Behind a facade

15.

The gloomy and cold weather lasted for a few days, significantly influencing the people's day-to-day activities in Lakeville. On-and-off drizzling only added a burden to everyone who is already having a hard time processing. It was that time of the year Lakeville residents has to get ready for the unpredictable swings of nature.

Tessa removed her rain jacket and shook off most of the water before packing it in the plastic bag. As soon as she was done with it, Tessa ended up surveying the hallway, hoping to get a glimpse of someone she wanted to see since Saturday. She lowered her eyes after a while when disappointment start to ridicule her longing expectations.

After what happened between her and Dakota, Tessa had a hard time understanding her own feelings. Sometimes she wanted to ignore what happened. She wanted to get angry with Dakota and forget about everything. But she couldn't erase her memories as if nothing happened.

She has been so enthralled by the vivid memories of that afternoon. Simply remembering the touch of Dakota’s lips on hers, and how their bodies pressed against each other, gave Tessa a rush of pleasant feelings. At first, she doesn’t want to accept Dakota is the only person who is capable of making her feel excited. The attraction she felt was undeniable. This connection was something she never experienced with Brian, though they are in a relationship.

“T…”

Tessa came out of her thoughts because of Maddison’s hand weight on her shoulder. She plastered a smile, trying to hide her flushed cheeks. “Hey, Maddison. What’s up?”

Maddison flashed a weak smile. She avoided Tessa’s gaze while brushing her palms together. “Hey…”

The awkward moment of silence made Tessa wonder whether Maddison is in a problem. She darted her eyes, trying to find Ashley. To her surprise, Ashley wasn’t with Maddison.

“Can we talk T?” Maddison gulped.

“Yeah, Of course. Where is Ashley?”

“If you don’t mind, can we talk somewhere… mmm… without Ashley… and no people around?” Maddison tilted her head, showing the students passing by. “How about there…”

Tessa followed the gaze of Maddison. She was pointing at the music room where students won’t gather in the early morning of the day. Especially on Mondays, most of the students will not arrive at school until very late.

Tessa nodded and followed Maddison, understanding she might be struggling with a problem. Maddison was someone who easily expressed her feelings, whether it's related to happiness or sadness. She never knew how to hide her emotions. But when she was talking to Tessa earlier, it felt as if Tessa couldn't read her at all.

“So… what do you want to talk about, Maddison?” Tessa gently asked, sitting on a chair while facing Maddison.

As they predicted there wasn’t anyone in the music room, making it easier for them to talk with each other.

“T…” Maddison pressed her lips together. She picked at her nails without saying a single word for almost a minute. “I don’t know whether I am going to mess everything up. But I think I can’t hide this anymore. You deserve to know the truth,”

“Okay…” Tessa arched her neck to a side. She narrowed her eyes. Maddison's timid behaviour was telling Tessa that whatever she is going to say doesn't carry a positive message. “To be honest, now you are scaring me, Maddie,”

“I know… but… what you have done for me last week means a lot. With Ashley it's... I mean, you always did…” Maddison’s struggled to find words. Her voice was shaking as well as her hands on the table. Tessa placed her hand on Maddison's hand, trying to calm her down.

Ashley looking down on Maddison wasn’t a secret for anyone in their inner cycle. Though Tessa always tried to pay no attention to the eternal conflict between Ashley and Maddison, sometimes she couldn’t help but get annoyed. When the same thing occurred during the last week, Tessa couldn’t simply turn a blind eye to it, seeing how Maddison got embarrassed in front of her parents. Maddison’s parents' reaction reminded Tessa, of her parents’ reaction. The self-pitying state made her want to release Maddison from the storm about to come when she arrives home. She ended up helping Maddison by mentioning great facts about Maddison even though Ashley was pretty upset by it.

“I get it, Maddison. Don’t mention it,”

“No.. no this is not only about it… This is about something else…”

“Okay..” Tessa softens her voice, knowing Maddison can be a handful sometimes. “Then what is this about?’

Maddison close her eyes as if she wanted to collect her thoughts. When she opened her eyes again, there was a determination in her eyes.

“This might take a while,” Maddison sighed. “Tessa, you remember we became friends in freshman year, right?”

“Yeah,”

“You were like the light version of Elizabeth Bennet, back then. So, Ashley and Brian thought if someone can break your pride it would be fun to watch. Besides, they needed your presence in the power team. So, they… placed a bet. I mean, Brian thought you were pretty hot… so… so… Ashley dared him to sleep with you within a semester. He made the move at the end,”

Whether it was Maddison talking fast or for some other unknown reason, Tessa couldn’t catch what she heard at the exact moment. She blink her eyes until she could make sense of what she heard.

Then suddenly she understood everything at once. The immense shock gradually starts to engulf her. There was a bloody war between her brain and heart after cooperating with what she heard from Maddison. Her whole body starts to tremble because of the helplessness. Everything starts to pop up inside her head, giving her a headache. The way they met, the way they became friends, the way they get close, her first date, her first kiss...

She grabbed the desk in front of her helplessly. Her entire world is shattering. How can she stand still? Fortunately, she is already sitting. Unless she might have fainted by now due to the shock she is handling at the current moment.

“You mean… At the fireworks in downtown… last year?” Tessa rubbed her sweaty forehead. She could clearly remember, how Brian approached and talked with her friendly manner for the first time at last year's independence day celebration, which was held in the downtown area. Since that day they start to hang out with each other a lot.

"What?" Maddison blinked her eyes. She looked like she has seen a ghost.

"Brian first talked to me during the firework downtown... It was planned, isn't it?"

Maddison let out a long sigh. There was guilt in her eyes. She took her time to answer. “Yes,”

The bitterness of the betrayal was indeed painful. She bit one of her lips, trying to hold her tears inside. She believed them. Isn't she? She has been deceived this whole time. How come she never notice their plans? “It made sense. Until that day Brian has never talked to me. Even Ashley…”

“I am sorry… I am sorry for letting you find out about it this way,” Maddison reached out to hold Tessa’s hand. She pulled back, enduring the hurt spreading inside her.

Everything was a lie from the beginning. A big bad nightmare. There wasn’t friendship, love or anything real among the people she choose to keep close to. It was always a bet…

“I just walk into the trap,” Tessa mumbled, wiping a teardrop on her cheek repeatedly. “Without even doubting… I just…”

“I am so sorry T,” Maddison uttered with a genuinely worried expression. Though Maddison behaves immaturely sometimes, she was someone who can not lie. Tessa knew it, hence she knew Maddison won’t able to deceive her, and she was only confessing what she knew. The painful truth that is going to eat her alive.

After a moment of silence, Tessa heard Maddison's shaky words again."I wanted you to know about this. You helped me and cared for me. After all the things, you have done for me, I thought at least you deserve to know the truth. I couldn't see you getting toyed by them,"

Tessa doubt whether she could believe anyone ever again in her life. No matter how bad is her personality, she was someone who never betrayed trust. It was impossible for her to forgive anyone, including Maddison. She might hate her less compared to others, but it doesn't mean they can become friends again. They won't ever feel comfortable like before.

When the trust between people got broken, it's hard to mend it. Sometimes it's impossible to mend it.

“I don’t know what to think anymore,” Tessa sighed. “Please, I need to be alone, Maddison,”

Maddison rose to her feet and flashed another guilty look. She asked for forgiveness again. "Okay, I'll leave. I'll see you at the funeral in the evening,"

Tessa lifts her head. "Funeral? What are you talking about?"

"Don't tell me you don't know yet?" Maddison raised one of her brows.

Tessa shook her head from side to side.

Maddison shot an unbelievable glance at Tessa. "You really don't know? Jesus"

Tessa winced. What else she doesn't know? She was getting annoyed because Maddison wasting time without saying what she was supposed to tell briefly.

"T... how do you not be aware... whatever," Maddison shrugged her shoulders. "It's......"