40. Lyric

40

LYRIC

T he new semester is off to a smooth start and I can't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. Things with the boys are going well. We've found a rhythm that works for us, balancing classes, time with Eli and our newly mended friendships. It's a fragile peace, but it's real. For the first time in what feels like forever, my life is finally settling down.

As I make my way to the library, the crisp winter air stings my cheeks, but it's a welcome sensation. It reminds me that I'm alive and moving forward. I push open the heavy door and step into the warm, quiet sanctuary of the library. The scents of old books and fresh coffee envelops me in a comforting cocoon.

I'm scanning the shelves for my assigned readings when I spot Madison out of the corner of my eye. She's flipping through a thick textbook, her face set in a familiar scowl. I hesitate, debating whether to approach her or not.

"Madison," I call softly, taking a step closer. Her head snaps up and our eyes meet. For a brief moment, I see a flicker of something—sadness, maybe? But it's quickly replaced by a cold, hard glare.

"Lyric," she responds curtly, her tone icy. She looks me up and down, then turns back to her book, effectively dismissing me. I stand there, stunned for a second, before turning away. The sting of her cold shoulder lingers, but I shake it off.

I don't know why she's acting this way, but I do know that we have unresolved business.

"Hey," I call again, reaching out to place a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I know things have been tense with us. I've been thinking it over and you were right. I should have told the boys about Eli. I wasn't being honest with them and it could have messed up our relationship worse. I'm sorry I was mad at you for telling them and I forgive you for doing it without telling me first."

Madison's shoulders relax slightly and she turns, her features softening. "I wanted them to know the truth," she says, casting her eyes downward. "You have a blind spot about them. They were hurting you, so you were retaliating by hurting them back."

"It's all over now," I assure her. "We had a long talk and everything came out in the open. We've been taking it slow, but I'm letting them become involved in Eli's life and things are better with us now. We've been dating."

Madison's face hardens at that. "You'd let them off the hook after what they did to you?" she asks, incredulity in her voice.

"I did shit to them too," I point out. "I could have walked away from the beginning, but I used them as much as they used me."

"You're pathetic," Madison spits out, anger in her eyes. I'm taken aback by this shift and I subconsciously take a physical step back as well. "You've always been so over the moon about them. It's disgusting."

"Hey, that's not fair," I snap. "I'm a grown adult. You may not agree with my choices, but they're mine to make."

"You don't even understand," Madison says, taking a step forward and coming toward me. "You have no idea how pissed I am that you always get their attention. Why should a fat, worthless, disgusting slut like you get to be with the Hudson boys, anyway?"

My eyes nearly bug out of my sockets. "What the hell, Madison?" I ask, my voice raising slightly. "You're so far out of line."

She steps toward me again. "You think I was friends with you because I liked you?" At my hurt expression, she scoffs. "Please. I used you to make myself look better. You're a fat, dumpy, frizzy-haired kid from the wrong side of town. Next to you, I always looked so much more glamorous. You were the designated ugly, fat friend," she taunts me.

Something inside me aches, my entire worldview shifting in seconds. Madison's revelations are making me sick to my stomach. "You only pretended to like me?" I ask, swallowing my tears.

"I'm tall, slender, blonde and pretty," Madison says, tossing a strand of hair over her shoulder as she towers over me. "Why would someone like me willingly associate with someone like you? It worked, too. Next to you, I was the blonde bombshell in high school and guys crawled out of the woodwork to ask me out."

An ugly look crosses her face. "But it didn't work on the Hudson boys. I don't know why, but whenever you were around, they were practically falling over themselves to be close to you. I thought it was fine, that you were just friends, but then they asked you out and I realized I was done being your friend."

She smirks. "So I hoped that if I could drive a wedge between you guys, I could swoop in and put a stop to that. I did everything I could to make sure that they never wanted to see you again by the time they were shipped off."

Tears sting my eyes. "You're horrible," I whisper, stepping back again. "You are a horrible human being, a horrible person."

Madison's smirk falters, and she steps forward so she's got me trapped against the bookshelves. "It didn't fucking work though. You managed to ensnare them again . I don't understand how someone like you keeps getting everything you want!"

"Because I'm not a psycho!" I yell back.

Several students around us shush us and we both glare at each other as I lower my voice. "You're crazy and mean, and that's why they never gave you the time of day."

"That's such bullshit ," Madison hisses through clenched teeth, slamming an arm into the shelf over my head and making me flinch. "You don't deserve them. You'd better watch your back because I'm going to do whatever it takes to make sure you don't win this time."

I duck under her arm, rushing out of the library as fast as I can. One of the student workers yells at me to slow down, but I have to get out of there, so I ignore him.

I don't stop until I'm all the way back to the frat house and I take deep breaths as I rush up the stairs and knock on Archer's room.

He and Zane are inside, working on studying, when they spot me. Archer jumps up, coming over to me immediately.

"What's going on?" he asks, his brows furrowed in concern.

I tremble, throwing myself at him and hugging him tightly. He strokes my back, holding me close as I spill the entire story, everything Madison told me in the library.

Zane tugs me into his lap as I finish the tale and he wraps his arms around me. Archer sits next to us on the floor and continues rubbing circles into my back.

Archer shakes his head. "Madison is nuts," he says. "You shouldn't worry about her. We weren't stupid enough to let her opinion influence us in high school and we aren't about to start now."

"Do you think she's going to do something?" I ask, looking up at them.

Zane shrugs. "I don't know, but if she tries anything, we're here to protect you."

At that moment, Levi comes back from class, looking almost as shaken up as I feel.

"What's going on?" Zane asks.

His expression is grim as he surveys us. "I just got into a confrontation with the Sigmas. Max Byers cornered me after class and told me that they're coming after us for reporting Cameron."

As he recounts what happened, my stomach drops and I can't help but worry about the safety for me and my child. Archer glances down, sensing my anxiety. "You shouldn't worry, Lyric," he says, his voice soft. "No one is going after you or Eli. Not if we can help it."

"I wouldn't even let them get close enough to try," Levi promises.

"It's not only the Sigmas we have to worry about," Zane says. Levi glances at him, and he sighs. "Madison threatened Lyric at the library."

He briefly explains what happened, how Madison revealed her true colors and Levi looks murderous. "She's such a skank," he mutters. "She was always trying to throw herself at us back then, but we ignored her. We should have put her in her place sooner. Then none of this shit would be happening."

"She was the reason we stopped talking," I tell them. "She did everything to break us up, and she succeeded once. What if she succeeds again?"

Archer growls. "Ain't gonna happen. We're prepared this time. We know she's gonna try something, so we're going to be ready for her."

Anxiety coils in my stomach, though, worried for myself, my son and the boys now. We've made some serious enemies and they seem determined to ruin our lives just as we're finally starting to come together.

"I promise you that I won't let anything happen," Archer murmurs, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. "You have our word that we'll protect you with everything we've got."

I can't help the shiver that runs down my spine, though, wondering if that will be enough to hold off the oncoming storm that seems to be brewing.

Leaning against Zane, I nod into his chest. "Okay. I'm going to trust you guys," I say. "I have faith that we can get through this, together."

Whatever Madison or the Sigma's throw at us, we can handle it. I wish I knew what was coming so I could be prepared.