"Yeah, pretty much." Maddie said. "At least according to Gorman."
Caleb started pacing around his living room, pulling on the sleeves of his long-sleeved shirt.
"Well at least now we know how he escaped." He said. "Although this doesn't help our situation."
"Yeah it does." Tyler said. Everyone looked at him oddly. He sighed, although pleased that for once he had the brilliant idea that no one else did.
"Remember when our dads were still around to explain this shit to us? Well my dad used to say that spells were the things that sucked up the most power, else than curses. And they just kept sucking power until they were released. Well Chase cast his spell almost six months ago and its still in effect, which means its still sucking power so he's aging abnormally fast." He had a satisfied smirk on his face. "Which means he's going to want to get to us as soon as possible."
"Which still doesn't help." Reid said flatly.
"It gives us a time frame." Pogue said helpfully. "And a motive. And a clue that we aren't looking for the Chase we knew, were looking for a way older one. Which means he can't be hiding in school unless he poses as a new prof."
"Not likely." Caleb said. "And we would have noticed. No, Tyler and Pogue are right. This is helpful. We know that he will try approaching us out of school, and he'll look older. That's a big step." He stopped pacing and sat down on a couch beside Maddie. "Lets let it go for the rest of the weekend. We'll talk more Monday."
"Sounds like a plan." Pogue said. They all rose. "Everyone is still up for the party at Nicky's tomorrow?"
"Party?" Maddie asked.
"More of a get-together." Reid said. "We eat, dance, and play pool. Nothing much. Interested in attending?"
She smiled sadly.
"Yeah, but I'm busy with my dad tomorrow. Maybe some other time?"
"Of course. We have these like once a week, and you aren't missing the next one." Reid said with a grin.
"Promise." She said. She turned to Tyler. "Feel like giving me a ride again?"
"Why don't you talk to your dad anymore?"
"Who told you that?"
"When Reid dropped the transmitter we couldn't reply but we could still hear you. You said it yourself, I don't talk to my dad much. So why not?"
Maddie glared at him.
"Curiosity killed the cat." She spat at him.
"But satisfaction brought him back." He grinned.
"Lets just say that the reason I don't talk to my dad is the same reason why I stay in the dorms instead of at my house."
"Which is…"
She glared at him again.
Tyler knew better than to poke and prod at subjects people didn't like to talk about, but he felt that Maddie needed to get all these secrets out. They were weighing her down, making bags under her light grey eyes and keeping her from sleeping at night.
And besides, he was naturally curious.
"Maddie, come on. I bet you haven't told this to anyone ever before. And the secret is just dying to get out."
"So…"
"Trust me, Madeline Sparrow."
After a moment of silence she sighed, then gave in.
"Do you know what multiple personality syndrome is?"
"Yes."
"Do you know what borderline personality syndrome is?"
"…No."
"Its when two different personalities inhabit a single body, except one is a fully grown and mature adult personality and the other is a child."
"And your dad is?"
"Borderline, yes. It started manifesting slightly when my mum died, but intensified until it was impossible to control just with a shrink appointment now and then. That's actually why we moved here, because the psychiatric hospital has a whole study about bordeline syndrome. He moved into the hospital when I was fourteen, which was why I moved into the dorms at Spencer because there was no way in hell a fourteen year old was going to live by herself."
They both stayed silent for a moment, the only sound being the gentle rumbling of the truck on the road. Tyler wished there was a bridge he could jump to loosen the tension.
"My mom's suicidal." He said rather loudly after a long pause. "My dad hasn't seen me in two years. Half my family doesn't know my name. The other half wants me dead"
"Does the cat feel like he has to tell the secret that is just dying to get out?" She said quietly, with a sad smile.
"He thinks of it as a way of thanking satisfaction." Tyler said. And they didn't bring up the subject again, staying silent until they reached the school dormitories.
As Maddie stepped out the car on the passenger's side she glanced over at Tyler.
"You aren't coming?"
"No, I'm going to go visit my mum first. I feel a bit nostalgic."
"Alright. Bye, thanks again for the ride."
"No problem."
As she walked away Tyler's emotions sprung into action before his mind power did.
"Maddie!"
She turned around, questioningly.
"There's the winter formal that's um, soon, and incase we need to see if um, Chase comes maybe we could go undercover… together… just in case he shows up…" he fumbled with his words, mentally slapping himself.
"Sounds good." Maddie said with a smile. "When is it again?"
"Two weeks."
"I'd love to go to the winter formal undercover with you." She giggled a bit nervously. "But I need to go now. Bye!"
And she walked away.
Tyler sat in the truck in awe for a full five minutes before driiving off.
I could have sword i had enabled anonymous reviews ..