After school, Lana, Maddie, and Asriel started walking toward the Crash to start their shifts.
“Hey! Wait up!” They heard a voice behind them. Mikey was running toward them. He stopped to catch up.
“Where are you going?” Mikey asked.
“We have jobs at the Crash.” Lana said.
“Oh, well, Gerard has to stay at school for the art program, so I'm stuck with nothing to do.” Mikey said.
“Well, do you have money on you?” Maddie asked.
“Yeah...” Mikey asked, pulling out his wallet.
“The Crash has great burgers, I hear.” Maddie said, winking. They all turned laughing, and started to walk to the Crash again.
“Can I come?” Mikey called.
“We're not stopping you!” Lana called back. Mikey jogged to keep up with them.
Ray was sitting just outside the Crash, strumming his guitar. Frank was sitting next to him, sketching.
“What are you sketching, Frank?” Ray asked, after a while.
“Nothin....” Frank muttered. Ray looked down before Frank could pull the notebook away. It was a portrait of Maddie.
“Really, Frank, where are you gonna ask her out, already?” Ray asked.
“I don't know...it's just something about her...I don't know if I can get close, you know? I mean, I've known her for years, but it still seems like she's hiding something.”
“Yeah, it seems as hard I try and get closer, she keeps hiding what's like this big....secret.” Ray said.
“How do you keep it up, then?” Frank asked.
“Well, it's just that she's so sweet, and I know she truly wants me as much as I want her. It's perfectly fine, except when she suddenly has to run off, or something like that, that makes me wonder.”
“I know what you mean.” Frank said.
“Hey! We have three burgers and two milkshakes!” Lana called to the cook. Maddie picked up a tray with fries and and started to walk away from a counter, when she fell to the ground, clutching her stomach.
“Maddie!” Asriel yelled. She bent down to try and help Maddie up, who was holding her stomach and had a pained look on her face. Lana looked at the door.
“Oh no.” She muttered. Ariel looked up and saw them too.
“Ugh. The Preps.” She said. She pulled Maddie to the back. Lana followed.
“I'll take care of them. You heal Maddie, okay?” Lana said. She walked out. Asriel looked to check if the coast was clear, and then her hand turned green as she waved it over Maddie's stomach. Maddie's breathing became regular again.
“It's just the Preps, Maddie. You need to not let them get to you. You were fine at lunch.” Asriel said.
“You know I can't help it. There were just so many of them, and this is a small building.” Maddie said.
“I know when people hate, or make fun of you, it hurts you, but you need to not let these people get to you! If this keeps up, then when we have dire moments, then you could die!” Asriel said.
“I'll figure out something. Will you cover for me, for a bit, though?” Maddie asked.
“Sure.” Asriel smiled and turned toward the door. Through the window, she saw Lana raise her hand slowly. “Lana, no!” Asriel cried.
