachel, casting venomous looks at the two guilty parties.
"You know, I knew it, I knew this was going to happen," Eric snapped, walking over to the two boys, "You only have yourselves to blame for this. Hope you feel really bad. C'mon Mads."
Madison gave Rachel one last rub on the shoulder before following behind her boyfriend.
"You think they're gonna end it?" Madison inquired.
"I really don't know," Eric sighed, "They're idiots."
--
"Mads?"
Madison smiled at the meek voice on the other side of the door. Shawn and Jack were currently feuding in the living room and Eric was making futile attempts at peace. Madison had decided to keep to herself in her room, making her involvement in the feud close to none. This whole thing had gotten blown way out of proportion and each side had decided they were in the right. Madison was in a weird in between life, being both a longtime friend and a new one. She had meant to call Rachel earlier but thought it was better to let her take her own time.
"Come in," Madison allowed.
The sad puppy dog face of Eric immediately popped through the swinging door, his frame sagging under whatever weight he was carrying.
"What's wrong?"
"Jack and Shawn are still fighting, Rachel isn't answering her phone," Eric explained, coming to flop beside her on the bed, "And Jack just revealed to me in a very hurtful and seething way that no one wanted to pick me for their team."
Madison's heart sunk. When the teams were first made up, she knew that that conversation had happened, but since she had neglected to join or choose, Eric had followed suit. A mental note to kick Jack's ass later was filed away in her brain.
"It's better that we didn't join babe," Madison sighed, "You can see what's going on now."
"Yeah but its our job to make peace now," Eric encouraged, "We gotta do it Mads."
"Is it really our job? I mean, shouldn't we just let them work it out?" Madison offered.
"Are you saying that we shouldn't help Rachel and make her feel like someone in this group does care?" Eric said, voice catching a little edge.
"Eric, you know that's not what I meant," Madison defended, "I just think that we shouldn't push ourselves too far into this situation."
Eric went silent for a moment, moving from laying close beside her to sitting up and staring down at her. She couldn't quite read his expression, but knew it was one of discontent. She understood his reasoning for wanting to get involved - Eric was always the peacemaker, the odd man out, the "wisest" in the oddest way. Madison wasn't. She was the quiet one, the accepting one, and the one who felt as though she had no real voice in the group. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, it just meant she didn't feel like she could go around to each group member and cuss them out.
"I guess I gotta do this my own way then," Eric sighed, not angrily, and rose to his feet.
"Eric..." Madison groaned, not wanting to be in a fight with him too.
"I'm not upset Mads, I just... I just gotta make some calls," Eric rectified, bending down to give her a kiss, "I see we have differing opinions so I'm gonna do this. Bye."
