The Long Game (Issac Garcia)

25; snitches

Madelyn pov

It was our first day back from Christmas break. And since the whole thing at the bonfire. Between Jackie, alex,and Cole.

That's all everyone's been talking about. The two brothers were the talk of the school. Per usual. Everybody pinned them to be bad people for getting into this petty fight.

Of course, I know that's not true. Alex is a good guy. Even though I hardly ever speak to him, I know he tries his best. He was just placed in a bad situation. And so was Cole.

I know Cole Walter might not be known for his heart or emotions, but like anyone else, he has them. He has always acted as an older brother to me. He's probably been there for me more than my own parents.

I'm not trying to say their actions were justified. People just need to lighten up.

Katy and I were talking at some lockers when a sea of people walked past laughing. Actually, the whole room was filled with laughter and low whispers as Alex entered through the doors.

Angrily, Alex walked up to us. "What was that about?"

I wasn't very sure myself, but before I could answer, katy was already speaking. "You know ignorance is a bliss-"

"Katy." He scolds eyeing her down.

We both sigh in unison. "Okay, there was a rumor that when you saw Paige and Cole together, you ran off crying. Like a baby." Katy explained.

"Seriously," he said in disbelief.

Oh, never mind. I do know what this is about. I'm a little slow sometimes.

I hummed. "Mhm the exact words were like "a little bitch" but you know." I shrug my shoulders. Katy looks at us both before giving him a slight nod.

" That's not true at all." He argues.

"Who made that up, Paige? Cole," he asks, looking for answers.

"I don't know maybe Coles retaliating for you punching him." Katy says.

"Or maybe because he's upset about you and Jackie. He's clearly obsessed with her." Alex looks up at me with a concerned look as I say that.

Katy shakes her head at me. "Maybe you need to be quiet for a minute." She silences me by putting her hand on my shoulder. She turns her attention back to Alex.

"You know what? We will try to do some digging. Okay. We'll try to find out what happened. Leave it with me. I got it." Katy told him as she walked past Alex and patted him on the head. I quickly follow behind.

"So what's the plan?" I ask as we mindlessly walk through the halls.

"We need to find the boys and talk to them."

"And by boys, you mean -"

"Yes, our boys."

"As in -"

"Lee,issac,and Josh." She reminds me.

We frantically walked around trying to find them. Well, it started off as a walk then evolved into a light jog that expanded into a run.

After we were about to stop searching, the group of boys walked through the double doors and into the hallway that we were in.

Katy and I jogged over to them extremely out of breath. I haven't run since 8th grade when they made us do the mile, and it shows.

"Hey, Mads. Hey Katy." I hear Nathan say as Katy and I lean over to catch our breaths. The boys give us a weird look as we do so.

"Did you guys run all the way here?" My brother questions. We nod slowly as we go to stand up again. The six of us then start to walk.

"So you're our best friends, right?" I ask innocently. The guys collectively nod.

"And you love us so much and adore our friendship." Katy chimes in. They nod again.

Issac gives me a confused look. "You guys are acting strange. What do you want?"

"Okay, so about these rumors with Alex." Katy starts but is soon cut off by an agitated Issac.

"Well, I'm not going to go there so." He shrugs. Before I could say something, Lee cuts me off.

"Don't you two have anything else better to do?" Lee asks suspiciously quick. Ugh, why are they being so stubborn.

I walk over to him and wrap an arm around his shoulders. "Please, Lee, this is impossible." He shoves me off of him as I whine.

"Huh, you said you're not going to go there, which means there is something." Katy points out.

"That's kind of a far stretch." I hear Nathan say from behind me.

"Is she wrong?" I ask. No one says a word. I look at Issac, who brings the apple he had in his hand up to his mouth to take a bite. Oh fuck. Why was that simple move so attractive? Calm down maddy all he did was eat a damn apple. But why did he look so hot doing it. I think he noticed me staring because he slows down and slips his hand in mine. As we continue to walk, he carefully rubs the back of my hand with his thumb. I internally screamed.

"I knew it. Okay guys I'm really trying to help here. Alex is really going through it, and I want to clarify the rumors." Katy says as she stops walking and stands in front of us.

"We don't snitch."

"We're not telling you anything so." The boys take turns to gang up on us. Issac goes to say something but looks hesitant. I give his hand a little squeeze to assure him.

"Well, Alex snitched." The boys gave him a warning look. "He told uncle George that Coles been sneaking girls into the house." Katy and I look at each other un shock at the new information. Nathan and Lee immediately turn and slap Issac on the back.

"Technically, Alex snitched first, so it's basically not even snitching." He tried to defend himself.

"Wait wait wait. Does that mean Paige was one of the girls Cole was sneaking in." Katy asked, completely invested into the whole situation.

"Hey, no, we don't know that." Nathan's voice was filled with worry and panic.

"But she could have been. Intresting. Thanks, guys." She smirked as she walked away.

"Issac,"

"Nice dude,"

"You feel proud of yourself,"

"Way to keep quiet," all the boys let out sarcastic remarks towards issac as they leave towards the cafeteria.

Now, it was just the two of us standing in the middle of the hall. "Should I have said that?" He asks quietly, barely above a whisper.

I shrug my shoulders, not quite sure what to say. "Probably not, but you can't change anything." He gives me a little nod as a small smile appeared on his face.

He brings our joined hands to his face and kisses the back of my hand lightly. "Thanks, mads."

"Now let's go eat. I am starving. Spilling all of the walter gossip really takes a lot of energy out of you." I laugh as he drags me into the cafeteria.

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