Chapter 3 - downhill

A few days went by and things seemed to have been going back to normal, but then Monday came again, Klyde arrived as Maddy did as per usual, but she didn't smile, she looked as if she was going to cry. Everyone was watching her. And then Klyde did something unimaginable, he went over to her and wrapped his arms around her. "He's so warm" she thought, she returned the hug. Everyone stared, jaws agape. They stood there for a little while, but then the bell went and they headed to class, Maddy had sneakily attached herself to klyde's arm, he would've otherwise disapproved but he saw that it was making her feel better so he just let her do it. That day was very quiet, Maddy rarely left Klyde's side.

End of the day came and Maddy's mood had significantly improved, she was smiling again, she thanked him for comforting her through the day, they dropped Klyde off as usual and the afternoon for Klyde was pretty normal. Maddy wasn't so lucky..

"What were you thinking?! Bringing a boy into my home!  Wasting your time on a lowlife! I taught you better than that." Maddy's father was mad. "Dad please we're just friends" she said with a cry. "I don't care if you're 'just friends', you should be focusing on your studies, not some boy!" "I am focusing on my studies, he's been helping me, he's my study partner." "STUDY PARTNER?!" "Yeah, he helps me with my schoolwork." "Among other things I bet." "Dad! EW!" "What? I know boys, especially low-lifes like him, all they want is to have there way with you then they'll disappear." "He isn't like that dad.." Her father whacks her across the face. "Do not argue with me young lady, I am your father, I know best. After all this misbehaving it seems you need a lesson" , he pulls off his belt." "DAD NO! PLEASE!" *thwack* "Shut it, this is what happens when you misbehave." *thwack* That night, Maddy didn't send Klyde a message.

Next day came and Klyde instantly knew something was wrong from the moment he woke up. He got to school and watched Maddy slowly climb out of the car, her arms bruised with light red gashes. She gave a quick glance and walked into school, he followed. She went somewhere hidden, where no one was around, and signalled for him to come closer, he did so and she embraced him, hugging him tightly as she burst into tears. "Are you alright?" His voice was soft, you could hear the concern in his tone. "I- I got in trouble.. I don't know what to do, I'm scared." "Alright, try to calm down, we'll sort something out after school." "o-okay, I'll try." Then they went to class.

"Has he done this before?" Maddy wondered, "he's handling this really well, and his voice.. It's so comforting.."

The day went by, seemingly pretty quickly. And as the bell went, Maddy began to panic again. Klyde put his hand gently on her shoulder and she felt a wave of calm, "I'm coming with you." he whispered into her ear. "A-are you sure that's a good idea? You might get hurt.." "I'll be fine." They got in the car and went together to Maddy's home as they got out of the car the door slammed open and a man, red with rage charged out, belt in hand. "WHAT THE HELL DID I TELL YOU ABOUT THIS BOY?! DID YOU LEARN NOTHING LAST NIGHT?" He stretched his arm up. "I guess you need more then." as he went to strike Klyde slid between them and took the blow, barely flinching. "Oh? You need some learning too do ya boy? Well if it'll get you away from my daughter so be it." He went for another blow, but this time Klyde caught the man's arm, the man looked shocked as Klyde forced his arm down, then held the phone up, emergency services were on the line. "What have you done? This will have ruined my career!" Then his wife came out and lead Maddy inside. "Honey what are you doing?" "What a mother is supposed to do, comforting my daughter." "She betrayed us, she has no place here." "No, you betrayed us." The man turned back to Klyde, "this is your fault boy." He lashed out before Klyde could react. The police started arriving as the man beat klyde on the pavement next to the driveway. The cops tugged him off and detained him, he wouldn't stop yelling, a mix of swear words and insults poured out of his mouth like acid. The last thing he said before they took him away was "you haven't seen the last of me, I'll be back!"

Klyde joined the two ladies inside and sat quietly, his face throbbed. "Are you okay?! You're bleeding!" "Yeah I'm ok." "You didn't have to do that..." "It's fine, you're safe now." Her mother butted in, "thank you Klyde, for stepping in, who knows how much worse it would've gotten if you didn't." He gave a nod. The two women then called over some maids and began tending to my face while maids cleaned up the blood from the floor and pavement outside. "He really messed up your face, I told you you might get hurt". "I know." Ellis gave her daughter a look and she suddenly looked ashamed, "sorry, what I should be saying is.. Thank you, for comforting me, and helping me. It means alot." Klyde just watched her, a softness in his eyes, he was in too much pain to speak, but Maddy noticed he seemed, relaxed. Klydes phone started ringing, he answered but Maddy spoke for him "hello? This is Maddy speaking on Klyde's phone." "Oh good, you're still with him." "Why? Who is this?" "this is the chief of police." she knew then that whatever it was, wasn't good, she put it on speaker so they could all hear, "it's about your father, Mr Verdensel, we don't know how but, he escaped." Everyone sat there, terror was written all over Maddy and her mother. Klyde just lay there, waiting for the pain to pass. "W-What do we do?! If he c-comes back then we-" "don't worry ma'am, we're already working on tracking him down and we're sending a squad to your house, I also suggest keeping that boy with you, he'll need protection too and it'll be easier to monitor all of you if you're in the same place." "Alright chief, thank you." "Just doing my job." The phone hung up, and now there was a still silence in the room, Maddy went back to tending to Klyde, her hands shaking like a rattlesnakes tail, Klyde grabbed them softly and looked into her eyes, she was crying. Ellis tended to Klyde while Maddy sat trying to calm herself next to them, her hand now tightly clasping Klyde's.

About twenty minutes had passed when a police car pulled up outside, four men climbed out, one began talking with security, the other three began setting up around the outside of the house, then the one talking to security came inside, "evening, we're just setting up some basic equipment to be ready in case he shows up here." "Thank you officer." Ellis said in response, she seemed calm to most but Klyde could tell she was holding back tears. "would you like anything officer? Coffee perhaps?" "I would appreciate that." Ellis called one of the maids over and asked for 5 coffees and two hot chocolates, then told all the maids they could have a drink if they wished. Then they all sat there, quietly drinking, Ellis was done tending to Klyde's face, so he now sat next to Maddy, holding her steady as she sipped her hot chocolate, gratitude clear on her face. "Well, looks like you'll be spending the night here Klyde, shall I have a maid prepare the guest room?" "I'll need some of my things first." "I can take you" said the officer." Klyde nodded in agreement, Maddy came along.

As they pulled up both of Klyde's parents came out, they looked ready to tell him off, but the officer explained everything while Klyde and Maddy went up to grab some items for the night. "So this is a boys room." she said, looking around. "Nab, just my room, I'm not quite like other boys." "Kinda figured that one" she said with a laugh, she seemed to be doing better which made klyde feel happy. "wooow, you have a nice view." she was staring out the window. Klyde grabbed his pj's along with some books, pens, pencils, and a knife. "what's the knife for?" "it's a good luck charm, crafted it myself in a monk temple when I was six." "That's so cool! Wait, monks temple? What were you doing there?" "Parents took us there for a sort of 'unique holiday experience'." She laughed. He did a gesture that basically said "alright, got everything." and headed downstairs, Maddy followed. "Yo Klyde! Mind-" "nows not a good time Ellie.." "oh, sorry. Where you going?" "Maddy's place, it's an emergency." "Emergency huh? What sort?" "life risk type stuff." "Oh.. OH! You mean her dad is that famous guy that got arrested on TV?" "of course it was on TV.." He thought. Then replied, "probably, yeah.." "That was you getting beat up? That explains the new look." Maddy looked like she wanted to snap at her but held back. "Yeah..." "So you gotta go there for protection because you got involved so he'd be targeting you?" "Pretty much." "Well, good luck." She went off back to the tv. "Yeah, that was my sister, she tends to be like that." "So she always gives people the urge to bash her nose in?" "Uh.. Yeah basically." She laughed a bit as they walked back out to the car.

"Klyde... I hope everything goes okay, stay safe and don't do anything stupid." Said his mother. "Yeah son, also good job stepping in, I'm proud of you." "Thanks dad." "Hope this all passes soon, I'd like to get to know your friend here." "You'll get the chance, sooner or later." all of them gave a light laugh except Klyde. Then they got in the car and waved as they drove off.

As they arrived Ellis was waiting at the door. She greeted them and showed Klyde to his room. Then invited him to join them for dinner, dinner was quiet but that was because the food was delicious. That night Klyde and Maddy slept peacefully.

Next morning came and Klyde woke up to the sound of Maddy excitedly bouncing down the stairs, he chuckled a little, got up and went out for some breakfast. "Good morning! Sleep well?" "Yeah." "Same here." "You seem jumpy this morning, what'd got you so excited?" "oh" she gave an awkward laugh, "it's nothing." "alright." anyway, breakfast is ready." They sat to two plates stacked 10 high with pancakes and began eating, Ellis joined them not too long after. They finished breakfast and got ready for school, in the car and off they went.

Arriving at school everyone stared as Klyde, got out of the car first, face looking beat up, and Maddy followed. "They're riding to school together too now?!" "He's so lucky!" "Woah woah, guys, didn't you hear about what happened from TV? He got beat up by her dad." "What?! And he's still hanging with her?" "He got beat up because he was protecting her, that's what the story on the news was at least." Klyde ignored all of them as he lead Maddy to class, there were police officers stationed at each entry.

The day went by with everyone almost constantly staring, as they began to leave school there was a news agency waiting outside, they went straight to Klyde, "young sir, is it true that you were beat by her father last night?" "Is that live?" "yes, now answer the question." he walked off towards the car, an officer saw the news agent was bothering me and intervened, they drove off in a hurry and got back to the house. "Holy moly, I doubt that's the last we'll see of the news.." "Yep. And that is proof." Van after van of news agencies started pulling up and etting up outside. They knocked and Ellis answered, "we're not taking questions today thank you." She started to close the door." Wait miss, please just one question. Not live." "Fine, shoot." "what will you do now that your husband is a criminal?" "That's a rather personal question, and to be honest I'm not sure what to do, I'm figuring it out as I go I suppose." and she closed the door. They all clammered outside in a grump and packed away leaving one by one. "That takes care of that." "Thanks mom." "No worries dear. Now, you kids want snacks? Drinks?" Both please mom." "Alright, drinks and snacks, coming up." she went to the kitchen and came back with doritos and a bottle of mountain dew. "Thanks mom!" Maddy stuck on a movie and they sat eating chips and occasionally drinking the fizzy. Then they both went to grab a chip at the same time, their hands touched. Maddy looked up at Klyde who looked back, she blushed and pulled her hand away, looking back at the tv. Whilst Klyde seemed to be acting like nothing happened.

Maddy's thoughts were going bonkers, "oh my gosh oh my gosh. I touched his hand! EEEEEE. How is he so calm about this? I feel like I'm about to pass out! I've never touched a guys hand like that before, and oh my gosh his eyes! Ahhhh!"

"You alright Maddy?" she quickly turned to him and nodded then turned back to the screen. Klyde could tell she was flustered, he wasn't, he did feel something though, something new, and different. He didn't pay much mind to it. Maddy settled after a bit...

And they continued snacking and enjoying the film.

The movie finished. "Shall we watch the next one? We gotta pass the time somehow." "Yeah sure." The officer walked in, oh hey kids, I was looking for Mrs Verdensel, you two know where she is?" "She could be in the library. If not there then maybe her office/art studio." "Alright, thank you." He left. "Wonder what he wants mum for." "Maybe wants to tell her something, or ask." "Yeah maybe." As the next movie started the two settled back into their seats and enjoyed their moments of peace.

Bzzzt, bzzzzzt. Klyde's phone was ringing,he picked up. "Hello. Is this Klyde?" "yes?" "I regrettably have some bad news for you." Maddy was listening in, already figuring something bad had happened. "It's about one of your siblings, your younger sister?" "Yes?" "Um, she was found dead along her route home..." The phone dropped to the floor. "I understand this is hard to hear, your parents were too upset to pick up the phone. That's all" "Thank you for informing me." The phone hung up.

Klyde sat, silently staring at the now blank phone screen. "Klyde.? Are you ok?" He slowly shook his head. "I'm so sorry about your sister. I wonder what happened.." She sounded sincere. And for the first time ever, tears formed in his eyes, she hugged him as they began pouring down his face. Ellis walked in, "um, have I missed something?" "Mom.. Police called him, his sister." "What about his sister?" "She- she was found dead earlier today.." "Oh dear.. We should go see your parents, I'm sure they would appreciate you being with them." He gave a slight nod and they got up and headed out. As they arrived there were two cop cars parked out front, they got inside and the police were interviewing klyde's parents. One approached Klyde, "you Klyde?" he nods. "I have some questions for you." He took him to a separate room and began questioning him.