Chapter 3

"Hey, Maddie," Scott caught up to her the next morning in the hallway as she pulled her math book out of her locker. "You left early this morning. Stiles was going to give us a ride."

If he hadn't seen her the night before, he would have thought there was nothing wrong in the first place. Her hair was perfectly pinned back, make-up pristine, and the usual easy smile plastered back on her face.

She shrugged, not giving him a reason as to why instead deciding to change the subject. "Mom's working evening shift tonight," Madison shut her locker and clicked the lock back into place. Scott nodded in response. "And I switched shifts with Craig so I'll be home later and working Wednesday instead."

"All right."

Danny walked up to them looking for Scott and Madison took it as her way out of the conversation.

"See you boys."

Scott watched her leave and Danny took in the expression on Scott's face before turning to see where Madison had gone. "Did I miss something?"

"No," Scott shook his head. He wasn't going to add to their pile of trouble unless he knew there was a reason to. "Nothing."

X-X-X

Madison spent her free period in the library desperately trying to finish any homework she could but she only got one page done before Lydia sat down beside her.

"I hear you went out with Aiden last night," she started, opening her own books. "I didn't think he would go for someone like you."

Allison sat across from Madison and rolled her eyes apologetically for Lydia's bluntness. "She is just being rude because she is jealous."

"Well, how was it?" The strawberry blonde asked, ignoring the insinuation.

Madison shrugged, "It was fine." When both girls just stared at her she knew it wasn't a detailed enough answer. "He was easy to talk to, paid for my meal, and took me for ice cream afterwards. He walked me to the front door, kissed me, and drove off."

"And that didn't make you happy?" Allison questioned, picking up on the lack of enthusiasm.

"No, it did. I don't know. I guess I was almost waiting for the other shoe to drop so I couldn't really enjoy it…" she trailed off remembering the night before.

"Well, he clearly enjoyed it," Lydia motioned to Aiden who was three rows over talking to his brother. While they couldn't hear what either brother was saying the smile on his face was genuine. "Are you going to go out with him again?"

Madison closed her notebook, giving up on the fact that she was going to get any schoolwork done. "If he asks. He was a nice distraction."

"That's my girl," Lydia smirked causing Allison to roll her eyes again.

X-X-X

Madison hated the fact that Lydia and Allison got her talking about last night. She had worked so hard to push it from her mind and now all she could do was think about it. Yes, she had a great time and it was invigorating to ride on the back of his motorcycle but it was also terrifying. Ever since the accident with Rory she had felt the guilt eating away at her. Even after Rory's dad dropped the investigation and had the stones to apologize. The rumble of the motorcycle had her clutching to the side of Aiden's leather jacket as he took each turn with such ease it was as if he dared the bike to crash. The faster they went the less breath Madison could draw into her lungs.

The room felt as if the walls were closing in, pressing out any air that was there making it hard to breathe. She was going to be stuck. She was going to suffocate on the lack of oxygen and die right there in the middle of French class and there wasn't anything anyone could do about it.

Isaac had been doodling in his notebook wishing the hand on the clock would move so he could get out of there when he heard someone's heartbeat jump. Just a flutter at first as if something startled them but then it sped up. He shifted in his seat, eyes dancing around the room trying to figure out who it was until he landed on Madison. Her hands gripped either side of the desk to the point her knuckles were white. He was just about to try and catch her line of sight to see what was wrong when the teacher called on her to answer a question.

The whole class turned their attention to her waiting for a response and while no one else might have noticed that anything was wrong Isaac wasn't sure how much more her heart could take.

"Miss McCall?" The teacher waited impatiently.

Madison stood up from her seat and ran out of the room. Isaac quickly followed and found her with one hand on the lockers for support and the other on her chest, trying to catch her breath.

"Maddie," he carefully put a hand on her shoulder. "What do you want me to do? Do you want me to get Scott?"

She shook her head violently from side to side, "I… can't… breathe. There is no air in here."

Isaac took one of her hands in his own and placed the other on the small of her back as he guided her outside. He wasn't sure if it were a panic attack or maybe she had asthma like Scott used to but he hoped being out in the open would help. He pushed through the doors and helped her down the stairs, directing her to sit on the edge of the sidewalk.

She sat down and put her head between her knees, taking a few deep breaths. Isaac was just about to leave to go find Scott or to get help when he heard her heart rate slowly returning to normal. She sat like that for several minutes, the pounding in her chest moving to her head.

The bell rung and Isaac heard the slight jump in heartbeat knowing she wouldn't want anyone to see her like this. He held his hand out to her and pulled her to her feet. She graciously accepted taking a few more deep breaths.

"Thank you for making sure I didn't pass out but you can go back to whatever it is you do during the day."

Isaac didn't want to overstep any boundaries but he knew something was going on and wasn't fully convinced, "Are you sure you are going to be okay?"

Madison forced a smile, "I'll be fine."

Pulling her phone out of her pants pocket she sent a text to Stiles.

Migraine. Take me home?

While she waited for him to write back she text her brother and Rory as well knowing Stiles would have no problem taking her home. Before she had gotten prescribed her reading glasses she used to get them all the time.

Headed home. Migraine.

"Hey, Isaac," she called after him while she waited for Stiles. "Just keep this between the two of us, please."

He stared at her for a moment, not really liking the idea of keeping it from Scott but eventually nodded in response before heading back into the school.

X-X-X

Stiles glanced over to Madison every few seconds as she rested her forehead against the cool window. "You're not going to puke in my Jeep, are you?"

"No."

He wasn't convinced though, "Are you sure? Because you look awfully pale and the last time you puked it was like the Exorcist or something and I have no idea how I would be able to clean all of that out of the car and then it would forever smell like vomit and I can't be driving around in a car that smells like puke."

Madison closed her eyes and sighed, "If you promise to keep your mouth shut for the rest of the ride, I promise not to puke in your jeep."

Stiles nodded, "Deal."

It was excruciatingly harder than he thought it would be to stay silent but it was a small price to pay. He pulled up in front of the McCall residence and Madison opened the door, wincing as is squeaked.

"You good?"

She forced a smile and carefully nodded, "Yup. Thank you. I'm going to go pass out now."

Stiles waited until she was in the house with the door closed before driving away, moments later his phone ringing. He rolled his eyes as he saw Scott's name come up on the screen.

"She's fine and she thankfully did not puke in my car."

"Glad to hear but I don't think this was just a migraine."

"What do you mean?"

"Danny said she ran out of French class and Isaac followed her but when I asked him about it he said it was nothing."

"So? Then it was nothing. The French teacher sucks and it wouldn't be the first time she skipped out on a class."

"I heard his heartbeat. He lied to me."

Stiles thought back to the girl he just dropped off and while there was no doubt in his mind she wasn't feeling well she just looked worn out to him. "Hey, Scott. Remember when I told you I used to get panic attacks after my mom died?"

"Yeah."

"Well..."

"You think she had a panic attack."

"I think she's taking the accident with Rory harder than she is letting on and I think it'd be a good idea to make sure she doesn't see her brother wolf out on the full moon in two days."

X-X-X

Madison blinked, trying to wake herself up as she felt the bed dip. A smile spread across her face as soon as she heard her friend's bracelets jingle. "What are you doing here?"

"You left school early," Rory laid down next to her, fluffing the pillow to get more comfortable. "Wanted to make sure you were okay."

Madison thought back to French class and took a deep breath trying not to go back to the same state of panic.

"The accident still bothering you that bad? Mads, I love you, but you need to get over it. Yeah, your car was totaled and that sucks but we are fine."

Madison picked at the comforter, trying to keep her feelings to herself was a lot harder when she had a best friend that could read her emotions better than she could. "I just don't get it Rory. The deer ran straight towards the car. It didn't try and run away. That can't be normal." She let her mind wander back to that night for a moment before running a tired hand down her face. "You scared the shit out of me. You wouldn't wake up."

"I'm okay, you're not getting rid of me that easily, McCall," Rory promised and rolled on her side so she could look more easily at Madison. "So, get this, I'm taking the garbage out at work last night at the end of my shift and I heard howling."

Madison couldn't help the laugh that spilled from her lips, thankful for the change in topic. "Howling? It was probably a dog or some kid playing a joke on you."

"No, I swear, I would bet my life on it that there was a wolf nearby."

Madison mimicked a howling wolf and Rory hit her in the face with a pillow causing her to squeal in laughter.