𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄, original story

nine, the english lesson

Monday morning still wasn't pleasant, if anything it was a reminder I had killed Callum two weeks ago, which was somewhat pleasant but the memories carried with it weren't.

When I killed him it felt as though I had gotten a weight off of my shoulders, but then when Harry had came sniffing around it felt as though that weight was pressed on, with extra heaviness.

I now sat in second period, waiting for the English teacher to walk into class. According to the Year Tens who were in Mrs. Have's form she was off because they had a cover this morning and no one was in at break either.

It had been about eight minutes (not that I was constantly watching the clock or anything) when Hallie Owens had stood up and declared that if the teacher doesn't come within fifteen minutes we can just leave. Which is utter bullshit.

In Year Seven, she had said the same thing when in D.T. Mr. Woodsen hadn't showed up, and then we all got in trouble for skipping.

I didn't have it in me to correct her, but most people knew she was a gossipy cow in the first place.

It was about eleven minutes in when my phone buzzed, all eyes turning to me. Serena Webb next to me was trying to see my phone, and so I hid it under the table.

It was Hope. She never texted when she had free time, only when she was bored. And clearly, her English lesson in top set was boring.

hope: sure
hope: also remind me to thank anna for being my fucking angel

maddie: will do
maddie: where were u the night callum died?

hope: aroubd the time he died i was practicing netball without percy's company, why??

maddie: just smth will said
maddie: have u been having around him??

hope: ew
hope: never

maddie: ok thx

As a cover walked into class I put my phone away and bag under the desk, Serena turned to me and badly mouthed, 'who was that?'.

I turned to her and whispered, "Mind your own business," before tuning back into the lesson.

I was confused as to why Will had lied about Hope,  I'm not sure if she'd lie to me though. She had a few times about unserious stuff like crushes on people because she was ashamed. And to be honest her taste in men is appalling.

Usually the guys she likes are older than us, closer to my Dad's age than mine. Which in itself says quite a lot. Though, I can't judge since I spent all that time with Callum.

Not that I had much choice.

He was very persuasive, he knew just what to say to make you stay. The first time I proposed we should break up was when Covid had started, I thought it would be best since I might end up dying. I was being overdramatic, and it didn't help that Hope is somewhat of a germaphobe — except when it comes to netball equipment — and was pretty much freaking out saying we would all die and making death pacts and shit.

Callum hadn't listened to a word I'd said on that FaceTime call, in fact he had just brushed each word off as though it meant nothing.

He had told me we were meant to be. That we'd find a way even in death. Then I found it romantic, mainly because I was rewatching The Vampire Diaries at the time, but it wasn't. It was him not listening to anything that I said.

A story as old as time.

Men wanting to be obeyed, women wanting to be heard. And only one of those voices got heard, and it was always the one with the beard.

"You know Rob and I are going on a date later," Serena tried to start conversation, she always had wanted in on my friend group.

I guess it was because we were the popular ones, sort of. There were some others, but for some reason everyone had always wanted to be friends with me and Lily. We had chosen to befriend people who cared about us, instead of those who wanted to use us to get close to the guys though.

I hadn't actually listened to what she had said, so once I replayed it in my head I looked up at Serena and said, "What?"

"Rob and I are going out to Nando's," Serena was blushing, something unheard of for the dark haired girl, "I told him he doesn't have to be that hard and order the max chillis, but I think he's going to just to impress me. Besides, I like spicy food so I think he'll look like a pussy if he doesn't,"

"Ok...ay?" I dragged out the word, my brain still trying to process it, "I never knew you to like Rob, I thought it was Matt you liked?"

It was true, in Year Eight a rumour had flown around that Serena wanted to date Matt. He had only ever had eyes for Lily though, and waited as long as it took to date her.

"Yeah, well things change," Serena put her pen against her dimple chin, accidentally clicking out the nib, "Just like you and Callum. Prom queen and king. That's changed, hasn't it?"

"I guess," I didn't really know how to react to that in all honesty.

Was she insulting me? And why Rob?

I needed to dig deeper, but sadly the bell rang. I had a few other lessons with Serena, but they mostly had seating plans. I needed to text Harry to see if he could figure it out.

I packed up my things and then pulled out my phone, once I was sure no one was watching I sent across a message to Harry,

maddie: u have any lessons w serena webb today?

harry: Wrong number??

maddie: i think she's out next lead
maddie: so, no

harry: i think she's in my chemistry set
harry: and since there's no seating plan i can get next to her
harry: what do i need to ask?

maddie: her and rob are going to nando's tn
maddie: find out why she likes him and not matt
maddie: maybe she knows smth??

Harry proceeded to leave me on read. Men, ugh.