SURVIVORS |J.FOLEY ¹

XII. his touch

CHAPTER TWELVE
HIS TOUCH

"Where were you last night?" Justin asked, curiously as he turned his head to look towards Madison. Madison and Justin were supposed to walk together to the game, like they used to do all the time. But Madison never showed up, she'd also never shown up to the game. Justin had been looking for her in the crowd, or with the cheer time the entire game. But it was much to his disappointment when she was nowhere to be seen.

"Yeah. I took a walk, lost track of the time." Madison shrugged her shoulders, looking straightforward. Justin lowered his head, looking at his feet as she walked side by side. Madison showed up to every single one of his games. He was surprised by her answer. She never forgot to show up.

Madison was the only person to ever show up for Justin. Of course, he didn't expect his mum to show up to a single on of his games. But Madison was always there, watching or cheering him on. She never missed his games, never. Ever since he started basketball, he'd seen her face in every crowd. The one face he was ever looking for.

"It was probably shit, anyways." Madison shook her head. "Like, wow. People know how to throw a ball about a room and toss it into a little hoop. Whoo-hoo!" Madison exclaimed, sarcastically. "Who cares? We had a good time anyways."

Suddenly, Justin turned back to Madison, scrunching his face up in confusion. "We?" He questioned, furrowing his eyebrows. "Who's we?"

Madison met Justin's gaze with a blank expression. "Me and Jessica, Bryce and some other guys." Madison shrugged her shoulders. Justin's face only fell more at her answer. Instead of showing up to his game, Madison was with Bryce and some other guys?

"You couldn't have texted me?" Justin questioned, softly. "Called, let me know before hand. Anything?"

Madison paused for a moment, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Bryce told me that he texted you." She answered, thinking nothing of it.

"Yeah..." Justin trailed off, to which Madison nodded her head. "He texted me to come over. He didn't tell me that you were there. Or Jessica." He stopped, looking at the side of Madison's face. "I mean, I texted you like five times. You couldn't have hit me back?" He questioned.

Madison raised an eyebrow at Justin's concern and she met his eyes once again. Her mouth fell open, slightly as she was confused by why he was so upset with her not replying. "You are so not one to ask that, by the way." Madison let out a scoff. "I was in the hot tub, okay? I didn't have my phone, what's the problem, Dusty? You can live at Bryce's but I can't hang out there?"

"I don't live there now." Justin was quick to correct his best friend, keeping his eyes firm on her. Madison continued to stare forwards, ignoring Justin's gaze.

"Okay, whatever." Madison threw her hands up in the air. She couldn't really understand Justins concern. She couldn't understand why he was so worried, concerned. She couldn't understand why he was being so pushy.

But, Madison was the only person whom ever showed up for him. He needed her. He always did need Madison and he always would need her. It was like when she was around, he was a completely different person. The person that he always wanted to be. And it felt good.

But when she wasn't around, he felt empty inside.

•••••

"I thought you said this wasn't a test?" Pratters asked, turning around in his seat. Madison lifted her head from the paper to glance between Pratters and Mrs. Bradley. "Because this looks like a test." He mumbled.

"It's not, Mr. Pratters. I assure you." Mrs. Bradley answered him, nodding her head. "It is a character-building questionnaire that assesses personal strengths and weaknesses." Mrs. Bradley explained. Madison lowered her head to the paper once again.