Meeting

Madi POV:

My name is Madi Jones. I used to live in a foster home before I turned 18. Worst years of my life. Watching your friends get adopted while no one turns your way hurts. I had this one best friend since I was 2, but when we turned 12 she ran away in the middle of the night without saying goodbye.

Now that I was 18 I was given a generous amount of money and moved myself to Richmond, Virginia. I was planning on enrolling into a new high school for senior year. I have my own apartment which the rent is really low considering Mary Ann, the woman who ran the shelter, pays for it.

Today was the first day of senior year, I wasn't that nervous, honestly I was excited. I got dressed and walked to the bus stop. It was only a five minute ride and I could've walked but I didn't.

I got off the bus and looked around. Kids in groups, talking about summer parties, what they did this summer. I looked down at my roster, it wasn't too hard so this year should be easy. I had to go to the office to get my locker number so that was my first stop.

I followed the signs on the wall and saw 'main office' on a door. I walked in and up to the front desk.

"Hello, dear. Name?" The older woman asked.

"Uh, Madison Jones." I smiled.

"You must be our new student. I'm Mrs. Clare, wonderful to meet you." She said, reaching for some papers.

"You too." I nodded.

"Here you are. If you have any questions feel free to ask." She gave me the papers.

"Thank you." I took them in my hands.

"You're welcome, dear. Have a great day." Mrs. Clare smiled.

"You too." I walked out of the office. Locker Two-One-Seven. I followed the numbers until I saw mine. I opened it, but I didn't have anything to put in it yet so I closed it awkwardly.

"Are you new?" A voice said from my right.

"Yeah, I'm Madi." I greeted.

"Jack." The boy said. "What do you got first?" He asked, motioning to the paper in my hands.

"Uh..." I looked at my roster. "English."

"Same here, I can walk you." He smiled.

"Thanks." I smiled back, following him down the hallway.

"So, where you from?" He asked.

"Maryland." I answered.

"Wow. Did you move with your parents?" He asked.

My smile faltered. "Nope, I'm alone."

"Shit, really?" He asked. "My bad, didn't mean to bring that up."

"No, it's okay, really." I reassured with a smile.

"Well, hey, if you don't wanna be alone tonight there's a back to school party. All the seniors are going." Jack suggested.

"How'd you know I'm a senior?" I asked.

"Your locker is in the senior section." He laughed and my cheeks grew hot in embarrassment. "You can meet some of my friends." We got to English and he brought me to the middle right. There were two girls and two boys. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Madi, our newest senior. Madi, this is Lizzie, Liv, Matt and Chase."

"Hey." They all waved.

"Hi." I smiled. I sat at the open desk.

"Welcome to our school." Liv smiled.

"More like prison." Lizzie muttered. They laughed. We got to know each other more since our English teacher said we can have a free day.

"Are you busy tonight?" Chase asked.

"I already told her about the party." Jack told his friend.

"You coming?" Matt asked me.

"Sure." I smiled, it'll be a good way to get to know people.

"Ooh, we got a party girl on our hands." Lizzie smirked.

"Lizzie's the biggest party girl we know." Liv told me.

"Oh, I'm not really a party girl. I've never actually been to a party." I revealed and they were all jaw dropped.

"Never been to a party?" Chase repeated.

"Nope." I shook my head.

"Well, you'll have so much fun, you'll be with us all night and if you need a place to crash Liv's staying at my place and you can too." Lizzie said.

"Thanks." I smiled.

The entire day I got to know them as they got to know me. They were really cool and nice. After school Jack and I got on the bus, planning to meet at 7:30 at the park.

I got on a dress and my converse. I was really nervous. My first party. Mary Ann called and asked how my day went. I told her I made friends, leaving out the fact I'm going to my first party.

At 7:15 I left and walked to the park, meeting Jack there.

"Woah, you look good." He smiled.

"Thanks, uh, so do you." I motioned to his outfit, it was a pretty basic outfit. I just had no idea how to reply.

"I have to make a quick stop, is that okay? If not, I can call Lizzie and Liv to pick you up." Jack said.

"I can go with you." I nodded, I don't need to be a burden and have him call someone to get me.

"Cool. Follow me." He said as we started walking.

"Can I ask...where are we going?" I asked.

"I just need to get some...party enhancers." He said.

"Party enhancers?" I asked, what the hell is that?

"Drugs. Is that cool?" He asked.

"Yeah, that's fine." I nodded.

"Do you do any? Weed? Coke?" He listed.

"No. I've never had alcohol either." I said.

"Wow, were you locked away in a tower?" He joked.

"Kinda." I smiled. We got to an apartment building. We walked inside, going to the stairs and to the fourth floor.

I was getting nervous, were we about to meet a scary drug dealing man? Jack knocked on the door and about four seconds later a girl was there.

She had to be around our age. Her hair was cut to her shoulders, it looked like it was dyed a really dark red, her eyes were green, silver smoky eye with black liner, nothing too crazy. She had a black tank top on with a black and white flannel. She had baggy sweatpants and converse that matched mine.

"What do you want?" She spat, looking at Jack.

"Alexa, nice to see you again." Jack smiled.

Alexa's eyes traveled to me. "Who's this?"

"Madison, this is Alexa, Alexa, this is Madison." He introduced.

"Hi." I waved shyly.

"You brought your girlfriend?" Alexa raised her eyebrows, looking back at Jack.

"Not my girlfriend, she just moved here." Jack told her.

"Let's make this quick." Alexa moved aside, letting us in.

Her house had a lingering weed smell. She walked over to the side table, putting on a vanilla diffuser, which smelt amazing.

"You know the routine." Alexa looked at Jack.

"Just weed tonight." He said.

"Lame, but whatever." She shrugged, walking to another room. She came back with a bag of weed. "Sixty."

"Yeah, yeah, here." He handed her the money. She smirked, taking it. "Well, we'll be on our way, going to a party."

"I didn't ask and I don't care." Alexa was about to sit back down but she looked at me. "You snitch and I'll find you."

"I won't say anything, I promise." I said, I'm sure my voice sounded as scared as I felt. Alexa looked me up and down before sitting on the couch and waving us off.

As Jack and I got back outside we began to walk.

"Sorry, she can be a bit intense." Jack apologized.

"It's fine. How do you know her?" I asked, making conversation.

"I actually met her through a friend. She provides drugs for a lot of people." Jack said.

We got to the party, met up with his friends and the night actually went great. I didn't do any drugs but I had some alcohol. It was terrible but bearable.

By the end of the night, Jack, Chase and Matt went home and Liv, Lizzie and I were left.

"You coming with us?" Liv asked, holding a drunk Lizzie.

I didn't want to be a burden to them and I didn't know them that well so I shook my head. "I'm just gonna walk home."

"You sure? I can drive you." Liv said.

"No really, I'll be fine. Make sure she's okay." I motioned to Lizzie.

"You got it." Liv smiled, giving me a side hug. "See ya Monday."

"Bye." I waved. I left the house and began walking home. My steps started to slow. Wait, where was I? I looked down at my phone, ready to pull up a map but my phone was dead.

Damn it. Don't freak out, don't freak out. I looked around for a bus stop, I didn't have my bus card. Crap! My eyes caught on a familiar building. I really didn't want to, but I had no other choice. I walked into the building and went to the fourth floor.

Knocking on the same door from earlier, I waited nervously until Alexa opened the door and looked at me. She looked shocked.

"Madison?" She questioned.

"Madi." I corrected. "Uh, I know this is really weird but my phone's dead and I realized I don't exactly know the way home." I fidgeted with my hands.

She stared at me for a moment before motioning me inside. I walked in and she shut the door. The weed smell was gone and replaced with vanilla.

"Sorry if I woke you." I apologized.

"You didn't. I barely sleep anyway. You need a drink?" She asked.

"No, I'm fine." I shook my head. "Maybe to just borrow a charger?"

Alexa sat on the couch. "Where do you live?"

"Not that far." I played with my hands. "I think."

"Charger's on the counter." She pointed behind me and I saw the white cord. I plugged my phone in before walking back over to the couches. I wasn't sure if I should sit or not so I stood there. "You can sit down, Madison."

I looked up as Alexa spoke. "It's Madi." I corrected, sitting on the single chair.

"Alright, Madi, where are you from?" Alexa asked.

"Maryland." I answered.

"Where at in Maryland?" She looked interested.

"Annapolis." I answered, again.

"And your nickname, Madi, how is that spelled? M-A-D-Y? M-A-D-D-I-E?" She asked.

"M-A-D-I." I told her. "I know, it's weird."

"Unique." Alexa corrected.

"Do you go by Lexa or just Alexa?" I asked.

"Usually Lexa, I don't know why that dick for brains introduced me like that." She said. "So, you went to a party and got lost coming home. Didn't you go with Jack?"

"Well, yeah, but he and his friends left early-" I began but she cut me off.

"He brought you to a party then left early without you?" Lexa looked confused and pissed off. "This is why I hate men."

"Well...don't worry I was with these two girls I met this morning. They were going home and since I didn't know them that well I didn't go with them." I explained.

"Yet you met me almost five hours ago and you came here?" Lexa smirked.

"I figured you'd help." I shrugged.

"That's presumptuous of you." Lexa said but nodded. "I'll help."

My phone beeped, signaling it's on and I stood up and opened Google Maps. I realized all I had to do was take a left and my apartment was there. "I feel like an idiot."

"No reason to, you just moved here." Lexa said as I unplugged my phone.

"Thank you, again." I smiled, walking to the door.

"Wait, I'll walk you." She offered.

"You really don't have to." I waved her off.

"I wasn't asking." Lexa was tying her converse. "Besides, for a teenage girl to walk home at midnight, not good." She stood, grabbing her keys and her phone before we left her apartment and walked to my place.

As I got to the building I turned to her. "Thank you, again."

"It's no problem. You need me to walk you to the door?" Lexa joked.

I laughed. "I'm sure I can manage. But, uh, how will I know if you get home alright?"

"Trust me, no one's messing with me." Lexa smirked.

"Still..." I pulled out my phone, which was on three percent. "Can you put your number in and text when you get home?"

"Asking for my number already. Well played." Lexa typed in her number, adding her contact and sending herself a text.

"No, it wasn't like that I just wanted to make sure you get home okay so that I'm not freaking out all night and-" I rambled.

"Chill. I was kidding. Goodnight, Madi." Lexa began walking, still facing me.

"Goodnight, Lexa." I replied, walking into the building.

What a day.