Chapter 9
"Maddy, Mad-dy . . . Miss Smith . . . Madeline Smith . . ."
Maddy felt the pointed end of Robert's elbow as he jabbed her to full attention. Maddy sat up, wincing as her neck cracked from having fallen asleep; her books a poor replacement for a pillow. Massaging her sore neck, she yawned; only adding fuel to fire building within the Bulgarian English teacher. Mr. Lapinski shook with fury. "This is unacceptable!" Maddy cringed as his cream-colored, porcelain-like face turned a vibrant red. "I will not be made a fool. The great Shakespeare will not be disrespected! His prodigious work deserves to be savored, not slept through." Maddy was cognizant enough to make up an excuse, so instead she sat awkwardly and watched Mr. Lapinski grow hotter and hotter with her silence. Maddy slinked down further into her chair, but as much as she wanted, she couldn't become invisible. "Out!" he finally shouted, pointing to the door.
Maddy huffed in disgust, gathering her things in a hurry. She didn't take care to neatly place her notebook or Shakespeare textbook in her knapsack; but rather shoved them in, angry at herself for being tossed out of class. She zipped up her grey sweater that covered a red t-shirt with the band, The Killers', faded logo on it. She reluctantly slung her rucksack on her left shoulder and made her way through the rows of desks. Maddy peered over her shoulder at Robert who shrugged his shoulders, uncertainty written in his expression. Seeing Mr. Lapinski point at the door again, she closed it behind her as she entered into the empty hallway.
-Wolfblood-
Maddy was leaning on her knees, as she sat on the bench outside the main office, waiting to be called in by one of the administrators to go to the principal. For several nights, Maddy had the same awful nightmare. The smell of burning oil, the screaming, the deafening boom of an explosion . . . and finally Ling crying out her name. Every night Maddy relived the same events, and each night she was left without any further clues as to who source of all the destruction happening around her. The person was always hidden by the shadows and the smoke emitting from the room she was discovered in. "What happened?" Ling plopped down beside her, twirling the bathroom pass around her finger.
"I fell asleep in 's class. His head just about exploded." Maddy rubbed her temples, praying for relief from her headache that was medaling its way from the back of her skull to just behind her eyes. Maddy laid her head back against the wall and closed her eyes, sighing as she succumbed to the idea she was going to be sentenced with a day of in-school suspension. She was beginning to drift off to sleep when Ling brought her back into the conversation, calling her name over and over again.
"Hey – hey, Maddy. Hey, come on. You can't bee dozing off now. I don't think will take too kindly to giving any leniency if he finds you sleeping out here. Is this because of that nightmare?" Ling gently placed her hand on her friend's shoulder; perhaps for comfort, Maddy thought, or maybe to check if she was still awake. The Wolfblood cracked one eye open. It was all the energy she could muster to confirm for Ling she was still awake.
"Ugh. It just plays over and over again." Maddy crossed her hands over her body as if bringing an imaginary blanket further up her body, tucking herself in for a long nap. In spite of the revelation that was on to Maddy's secret; before all that had happened, would have fixed everything. Her small frame magically filled a room when she entered, each power-walking footstep filled with purpose. She would have marched into the principal's office and made an excuse for Maddy's fatigue and then ripped into for doing his job. She missed , rubbing her chest as the dull ache of betrayal beat more powerfully.
Maddy pulled herself into a proper sitting position, understanding that Ling wasn't leaving. "I wish I knew who that person was. It doesn't make sense; yet, it feels so real. I can feel the heat from the explosion."
". . . And you can hear me screaming." Ling pulled her hand away, letting it find its way to her other hand that rested in her lap. She tapped her blue saddle shoes together, staring down at the well-polished leather. Maddy had regretfully disclosed to Ling her haunting nightmare. Since then Ling had distanced herself from Maddy. It wasn't like they stopped hanging out or walking to classes together, but she felt the Asian girl pull away emotionally, putting a small wall between them. The Wolfblood couldn't entirely blame her for wanting some space. When you learn that your friend has a reoccurring nightmare that includes you screaming out for her in fear and distress, it seemed like a normal response. She was going to try consoling Ling because it was all just a silly nightmare, when the creaky door to the main office opened. From around the dark brown, wooden door, peered one of the elderly administration staff gesturing for Maddy to follow. Maddy waved good-bye to her friend, her feet dragging as she entered the main office.
-Wolfblood-
"I think we need to see Mahkah and hope he can help." Emma placed dinner in front of her daughter who was using both hands to prop herself up.
"Your mom is right, you know. Wild Wolfblood Packs have healers that are taught by shamans before them to read dreams and treat things that normal medicine can't battle. If he meant the invitation, we'll go tomorrow before it begins." Dan leaned his head down, trying to meet his daughter's eyes. He grimaced as he watched his daughter's head begin to fall before snapping up in alarm.
Maddy yawned, she had fallen asleep in the car when her parents' picked her up from school earlier that day. Ling had called three times, each time leaving a more concerned voicemail. Maddy looked down at her phone's screen. The sheer effort of texting a message felt too much. Hit with a tinge of guilt, she mustered enough focus to text, "I'm fine," to Ling. Maddy was ravenous, and the succulent roasted pig her mother purchased from the butcher yesterday taunted her senses, but exhaustion had no mercy. Maddy was ready to fall out of her chair. "Mum, I . . . do you . . ."
"Go ahead," Emma finished, pulling her daughter's hair out of her face as she did so many times before. Emma stood to collect her plate, mentioning it would be in some Tupperware, waiting for her in the fridge. Maddy carefully stood. Concentrating on standing, feeling confident to proceed, she leaned against the wall as she made her way to her room. The small corridor seemed to grow, moving farther and farther away. Maddy was elated as she pushed her bedroom door open; her bed waiting for her. She flopped face first into the soft moss colored comforter. Maddy didn't bother pulling her pillow to her, she immediately closed her eyes and let sleep take her.
-Wolfblood-
She was running. The rust-colored leaves her golden brick road, guiding her as she vaulted over a fallen tree. The wind blowing her hair back and pulling at her clothes as it tries to hold onto her. Warm sunlight trickles through the green leaves still coloring the tall trees surrounding her. She lands with splash from her grandiose jump from the small overhang onto the stream's edge. She comes to a stop, her brown boots cooling as water tickles the soles. A 'splish-splash' whispers his entrance. Rhydian comes to a stop next to her. "We should hurry so we can meet Tom and Shan for burgers at Bernie's. I'm so hungry, I could eat the whole cow." He laughs, flattening out his tailored shirt he neverbothers to button all the way down.
"First," she says, getting his attention. She raises herself up on her toes and kisses him the same way he had during their first and last kiss on the outskirts of Stonybridge. The kiss was short, powerful in its innocence and tentative in the realization that this may be the last time they see each other.
Maddy awoke to the haze of morning light mixing with the last of night. She laid her hands underneath her pillow and stared at the ceiling. She rolled to her side and pulled a picture out from the draw of her nightstand. She reminisced back to a time without fear of exposure and she could just have burgers with her friends at the local shoppe.
-Wolfblood-
"Well, well, well . . . Taking a day off, eh?" The plump, weighted hand sent chills down her spine as it gripped tightly on her shoulder. Maddy slowly turned her head, seeing the joyous smile of Mr. Nevalle, a Cheshire cat watching Alice's plans fall apart. Maddy wanted to yell for her parents, but she needed not to worry; coming around the corner was Dan and Emma. The older Smiths stopped short upon seeing Mr. Nevalle. "No worries, I found her," he assured her parents, turning to Maddy, "Thought you were going to play hookie, but not this time. Can't get passed me." He shook his hand slightly as if simulating Maddy's attempted escape. Maddy shrugged his grip away and looked at her parents' in disbelief. Dan had left his wallet at the auto-shoppe. Not wanting any unexpected visitors drop by while they were "sick", Dan changed his story that he was taking care of Maddy and would retrieve his wallet in the morning. Maddy and Emma were hiding in the hardware store when Mr. Nevalle walked in. Apparently, the stale coffee provided to its patrons reminded Mr. Nevalle of home and was a routine stop on his way to work. Mr. Nevalle only lived a few blocks away and often walked to school.
"I'm sick!" she announced. Mr. Nevalle looked at her suspiciously.
"You look fine to me, Miss Smith. I'm sure your illustrious parents are far more than intelligent than you give credit to see through this feeble guise to skip school and commit unsavory hi-jinks."
Maddy was about to argue but caught the curt shake of her mother's head. Mr. Nevalle had put her parents and she in a corner that they couldn't get out of without drawing unwanted attention to themselves. Resigning, Maddy sighed, "You got me, ." He laughed jovially, wiping some perspiration from his forehead with his pocket handkerchief. He offered to walk Maddy to school, like some type of solemn march down death row; however, Dan declined the offer, explaining that they would walk Maddy to school. They watched the man leave the store, his girth filling the frame of the door, his patronizing good-bye wave, only burning the Smiths more.
-Wolfblood-
They were standing on the sidewalk outside the low hanging red brick wall on the west side of the school. "What am I supposed to do?" Maddy looked around, watching students begin to arrive.
Dan paused, also taking in the scene. "You are going to have to find an excuse, a reason for leaving."
"I wouldn't normally allow this. But sneak out if you need to. The solar eclipse is expected to arrive by later this afternoon. The closer it gets, the worse you will feel." Emma gesticulated with her hands before realizing it was receiving some peculiar looks from passing students. She causally waved and then gave her daughter a firm hug. "Listen, my pet, you need to get out. No matter what." Maddy nodded.
"Good luck," Dan wished his daughter. Maddy watched her parents leave, all the while trying to formulate a plan to get out of school. She considered making a run for right then until Mr. Nevalle passed, watching her carefully. Maddy huffed, stomping into the school in frustration.
-Wolfblood-
"What are you doing here?" Ling whispered, crowding the Wolfblood at her locker as Maddy grabbed books for science class. Ling had her books closely clutched to her body, leaning against the lockers as if protecting Maddy from onlookers. The Wolfblood had been plotting the entire first period of a way out. The most believable reason to leave would be to suddenly fall ill, but with Dan and Emma already on their way to Elk Ridge, no one would be around to pick her up from school. Students quickly shuffled to classes as the late bell rang. The halls were vacant outside of Ling and her. Knowing that time was of the essence, Maddy rose and addressed her best friend.
"Mr. Nevalle caught me at the hardware store waiting for my dad to retrieve his wallet he left behind yesterday at work. We were cornered with no way out, so I had to come to school. I have less than three hours to figure out how to escape or the school is going to get a new mascot." Maddy grabbed for the back of her neck. The stress of situation was feeding her inner wolf to come out. She clenched her teeth and took a deep breath. She remembered Jana and her struggles to control her wolf, how determined she was to maintain her wolf-self to fit in. The veins in her neck dissipated and Maddy breathed again. She knew classes had started, but she couldn't leave yet until she was certain she was in complete control.
"Maddy, is everything all right." Without needing to open her eyes, the overly-chipper voice gave away the source, Mrs. Randall. She had placed a gentle hand on her pupil and gave a tight squeeze. "My goodness, kiddo, you're sweating and flush. Are you feeling all right?"
"No!" Ling jumped in. "She's not feeling well . . . you know . . . stomach issues . . . um, cramps . . ." Maddy paled considerably as she watched Ling muddle through and work out some reason for her lackluster complexion. While this would have been an opportunity to find a way home, Ling's eagerness to help her friend was poisoning Maddy's chance at freedom. " . . . she's got . . . you know . . ." Even was uncomfortable, if the way her forehead creased was any indication. ". . . the woman problem . . . menstruation. . ." she whispered. Ling looked between Maddy and Mrs. Randall.
"I'm sure I can get you some Advil or maybe a hot compress from the nurse – "
"No!" Ling interrupted. "These are really, really, really bad. Debilitating. Pulsating headaches, and lower back pain. She's horribly fatigued, and-and is suffering like you wouldn't believe. I mean, vice-like cramps and nausea, like riding the roughest type of seas of womanhood. And you know, the ble-" Maddy shot Ling a look as if to say 'Are you serious? Stop!'. Covering her eyes with her hand, Maddy groaned at the epic fail happening right before her. Ling was so enamored with her lie that she was losing sight of the goal. The best lies are the simple ones. Occam's Razor. This was far from Occam's Razor.
"Oh-oh-oh all right, Ling. I got the idea. I am also a woman, thank you." Mrs. Randall looked more pale at this point than Maddy had. Ling tucked some of her straight, ebony hair behind her ear and smoothed out her canary yellow blouse with the black lace trimming. Mrs. Randall contorted her face in a way that showed her weighing her own options. "Well, if you really are suffering. . . Tell me, have you been tested for PMDD?" she asked, turning to Maddy.
"No." Maddy hunched herself over to align more with Ling's tall – very tall-tale. "Hm, let's see what the nurse says. Perhaps we should call your parents." Mrs. Randall began to lead Maddy away, when Ling scurried in front of her.
"That's okay. I can help her. I have study hall this period anyway." She was already trying to interject her arm around Maddy's waist and pull her away.
"Oh – well, thank you, Ling. Okay, I suppose that would be okay." Mrs. Randall conceded. "I'll see if I can swing by later to see how you're doing, Maddy. Feel better." Maddy and Ling replied with half-hearted waves. Maddy walked slowly, clutching her stomach until they had turned the corner, out of sight of Mrs. Randall.
"Now what?" she said, standing to full hilt again. "What were you thinking? My parents are miles away with no ability to be contacted by phone."
"I'm sorry. Once I started I just couldn't stop myself and some of me believed if I just – "
"Ling!" Maddy grabbed her by the arms, halting her in her rambling. "We'll figure this out. In the meantime, we need to follow through with story you've built for us – me, actually. If there is anything I learned, is you need to lay in the bed you make even if the bed is a bunch of rocks." The Asian girl nodded and began following the Wolfblood down the hall toward the nurse's office.
-Wolfblood-
They would be at the nurse's office soon and Maddy could feel her anxiety increase with each step. Going to the nurse would tie her up in the office the rest of the afternoon, which would be a big problem come time the solar eclipse was expected to happen. "Look," Ling said, stopping suddenly. Tugging on Maddy's grey hoodie to get her attention, she pointed to the side entrance door, which was completely unmanned. "Just leave. Now. Go."
"What?" Maddy swung around so quickly, her rucksack slipped off her shoulder. She jostled with it before setting it back on her shoulder. "Mrs. Randall expects me at the nurse and will be surprised and angry when I'm not there later."
"Understood. But you have two options: leave now and possibly have detention later or in school suspension, or wolf-out and receive an all-expense paid trip to some government facility . . . or worse, shot at by some lunatic hunter who is currently on the loose somewhere, plotting your deaths," Ling finished, gesticulating wildly. "Pick, Maddy."
Maddy paused looking toward the grey double doors than back down the hall which led to the front office, where the nurse was located. She bit her nails nervously, before succumbing to what was the obvious choice. "Okay, I'm heading out. If someone asks, just say you left me outside the main office and went to class, that way you are not in trouble too." Ling nodded, watching Maddy move to the exit. The youngest Smith felt giddy, finally relieved from the pressure of finding a way out. Placing her hand on the cool metal push bars, her world came to a screeching halt. "Miss Smith . . ." Maddy didn't turn right away, contemplating just making a run for it, but without enough time to understand a full disregard for school authority would cost her, she retracted her hands. Facing the person who called her name, she saw Ling standing rigid next to her English teacher, his disapproving look confirmation she was in big trouble. He curled his bony, long finger, silently commanding her to follow as he guided Ling and her to the main office. He left them at the bench outside. "You can both wait here, and I do mean wait!" he sternly warned, the words slightly muddled in his agitated accent. "I will speak to Mr. Larson and let him know what happened."
Maddy let the white tips of her converse sneakers brush against the linoleum floor. Ling looked mortified, her head low and her back slouched, like a puppy being reprimanded for the first time. Maddy felt bad as she knew her friend wouldn't be sitting next to her if it hadn't been for her. The halls felt especially quiet that day. "I'm sorry, Ling," Maddy apologized, placing her hands in her lap and playing with the stretched out part of her cuffs. "You wouldn't be here if it weren't for me."
"Yeah," came the solemn response of the sullen Asian girl sitting next to her. "I am worried what my parents will do." Maddy had forgotten the strict raising the Xu family enforced and obedient behavior they expected from their only child.
"I'll tell him it wasn't your fault. Don't worry. You can't control someone else's actions." Maddy would make every effort to get her off the hook, but without Ms. Dupree to steer the conversation or the principal's thoughts, Maddy was secretly fretting her own ability to get the situation to play in her favor.
-Wolfblood-
Maddy swallowed loudly, fiddling with with her sleeves, stretching out the cuffs to her sleeves even more. The last time she had been "invited" to the principal's office, Ms. Dupree had been able to manipulate Mr. Larson into not suspending her. "To say I am surprised to see you here . . ." he just 'tsk-tsk' the thought and shook his head disapprovingly. "I thought you were making such progress with joining the girls' lacrosse team, leading this school to victory, now . . ." He ran his hand down his unshaven face. "And Ms. Xu, I do not know what to say. You are one of our most academically gifted students, who many a time, the teachers have complimented your 'role-model-like' behavior, this is so out-of-character. It almost makes me believe Ms. Smith when she says you were not involved," he sighed and paused, pensively looking at the weathered green desk protector. "Though, I know that you two have formed some misfit bond that is both awe-inspiring, but damning . . . at least for one of you." He exhaled tiredly, resting his elbows on the desk. Maddy was distracted by the faded look of his sports coat; the elbow patches and the edges of the fabric on the sleeves frayed and discolored. 'Why not just get a new one?' she thought.
"Well, girls," he said after several seconds of silence. "What do we do here?" Maddy slouched farther in her chair, tapping her fingers against the wooden armrests.
The two girls exchanged looks, not sure how to respond to his question. Were they actually supposed to respond? Ling straightened out the pleats of her skirt. Maddy searched the room for something of interest, but as she circled back she was surprised to find him staring at her, expecting an answer. "If I was trying to leave school, hypothetically, it was for personal reasons that I do not want to talk about. But if this were all true, then since Ling was only trying to be supportive and this was her first time doing something wrong; perhaps, a mere detention would suffice. Ling isn't the type to disregard authority. I mean, look at her."
"And what about you, Madeline? Who are you?" Maddy looked at her sneakers. She didn't respond at first. "I didn't hear you, Maddy. Speak up." Mr. Larson leaned forward, as did Ling who seemed oddly interested in Maddy's answer.
"I'm not sure, Mr. Larson. I guess I'm figuring it out." It was actually the truth. Had you asked her the same question a year ago, she would immediately answered the farmers' daughter, a student at Stonybridge, a friend of Tom, Shannon, and Rhydian, and a Photography Club member. Now, she wasn't so certain. "I will accept whatever punishment you find fitting. But, I really do need to leave school and Ling doesn't deserve to be suspended or her parents called."
"Miss Smith, no need to be so dramatic. I am not going to suspend Ms. Xu. Ling, you have detention this afternoon." He seemed to smile and let slip a subtle laugh. "Maddy, unless you can provide some more details as to why you want to leave school, I cannot approve such a request. You will return to class for the remainder of the day. Tomorrow starts your week of in-school suspension."
-Wolfblood-
Maddy felt like she had been tagged like a wild animal, constantly watched. Just asking for a pass to the bathroom was an ordeal. Mrs. Minziniwski, her psychology teacher, warned her of the consequences to follow if she misused the pass; though, it wasn't nearly as intimidating as her teacher had wanted. Mrs. Minziniwski was a very thin and lanky-looking woman, who perpetually appeared as if she was being swallowed by her clothes. Her large-framed glasses perched on her thin, pointed nose only further emphasized how small she was.
-Wolfblood-
Maddy leaned on the cream colored porcelain sink, her nerves besting her as she tapped her left foot against the checkered pattern tile floor. She exhaled; she knew with each passing second she was losing time and running dangerously close to exposing their secret. She looked up, nearly slipping on the small puddle of water that had collected when she rinsed her face with cool water. She stepped back before recognizing the yellow eyes staring back at her. "Oh no," she breathed. It was already beginning. She quickly checked her hands, the small strings of black extending into her fingers tips. "No, no, no . . ." she repeated to herself, near tears. Maddy heard the door to the girls' restroom open. Maddy quickly scrambled into one of the stalls and pressed her back against the door. The light from the small window streaming in.
"Maddy," someone whispered. Her cautious footsteps sliding across the gritty floor making the sound of sandpaper rubbing against each other.
"Ling?" She called from behind the rose colored doors.
"Yeah. Where are you?" She began rapping on each stall before finding Maddy in the second to last one. "No one's here. Come out." Maddy unlatched the lock and slowly opened the door. Ling immediately gasped, covering her mouth with her slender fingers.
"What?" Maddy looked passed the girl into the mirror at her own reflection. While the mirror was aged and certainly wouldn't hold up to the Kay's standard, it was good enough to see that her teeth were no longer human. Her K-9's hanging lower, pushed lightly into her lower lip. She bumped into her friend as she moved closer to the mirror. Pressing her hands against the glass, she whimpered. Pulling her hands closer, she examined the darkened nail beds. Ling pulled her phone out of her clutch purse and quickly became agitated. "My phone isn't working. This sometimes happens during a solar eclipse. This must be happening . . . now!"
"I have to get out of here!" Maddy growled between her bared teeth.
-Wolfblood-
Maddy knew they were pressing their luck to sneak her out one the overlooked side entrances, but their options were shrinking. Stay or go. Ling waved Maddy on after checking the hallway intersection for teachers. Time was moving slower and faster all at the same time and Maddy was ready to burst out of her skin. Ling had just signaled for Maddy to cross when a call from their left made both girls jump. Maddy quickly recognized it was Miranda moving quickly to them. "Go, I'll stall her," Ling instructed, pushing Maddy passed her toward the exit.
Maddy nodded, but only traveled a few more steps before a melodious low whistling caught her attention on her right. Robert was leisurely walking, probably going for a stroll to kill time, when he spotted her. He waved, now starting to jog toward her. He called her name in a harsh whisper looking for confirmation that she had seen him. However, acknowledging Robert was the last worry on her mind. Maddy could feel her wolf scratching under her skin, if she didn't get out in the next few minutes, she would forfeit any chance at salvaging a normal life for herself and her family. She pulled her hood farther down her face and raced to the double doors. She could see the shadow of the moon taking hold through the glass panes on the double doors. She was so close to freedom. . .
And then it was over.
Mrs. Randall emerged from the teacher's bathroom, blocking her escape. Maddy skidded to a halt, her hood that she had pulled over her head nearly flopping off. Her breath caught in her throat at the discovery. Maddy felt a hard tug on her over-sized sleeves; she was being pulled to the other side of the hall. Ling haphazardly shoved her friend inside a closet. Maddy locked the door behind her – essentially, trapping herself inside. Maddy flicked on the light switch; the dull glow revealing textbooks and literature books for reading stacked on small tables all around her.
-Wolfblood-
Maddy felt her front paws land softly on the cement floor. She could hear the probing questions from both Miranda and Robert as they hounded Ling for answers. Maddy whimpered, scared for Ling and herself. The Wolfblood could smell Ling perspiring under the pressure, begging for Robert and Miranda to trust her judgment and just leave. The ruckus attracted Mrs. Randall who immediately wanted to know Maddy's whereabouts. Miranda and Robert gave away that Maddy had hunkered down in the storage closet. Ling denied the allegations, throwing out possible areas that Mrs. Randall would find Maddy. Yet, with Robert and Miranda there to confirm they had seen Maddy enter the storage area, Ling's lies fell on deaf ears. Maddy barked in agitation with the developing situation on the other side of the door. Putting her muzzle to her paw, she forgot she couldn't speak. A human trapped within the wolf.
"Is that a dog in there? Maddy, what's going on in there? Open this door, now!" Mrs. Randall shrieked, banging on the door.
"No!" Ling responded, pressing herself against the door until most of her silhouette covered the frost window pane. "It's a fox. . . maybe. An-and like I said earlier, Maddy isn't inside. Miranda and Robert are mistaken."
"Miss Xu, I wasn't born yesterday, that's a dog. Step aside, now." Maddy slinked away from the door, pressing herself against the books piled on the floor. Looking to her left and right, she realized that space was limited, books had been shoved under all the tables. There didn't appear to be room for a small wolf to hide anywhere.
"It is a fox," Robert spoke up. "Maddy went inside to try and capture it. She figured she could lure it out if she went in alone. Isn't that right, Ling?" he said, looking for assistance. Ling bobbed her head, but didn't add any supporting details.
"I don't know what's going on, but I plan to find out." Maddy rolled her eyes, Mrs. Randall was holding a grudge. "Foxes don't bark."
"Well then, what do foxes do?" Miranda chimed in. "What does the fox say?" Maddy couldn't have kept the snickering in even if she was in human-form; yet, all that came out was a cross between a whine and yodeling bark. Maddy flattened herself to the floor and placed both paws over her muzzle. 'Shut up, Maddy!' she scolded herself.
"If that's the case, then I'm calling animal control. And when I return, you all, including Maddy, have detention for your insubordination. I'd like to believe I am a fair teacher, but I feel you all think you can just take advantage of my kindness, and I won't tolerate it." Maddy was sure Mrs. Randall wasn't going to call animal control, but beseech the janitor for his help. If that was true, Maddy might have a shot at escaping since his office was on the other side of the school. As Mrs. Randall hurriedly speed-walked away, she heard the worse thing since learning she would have to leave Stonybridge.
"Okay, Ling, what's really going on? We played along, now we want to know truth." Robert demanded. As commanding as his words sounded, Maddy could hear the undertones of concern within them.
"Why is Maddy hiding in the storage room?" Miranda added, crossing her arms over her chest to show her immovable position on the subject.
Maddy knew she couldn't leave without exposing her secret to her friends; on the other hand, she would eventually be caught if she stayed too. Mrs. Randall was determined to open that storage room and bust them all. It wouldn't be long before the normally, sugary-sweet gym teacher would return with reinforcements. Reluctantly, the Wolfblood walked to the door and scratched her nails against it. She gave a defeated sign and prayed the Asian girl understood what she was trying to convey.
It was time for two more people know.
-Wolfblood-
"So, how much trouble am I in?" Maddy was perched on a boulder that rested alongside the walking trail in the park.
"Not sure. Probably in more trouble than Robert, Miranda, and I are in for letting you leave school though. Mr. Larson said we were 'accessories'." Ling moved some dead leaves around with her black, polished low heels. Even with spring just around the corner, much of the ground was still blanketed in snow. Only here, in the woods, where the tall trees' limbs overlapped were there patches of fresh earth.
Maddy pulled her legs tightly into her chest. The solar eclipse had come and gone, and she couldn't remember a time when she was more happy to be in human-form. "Thank you for helping me today." She looked at Robert and Miranda who were standing to her right. "I know it's a lot to take in. But, this needs to continue to be a secret. Just the four of us, okay?" It was a gamble. Perhaps the largest risk she had ever taken before.
"I just can't believe it," Miranda blurted out, gesticulating her disbelief with her hands. Maddy recalled hours ago when Ling hesitantly opened the storage closet door and Maddy slipped out. Her heart sunk as she watched Robert and Miranda jump back in fright at seeing a wolf emerge. Robert and Miranda carefully entered the closet, their eyes never leaving Maddy's until they were fully inside. They wasted no time, moving the books from the tables to the floor, tipping and toppling the neatly stacked piles in search of their friend. Maddy remembered the immense sadness she felt as she trotted through the double doors that Ling opened for her, still hearing her friends calling her name, expecting her to magically answer. It became very real to her, that her new life could very well be her old life. And while she was delighted that Robert and Miranda finally knew about her being a Wolfblood, she also felt a great bit of uncertainty because now the circle was bigger . . . and that meant chances for bigger mistakes to happen.
Robert walked in a small circle, rubbing the back of his neck. He brought both his hands to his face as if praying, then lightly sighed and seemed to stare into the distance. Maddy and Ling traded worried looks. Miranda was blown away by the revelation and quickly put together that there were other Wolfbloods around. She even made the connections to the attack that happened at Elk Ridge. But knowing that Wolfbloods camped not too far from his parents' resort, or that the girl he liked was more than human was a lot to take in. "Robert . . ." Maddy spoke softly, tilting her head to try and see his face. Maddy was on pins and needles as she waited for him to respond. Not only could this be the moment she lost her friend, but also lost the life she had struggled to create.
Robert turned to her, but didn't smile. He sauntered over, slow and slightly unsteady. He eased himself next to her on the boulder, shoving his hands into his coat pockets. His fingerless-gloved hand squeezing her shoulder gently. "You're secret is safe with me. . . Always."
-End Chapter 9
A/N: Many reviewers have been asking for when Rhydian is going to show. It wouldn't be fair if I answered out-right the chapter he would make his debut. I have plans to incorporate him, but that is all I am saying. This story is about Maddy and so telling her story is my priority when I am writing. It's probably not the answer most of you were hoping for, but I think it is the correct one, in order to be fair to everyone. Reading is a experience - journey - and sometimes you don't know where it is going to take you. This is the first time I am writing in a style called 'by the seam of your pants' where nearly nothing is plotted out. I was very nervous with using this stylistic approach, but felt my writing had fallen flat recently and at the same time, I was suffering from Writer's Block. This has been such an exciting journey for me as a writer and has allowed me to create what I consider one of my better stories.
Thank you all for reading. Please leave constructive feedback.