Chapter 49 – Introduction

Madelyn and Sarah stepped into the school building, the faint hum of fluorescent lights and the distant echo of footsteps creating an oddly still atmosphere. The hallways seemed wider and longer than Madelyn remembered, though she suspected it was more a trick of her nerves than reality. The building felt imposing, its familiarity now tinged with intimidation.

Luckily, the lack of students provided a small comfort. The halls were nearly empty, the usual morning chaos yet to begin. Madelyn clutched her lunch bag tightly, her other hand still loosely linked with Sarah’s.

At the main entrance, a well-dressed woman stood waiting for them. She exuded a sense of calm authority, her posture straight and her kind yet sharp eyes fixed on them as they approached. She offered a small smile, her neatly styled silver-streaked hair catching the morning light.

“Hello, Sarah,” she greeted warmly, her voice smooth and measured. Her gaze shifted to Madelyn, and the smile softened. “And you must be Madelyn. Welcome to Willowcrest High. I’m Mrs. Halstead, the principal.”

Madelyn swallowed her nerves and nodded politely. “Thank you,” she replied, her voice quiet but steady.

“It’s nice to meet you, Madelyn,” Mrs. Halstead said, extending a hand. Madelyn started to reach out but froze as she realized her other hand was still clasped tightly around Sarah’s. Her cheeks warmed, and she quickly let go, trying to ignore the knowing grin Sarah shot her.

Taking a breath, she accepted the principal’s handshake, which was firm but not overwhelming. “I’ve heard a lot about you from your parents,” Mrs. Halstead said kindly. “We’re glad to have you here.”

Sarah stepped in with a confident smile, giving Madelyn’s shoulder a supportive pat. “She’s awesome, Mrs. Halstead. You’ll see,” she said, her tone filled with her usual upbeat enthusiasm.

Mrs. Halstead chuckled softly. “I’m sure of it. Now, Madelyn, I understand that starting fresh in a new school can be daunting, especially under your unique circumstances. But rest assured, the other teachers and I are here to support you every step of the way, so don't be shy to seek one of us out if something or someone is bothering you.”

Madelyn offered a small smile, appreciating the principal’s direct yet understanding tone. “Thank you. That means a lot.”

“Good,” Mrs. Halstead replied. “Now, before the day begins, I’ll show you to your locker and your first class. Sarah, I assume you’ll be sticking with her for a bit?”

“Absolutely!” Sarah replied, grinning. “I’m not letting her get lost on her first day.”

“Excellent,” the principal said with a nod. “Let’s get started then, shall we?” She gestured for them to follow her down the hall.

As they walked, Mrs. Halstead explained some of the school’s policies, her tone professional yet approachable. Madelyn, already knowing the rules, still found herself listening intently, her nerves easing a little bit as the principal’s steady demeanor set a calming pace.

When they reached Madelyn’s locker, Mrs. Halstead handed her a small slip of paper. “Your combination is here. If you have any trouble, let one of the staff know.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Halstead,” Madelyn said softly but sincerely.

“You’re welcome, Madelyn,” the principal replied with a kind smile, her eyes warm. “Now, I’ll let you two get settled. If you need anything at all, my office is just down the main hallway.”

As Mrs. Halstead walked away, Sarah turned to Madelyn with a bright grin, giving her a gentle nudge on the shoulder. “See? Easy peasy,” she said, her tone light and encouraging. “You’ve got this.”

Madelyn managed a small smile, her nerves easing just a little. Sarah playfully swung her arm around Madelyn’s shoulders, adding, “And don’t worry, I’ll be your personal guide-slash-bodyguard. No one’s gonna mess with you today.” Her grin widened as she gave Madelyn’s shoulder a soft punch, her energy infectious.

“Thanks, Sarah,” Madelyn said, her voice soft but sincere. “It still feels... overwhelming. But you’re helping me a great deal.” She glanced down at her hands, fidgeting slightly. “Also, I really don’t like having my ears and tail hidden. It makes me feel... weird and restricted.”

Sarah tilted her head, her expression curious and concerned. “Restricted? Like, uncomfortable? Or... like, trapped?”

Madelyn hesitated, trying to put her feelings into words. “Both, I guess,” she admitted. “It’s like... they’re part of me, you know? Hiding them feels wrong. But at the same time, I know I have to. It’s just... hard.”

Sarah nodded thoughtfully, her arm still around Madelyn’s shoulder. “That makes sense. I mean, it’d be like someone telling me I can’t talk with my hands anymore. It’s such a natural part of who I am—I’d feel weird without it.”

Madelyn chuckled lightly at Sarah’s comparison. “Exactly. It’s like I’m pretending to be someone else, even though I’m still me.”

“Hey,” Sarah said, her voice filled with her usual enthusiasm. “You’re still totally you, Maddy. Ears, no ears, tail or not—you’re Madelyn Fae Roth, and anyone who can’t see how amazing you are doesn’t deserve your time.”

Madelyn smiled, the warmth of Sarah’s words easing some of her tension. “Thanks, Sarah. I needed to hear that.”

“Anytime.” Sarah gave her a grin before gesturing to the hallway ahead. “Now, let’s find your first class. I’m sticking with you until you’re totally comfortable. And if anyone gives you trouble, they’ll have to deal with me.”

Madelyn laughed, her nerves less heavy now. “Deal.”

As they walked down the hallway together, the building seemed a little less intimidating, and the day ahead didn’t feel quite so overwhelming. Having Sarah by her side made all the difference.

They walked into the classroom, leaving the quiet murmur of early-arriving students in the halls. Their first hour was a mentor class, a time to settle into the day and handle any announcements or questions. For Madelyn, it also meant introducing herself to her new classmates.

Their teacher, a tall man with salt-and-pepper hair and a kind but authoritative demeanor, was already at his desk, sorting through a pile of papers. He looked up as they entered, his expression lighting up when he saw Sarah and Madelyn.

“Ah, Sarah! And you must be Madelyn,” the teacher said warmly, stepping out from behind his desk. His presence was calming, with an air of approachability that immediately put Madelyn a little more at ease. “Welcome to our class. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. I'm Mr. Thatcher.”

Madelyn smiled shyly, feeling her nerves bubble up again. “Thank you, Mr. Thatcher.”

“Go ahead and take a seat,” he said, gesturing toward the desks. “We’ll start in just a minute.”

Sarah nudged her gently, guiding her toward a pair of empty seats near the middle of the room. “Let’s sit here,” she whispered. “You’ll have the perfect spot to see everything and everyone.”

Madelyn nodded, grateful for Sarah’s support, and slid into her chair. As the room filled with more students, she couldn’t help but notice a few curious glances thrown her way. She focused on the table in front of her and taking calming breaths, reminding herself of what Sarah had said earlier.

Once the bell rang, Mr. Thatcher clapped his hands lightly to get everyone’s attention. “Good morning, everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend. Before we dive into announcements, I need to address a change regarding one of our students.”

The chatter in the room died down as the class focused on him. “As some of you may know, Benjamin Roth won’t be joining us for the remainder of the year due to personal circumstances,” he explained, his tone calm and understanding. “However, his twin sister, Madelyn, has just moved here and will be joining us instead.”

Madelyn’s heart pounded as Mr. Thatcher gestured toward her. Her cheeks burned as a few murmurs rippled through the room.

A boy in the second row furrowed his brow. “Wait, Benjamin has a twin?”

Madelyn stiffened, her stomach twisting as snippets of murmured conversations reached her ears. Curious gazes and half-hidden whispers swirled around her, making her palms clammy. She glanced nervously at Mr. Thatcher, who offered her an encouraging nod.

Slowly, she rose from her seat, her fingers smoothing the fabric of her shirt as if to ground herself. Her cheeks flushed, and the heat crept up to her now human looking ears. “Um, hi,” she began, her voice soft and shaky. “I- I’m M- Madelyn. I just moved here, and I’m looking forward to getting to know all of you...”

Her words faltered as a wave of anxiety gripped her. Her amber eyes scanned the room, catching a few polite smiles and curious gazes, but the pressure of so many eyes on her made her throat tighten. She froze, unsure if she could finish. Her hands clenched slightly at her sides, as she stared at the floor.

From within the veil of her fiery red hair, Lyra’s voice whispered softly, her tone gentle and encouraging. “You’re doing great, Mads. Just take a deep breath. You’ve got this.”

The reassuring words steadied her, and Madelyn exhaled quietly, summoning the courage to lift her gaze. “And, um… I hope we can all be friends,” she added, her voice gaining a hint of strength.

A few more friendly murmurs and smiles greeted her, and Mr. Thatcher nodded approvingly. “Thank you, Madelyn. I’m sure you’ll fit in just fine.” Relieved, Madelyn sank back into her seat, her heart still racing but a small flicker of pride warming her chest. Lyra’s faint, almost imperceptible giggle tickled her ear, and Madelyn couldn’t help but smile to herself.

Sarah leaned over and whispered, “You did great, Maddy.”

As Madelyn scanned the room, her eyes landed on a familiar face—Lillian. She was sitting a few rows ahead, her warm smile and gentle wave instantly calming Madelyn’s nerves even more. Madelyn smiled back, grateful for the friendly gesture.

A bit further across the room, she spotted David and James. David gave her a subtle wave, his usual calm demeanor reassuring, while James, ever the jokester, offered her a playful salute with a wide grin. She couldn’t help but smile back at them, their presence grounding her further.

Mr. Thatcher continued with the morning announcements, going over school updates and reminders. His steady voice filled the room as he talked about upcoming events and deadlines. Madelyn let her gaze wander back to Sarah, who gave her a reassuring thumbs-up.

After the announcements, Mr. Thatcher clapped his hands lightly. “Alright, everyone, you’ve got the rest of this period to catch up on homework or chat quietly. Use the time wisely.”

The room quickly buzzed with the sound of quiet conversations and the shuffle of papers. Sarah leaned toward Madelyn, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “See? Not so bad, right? And look, you’ve got the whole crew here to back you up.”

Madelyn nodded, her tail—hidden with her Human Disguise—giving an imaginary flick of relief. “Yeah, it’s not as scary as I thought,” she admitted softly.

That thought didn’t last long as a few of her classmates started to approach her desk, their curious expressions making Madelyn’s pulse quicken. Sarah gave her an encouraging smile, leaning back slightly to let her handle the attention.

“Hey, you’re Madelyn, right?” a girl with short, curly hair asked, her tone friendly but inquisitive. “So you're Benjamin’s sister? I didn’t even know he had a twin.”

Madelyn smiled nervously, her hands gripping the edge of her desk. “Yeah, that’s me,” she said, her voice steady despite the butterflies in her stomach. “It’s kind of a long story, but I’ve just started living here recently.”

Another boy, leaning against the desk next to hers, chimed in. “That’s pretty cool. So, are you gonna be around for the whole year, or is this just temporary?”

“Oh, uh, yeah, I’ll be here for the rest of the year,” Madelyn replied, her cheeks warming as she tried to keep her tone light. “I’m looking forward to it.”

More students began to gather around, their curiosity evident as they exchanged glances. “So, what’s it like being a twin?” one girl asked, her head tilting slightly. “Do you guys have a lot in common?”

Madelyn hesitated for a moment, her heart skipping a beat, but she managed to keep her voice calm. “Uh, not really,” she said with a small, careful smile. “We’re pretty different, honestly. He takes after a… different side of the family.”

“Still, you’ve both got the red hair,” someone pointed out, gesturing to her fiery locks. “That’s kind of cool. Is it natural?”

Madelyn let out a nervous laugh, running a hand through her hair. “Yeah, it is. I guess it’s one thing we both have in common,” she said softly, feeling the weight of their curious gazes but relieved that the questions were shifting away from anything too personal.

Through it all, Sarah stayed nearby, her reassuring presence keeping Madelyn grounded. When the questions kept coming, Sarah finally stepped in with a playful grin. “Alright, alright, give her some space,” she said, waving her hands dramatically. “Maddy’s cool, but she’s not a celebrity.”

The group chuckled, and a few of them backed off, though they still lingered nearby, chatting among themselves. Madelyn shot Sarah a grateful look, and Sarah winked in return.

“Thanks,” Madelyn whispered.

“No problem,” Sarah whispered back. “You’re handling it like a pro.”