Blue Crescent

There's a New Guy in Town

Maddison

My books were neatly aligned, but I was in such a hurry that some of them fell onto the floor. I was picking them up when somebody stepped on them. I looked up and saw Andrew crossing his arms.

The day was supposed to be a great day for me, but Andrew’s annoying face happened. I huffed and tried to lift his foot, but he was deliberately provoking me.

“Go away, Andrew. I have no time for your jokes. Save it for yourself,” I said, standing up with my hands on my waist.

“Really? But I have so much time for you.” He smirked, taking each of my school materials from the locker and dropping them on to the floor.

I clenched my fists before picking up all of my things and putting them back inside the locker.

“I’m late for my practice, Andrew. Please, stop this,” I said and headed for the gym, leaving him smiling.

“Sorry, I’m late,” I said, catching my breath.

“Hey Dragons! Hey, hey, hey Dragons! We are the girls of the Dragons!” The girls chanted as they danced.

Coach Sean looked at me and then looked away. I could feel he was frustrated with me for my tardiness—again—but it was all Andrew’s fault. I felt rejected when another girl approached the coach.

“Well, how do I look?” she said, turning around and showing off her uniform.

“You look great, Harper,” Coach Sean answered while the girls nodded their heads and smiled. “Let’s continue. From the top, girls!” he said, before blowing a whistle.

I stepped aside and walked away when none of them bothered to give me any attention. I guess it was my fault after all. I dropped my pompoms on the floor and headed for the washroom to wash the tears in my eyes away. My reflection wouldn't lie, and the tissue I grabbed from the holder hanging on the side testified it. My mind seemed to beg for fresh air so I hurriedly walked out of the ladies' room and rushed towards the campus grounds.

“Is this seat taken?” A guy asked, pointing at the empty seat beside me.

“Ah . . . yeah, I mean . . . no . . . You can take it,” I answered shyly.

I gazed into his eyes and was mesmerized by his good looks. Wow. I guess my day wasn’t that bad after all.

“Ahm . . . Are you new here?” I asked.

“Yeah, rush transfer. You know, family and stuff. My dad’s job makes us move from one place to another,” he answered.

“Oh . . . that sucks, doesn't it?”

“Hmmm, not really. I actually like it.” He smiled, flashing his pearly white teeth. “So, where do you live?”

“I live in Castleton. It’s . . . two kilometers away from here.”

“I see.”

“How about you?”

“I actually live five kilometers farther from you.”

“In Bridgeton? Wow, seriously? How do you come here for school?”

“I walk. Would you believe it?”

“You’re kidding, aren’t you?”

“Do I look like I'm kidding?”

“I don’t know, I just met you. I can’t say.” I laughed.

“Nice to meet you . . .” He looked at me in the eyes, extending his hand.

“Maddison,” I said, shaking his hand.

“Maddison. Nice name. I’m Michael.”

“Cool. Nice to meet you too, Michael. So we’re like M and M’s then,” I joked.

“Yeah,” he responded with a laugh.

***

“Hello Hannah?” I answered my phone.

“Hey, how are you?” Hannah asked.

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“Where are you?”

“I’m at home. Why? Any problem?”

“Well, it’s Saturday. Let’s hang out. I have something to tell you.”

“I have something to tell you too,” I said smiling.

“Really? What is it?”

I giggled. “I met a guy. There's a new guy in school.”

“Seriously? Since when did Maddison get interested in boys?”

“Since yesterday.” I laughed.

“Okay. Can I visit you now? I’m bored.”

“Sure."

Hannah woke me up with her call. It was 7AM, and I usually wake up at noon on weekends. No school. No homework. No "Andrews."

I stretched my arms and climbed downstairs to the kitchen, smelling the delicious aroma of pancakes.

“Hey Mom? I know those are pancakes,” I said.

“Yes, my daughter. Those are for you,” Mom answered.

I took a glass of milk from the fridge and drank it. “Hannah is coming over, is that okay, Mom?

“Great! I’ll prepare some snacks for you. What do you want me to serve?”

“Anything Mom,” I said as I climbed the stairs back to my room.

The bell rang, and I hurriedly went to the door to open it.

“Hey!” Hannah greeted me.

“Come in,” I said. “Let's go to my room. It’s the safest way to share secrets,” I whispered.

I opened the bedroom door and locked it before I started giggling.

“Oh my gosh! I met this guy yesterday, and for the first time in my life, I felt my heart beating and racing and . . . I don’t know how to explain it,” I said.

“Wow, I can’t believe it. Maddison Greene has a crush?!”

“Yeah!”

"What’s his name?"

“Michael. Maddison and Michael. I feel like we look good together,” I said dreamily before letting myself fall onto the bed.

“Well Maddie, I am happy for you. But I feel like I wanna ask you about something.”

“About what?”

‘About what happened in the woods. Have you forgotten what happened in the woods last week?” Hannah asked with furrowed brows.

“Why? What about the camp? We just camped and then went home, right? Nothing special really happened except meeting this new guy yesterday.”

“What? What do you mean you don’t remember anything? Okay, what is happening? Arthur doesn’t remember anything, and Olivia doesn’t remember anything either. You don’t remember anything except the new guy in town, and Adrian is missing. What is going on? Am I crazy or something?”

“Hmmm . . . probably. Too much Netflix, Hannah. Take it easy,” I said laughing.

“No . . . seriously. I can't believe it. OMG. Am I dreaming?” Hannah slapped her face repeatedly. “Don’t make me look stupid, Maddie. You’re my best friend.”

“I know, I know. That's the beauty of having real friends. Best friends make each other look stupid, right?” I placed my arm around Hannah’s shoulders.

“Hi girls, snacks are ready,” Mom said, opening the door.

“Hi Mrs. Greene,” Hannah said, smiling.

“Hello Hannah. Come on girls, go downstairs. I prepared pancakes and waffles for you," Mom said as she closed the door.

“I love waffles. Thank you Mrs. Greene,” Hannah said, chewing waffles in her mouth.

“You’re welcome, honey. I’ll leave you two, okay? My laundry is waiting,” Mom said happily as she exited the room and closed the door.

‘Thanks Mom,” I said.

“Alright baby. Just call me if you need anything,” Mom said as she climbed down the stairs.

When everything went quiet, Hannah leaned in and whispered, “Great. Maddie, please tell me you're joking. Do you remember anything that happened in the woods? Do you remember what happened to Erin? To you?”

“Hannah, are you okay?” I asked. “I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about, Nothing happened in the woods. Where did you get that?”

“You’re kidding, aren't you? Tell me this is just a prank."

"A prank? 'Course not. Now let’s go down and eat all those pancakes and waffles so I can continue talking about Michael.”

Hannah rolled her eyes. “O-Okay. Whatever.” She huffed, making a face.

Confusion was evident in her eyes but the truth was, I remembered everything. I just pretended I didn’t know anything. Mrs. Shaw erased all of our memories about what happened back there in the camp, but she didn’t know . . . my memories remained. I wasn't affected.

"No one shall remember what happened tonight. Whoever knows my secret shall surely die," Mrs. Shaw uttered, raising her hands into the air as a soothing, cold air surrounded everyone of us.

Everyone fell asleep and woke up seeing Mrs. Shaw talking to the police.