Wait.
I ran back into Headmaster Walton’s office with my mom yelling after me.
“Eric?” he asked, dropping his hand from his face. “What is it?”
“Did you call her dad?” Something I hadn’t felt since I was five gripped me by the throat.
“Madeline’s?”
I nodded, the fear only getting worse.
“Yes, I called him before I managed to get a hold of her mother. He said he was on his way, but he must have met them at home. Why?”
Madeline.
That was why she was afraid.
Fuck. What did I do?
I bolted out of the office doors, pulling my keys out of my pants as I bypassed both of my parents.
“Eric! Where are you going?”
I pushed past my peers leaving to go home for the day, some even falling to the ground in my dust. My father echoed in the background as he chased after me.
What the fuck did I do?
My hand shook as I shoved my key into the ignition and tore out of the parking lot, beeping at anyone in my way. Ollie and Christian were pushing people back, holding traffic for me to get through. They had no fucking idea what was going on, but they had my back regardless.
All I knew was that I had to get to Madeline’s house before her father got home.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Madeline
My mom drove us both home; my car was still parked at school. The entire drive to our house, she cried. Her shoulders shook as quiet tears fell. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t think she did either.
Right when we pulled into the drive, she shut her car off and wiped her eyes gingerly. Her hand wandered over to mine, and she squeezed it a few times, and we sat in silence for a very, very long time. Eventually, we both got out and began walking up the steps.
“I’m okay, Mom. It’s not a big deal,” I finally said, needing to say something so the echoing hurt didn’t blind me. “And it can stay between us.”
“It’s not okay. And you father will find out, Madeline.”
“No.” I shook my head agitatedly, crossing my arms over my blazer. “Who’s going to tell him? Surely not you or me.” I gave her a pointed look. “If he finds out, knowing that it was one of your...” The words died on my tongue.
Squealing tires flew down the road, and my mom and I both stood paralyzed. I wished it was Eric running after me, or maybe even just a random car who swerved to miss a squirrel in the road. But somehow, we both knew who it was.
“Go to your room and don’t come out.”
My stomach dropped. “How does he already know?” My father’s Jaguar came into sight as it flew into the driveway. “Madeline.” My mom grabbed my arms and shoved me inside the house. “Go. Lock your door.”
Her blue eyes, the same vivid color as mine, struck me. “I have given you no reason to trust me. But I need you to trust me now. Go. Don’t come out until I tell you to. No matter what.”
The fear and submission my mother always wore on her face like a fine layer of makeup was no longer visible to me. They had somehow morphed into something I didn’t recognize.
She took a deep breath as my father’s door slammed. “Go.”
Her tone vibrated the fear in my chest, and I quickly made a run for it, skipping steps in three to rush into my bedroom. I slammed the door, fiddled with the lock until it was secure, and sunk down onto the plush carpet, hugging my knees to my chest.