Wolfblood

Chapter Fourteen

Maddy itches around her eyes as she eats her breakfast whilst studying.

"Er, five times seventy-six?" Her Dad teases, bacon sizzling in his frying pan.

"Stop it Dad!" Maddy moans.

"Three-hundred-and-eighty." He playfully answers.

Emma walks through the kitchen, "You feeling confident?" She asks Maddy.

"No," Maddy shrugs, "I hate Maths!"

"No you don't, you'll walk these exams!" Daniel laughs as he turns the bacon.

"Alright, come on. What's wrong?!" Emma asks as she sits down next to Maddy.

Maddy shrugs again, "I don't know! I just can't seem to focus on anything! And me head hurts, hands are throbbing... And feet too!"

"Right in the gums?" Daniel asks as he watches them.

Maddy nods. Daniel and Emma both exchange a nervous glance, "Right, that's it. You're not going to school tomorrow!" Emma declares, "I'll email Mr. Jeffries. I'll say you're ill."

"What?!" Maddy complains.

"Look, you're on the brink of transforming." Emma explains, "How are you going to cope with a week of exams?"

"No way! I've worked far too hard for this!" Maddy argues. "I'll be fine!"

Daniel sighs as he carries on watching them - not focusing on what he's cooking. Suddenly flames appear on the frying pan.

"Dad!" Maddy shrieks as she jumps from the table, crouching behind it with her Mother.

Daniel drops the frying pan on the table, growling at it as he crouches with Emma and Maddy.

"Dan! The cloth!" Emma shouts as all their eyes glow yellow.

He quickly grabs the cloth - throwing it over the fire as the flames burn down. They all sigh in relief once the fire is out.

"Maybe you would be safer at school!" Emma tells Maddy as she nods in agreement.

Maddy walks from her bedroom to the kitchen.

"Look, you're not going anywhere today without this," Emma declares as she pulls out a small bottle filled with blood-coloured liquid, "And it's the last bottle in the house, so don't lose it! I'll make you another one tonight." She says as she hands Maddy the bottle.

"What is it?!" Maddy asks as she takes the bottle from her Mum.

"It's rescue remedy. It'll keep you calm, okay?!" Emma replies.

Maddy unscrews the lid, smelling it and scrunching her nose in disgust, "Smells rank!"

"Listen! It works Maddy. You're just going to have to watch yourself for a while." Her Mum insists, "Just pop a few drops under your tongue whenever you're feeling stressed, okay?!"

Maddy nods as she pushes the bottle down into her school bag.

Maddy looks back at people in disgust as they barge past her as she walks across the school playground.

"Hey Mads! What happened?" Tom shouts as he runs up to Maddy.

Maddy looks at him nervously, "What?! I'm fine!"

Tom looks back at her for a moment, "Last night... You never showed up - English revision."

"Oh, right." Maddy relaxes a little, "Sorry. Things just got a little hectic. The English paper isn't until tomorrow, we could revise in the lunch hour if you'd like?" 

"Alright. Thanks Mads, you're the best." Tom responds as he walks away, swinging his bag round his shoulder - accidentally banging into Maddy's bag. 

"Ah, what!" Maddy moans as she pulls out the blood-coloured mess that has leaked everywhere.

"Er, what is that?!" Shannon asks, popping up from nowhere.

Maddy quickly turns away from Shannon - hiding the bottle back in her bag, "It's nothing..."

"Smells vile," Shannon comments as she walks into school with Maddy, "Do you want a tissue?"

"Honestly Shan, it's fine." Maddy replies.

"You all set for the Maths test then?" Shannon asks - reminding Maddy as Maddy groans.

"Okanawe?" Mr. Jeffries asks as he calls out the register in class.

"Yes Sir!" Tom replies.

"How am I suppose to chill out when I've got a week of exams - Tom's at me back and me whole body feels like it's about to explode?!" Maddy whispers to Rhydian in desperation as she is oblivious that Mr. Jeffries is now calling out her name.

"Maddy!" Mr. Jeffries finally shouts after calling her three times already.

"What?!" Maddy shouts back in attitude. Immediately after she decides to apologise, realising how rude she was, "Yes Sir, sorry Sir!"

"Waterman?" Mr. Jeffries carries on with the register.

"Hot flushes? Shooting pains? Mouth like a Swiss army knife?" Rhydian teases as Maddy sighs in pain, "Oh my!"

"Shut up!" Maddy whispers back.

"This should be fun!" Rhydian teases again. "Ow!" Rhydian says aloud as Maddy kicks him under the table.

"Keep it down, please, Rhydian!" Mr. Jeffries comments as he speaks up to the class, "Right, you lot, as you know, this week's exams will start with maths, immediately after the dinner bell. Tomorrow, we will be having English after first break. Here's hoping those past participles will trip off your pens."

"You worry too much Thomas." Jimi smirks.

"Oh do I?!" Tom sarcastically replies as he rests his chin on his knuckles.

"Uh-huh! There's really no need - I have a plan." Jimi raises his eyebrows with a grin.