New beginnings

|17| Downplayed

-Madeline-

The park was quiet except for the soft crunch of leaves under our shoes as Maria and I strolled along the path. The late afternoon sun peeked through the trees, casting long shadows on the ground. I pulled my jacket tighter around me, more out of habit than the cold.

"And then he just showed up to Ryker's house," I said, my voice tinged with frustration.

Maria stopped mid-step, turning to me with wide eyes. "What? Are you serious? He's insane! Mads, I'm so sorry."

I shrugged, trying to downplay it. "Yeah, it's okay. I just... I really hope he doesn't start hanging around us at lunch like before. I can't deal with that."

Maria shook her head firmly. "He won't. I'm sure he doesn't have the guts to pull something like that. And if he does, I swear, I'll stop homeschooling, march into high school, and give him a taste of my medicine!"

Despite myself, I laughed. Maria always had this way of lighting up any situation, no matter how dark. "I love you," I said, giving her a side hug as my phone buzzed in my pocket.

I pulled it out to see Jayden's name on the screen. "Oh, look. It's Jayden. He wants to meet... I'll just tell him la—"

"No!" Maria interrupted, smiling brightly. "Go see him. I have to go anyway. Love you, Mads!"

Before I could protest, she waved and walked off, leaving me standing in the park. Sighing, I typed out a quick reply to Jayden, telling him I'd meet him nearby.

I waited on a bench for a few minutes before Jayden appeared, his usual confident stride and warm smile putting me at ease. We started walking back to my house, chatting about nothing in particular.

As we approached the porch, I spotted Ryker sitting on the steps. His elbows rested on his knees, his legs bouncing nervously. His serious expression immediately put me on edge.

"Hey, man, what are you doing here?" I asked, trying to sound casual, but my stomach tightened.

Jayden tensed beside me, his gaze snapping to Ryker. "What's he doing here, babe?" he asked, pointing at him, his tone sharp.

Ryker stood, his expression unreadable. "I need to talk to you, Mads."

"Oh, well, uh, okay," I stammered, unsure of what could possibly be so important.

"We're out, though," Jayden cut in, stepping closer and slinging an arm around my shoulders protectively.

"It seems important, though," I said hesitantly. "Maybe I should just—"

Jayden stepped back, letting out a sharp laugh. "Oh, so now you're choosing Ryker over me?"

"What? No! I just said it seemed important! What are you even saying?"

"You know what? I'm done." Jayden's voice was cold as he dropped his arm and stepped away. "Text me when you're free. Or never, since you clearly don't have time for me."

Before I could process what was happening, he was already walking away.

What. Just. Happened?

I turned back to Ryker, my chest tightening with frustration. "Look, Ryker, this better be important. I think I just broke up with my boyfriend for this."

Ryker winced, guilt flashing across his face, but there was something else in his expression—something heavier. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. "Listen to this," he said, his voice low.

The audio started playing, and I immediately recognized the voices.

"Is this—" I began, but Ryker cut me off.

"What did he do to you, Mads?"

My chest constricted, and my pulse quickened. "He didn't do anything," I lied quickly, trying to wave him off.

"Madeline." His voice was sharp, serious.

I froze, feeling cornered. "I promise, it's just something stupid. Can you stop?"

Ryker grabbed my wrist gently but firmly, forcing me to look at him. "Tell me. I can help you. Was he threatening you?"

"No!" I snapped, yanking my arm away. "It's nothing. I dealt with it."

Ryker didn't move, his gaze unwavering.

The words spilled out before I could stop them. "I was assaulted, okay? Happy now?"

Ryker's expression shattered, his eyes wide with shock and anger. "What? Dylan assaulted you?"

"Please," I said softly, my voice breaking. "Just drop it."

Ryker didn't. He stood there, his fists clenched, muttering under his breath. "That fucking bastard. He won't get away with this. I'll—"

"Ryker!" I grabbed his arm, my voice rising slightly. "If this gets out, you'll be hurting me even more. Do you understand? I'm begging you—don't tell anyone."

Ryker hesitated, his jaw tightening before he finally sat back down on the steps, running a hand through his hair. I sat next to him, my hands shaking.

"I've learned to cope with it. I'm fine," I said, my voice quiet but firm. "This was a long time ago."

Ryker turned to me, his face still tight with anger. "When?"

"Tutoring," I said simply, the word feeling like a punch in the gut.

"That bastard," he muttered again. "Mads, you know this isn't okay, right?"

"Yes," I whispered, tears threatening to spill. "But please. Don't tell."

Ryker nodded reluctantly, though the fire in his eyes remained. We sat there in silence, the weight of everything settling around us like a storm cloud.

———