Survive

Chapter Seventeen

Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

September 1, 2022.

Andrey Butler's Point Of View.

"Bae," Mad comes over to me and pulls me by the arm to the boy she was hugging. But come to think of it, she called me bae, so she's not mad at me.

I don't know, but I have the impression that I have seen him somewhere before, I just can't remember where.

"Andrey, this is Bryan. And Bryan, this is Andrey."

"What's up man?" This Bryan says and I nod.

"What's up?" I answer and we remain in an uncomfortable silence.

"Uhm.. Bryan and I studied together from kindergarten until last year. He left Justice and came to study here." And when she says that, I remember where I saw him.

"You were in the homecoming game, right?" I ask and he confirms.

"Yes. I am.. I was the captain of Justice's soccer team."

"And why did you leave there?" I ask.

"Because I wanted to stay close to a friend." I just hope that this friend he wants to be close to is not Mad.

"Got it." Bullshit. I don't get it.

How can someone who is captain of the soccer team, leave the school to go to another school, where he doesn't even know if he will get a spot on the team just to stay close to a friend?.. Although if it was for David, Ryan or Ashley, I could do that too.

"Speaking of which.. Andrey, could you get Bryan a spot on the team?" Mad asks me.

"Uhm.. I'll talk to David."

"Thank you," she smiles at me and my heart speeds up, making me realize that even though I am already dating her, I still get nervous around her.

"Uhm... shall we go where the rest of the staff is?" I ask already hoping Sarah isn't there and Mad looks at her friend, making me dislike the idea she probably had.

"Shall we go Bryan? It's nice that you meet more people."

"Oh, okay. Let's go."

"Great." She speaks excitedly and turns around, pulling us to stand by her side and walk towards where our friends are.

"Are you guys dating?" Bryan asks and I can see Mad getting clumsy to answer.

"Yes... we are dating," and I don't like the way she talks, because it sounds like she didn't want him to know.

"Oh, got it." And if she had answered clumsily, he got over it, for by his expression, he didn't like what he heard, but tried to disguise it, which didn't work.

All I needed now was for a former friend of Madison's who is in love with her to change schools to be close and try to have something with her.

I think to put my arm around her neck and give her a little kiss, but even though I want to do this, I'm not going to make this situation in any way awkward for her.

We arrive where the staff is and I breathe a sigh of relief to see that Sarah is no longer here.

Mad introduces her friend to everyone, who seemed excited to meet him, and then they are left chatting with Ryan and Ashley.

I stop next to David, who is now alone, as Emily must have gone to keep Sarah company, and I watch Madison's joy at being around this guy. She was supposed to be near me, talking to me and not to him.