The first week that Dean was gone, was the hardest week of Maddi’s life. Every night she had nightmares on how Dean could get hurt. Her grades began to waver and drop as the month went on. Maddi tried to keep her promise for Dean, but no one liked her very much. Maddi tried her best to talk to other people, but her emerald eyes, always tan skin and light brown hair were uncharacteristic to the Wisconsin winters. Her hobbies and shyness seemed to scare people away.
Dean always told her that they were just jealous of her. That she was prettier than the girls in her school. That Maddi was more talented than them. Maddi knew better though. She was a nerd, Maddi had weird talents and hobbies, and she didn’t look like them. So Maddi just ignored them.
Maddi had friends in elementary school, but they moved to a different part of town in sixth grade, and had to go to a different school. At this school the kids didn’t really care about their education. They spent most of their time vandalizing the desks and passing notes to each other.
Maddi didn’t feel like she fit in at her new school. That’s why she spent so much time with Dean. So now she sat in her 8th hour algebra class watching as the clock ticked closer and closer to 3:35.
Tick, tock, tick, tock.
Maddi wasn’t even listening to the teacher any more. He was talking about the homework or something. Maddi didn’t care. She heard snickering behind her.
“I heard that her brother thought she was so weird, that he left.”
“I heard that her parents are going to sell her to the bookstore, because she practically knows everything.”
Maddi closed her eyes and waited for the bell.
3:25.
Almost, almost. She was already imagining running out of the classroom.
“Maddison! Are you even listening to me?” The teacher bellowed. Maddi’s head, shot towards him. “Yessir.”
“Then what am I talking about.”
“How to do the homework and when it’s due, and stuff like that, sir.” He looked at her suspiciously. “If I catch you daydreaming in my class again, I will have to give you a detention.” Maddi sighed, “Yes Sir.”
The bell rang and everyone bolted from their seats, but Maddi was the first one out the door.