𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄, original story

eighteen, hope's secret

I was being overdramatic. Lily was home safely at nine, her parents called me to tell me so after the amount of messages I had sent her. She was safe.

That in itself was enough to make me relax. Harry wasn't happy with me using police resources for a threat that turned stale, and I could tell from his harsh text messages, but I had apologised over and over and over. There wasn't much else I could do besides buy him a bunch of flowers.

And I didn't think he'd appreciate that.

Dan was apparently not calling or texting Lily, according to her he's just ghosted her, and blocked her on Instagram. I couldn't be sure, though, her parents could've found some way to get them to stop talking if they found out.

I now sat in Hope's driveway on the bench as she scored goals, practicing for the netball match that was next month. Her little brother wasn't here to interrupt, but she wanted some company and had mentioned telling me something she had been hiding. Since my Saturday was a bit bleak, I thought I might as well.

"That's... how many?" Hope asked, I had been keeping count of all her goals.

"Eight... I think?" Okay, so my mind had wandered a bit over Dan and Callum. "So, what was it you wanted to talk about?"

Hope stood, netball resting underneath one of her arms, she was decked out in her pink sports wear and her red hair was tied into a high ponytail, she let out a breath before saying, "I lied. About the thing with Will. I was talking to him,"

"Oh my god,"

"Not like that!" Hope scolded, pretending to throw the ball at me, as I raised my hands in surrender whilst laughing, "I just, Will's a mate. He felt down after Rob left the group and reached out. I'm more his therapist than anything,"

"And what's he to you?"

Hope let out a breath, coming and sitting next to me on the bench, I had to shuffle over so she could fit on fully.

"He knows everything about me. Like he took the time to learn it," I nodded, letting Hope explain, "I didn't want to tell you or the girls, but... I'm bisexual. And no I don't fancy y—"

"—I wouldn't presume. We are quite annoying," i said sarcastically, and hope let out a laugh.

"I'm sorry for not saying earlier," Hope told me, she was now holding my hands as though they were her lifeline, "I just was scared. I didn't know how you guys would take it,"

"You'll always be my friend, Hope,"

"Really?"

"I have enough secrets for the two of us, trust me on that. Even if you'd done something really bad you'd still be my mate," Hope pulled me into a large hug.

Hope's hugs were always those types you got squished in, but you still wanted to keep hugging them because you knew the love behind it. Hope's family were a weird bunch, they rarely expressed their emotions but she was the opposite, she had too much love to spread around. It made sense why she was bisexual, she was made to love anyone.

And I'd accept her. Hell, if she told me she had killed someone I'd still love her, because I had done the same so who was I to judge. Who knows, maybe we'd have a little club where we had a tea party and discussed best methods.

I let go from the hug and saw her parents car pull up, her brother and parents were home.

They stepped out of the car, and her little brother came rushing. He took the ball and started to dribble the ball, her parents got out slowly and greeted me before heading inside.

"I should go," I told hope, nodding in the direction of her brother, "You've got to entertain someone,"

Hope hugged me goodbye and said, "Thanks, Mads. I love you,"

"Love you too." I replied as I walked off into the distance.

Hope lived a few doors down from me, she moved in when I was in Year Five. We went to different Primary Schools and so we never met. It's funny to think we could've met before High School, though.

I walked past the few houses before I got to my own and walked in, inside Dad sat at his computer in the kitchen. I kicked my shoes off before checking my phone.

Multiple notifications from Harry popped up on my phone, and so I unlocked it immediately and checked them.

harry: I found something
harry: Come to the cliffs ASAP
harry: Maddie!!
harry: It's urgent!

maddie: sorry omg my phone was on silent!!
maddie: On my way!

Fucking autocorrect.

I had no idea what Harry had found, in fact it must've been something good because he usually only tried to text one at a time.

And that fact scared me.