New beginnings

|10| Past in present

- Ryker-

I couldn't stop thinking about Madeline. The way she looked at me yesterday, brushing me off like she didn't care, but I could see it in her eyes-she wasn't okay.

At lunch, I found myself sitting with Chloe, Clara, and the others, but my mind kept drifting back to Madeline. I was about to ask if anyone had seen her today when Chloe spoke up.

"Madeline looks so... miserable lately," I said, deciding to test the waters.

"Yeah, I agree," Clara said, leaning in like she had been holding it in. "I saw her in Miss Laura's class yesterday. She didn't look well. I'm scared she rela-" She stopped abruptly, her face going pale like she'd said too much.

"Relapse?" I asked, frowning. "Relapse on what?"

Clara avoided my eyes, looking like she wanted to sink into the floor.

"Look," Chloe cut in, her voice softer than usual. "I've been feeling bad for her too lately. Maybe we should talk to her, I don't know. It's just... I don't know how to forgive her or trust her after what she did to me."

As lunch dragged on, I saw Madeline walking down the hallway with someone I didn't recognize. The guy was tall, with light brown hair and a cocky grin that made me instantly suspicious. Madeline was showing him around, pointing out lockers and classrooms like she was giving him a tour.

The two of them started walking toward us, and I couldn't help but stare.

As they got closer, the guy's eyes lit up. "Oh my god, is that you, Clara?" he asked, his grin widening.

"Jayden?!" Clara said, looking just as surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I moved districts!" Jayden said with an easy shrug. "I see you're still friends with Madeline."

"Uh, yeah, haha..." Clara said, glancing at Madeline, who was now staring at the floor like she wanted to disappear.

Jayden didn't seem to notice. Clara introduced the rest of us, her voice a little forced. "Well, this is Chloe, Ryker, Aaron, and... Dylan."

"Hey, man," I said, nodding at him, though I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about this guy.

"I'm glad you met them, Jayden," Madeline said suddenly, her voice quieter than usual. "I might actually just go use the restroom for a bit, but I'll catch you later."

"Oh, okay," Jayden said, looking slightly disappointed as she walked off.

He sat down at the table with us, instantly blending into the conversation like he'd always been part of the group. But I wasn't paying attention to what he was saying-I was too busy wondering where Madeline had gone.

I slipped away from the table, wandering the hallways in search of her. She wasn't in any of the usual places, though-no bathroom stalls, no back exits, nothing. Eventually, I gave up and went back to the table.

"Yeah," Jayden was saying when I sat down. "I'm surprised Madeline looks so different now. I would've never imagined her to look like that."

Nobody responded. The air at the table felt heavy, and I noticed Clara shifting uncomfortably.

When lunch ended and we were heading back to class, Clara spoke up. "I'm surprised Madeline's so chill with Jayden now. She hated him when we were kids."

"Why?" I asked, frowning.

Clara hesitated, glancing around like she wasn't sure if she should say it. "Well... he was just really mean to her. About her weight and stuff. Called her names."