And they don’t. They don’t know anything; they don’t know the pain she’s in. She’salwaysin pain. She only crashes against me because it’s the only thing she can count on. Our banter. So I’ve been doing it since then, gladly. Because when she’s almost smiling, I feel like I’ve made my year. And maybe a little bit of hers.I hope it makes hers.
I don’t even have to warn off all the remaining guys, as I see several of them backing up with shocked expressions.
“What the hell just happened here? Why is Topper bleeding from his nose?” Coach comes in, and we all look at each other. No one would rat me out, but I don’t mind turning myself in. I’m actually proud of the angle at which I caught him.
“Just a disagreement. Won’t happen again.” I wink at Blade, and he scoffs, trying to murder me with his eyes.
Oh, I’m terrified.Please…
“Was that your work, West?” I shrug at his question, a proud smile on my face, and he shakes his head. “Detention.”
The boys all groan for me, but I’m delighted. As soon as the coach leaves, I sigh a dreamy sigh. Grabbing my stuff and back to my everyday clothes from the training gear, I pass by.
“Don’t pity me, gentlemen, forIam going to heaven.” My friends shake their heads, knowing exactly why I’m this cheery. It’s not like I put Madelaine in detention too- Oh wait, yes I did.
5
Worse Than Detention
That bastard gave me detention. That’s justawesome.
The clock shows 4:30 PM, and I go to the classroom. Great, half an hour late. I sigh, not believing I’m spending my last day of Junior year in detention.
My dad won’t like it, although I’m pretty sure Allison already came up with an excuse for me not to be home.
I open the door, and Mr. Lace’s asleep at his desk. He opens his eyes with my entrance and scoffs at the attendance paper, but ends up falling asleep again because he can.
A curly black-haired boy is lazily sitting in the first row, balancing a pencil on the bridge of his nose.
A loud snore makes me come back to reality, and I just eye the boy.
I sit behind him and take one of my books out of my bag.
Ten minutes later, West walks in, grossly mutilating a girl’s lips. Now, don’t get confused. He is not sucking the face of theone from this morning. He’s sucking the face of the one from class.
He stops and leaves her stranded, walking in to sit at the table beside the black-haired boy.
I focus on my book. But not for long. The boy in front of me turns around.
“Good book.” He lets me know, looking at me. I raise my eyes from the book and look at his green ones.
“You read it?” I ask wide-eyed.
“Twice. First time for school, second time because it surprised me.”
I get struck for a second and smile at him.
“I’m Fred.” He introduces himself.
“Madelaine.”
He smiles at me, looking right into my eyes.
“Oh man…” West lets out, breaking this embarrassing pink delusional bubble I was in.
“What?” Fred asks, his gaze going from me to West, whom I forgot was here.
“Don’t look right into her eyes!” West shakes his head, pretending disappointment. I glare at him. “She might steal your soul.” He says in a matter-of-fact tone.
