I start peddling with more will, but still feel helpless with my dad holding onto my bike.
“Dad, this is leading us nowhere, we’re both sweating and tired, and it’s too hot outside to-”
“OH MY GOD, you’re doing it!” Allison shouts from afar. Waitafar?!
I look behind, and for two whole miraculous seconds, I look at my dad’s and my best friend’s face all lit up, and it feelsamazing…
Wait, I’malone… I immediately lose balance and almost fall to the ground, hitting my leg while trying not to fall, and still end up with my butt on the dirt.
I stare at my dad and Allison, and they’re reticent, waiting for my reaction. To be honest, my first reaction should be to hold on to my leg and wince in pain. But a laugh bubbles out of me. I cover my mouth. And then I smile until my cheeks hurt.
“I did it!” I put my hands in the air, and they celebrate too, running towards me.
They both help me up, and my dad kisses the top of my head.
“I’m so proud of you!”
“Dad, you can’t just throw that word around and- Are you crying?”
He wipes his eyes and hugs me tight.
“I’m not throwing anything around. Iamproud of you. You, Maddie, are someone to be proud of.” He kisses the top of my head again and gives Allison the space to take the air out of my lungs after tackling me.
“Dude!” She screams in my face, and I can’t help but feel like I’m beaming.
“Madelaine!Wow, you finally did it…” Amanda Devadhikar.Right.
“Amanda,hi…”
“Hi…”
And these are the most aggressive words you can hear out of a girl’s mouth when they have despised each other since childhood. Yes, I already told you she doesn’t like me, and I don’t like her, but the fact is, her rich ass used to bully me every summer I came here. She’s the only one who has a mansion around here because her dad is some neurosurgeon and her mom is a high-profile child therapist. Pretty ironic if you ask me, considering her brain and soul are rotten. She is richer, has a higher education, has a bigger house, is taller, and has legs for miles, strong and thick Indian hair, also sings, is athletic, is probably gonna be valedictorian, join some law firm who represents the devil, and mostly has both parents, which, thanks to my mom, was a bully miracle for her, gave her more material to work on. Now, I don’t want to defend West, but he never knew about how horrible she was and still is. Around him, she’s only passive-aggressive. And makes those kinds of petty comments only a girl could pick up on. Those kinds of comments I would seem neurotic to report, so I never told my dad either.
“Where’s your boyfriend? Shouldn’t he be here for your big moment?” Her dense eyelashes feign curiosity, and I avoid rolling my eyes and speaking through my teeth.
“He’s spending time with Riden.” Allison helps me get up, and I take a step forward. “West and I are independent; it’s something we admire in each other. We’re just one of those couples who don’t need to be attached by the hip.” I shrug, and it’s like I’ve slapped her, because when they were together, they weretogether. He almost seemed like he was being held captive by her enormous nails wrapping around his arms.
“So glad to hear that.” She takes a step forward and, without my dad noticing or Allison by the way, she lowers her voice. “It’s cute that you’re still pretending, but everyone knows you are full of bullshit, Madelaine. You can’t let a man into your life because behind that resting bitch face, you’re still that little girl who got abandoned. But the town is going to figure it out eventually, or you’ll self-combust, one of the two.” She steps away and smiles her fake smile at my dad.
“I still find it so odd that you call him West, but every couple has its ways…” She walks past me, and Allison mumbles curse words as she leaves. “Nice seeing you, Mr. Brown.”
She walks out, and I can’t help but scream.
“West and I love each other! And we’re going to the sunset party at the River Cafe later!”
She dismisses me with her hand, and then she’s gone.
“What a nice girl.”
“What abitch.” Allison and I say at the same time, while Dad looks at us, confused.
“Seventeen years and I still don’t understand you girls.” He huffs, taking the bike home with Alls and me on his heels.
Me: West, we’re going to the sunset party
Me: And we’re going to be the clingiest couple there has ever been in this town
Evil Spawn: yes maam
