Madison Shore
Wednesday 3:36pm, September 10, 2025
I didn't want to go.
Honestly, I tried talking myself out of it at least five times that morning. I even faked a sore throat in the mirror just to see if I could make it convincing. It wasn't.
The truth was, something about this whole hangout felt… off.
It wasn't that I hated anyone in the group. I didn't. But lately, things had been weird—tense smiles, secrets hiding behind everyone's eyes. And Elijah… something about him lately had felt different. Distant. Like he was keeping something locked up tight and trying to pretend he wasn't.
I stuffed my phone in my jacket pocket and stood at the edge of my bed, staring at my sneakers like they held the answer. Part of me just wanted to stay home, wrap myself in my favorite hoodie, and binge old volleyball highlights.
But I couldn't shake the feeling that if I didn't go today—if I didn't show up—it'd be worse. Like I'd miss something important.
Like someone would notice.
And that someone might be Simon.
I don't even know why I thought of him, honestly. We barely talked. But that look he gave me the other day… the way he paused when our paths crossed outside the art wing… it stuck with me. Like he saw past the version of me I kept up for everyone else.
I grabbed my bag and zipped it shut.
"This is dumb," I muttered to myself. "It's just a hangout."
Just a hangout, right?
I checked my phone again. One unread message from Rosa:
"We're still meeting at the usual spot, right? Everyone's coming."
I stared at the screen for a second longer before typing back a simple:
"Yeah. I'm coming."
Even though every part of me wanted to stay far, far away.
My mom pulled up to the park entrance, her nails tapping impatiently against the steering wheel like a ticking clock.
"You sure this is where I'm dropping you?" she asked, glancing around. "Doesn't look like anyone else is here."
"They'll show up," I mumbled, already unbuckling my seatbelt. "It's still early."
She squinted through the windshield, clearly unconvinced. "Alright, text me when you're ready to come home. And don't forget, we have that family dinner tonight."
"Yeah, yeah. Got it."
I stepped out, the cool air brushing against my face. The place was quiet, just like it always was before everyone got there. Trees rustled slightly above the old wooden benches and the graffiti-tagged picnic tables. This was our spot—our weird little secret place tucked behind the baseball field and forgotten by almost everyone else.
I spotted Rosa jogging up the path, carrying two sodas.
"There you are," she said, handing me one. "Figured I'd beat everyone here."
"Thanks," I said, taking the drink. "My mom was a little nervous about dropping me off here alone. Said it looked empty."
"Well, it is a secret spot," Rosa said with a small smile.
We sat down together, shoulders just barely touching, and I took a sip.
"So… you think the others will show up soon?" I asked.
"Yeah," Rosa said, looking around. "I think so."
I hesitated, then asked, "Did Elijah say if he'd come?"
She shrugged, not really giving anything away. "He said he might."
I didn't press. Somehow, Rosa never talked about him like anyone else did. She kept things close, like a secret she wasn't ready to share.
I changed the subject. "You ready for the weekend? Mom says we have that family dinner Saturday."
Rosa smiled faintly. "Yeah, I think so."
We sat in quiet for a moment, just two best friends waiting for the others to show up, neither of us knowing what was really waiting ahead.