Madelyn's heart raced as she rushed back to her room, not sure what to do next. She closed the door with shaky hands and locked it. Leaning against the door, she shivered, wiping her lips over and over like she was trying to clean them.She had kissed Zach before, but she couldn't forget how he had looked at her with disgust when he pushed her away last time.But Madelyn had changed. She wasn't the same girl anymore. She really didn't want anything to do with Zach.A sick feeling came over her. She rubbed her lips hard until they got puffy and numb. Lost in thinking about everything that had happened, she tried to understand how she ended up in Zach's arms like that.Normally, something like this would be really strange. But Zach was drunk, so Madelyn didn't want to think too much about it. She tried to tell herself that it was just an accident and not a big deal. But lying in bed, unable to sleep, Zach's face kept coming back to her mind...Downstairs in the living room, Zach sat

BANG!A super loud noise came from upstairs, and Madelyn looked up at the ceiling. She quickly put on her slippers and raced up the stairs. She was worried something had happened to Zach.Filled with concern, Madelyn opened the bedroom door. Her heart was racing because she thought there might be an accident. "Zach, what's going on?"Zach was bent over on the bed, trying to pick up the broken pieces of a bowl from the floor."I'm handling it. Just lay down and rest," Madelyn told him. She went over, fixed the pillows behind his back, and then got a broom from outside. She swept up the mess on the floor really quick. After that, she got down on the floor and wiped away the stains with some tissues.Zach watched her, looking puzzled. If he hadn't seen it himself, he wouldn't believe Madelyn would do these things. He knew she had never done these things before. He wondered why she was acting this way. Did something happen?Madelyn had changed because of Zach.In their other life, s

Zach woke up drenched in sweat from a dream that felt totally real. When he opened his eyes, he was still feeling sad about losing Madelyn.He felt like his heart was being squeezed and he couldn't really breathe. He never thought a dream could make him feel like this. And what was even weirder, in the dream, Madelyn died, and he felt like he was broken too. It didn't make any sense."Zach, you're up!" someone said softly next to him.It was Jadie.Zach looked at the clock on the wall and thought to himself, 'It's afternoon already? It's getting dark outside. How long did I sleep?'Jadie's eyes looked a bit red, like she had been crying."Jadie, aren't you supposed to be at school?" Zach asked.Jadie sounded a bit sad when she said, "Zach, remember? You said you'd pick me up after school on Friday. I waited, but you didn't come. I called Kevin, and he said you were sick. So, I came here as soon as I could.""Oh, I'm sorry, I totally forgot," Zach said, closing his eyes for a mo

Madelyn got herself a glass of water from the fridge and quickly went back upstairs to her room.Jadie glanced back, watching Madelyn's figure disappear on the stairs. "Maybe I should bring her a bowl now. I'm worried she might feel uncomfortable."Zach reached out and affectionately ran his hand through Jadie's hair. "I'll go," he offered, getting up from his chair.Jadie hesitated, biting her lip and staying quiet. Inside, she didn't really want Zach to be alone with Madelyn. But she also didn't want to face Madelyn herself. Just as Madelyn was about to close her door from her bed, the lock clicked, and Zach just walked in.Zach had many admirable qualities, but the fact that he never knocked before entering her room slightly annoyed her."Jadie made some gnocchi soup. It's delicious. Care to give it a try?""I..."Before Madelyn could finish, Zach was sitting by her bed. He had a spoon and was stirring the soup. "Want me to feed you, or do you want to eat on your own?""I-I'

Madelyn kept her eyes on Zach as he left the room. When he closed the door, she put her hand on her fast-beating heart, wondering to herself, 'Will he figure it out now?' She had dropped hints earlier, talking about how she wanted to leave Ventropolis after the college tests and go all the way to Lorville. She'd also mentioned wanting to teach in far-off places after college so she wouldn't mess with his Jent family revenge plan.In short, she'd basically told Zach he could treat her like she was already gone, like she wasn't part of his life anymore. Once she left this house, she'd never come back.She looked at the stain on the bedsheet and let out a sigh. 'Zach really can hold onto a grudge. I just changed this bedsheet today. Is he trying to make me freeze tonight?'The blankets in the cupboard hadn't been washed or aired out for nearly six months, and Madelyn was allergic to dust. If she wrapped herself in those blankets, she was guaranteed a trip to the hospital. She couldn't