Chapter 68 – Friends and Butterflies

The morning air was crisp, the sun just beginning to climb into the sky as Madelyn and Sarah walked side by side down the quiet street toward school. Madelyn was in her human form, her fiery red hair tied back in a neat ponytail, but her fox ears and tail were carefully hidden. She had mastered her Human Disguise skill well enough to feel a bit more comfortable in public, though the occasional twitch of her phantom tail reminded her of the effort it took to keep her emotions in check.

Their hands were intertwined, fingers laced together as they walked. Madelyn’s cheeks were lightly flushed, partly from the cool air but mostly from Sarah’s teasing.

“So,” Sarah said, her voice carrying a mischievous lilt, “what was it like sneaking into my room last night?”

Madelyn’s amber eyes widened, and she turned to Sarah with a look of pure indignation. “What?! I didn’t sneak into your room! Lyra already told you it was her idea!”

Sarah grinned, clearly enjoying herself. “Sure, sure,” she said, drawing out the words as if she didn’t quite believe her. “But you didn’t try to leave, did you?”

Madelyn’s face turned a deeper shade of red. “I was a fox!” she protested, her voice slightly higher than usual. “What was I supposed to do? Open the door and walk out on all fours?”

Sarah burst out laughing, her green eyes sparkling with amusement. “Relax, Maddy, I’m just teasing you. You make it way too easy.”

Madelyn huffed, looking away, but her lips betrayed her with a small, reluctant smile. “You’re relentless, you know that?”

“And you’re irresistible,” Sarah shot back, giving her hand a playful squeeze. “Seriously, though, your parents seemed to really like your fox form too.”

Madelyn blinked, her expression softening. “They did?”

“Oh, yeah,” Sarah said with a smirk. “Especially your mom. I don’t think she wanted you to go to school today. She probably would’ve kept you at home just to pet your fur all day.”

Madelyn groaned, covering her face with her free hand. “I don’t even want to think about that,” she muttered. “It’s embarrassing enough that she kept stroking my head, back and tail before we left.”

Sarah laughed again, her voice light and carefree. “Well, can you blame her? You’re super soft. If I had a fox Maddy at home, I wouldn’t let you go to school either.”

Madelyn peeked at Sarah from behind her fingers, her amber eyes narrowing. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

“Absolutely,” Sarah said with no hesitation, her grin widening. “It’s my job as your girlfriend, you know. Teasing you is, like, half the fun.”

Madelyn rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth lifted into a shy smile. Despite Sarah’s relentless teasing, she couldn’t deny how much she loved these moments—walking hand in hand, the playful banter, the way Sarah made her feel completely at ease.

As they approached the school gates, the buzz of students arriving filled the air. Madelyn’s grip on Sarah’s hand tightened slightly, a flicker of nervousness crossing her face. Sarah noticed immediately and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

“Hey,” Sarah said softly, leaning closer. “Don’t worry. You’ve got this. And if anyone gives you a hard time, I’ll take care of it.”

Madelyn nodded, her confidence bolstered by Sarah’s words. “Thanks, Sarah.”

“Anytime,” Sarah replied with a wink. “Now let’s get inside before your mom shows up to try and take you home again.”

Madelyn groaned, but she couldn’t help but laugh as they walked through the gates together, ready to face whatever the day had in store.

As they approached the school, the bustling energy of the morning was already in full swing. Students were scattered across the courtyard, chatting, laughing, and gearing up for the day. Madelyn’s nerves fluttered in her chest as her gaze scanned the crowd, searching for their friends.

She tightened her grip on Sarah’s hand. “Do you think they’ll… you know, notice?” she whispered, her voice low and a little shaky.

Sarah glanced at her with a soft smile, leaning in slightly. “Maddy, they’re our friends. They’re going to be cool with it,” she reassured her. “And if they’re not, I’ll set them straight.”

Madelyn gave a small nod, though her nerves didn’t entirely subside. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Sarah’s words; it was just that so much had changed so quickly, and she wasn’t sure how everyone would react.

The moment they reached the entrance, she spotted Lillian standing by the doors. Lillian noticed them almost instantly, her warm smile lighting up her face as she waved. “Hey, you two!” she called out, her voice carrying over the noise of the courtyard.

Madelyn smiled shyly, her cheeks tinged pink as Lillian’s eyes flicked briefly to their intertwined hands. If Lillian had any questions, she didn’t voice them. Her expression was nothing but supportive.

“Morning!” Sarah replied brightly, giving Lillian a casual wave.

Before they could exchange more pleasantries, James’s voice cut through the air, loud and unmistakably teasing. “Second day in a row you’re walking hand in hand, huh?” he called out, a big grin spreading across his face as he approached. His eyes sparkled with playful curiosity, and he shot Sarah a knowing look. “You’ve got some explaining to do, Sarah.”

Madelyn’s blush deepened, and she instinctively looked away, though she didn’t let go of Sarah’s hand. Sarah, on the other hand, was completely unfazed. “What can I say?” she replied with a smirk. “Maddy here’s got a hard time resisting my charm.”

“Ooh, so it’s serious?” James teased, his grin growing even wider as he leaned in slightly, clearly enjoying the moment. His voice carried just enough mock drama to make Madelyn want to crawl under a rock.

Sarah didn’t miss a beat, tossing her golden hair over her shoulder with exaggerated flair. “What, of course it’s serious,” she said, her tone playful but firm. “Maddy deserves nothing less than the best, and that’s me.”

Madelyn’s cheeks burned, her amber eyes darting to Lillian, who was stifling a laugh behind her hand. “Sarah!” she hissed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sarah just grinned down at her, completely unfazed. “What? Am I wrong?”

James let out a loud, theatrical sigh, shaking his head. “You’re so confident, it’s actually unfair. How am I supposed to compete with this?”

“You’re not,” Sarah quipped, shooting him a cheeky grin. “Give up now, James. It’s better for your ego.”

Lillian finally chimed in, her laughter light and genuine. “Don’t mind James, Maddy,” she said, her tone warm. “He’s just jealous he doesn’t have someone to hold hands with on the way to school.”

“Exactly,” James said, clutching his chest dramatically. “Where’s my soulmate? My one true love?”

Sarah smirked, clearly enjoying James’s theatrics. “They’re probably running away after seeing how you act,” she said, her tone dripping with mock pity.

James gasped, clutching his chest for the second time as if he’d been mortally wounded. “You wound me, Sarah,” he said with a dramatic flair, his smirk betraying the act. “I am a perfect gentleman. The perfect soulmate, if I do say so myself.”

“Sure, James,” Lillian said, rolling her eyes fondly. “Keep telling yourself that.”

Even David, who had remained quiet up until now, let out a low chuckle. “If you’re the perfect soulmate, James, maybe the universe is just saving you for someone truly special.”

James pointed at David, a triumphant grin lighting up his face. “Thank you, David. Finally, someone with sense.”

The group burst into laughter, even Madelyn relaxing enough to let out a quiet giggle. The teasing wasn’t malicious; it was easy and familiar, the kind of banter that made her feel like she truly belonged.

“Come on,” Sarah said, giving Madelyn’s hand a gentle squeeze. “We’d better get inside before James starts composing love sonnets to his imaginary soulmate.”

“I might just do that!” James called after them, but he followed, grinning all the way.

As they walked through the school doors, Madelyn felt a warmth settle in her chest. Sarah’s hand in hers, the laughter of her friends surrounding her—it was all so normal, so comforting.

The group made their way to their mentor class, chatting and laughing as they navigated the familiar hallways. Madelyn stuck close to Sarah, her nerves fading with every joke and casual comment from their friends. By the time the class ended, she felt much more at ease, the warmth of Sarah’s presence grounding her.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of mentor period, the students began to scatter, heading to their next classes. Sarah and Madelyn lingered near their desks, waiting for the room to clear out before making their way to their English class.

“Ready for Mrs. Carter’s class?” Sarah asked, her green eyes sparkling with amusement as she slung her bag over her shoulder.

“Yeah,” Madelyn replied, a hint of excitement in her voice. “I have some new ideas for the story I’m writing. I’m kind of nervous about sharing them, though.”

Sarah grinned, nudging her lightly as they walked. “I’m sure Mrs. Carter will love it, Maddy. You’re a great writer—you just have to believe in yourself a little more.”

Madelyn smiled shyly, feeling a small boost of confidence from Sarah’s encouragement. As they stepped into the English classroom, the familiar scent of books and markers greeted them. They settled into their usual seats, and Madelyn got to work, jotting down notes and fleshing out her ideas for her story.

The class passed quickly, with Mrs. Carter’s sharp but encouraging feedback leaving Madelyn feeling even more motivated. Before long, the bell rang, signaling the end of English, and Sarah led the way to their next destination: Madelyn’s first Science class since her transformation.

“Yeah,” Madelyn replied, a hint of excitement in her voice. “I have some new ideas for the story I’m writing. I’m kind of nervous about sharing them, though.”

Sarah grinned, nudging her lightly as they walked. “I’m sure Mrs. Carter will love it, Maddy. You’re a great writer—you just have to believe in yourself a little more.”

Madelyn smiled shyly, feeling a small boost of confidence from Sarah’s encouragement. As they stepped into the English classroom, the familiar scent of books and markers greeted them. They settled into their usual seats, and Madelyn got to work, jotting down notes and fleshing out her ideas for her story.

The class passed quickly, with Mrs. Carter’s sharp but encouraging feedback leaving Madelyn feeling even more motivated. Before long, the bell rang, signaling the end of English, and Sarah led the way to their next destination: Madelyn’s first Science class since her transformation.

“Finally, Science,” Sarah said with a grin as they hurried toward the Science wing. “Way better than the other classes, in my opinion. Mr. Calloway is awesome.”

Madelyn nodded, her lips twitching into a small smile despite the nervous flutter in her chest. “Yeah,” she murmured. “I just hope I’m not making a fool of myself.”

“You’ll be fine,” Sarah reassured her, giving her hand a quick squeeze before they entered.

The classroom was bustling with students settling into their seats, and as the door clicked shut behind them, the teacher—a tall man with sandy brown hair and a friendly demeanor—looked up from his desk. His warm smile widened when he spotted Sarah.

“Sarah,” he said, his voice welcoming, “fashionably late as usual. And you’ve brought our newest student, I see.”

Madelyn flushed slightly under his friendly gaze, feeling the eyes of the other students on her.

“This is Madelyn,” Sarah said with a grin, motioning toward her. “She’s joining us from today.”

Mr. Calloway stepped forward, extending a hand. “Welcome, Madelyn. I’m Mr. Calloway. It’s great to have you with us.”

Madelyn shook his hand, managing a shy smile. “Thank you,” she said. “I’m excited to be here.”

“Well, you’re in good hands with Sarah,” Mr. Calloway said with a wink. “She’s one of my star students—when she’s not running late, of course.”

Sarah laughed, playfully rolling her eyes as she led Madelyn to a pair of empty seats near the middle of the room. Once they were settled, Mr. Calloway clapped his hands together, a spark of excitement in his tone. “Alright, everyone, let’s get started. Today, we’re diving into electricity and circuits. Get ready to light up some bulbs—literally.”

Madelyn felt a flicker of curiosity as Mr. Calloway walked to the front of the room and gestured toward a collection of supplies on a table: batteries, wires, small light bulbs, and other electrical components. “We’re going to be building simple circuits today,” he continued, “so pair up and let’s see if you can get your bulbs to shine.”

Sarah leaned over to Madelyn with a grin. “This is going to be fun,” she whispered. “Trust me.”

Madelyn nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. She couldn’t deny that Mr. Calloway’s enthusiasm was infectious.

The class turned out to be a lot of fun, especially with Sarah by her side. They worked together seamlessly, with Sarah cracking jokes and Madelyn carefully following the steps to build their circuit. By the end of the period, their light bulb glowed brightly, and Madelyn felt a sense of accomplishment she hadn’t expected.

“See?” Sarah said as they left the classroom, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “Science isn’t so bad when you’ve got a genius lab partner like me.”

Madelyn rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. “You just like being the boss,” she teased.

“True,” Sarah admitted with a wink. “But I think we made a pretty good team.”

They made their way to the cafeteria, the hum of voices and clinking trays growing louder as they entered the bustling room. Spotting their friends at their usual table, they walked over, sliding into the open seats.

James looked up from his tray, a mischievous grin already spreading across his face. “Ah, there they are,” he said dramatically, setting his fork down. “So, how’s the day going for the newlyweds?”

Madelyn’s cheeks immediately flushed, and she glanced down at the ground, trying to avoid his teasing gaze. “We’re not—” she began, but Sarah cut her off with an exaggerated sigh.

“It’s going awesome,” Sarah declared dramatically, leaning closer to James with a mock-serious expression. “And now it’s time for us to feed each other small pieces of food while gazing lovingly into each other’s eyes.”

Madelyn’s head snapped up, her cheeks blazing. “Sarah!” she squeaked, her amber eyes wide with mortification.

James burst out laughing, clapping his hands together as if he’d just witnessed the best performance of his life. “Oh, please do,” he said, grinning. “This I’ve gotta see.”

Lillian shook her head, though she couldn’t hide her amused smile. “Maddy, you really should take their comments less seriously,” Lillian said gently, her smile reassuring. “There’s no need to be embarrassed. We’re just teasing because we love you.”

“Yeah,” Sarah said, bumping Madelyn’s shoulder playfully, her grin teasing but affectionate. “Though, you being embarrassed is really cute.”

Madelyn rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t suppress the small smile tugging at her lips. They were right—there wasn’t any need to take it so seriously. Still, Sarah’s casual compliments always managed to send a flutter through her chest.

Before she could respond, a familiar voice interrupted their conversation. “Hey, guys,” Kim said, approaching the table with a tray in hand. Her dark-rimmed glasses caught the light as she adjusted them nervously. “Mind if I sit with you again?”

“Yeah, sure,” James said, gesturing to the empty seat beside him. “Pull up a chair, Kim.”

Kim smiled, setting her tray down as she took the seat. “Thanks. You guys are way more fun than the table I used to sit at.”

“Probably because you’re sitting at the table where I'm at,” James said with a mock bow, earning a laugh from Lillian and a smirk from David.

“Thanks,” Kim said, flashing a grateful smile as she settled into her seat. She picked up a fry from her tray but paused when Sarah leaned forward, an expectant grin on her face.

“You got any new conspiracies for us, Kim?” Sarah asked, her tone teasing but curious.

“Oh, yeah!” Kim’s eyes lit up as she reached into her bag for her phone. “Did any of you watch the news this morning?”

The group collectively shook their heads, all murmuring variations of “no.”

“Well, it’s really crazy,” Kim said, her voice lowering as if she were about to reveal a secret. “Last night, the weather did something completely unreal. It changed super fast—almost storm-level winds—and then, out of nowhere, it calmed down almost instantly.”

Madelyn paused mid-bite, her hand faltering as a strange, uneasy feeling settled in her chest. She couldn’t explain it, but something about Kim’s words tugged at her, like a faint thread of recognition she couldn’t quite place. Her stomach twisted, not in fear exactly, but in anticipation, as if her body knew something her mind didn’t.

Kim continued, oblivious to Madelyn’s reaction. “But here’s the thing—they’re not telling you the full story. When the weather calmed down, people all over the city reported seeing these… blue things floating in the air. Look, I’ve got a video.”

She tapped on her phone, pulling up a low-quality clip that she eagerly showed the group. The footage was shaky, taken from what looked like a phone camera pointed out of a window. Despite the resolution, faint glowing shapes were visible in the air, drifting lazily like embers or delicate insects.

“They look like butterflies,” Sarah commented, tilting her head as she studied the screen.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking too!” Kim said excitedly. “Like glowing, ethereal butterflies or something. Isn’t it wild? No one knows what they are or where they came from. And get this—they only stayed for a couple of minutes before disappearing completely! People are already saying it’s some kind of government experiment.”

James squinted at the screen, leaning closer. “Or maybe just bad camera quality,” he said with a smirk, earning a glare from Kim.

“It’s not,” Kim said firmly, her tone defensive as she crossed her arms. “I filmed it myself.”

James raised an eyebrow, his grin softening into something more curious. “Wait, you saw these things in person?”

Kim nodded enthusiastically, her glasses slipping slightly down her nose as she gestured animatedly. “Yeah, last night! It was so weird. I was looking out my window after the storm, and there they were—these glowing blue shapes, just floating around. They weren’t like anything I’ve ever seen before.”