"Goodbye Miss Kacie," said the last girl as she left the room, hugging Kacie's legs before she walked out.
Kacie waved goodbye to her students. It felt great to be back, but everything had changed. Nothing was like how it used to be. Everything was dull now. It just didn't feel as full as before.
Sighing as she made her way to her desk, she pulled out her phone, ready to text Cody that he could come get her at 4:30.
Before she could even get past her Face ID, the not-so-familiar figure of Mady burst through the door, looking worried and tense.
"Kacie!" She exclaimed, rushing over to her as she tightly embraced her, forcing her to put her phone down and engage.
"Hey Mads," Kacie softly replied, not sure what to make of her uneasy state, "What's up? Why're you here? And how're you doing?"
Mady giggled for a moment, and told Kacie she was doing alright. Afterward, returning to her jumpy disarray.
"Mads, seriously what's going on?" Kacie laughed, reaching for her phone.
"Kacie!" Mady exclaimed, causing the confused girl to jump before Mady settled back down, "Just— just don't check your phone. Please." Her tone became stern but caring.
"Why? I have to text Codes—"
"Don't text Cody!"
"I feel like I have to check my phone now..." Kacie grimaced, growing wide-eyed. She knew she shouldn't have went back to teaching. If Cody was in trouble in any way, shape, or form it was all her fault.
And it wasn't like he wasn't in trouble. Kacie hadn't seen Mady for months. For her to be out and about, in such disarray, — all for Kacie — there was definitely something wrong.
"Let me tell you first. Before the press under... or over exaggerate it."
"Alright." Kacie gulped, knowing something awful was coming.
"Cody- he..." Mady swallowed. How was she to tell Kacie that there was another girl? Not only was there another girl, but there was a baby inside of that other girl. When this happened? Unknown. And how it happened? Unknown. She'd always thought Kacie and Cody were a stable energy. A force that couldn't be broken up. Time after time, she even found herself jealous of their dreamy relationship.
"Just say it and we can cry together..." Kacie weakly stated, her jaw was tight, unsure what Mady was about to tell her.
Mady opened her mouth, then froze, as the door opened and three figures entered. Two of them being Justin and Kourtney Turner, and the other being Chris.
"Did you tell her?" Kourtney softly asked, almost a whisper.
"I- I can't." Madisyn sadly shook her head
"She must've seen, right?" Chris asked.
"She hasn't been on her phone." Mady replied.
"Can one of you guys please just spit it out?" Kacie was getting worried, and her tone came off snippy. But she had to know what was going on.
"Cody- he-..." Justin stuttered.
"Cody cheated on you." Kourt finally said.
Kacie's mouth dropped open, and before anything could be said, something worse came.
"And he's having a kid with her." Chris exhaled.
Suddenly Kacie's olive skin became flushed, her face went white as she began to bite her lips. She wasn't sure what to say. Or what to feel. Her boyfriend cheated on her. And he was having a child with this woman. How long had he been with this woman? Since before Corey's passing? During his awful state where he'd disappear three times a week and not turn up until it was time to turn the TV on and watch him play so she knew he was alright? She knew she should've been there for him. Even though he insisted on her not coming with him to those long road trips she now knew she should've. When he'd leave at night she should've went after him. Called him more than once. Perhaps if she hadn't of met him none of this would've happen. That night Corey died Cody wouldn't of had to take her home. He would've just taken Corey home instead of letting him walk. This was all her fault.
After a few seconds of nothing from Kacie, Mady carefully embraced her. And seconds later Kourt also had her arms wrapped around the demolished girl. And next came Justin and Chris.
They hugged her tightly as she just sat there and sobbed. If only they knew what was going through her head at this point. She was mad. Not only at Cody, but more so herself. If only she had been there a little more for him during that rocky point.
Maybe it would all be alright then.
