Shattered Asylum

Chapter 22

We have a home game against Marsh Valley today. Their team is really good. We haven't lost a game yet this season, but I have a bad feeling that streak might end tonight. To make it worse, this is our senior shout-out game, so losing would feel extra brutal.

Nora spent all night sending me rated-R messages, making up wild scenarios about me and Grayson. She finally stopped after I threatened to block her.

I settle into my seat in English. Nora is chatting with Madison behind me. Great.

"Hey Av, excited for our game today?" Nora asks, leaning forward. Madison irritated that she's talking to me.

"I'm nervous, aren't they really good?" I ask, getting out my homework.

"Yeah they are, but we've improved a lot this year so it will be a fair game." She says, shrugging.

"I hope so." I stand to drop my homework into the turn-in box, then slide back into my seat and pull out my phone to scroll through Instagram.

Behind me, Nora and Madison's conversation gets louder.

"This is the guy i'm talking to." Nora says, giggling.

"He's cute!" Madison chimes in.

"Yeah, and he has a big dick." Nora replies, completely unbothered by the people around her.

I cringe. Why does she have no filter?

Madison clears her throat. "You wanna know the biggest I've ever seen?" She asks, her tone conspiratorial.

I hear Nora hum in curiosity. The girls next to us stop their chatter to eavesdrop.

Madison leans closer. "Grayson's," she says proudly, as if she's announcing some kind of personal achievement.

I freeze. Nope. I was fine not knowing that information. 

My eyes widen slightly as I glance toward the girls nearby. They exchange looks, covering their moths with their hands, their giggles breaking the tension in the room.

Nora's voice cuts through. "Since when has Grayson taken interest in you?" She asks, her skepticism clear.

I can't help but snort. "He's always been interested, okay, and what are you laughing at?" She snaps, her foot kicking the back of my chair to get my attention.

Shouldn't class be starting?

I sigh and turn to face her. She sits with her arms folded, glaring at me. "I just think it's funny how you can't take a hint." I say, scratching my arm to keep calm.

Her eyes narrow. "Oh, please. You think Grayson would ever want someone like you?" She sneers, letting her gaze sweep over me.

Classic Madison. When in doubt, go for insults.

"What makes you think he would want someone like you? If i'm not mistaken, he's actually told you, multiple times, that he doesn't." I reply, holding her stare.

Her cheeks flush pink, and her eyes dart around at the girls who are fully tuned into our exchange now. Madison shifts uncomfortably before straightening up, a wicked glint her eye.

"H-How's your family back home?" She asks, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Ashley seems lovely."

My pulse skips. My skin goes cold. "W-What did you just say?" The words feel stuck in my throat.

"Oh, Ashley and I have become such good friends. Why didn't you tell us your mom remarried?" She says with a smug smirk, her tone cutting deep

No. This can't be real. How does she know Ashley? What did Ashley tell her?