Secrets Of The Woods: Werewolf Story

Chapter 31: Wednesday

Dylan's PoV

Ever since the party happened I haven't really talked with Matthew. He made new friends so we've been growing distant. He's also not being his usual social butterfly self. I know he has to be hiding something and I'm going to figure it out.

Yesterday I sat with some kids from the party. Since Matthew left the party early I've become the new popular kid. It's what I've always wanted to be. Matthews always been the most popular kid because he knows how to party and have a good time. He also is a huge social butterfly...or was. I can't believe he's friends with his neighbor Zoe now. She's a loser. She's friends with losers too. Elizabeth is definitely way better than Zoe. And who were those other kids he brought to the party that dragged him out? In curious about them. I try texting Matthew during English and History class but he doesn't answer. He's actually trying to pay attention. Since when did he become a goodie two shoes student? After class is over I head over to him while he's packing up his stuff. I ask him "What's gotten into you?"
He asks "Why does that matter?"
"You stopped being a social butterfly. You aren't the most popular kid in school anymore. You left the party early too with those weird kids. Now you're friends with your loser neighbor, Zoe."
"She's not a loser."
"Oh really? She's had a giant crush on you for years and you always talked bad about her. Now your her friend."
We start walking out of the classroom and towards our next classes. He tells me "She's not a loser. I was wrong about her. If you're gonna talk trash about her do it to someone else."

When it's lunch time I get my lunch then go sit at the table with Zoe, Elizabeth, and Matthew. He looks at me when I sit down. He asks "Dylan, what are you doing?"
I tell him "I came to apologize. I called Zoe a lot of mean things so I'm apologizing. I figured if you think Zoe is fun then I'll get to know her too."
I see them all look at each other and then Matthew tells me "Alright you can stay. Just...don't be a jerk."
The first couple minutes are really awkward and not much conversation and then we start talking. Matthew asks me "What happened at the party after I left?"
I tell him "Well James was ticked off at you because you beat him to getting Elizabeth. No offense or anything Elizabeth but... I'm glad Matthew won your heart over instead of James. He's a jerk. Anyways...he tried to attack you, your friends dragged you away. Drunk kids all fighting each other. I was able to get them all to stop. Which was very surprising because I was sort of drunk. Then I became everyone's new party favorite. We partied, danced, and normal party stuff. We also played spin the bottle. But the best was truth or dare. People got dared to do crazy things. It was a great party except for James drunkenness lead to drunk fights for a while. I wish you would've stayed. Maybe even fought James. He deserved to get punched for what he did...and has done to most the girls at our school."
Elizabeth asks "What does James do? I keep hearing he's a player but I haven't heard what exactly he does."
Zoe rolls her eyes and tells her "He treats you and spoils you rotten until you finally agree to do it with him. Then he'll keep spoiling you until you're not...good enough for him anymore. He'll dump you then move onto the next girl. He's done that with a majority of the girls here."
"Why do they fall for it when they've seen how he treats other girls?"
"Its his charm that draws them in. And they get spoiled. He'll buy them anything they want and do what they want even if it is for a short time. God love getting spoiled. Ecspecially the girls who are on the poorer side. They can sell whatever he buys them and make more money for there family."
Elizabeth asks "Am I the only girl he hasn't gotten to?"
I tell her "Basically. I don't know who he has or hasn't done this with because the list is so long. He got to Zoe for a while."
Elizabeth asks "Is that why you two fought when you sat with me and they guys?"
Zoe tells her "It is. That's why I've been doing my best to keep you away from him."
Right after she says that James walks over to our table. He smiles and tells us "I don't mean any harm. Sorry about the party, M. I didn't mean it."
Matthew tells him "Don't call me M. And I don't believe you. I'm not friends with you anymore. Leave us alone."
"I really only came over here to talk with Elizabeth."
Elizabeth looks concerned about it. Matthew stands up and walks over to James. I stand up too, unsure if I should stand between them or not. Matthew tells him "She's not interested in you."
"I think she's old enough to speak for herself. And last I knew...you two aren't official so she's still available."
Matthew tells James "We are together. Leave her alone."
James smirks. Oh no. I know that look. He's gonna make Matthew do something to prove it. I know Matthew and Elizabeth aren't official yet. They are still trying to figure out what there relationship is. I know Matthew so I can tell when he's lying or bluffing. James tells Matthew"If you're really together then I want you to stand up on the table together and kiss each other."
Matthew glares at him. Elizabeth says "Ok. Let's do it."
We all look at her surprised. She tells us "If this gets James to leave us alone then let's do it."
Zoe, Elizabeth, and I all stand up. Elizabeth climbs up onto the lunch table and asks Matthew"Are you coming?"
Matthew looks away from James then climbs up. They wrap there arms around each other and kiss. The cafeteria gets dead silent. Everyone's watching them. When they pull apart everyone starts clapping. Kids are yelling "go Matthew!" And "I knew he could do it!"
Matthew looks at James and asks "Does this prove it?"
James looks angry. Matthew and Elizabeth step off the table and back onto the ground. We see the lunch monitors started heading over to us then stopped and walked back to there spots because they got off the table. After Matthew steps off the table and back onto the ground James punches him right in the face. It knocks Matthew back a little. Zoe and I quickly get in between them. Elizabeth is making sure Matthew is ok. I tell James "Back off. He did what you told him to do."
James smirks and tells me "Dylan, you know better than anyone I don't back down. Elizabeth being taken gives me a challenge. I'll win her over. I always win."
After he says that the lunch monitors walk over and take him to see our principal. I ask "Matthew, you good?"
He doesn't say anything. Zoe is whispering something to him. What's going on? Why is he...shaking? He takes some deep breathes then calms down. He tells us "I'm gonna go to the nurse and then go home."
I ask him "You alright? It's just a black eye."
He tells me "I'm good. I just don't want to stay here after what just happened."
"Will you text me later?"
"Sure."
After that he grabs his backpack then walks out the cafeteria and towards the office. Zoe and Elizabeth sit down like nothing just happened. I sit down and ask "What's going on?"
Zoe asks "What do you mean?"
"It looked like he was shaking after he got hit. And at the party James tried to hit him. You and your other friends quickly got him out of there. What's going on?"
Elizabeth tells me "We are just trying to help him stay out of trouble. You know, he wants a good record for college. He's tired of being the popular party boy. That's why he became friends with Zoe. She's a good kid."
I tell them "I guess I never thought about making a good impression for college. I can't believe he didn't tell me."
Zoe tells me "He thought you wouldn't change or understand. You do love to party and be popular."
The rest of lunch goes pretty past. The rest of the school day also goes very slowly. Hopefully I can fix me and Matthew's friendship. I know he's hiding something. Zoe and Elizabeth are too. I agreed with them so they won't know in suspicious. If I get close to them then maybe they'll tell me there secret. Why was Matthew shaking?

*Picture at the top of the chapter is what James looks like*