Bloodlines

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Maddie hopped off the bus and felt the cool September breeze on her skin as the sun shined on her honey blonde hair. She looked up at a familiar building and signed with dread. School—the building where all those people died last year. Maddie rolled her eyes at the basic thought of going back.

The thought that Cole was dead was still mind boggling to Maddie. She actually got rid of her three problems, but she couldn't get past the thought of her trouble not even over yet. Maddie still had nightmares, and Cole was right about Caleb; he had escaped the sanitarium weeks ago. Cole's boss—not Caleb—was still out there looking for her, and Maddie needed to find out how to find him and destroy him. It was a never-ending power struggle.

Maddie walked past a line of reporters by the stairs, and Maddie went down the other hall to her locker. Ever since she came back, her whole entire family had been in the spotlight once again. Everywhere Maddie went, there were stupid reporters and it was driving her nuts. It was all because of Caleb's escape, which made it worse. If Cole's boss was still out there, then Maddie had to stay out of the spotlight as much as possible.

Maddie eventually reached her locker and opened it. As she put her stuff in, a flash of light blinded her eyes. Maddie jumped and saw dancing dots in the air. She turned to see Colin with a giant camera. She recognized that gold hair anywhere.

"Maddie, can I interview you about your father when he found out about your crazy Uncle's escape?" Colin took another photo, and it made Maddie's blood boil.

Maddie snatched the camera without a thought, and smashed it on the ground. Colin's eyes went wide as the camera smashed into pieces, and he started groaning. "Next time, I will kick your ass." Maddie slammed her locker shut and walked away from him.

From afar, Maddie saw her friends waiting by Nick's locker. She eagerly approached them, excited that she could be surrounded by them instead of a dozen strangers. Maddie stood next to her boyfriend as she tried to pick up conversation of what the four of them were talking about. Turns out it was about Colin's camera.

"God, Colin flashed his camera in my face when I walked in here today with my sister," Hope said with annoyance.

"Me too!" Alex raised his hand for a high-five, but Hope shook her head. "Anyway, he flashed it and I wanted to punch him."

"God help him with your punches to the face," Nick said with a laugh.

"Jesus, what the hell was that with Jax?" Luke asked him with amazement. Maddie noticed that Luke spoke in his British accent, and it warmed her. "You completely sucker-punched him."

"You guys act like I have no strength," Alex said with disapproval.

"Alex, I'm half your size and I'm stronger than you," Maddie reminded him with a smile. All her friends looked at her and shrugged. They didn't question it.

"Hey, I lift weights!" Alex defended. He mimicked lifting a weight, and his position was entirely wrong. Alex had never been to a gym in his life.

"Chicken wings don't count," Hope said. Maddie started laughing and the both of them exchanged looks. Hope quickly stopped when Alex gave her a look.

"Hey, if Luke touches Maddie, then he'd get the Wrath of Alex." Alex let out a loud obnoxious laugh, and Nick glared at him with exasperation. Nick was not a morning person. Maddie and Luke gave him a look, and he put his arm around her. Maddie was glad that Alex was acting more like himself, but his comment was not called for. Alex stopped and gave them a look. "What? I was kidding!"