heartbeat 4 u

18. the new girl

During summer, Jo, Cam, and Jason tried to hang out with Maddi and invite her places, but she started distancing herself from them. They tried to talk to her, but she'd ignore them.

First day of senior year started, and they finally got to see Maddi again. She had her own car and drove in with it. When Maddi came out, she looked so different. She looked skinnier, had pale skin, wore black eyeliner, and had a mean look on her face.

Jo, Cam, and Jason had to take a second look at her to make sure it was really Maddi.

She walked towards them. Their mouths were open, amazed at how much she changed. When she finally reached them, she grinned and walked right past them.

"Maddi?!" Cam called.

But Maddi ignored her and went to a different group of friends.

They stared at her and couldn't believe what they saw. She used to be so innocent and friendly.

"Is that Maddi?" Cam asked Jo.

"I-I don't know." Jo replied.

Just then a little girl named Kila walked past Maddi and her "friends" and Maddi started bullying her.

Jo, Cam, and Jason's jaw dropped. They couldn't believe she would do that.

"Did Maddi really just do that?" Jo asked, surprised.

"It's hard to believe, but yes. She did." replied Jason.

"Are you sure that's Maddi?" Cam asked.

"No, it's not," Jo replied, not wanting to accept that this is what Maddi has become. Cam and Jason agreed with her.

"Let's try to talk to her at lunch." Cam said.

"Okay." Jo replied.

They went to class. Maddi sat in the back corner, secluded from everyone. She acted like she didn't really care about class.

Lunch came and they tried to sit with Maddi. She was finding a seat when they came up to her.

"Hey, Maddi!" Jo said in a friendly way.

"Wanna sit with us?" Cam asked.

Maddi gave them an annoyed look and walked away when Cam stopped her.

"Wait, Maddi. Why don't you wanna sit with us?"

"Why would I want to sit with you guys?"

They were shocked at her response.

"Because," Jo replied, "we're your friends."

She looked at them and felt a bit sorry for a second, then went back to her mean self.

"No, you're not! You never will be."

"Why would you think that?" Cam asked.

"Of course we're your friends!" Jason said.

Maddi looked serious and leaned closer to whisper to them.

"Don't even bother, guys. I'm not worth it." she said as if she was beating up herself.

She turned around and walked away to a table where her "friends" were sitting to eat lunch.

Jo, Cam, and Jason didn't give up. After school, they approached her again.

"Hey, Maddi!" said Jason as they walked up to her.

"I thought I told you guys to quit it. What are you doing?" she said in a mean way.

"Maddi," said Cam, "we're still your friends no matter what. We'll be here for you."

"Who cares? Just go on with your lives as if I was never here, cause that's what's gonna happen anyways!" she yelled, getting mad.

They thought for a moment and started understanding the way she was thinking.

"Is that what you think, Maddi?" Jo asked.

"You know what? I don't have time for you guys. Now, get out of the way." she said and shoved her way through them to her car. She drove off fast in an angry way.

They looked at each other and wondered what they could do about Maddi.