Not As It Seems

True Nature

Life really is a strange thing, easy to turn around in a single moment. After your conversation with Madeleine you felt a little more confident, you had someone who was on your side who was willing to listen to you instead of all the rumours that's been circulating around your name. You were willing to smile at that but then when you entered the doors to your school again, even just stepping onto the grounds, the tone changed again.

It was all because of the stares and whispers, those cursed rumours that have tainted your appearance. And so you turned to the reality of things; new discussions on your confrontation with Henry were going around as well as how you now had a warning for threatening him.

Life really was unfair.

At least there was a silver lining, albeit a small one, when you were at your locker. As you were collecting some things you felt someone slide up to your side and bump your arm a little. You looked to see it was Madeleine with a smile on her lips. "Hi Y/n, how are you feeling today?" She asked and you could tell it was a genuine question, looking around to see some stares before you replied that you were fine.

"Wait, are they friends? Why would she befriend a freak like him? I bet she's sleeping with him" a student began to say and you sighed before looking at Madeleine. "Maybe you shouldn't speak to me, I wouldn't want you to get dragged into the rumours" you said but she shook her head and replied that people could say whatever they wanted about her; "you need a friend and so I'm going to be here" she said and you flickered a smile.

"Thanks, you don't know how much that means" you said before closing your locker. But then more trouble arrived as a familiar voice exclaimed; "hey!". You slouched a little and groaned at Henry's arrival, turning in his direction as he marched over.

"You bastard! You made me look pathetic yesterday!" He shouted as he got in your face, you keeping a steel expression to show you didn't care about what he had to say. But then Madeleine stepped in. "Leave him alone, Henry, he hasn't done anything other than stand up to you" she spoke in your defence to which Henry directed the anger from his wounded pride towards Madeline.

"Shut it you! You know what's being said about him don't you? Are you really so fucking stupid as to defend a freak like him?" He spat and that was when you told him that was enough, putting your arm between Henry and Madeline to pull the latter behind your in a near protective manner.

"Now listen here; with me you may have some leeway because I don't want to chase any trouble, but speak to Maddie like that again and I won't be so kind as to hold back" you hissed before shoving Henry back and he scoffed. "You really are a freak" he spat before walking away. And then you turned to the one who jumped to start the rumour of you and Madeleine dating.

"As for you, you little shit stirrer, me and Madeleine are not dating, she is just the first person in this shithole of a school who actually treated me like another person instead of freak! And if you go around making up those rumours then you and I are going to have trouble, am I clear?" You growled the last part in a low voice. This made the student nod their head quickly and you scoffed as they rushed off before you turned back to face Madeleine.

She had a soft smile on her lips as she said thanks for defending her. "You shouldn't have rumours started about you just for being nice to me" you reasoned and she nodded before mentioning how you called her Maddie, something that made you shift on your feet a little in response. "Sorry is that a problem, I just thought if we're friends then I could probably call you that, but if we're not there yet then..." You started rambling which made Madeleine giggle as she said it was fine for you to call her Maddie.

She then tilted her head a little, humorously mentioning your sudden lack of confidence in a way which made you shift again. "Well the reason for that, I uh, I never had a friend before, even before my record" you admitted which made Madeleine apologise for the joke, she didn't know such a thing. Because of that fact you said it wasn't a problem; "I'm just glad to have a friend now" you said with a small smile.