"So how come you are so strong then?" Rhydian inquires, perching on one of Bernie's stools in the 'not so famous but famous' cafe.
It had been a week, and already Maddy was opening up to this newbie, he seemed cut off from the outside world, and Maddy was his balance. They were becoming friends but it is hard - life is always hard for any wolfblood. Maddy is spending more time with Rhydian, but she is discrete, her ego only twisting slightly, which aggravated Rhydian but he lumped it maturely, and secretively vows to change her into the person who she is when they talk. It is only a week. And already Rhydian Morris is finding ways to talk, other than his perfect substitute parents.
"Well, I like running, for photography reasons." Maddy hesitatingly says; smiling innocently.
"I see, you are stronger than I thought that's all." Rhydian says, playing with the cup in front of him.
"What's that supposed to mean!"
"I didn't think girls were that strong that's all."
"Well I have to be strong, it's me nature to do so." Maddy smirks, and Rhydian rolls his eyes shaking his head.
"Your nature? Like to act like a roaring, snarling, spitting animal?"
"Er I suppose, but you can take out the spitting, you do that."
"Hey!"
"So what do you like to do then? I like photography, what do you like to do then?" Maddy whispers, curiosity kicks in, Rhydian licks his lips and looks down dubiously.
"This is lame, but I like taking, I like drawing pictures." Rhydian mutters, although Maddy half smiles.
"What do you like to draw?"
"Anything, I can let my emotions run out onto the page you know? It helps relax me, because of my anger issues, I know it's a lame thing to do..."
"No it ain't. It is brilliant, don't be ashamed -we all need some reassurance in life -whether it is alive or not." Maddy states wisely shrugging, Rhydian frowns, but nods reality sinking in.
"Yeah I guess you're right, I just thought popular kids are all cool and everything."
"Yeah but some of us aren't stupid."
"Jimi is, look what he did to your old best friend Shannon yesterday. It disgusts me, who would want to laugh at Shannon and take her memory stick - it is horrible." Rhydian grouses, shivering, Maddy looks across the counter nervously, she rubs her stark neck apprehensively.
"Yeah..."
"Maddy?" Rhydian suspiciously asks, narrowing his purple eyelids.
"WHAT?"
"You took it! You took Shannon's USB stick!" Rhydian accuses gravely nearly shouting it out to everyone.
"Keep your voice down will ya."
"Why? Why did you take it, it wasn't yours to take!"
"Because me parents did something stupid a couple of nights ago, and I couldn't be bothered to do anything about it, so they had a massive rampage, leaving some stuff behind." Maddy hurriedly says, her voice grave and sombre.
"What?"
"Me parents like bird watching, and they left food out so this beast could eat it -if anyone finds out we litter, it is a little embarrassing."
"I don't care if it a little embarrassing or not -you are going to give it back!" Rhydian screeches furiously.
"Says who?"
"ME!"
"No way."
"So what? You're gonna let an innocent person go down the status bare even more, and make her feel like a nobody, because you can't even give up your own bacon? That's low of you Maddy, even for your standards." Rhydian spits, grouchy; appalled by his friends behavior.
"Wait -here you go." Maddy heaves, fishing out the USB stick from her pocket and slides the technology across the cracked counter.
"Don't give it to me, give it to Shannon. I better go - or I'll be late for vegetarian stew."
"Enjoy."
"I will, bye." Rhydian bluntly responds before leaving.
Maddy rubs her face, contemplating the statistic if she did give Shannon back the evidence of her parents escaping the den and roaming free. It wasn't Maddy's fault if she fell asleep watching Jimi's favourite horror movie...
(NEXT DAY -morning at school!)
"This is serious Maddy, he could expose us all." Emma (Maddy's Mam) exhorts in an undertone.
"Mam, he's an an idiot, he doesn't know about us, that means he doesn't know why we took it and if he knew, then it would get it, but I get it why he is like the way he is towards me nicking the USB thing in the first place." Maddy retorts, clenching onto the straps on her bag.
"I know, but he can't know about us that's all." Emma replies, sighing over the possibility that Rhydian is getting to close to the wolfblood secret, and too close to her daughter.
"Yeah I know."
"So, are you gonna invite him round for dinner or what?" Emma say, excitement rising in her voice, her face looking smug and chirpy. Maddy's face is stone though, bewilderment rumbling in her stomach.
"What do you mean."
"Well you two have come quite close, me and your father are interesting to who this Rhydian is that's all." Emma hints, taping the steering wheels gently in a giddy gesture.
"Maybe."
"Ah come on Maddy, it would be a nice change -all we have is the K's or Jimi or Dean, maybe this poor lad is different."
"He is."
"Exactly, invite him Maddy, today it is a Wednesday."
"Just don't embarrass us yeah?" Maddy pleads, look behind her to gaze at a lonely looking Rhydian who is strolling into school.
"When do I ever do that?"
"Er right now." Maddy teases, smiling,
"Bye Maddy, tell him Wednesday is meat feast night, hog roast may be a bit fishy."
"OK, bye Mam, love ya." Maddy replies, rolling her eyes.
"And you too." Emma says honking the horn and driving away.
A few minuets Maddy bustles her way through the roaring crowd, to see Shannon frisking with Liam, Jimi and everyone is laughing and cheering as Shannon cracks Liam one. (Very badly) Maddy looks around to see peoples faces, distorted and twisted, manipulated into hatreds den and thrown into the pit of burning desire. In other words -sneering. Jimi pushes (really pushes) his way up to Maddy and wraps his arm around her shoulders, grinning in a cheesy way.
"Mads, look! Isn't it funny, two loosers fighting -only one can survive!" Jimi mocks, squealing with tempted laughter. Maddy nods her head halfheartedly, for some strange reason, not actually finding any of this stuff amusing.
"Yeah, I guess." Maddy mutters before lunging further into the barging pact and approaching the center, Maddy wipes the clumped hair out of her face and drags Shannon away from Liam. Away from everyone else, Maddy grapples onto Shannon's shoulders and pushes her into the dark room gently, as Shannon roughly squirms and wriggles. Maddy then locks the door carefully, collecting all her scattered fragmented thoughts.
"OI! What did you go and do that for Maddy!" Shannon demands callously, her hands on hips looking like a mega nerd. Maddy swivels round, laughing to herself, expecting this sort of palava from Shannon.
"You save you from Jeffries and a stupid detention that's what." Maddy replies, her lips stretching into a sincere smile, Shannon's face softens but she remains upfront.
"Well maybe if you controlled your friend then-" Shannon rudely blurts out.
"That's what I'm doing." Maddy interjects, slumping on the wall, as the artificial light flickers in the fusty stench, Maddy folds her arms casually and coolly.
"I thought you weren't my'n and Tom's friend anymore?"
"I never said I was, but I never said I weren't. Get your facts right Shannon." Maddy exclaims.
"I wish." Shannon mutters, snorting with disbelief.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, in case you haven't noticed, I'm a town weirdo, everyone one thinks I'm a laughing stock." Shannon's husky voice get thicker and her voice waver, remorse hits Maddy like a canon.
"Not everyone -me, Tom, Rhydian -that's not everyone."
"Mads, why did you change -to be all popular and go off with the people who bully me?" Shannon questions, gazing into Maddy's small hazel eyes willingly, Maddy remains silent for sometime, the tepid atmosphere engulfing them all, as Maddy ponders her feelings, over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.
"Because I guess, I didn't know who I was as a person, I still don't. I'm not pretending when I am an outsider, but people can't accept us, and it makes me feel bad inside but when I have attention -I'm cool, I mean it won't last forever -school, I'll get good grades, good friends, good life." Maddy declares, clearing her throat -her sandpaper throat.
"And me and Tom weren't good for you is that it?"
"I never said you weren't, just don't listen to them -follow ya heart Shan."
"Yeah, some help that is." Shannon cries.
"It's true, you see I took you USB stick." Maddy timidly confesses, Shannon's eyes widen in shock, but no anger remains left to reflect in her voice -who can blame her?
"What? Why!"
"Because I was ashamed of something too complicated for anyone to know, and it's sorted out, but I was afraid of you showing people the truth." Maddy attempts to justify but it fails, all the words in the darkroom rebounded off the truth.
"It's fine."
"It is?"
"Yeah - people won't believe me if you did, you can bin the memory stick." Shannon reveals carelessly -she hadn't got a ounce of hope left in her body.
"What, not it's yours."
"Not anymore it isn't."
I am sorry Shannon, for making you look like an idiot."
"I am already one -bye Maddy, see you around."
"Yeah. Shan?" Maddy says before Shannon walks out of the door, Shannon Kelly discontinues, and Maddy smiles as she hears the humans heartbeat increase -nerves. Maddy relishes the moment of someone being nervous due to her for a second as Shannon speaks.
"Maddy?"
"You are aren't weird, you are yourself."
"Thanks Maddy, see so are you -you are the old Maddy, not this new one you have been for five months, as you used to say -be part of the pack again." Shannon recounts before departing the darkroom, Maddy exhales loudly only to be tapped on the shoulder behind -wait behind! Maddy yelps horrifically, not realizing there was another scent of human wafting in her nose all that time, another human lingering in the shadows.
"Not bad Maddy."
"Rhydian! Nearly gave us a heart attack." Maddy growls, mentally repairing her fractured nerves.
"Glad I didn't, what you did -was good with Shannon I was -shocked. You may still act like a brat, but I think you are great." Rhydian honestly replies, smiling.
"Thanks a bunch Rhydian." Maddy mocks bitterly.
"No problem."
"What are you doing here anyway?"
"I had nowhere to go -so I came here to get some peace where none would find me." He replies truthfully, ashamed of his own stark dignity, Maddy ignores the fact that he is a geeky nobody though and begins to work her brains.
"That won't last."
"Why?"
"Rhydian! The photography club is the busiest club in school, everyone and anyone joins, the head is making plans to extend it because we all have to go in groups -and I am always the one leading it."
"Oh! That's why Dean is always near you and this place when you come here." Rhydian exclaims, although his voice is smothered with disapproval, and anger glints in his eyes -Maddy's face crumples into confusion to why Rhydian actually said it...
"What is that supposed to mean."
"Well I - I think he likes you." Rhydian's muffled explanation stiffens the suspense but Maddy hardheartedly brushes it off without any further thought.
"I am well aware of that, thanks Rhydian."
"No problem."
"Er Rhydian can you come round for dinner tonight? It's meat feast and stuff." Maddy utters, a pained expression glows on her face as they stroll out of the darkroom together, their hands brushing lightly.
"What! Why?" Rhydian gruffly cries, hiding his ever growing excitement and pleasure to be invited to Maddy's rustic derelict house.
"Just me parents, well, I don't actually know." Maddy confesses, a long silence fills the gaps between them as they go to History with their form tutor as their teacher.
"Yeah sure -I have never really been invited to someones house before, wow."
"Cool." Maddy chirps, then realizes/ hears Jimi's lumpy footsteps charging round the corner.
"I've got to go." Maddy rapidly says, Rhydian shakes his head in annoyance.
"Why?"
"Because they are Jim and you are -you."
"Rubbish explanation, yet again you want to save your own bacon and you don't care who you trample on to find it, yet again!" Rhydian grumbles.
Glowering he strides off just as Jimi comes up from behind Maddy and hollers BOO in her face, causing her to scream -everyone laughs with respect and so does Maddy, but each day a part of that laughter leaves her, escaping her gas filled head, because it really isn't funny anymore. The bell rings and everyone scuttles off to lessons, but Maddy glances at her watch, counting down the seconds, very very slowly.
(After school)
Rhydian heaves, departing from the Vaughn's small house, heading off to Maddy's. His explanation was pretty simple -he was going to see Maddy. Rhydian, being in care for so long had given up trying to lie, especially when he was in new care -he was called a liar so many times, if he did lie then it could all come out as one enormous mess. Mr and Mrs Vaughn were already loving Rhydian's company, and he was feeling less alone when he is around them. Although Rhydian is debating to not actually go to Maddy's, he was still her friend, she listened to him and he cared for her, not only that but they were having more things in common by the day, which is a big plus. Nervously, Rhydian smooths his hair, before pounding on the Smiths bulk door -not having the foggiest idea that they are actually wolfbloods. The door swings open to reveal a tall, ginger bearded man grinning and holding a plate of meat. Rhydian smiles politely not sure what do say.
"Hi, I'm Dan, you must be Rhydian." Daniel greets, before shaking Rhydian's hand and luring him into the Smiths family home, the door slamming viciously.
"Hi." Rhydian says, now grinning at both of Maddy's parents, whilst Maddy stands behind them sighing.
"Hi Rhydian, you are looking very fine today." Emma compliments, Rhydian glances at his plain clothes critically blushing slightly.
"Well thank you, I have never been to anyone's house before -and you are Mads parents so the stakes are high!" Rhydian explains, gulping largely.
"Oh stop complimenting me you silly sausage!" Emma replies, empathizing the sausage, Dan and Emma break into fits of laughter as Maddy bows her head in shame, a pained expression lying on her face. Rhydian giggles, eventually getting the 'witty banter'.
"I ham stopping!" Rhydian retorts, chuckling away, Maddy groans melting into the floor.
"Well, polite manners, good jokes I guess it is nice to meat ya!" Dan jokes, and the three of them start to chortle all over again. Maddy just goes back to eating ham on the tray in front of her instead.
"Anyway, the pig is still in the oven I'm afraid. You may have to wait for a while..." Dan giggles, composing himself in a giddy fashion. Rhydian's eyes widen in shock and glee by the mention of pig.
"A pig?" Rhydian murmurs.
"You mean young man, a whole pig, with all the trimmings." Dan replies cheerfully.
"Great, I think I'll just go and get my things and live here instead." Rhydian responds happily, genuinely enjoying himself as the tension is shredded in the cool atmosphere, even Maddy laughs by Rhydian's childish but yet charming manner of speech.
"Yeah we have got a spare sleeping bag upstairs, we can have another pig tomorrow!" Dan cries, placing the meat on the wooden wobbly table.
Their laughter becoming louder by every piercing second. Maddy grins, astonished by the reaction of her parents towards Rhydian, a human. Every time Maddy has had a friend round, her parents would hardly speak to them, and only ever questioning them about how they met and responsibility's about friendship relationships -or the most interesting conversation her parents had with Jimi was to do with economics, and NATO -didn't go down well. Jimi left in the space of twenty minuets when he wanted to get away from his father all night, they ended up cooped in the corner of Bernie's, listening to Dub-step.
"Anyway Rhydian, you seem like an intelligent young man. We were wondering what your opinions on NATO were?" Daniel inquires, wrapping his arm around Emma's waist casually. Maddy groans again, after a while of silence -already assuming that this night has already ended.
"Were they the organisation against Russia or something because of the cold war?" Rhydian replies, doubtfully.
"Yeah that's the one! 1949..." Emma exclaims smiling kindly.
"Ah well I think they are an interesting organisation, personally I really didn't think they helped a lot but how could they -it wasn't a hot war, but a cold one. I think they are failing rapidly, but it's Maddy's who's doing that stuff, I'm just doing art that's all!" Rhydian mutters, edging closer towards Maddy.
"Actually I think I have a book somewhere about NATO. Emma, do you have the keys for the- den?"
"Yeah Dan, I do, we'll leave you two alone." Emma utters, before marching out of the room with Dan. Rhydian heaves and perches on a different chair, next to Maddy.
"Your parents talk a lot." Rhydian sarcastically says, licking his dry cracked lips before grinning like a big cub.
"Yeah sorry about that."
"No, no -it's fine, their cool I suppose. Highly educated."
"Yeah you could say that." Maddy murmurs, as she taps her nimble feet in boredom.
"I would have loved to have seen Jimi's face when your Dad talked to him about NATO -that would have been hilarious!" Rhydian rudely says, beaming bitter - sweetly.
"Tell me about it, his face was drooping and he was trying not to fall asleep." Maddy recalls, smirking.
"I guess history and economics and all that stuff just ain't his thing."
"And yours is."
"Well, I could get used to it I suppose."
"Good luck with that one Rhydian, I can't stand it."
"Oh, I think I can." Rhydian declares, just as Maddy's parents come back in, and a quiet night in happens.