"Two 18-year-old seniors walked into a backstreet clinic like ruining a life was just another after-school errand, but one phone call from her mother wiped the smirk off both their faces".

CHAPTER 6

Madison’s phone buzzed again.

This time, it was a voice message from Tyler’s mother.

Madison stared at it.

Tyler reached for the phone.

“Don’t play that.”

Madison pulled back.

Her mother’s eyes stayed on Tyler.

“Why not?”

Tyler’s face went red.

“Because this is nobody’s business.”

Madison tapped the message.

Tyler’s mother’s voice filled the waiting room, shaking but clear.

Madison, sweetheart, I don’t know what Tyler has told you. But he told us you were forcing him to pay for everything, that you were threatening his college, that you planned this to trap him. Then I checked his messages and saw the truth. I am so sorry. My son is scared, but fear does not excuse cruelty. Please do not sit in that room believing you are alone.

Madison lowered the phone.

Tyler looked sick.

“You told them I trapped you?” she whispered.

He had no answer.

Not one.

The boy who had joked about fixing the future could not even look at the girl whose name he had tried to destroy before anyone knew the truth.

Madison’s mother stepped beside her, close enough to comfort, not close enough to force.

Madison wiped her cheek with the back of her hand.

Then she looked at the receptionist.

“I’m not ready for the appointment tonight,” she said. “I need to talk to someone without him in the room.”