Chapter Five: A Familiar Face

Riley walked down the road with Maddie, her mother had been reluctant but said that Riley could go out with Maddie. The reason Riley knew, was because Mother was throwing a party and she didn’t want her misfit daughter hanging around the house. Riley knew she must have been frowning because Maddie looked at her and asked what was wrong.

“Nothing” Riley said smiling bravely.

Everything, was what she thought.

Maddie shrugged it off and continued to talk about her life and how she had come to live in the town. Riley inwardly wished that Maddie had told her not to lie but, it wasn’t like she cared anyway. Riley chided herself

I shouldn’t pity myself, that's just selfish, she thought.

Riley and Maddie continued to walk together talking about many things until Maddie said something.

“So, do you like Josh”

Riley looked at Maddie and laughed, “I’ve only known him for..” She went off.

She remembered something about Josh that seemed familiar, something that she couldn’t pinpoint. Then a memory came back to her, a young boy, him. Black hair, and mysterious eyes. Another image intruded Riley’s mind. It was the boy, but older and he looked like.

“Josh!” Maddie exclaimed.

Riley looked behind her and saw Josh strolling down the sidewalk. Maddie looked back at Riley and smirked, Riley pouted. Josh joined the girls on there walk, the air was chilly but it was getting warmer. Maddie, again looked like a toddler on Christmas day. She started talking to Josh and we were all laughing at a joke she had just said when Maddie popped the question.

“So, Josh, do you like Riley~” she said with a smirk.

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Josh flushed “I- umm”

At that moment Mark appeared surrounded by a crowd of guys in basketball jerseys. The basketball team stopped when they reached us and one of the taller kids pointed at Riley and shouted.

“Look its the fox freak, watch out or she might bite you.”

Riley looked at the ground and looked embarrassed. Mark, looked uncomfortable and Maddie and Josh looked set off. Maddie went up to the tall kid, she had to look up at him.

“Listen here buster. Don’t talk about my friends like that.” she said, her voice sounded fierce, but her height was to disadvantage.

The boy only laughed, “What are you going to do shrimpie?”. Josh, who looked like he had been about to boil over, finally exploded.

“Listen buddy, you might want to check yourself right now.” Josh exclaimed, Riley, Maddie, and Mark looked at him in astonishment.

He was usually so calm and entertaining but now… A growl rose in Maddies throat as she looked back at the basketball player. Josh, who was taller than the basketball player, glared down at him.

The basketball player scoffed, but he did however, take two steps back from the group. “Let’s go guys they are a waste of time,” he said as he turned away from Josh’s glazing eyes.

Mark watched the basketball team leave, but he didn’t go with them. Then he turned to Josh “Wow what was that dude? You totally scared him.” he said.

Josh shrugged it off and looked at Riley who was still staring at the ground. Josh went over to her “You alright Ri?” he said.

Riley smiled a little bit at the nicknames and nodded. Raising her head she looked at the clock outside an Antique store across the street. Her face clouded over and she said she would have to go. “I’m already late for lunch, Mom will be mad,” she said.

Maddie, who had seen a glimpse of Riley’s life when she came over, nodded. Mark smiled, but Josh looked disappointed.

“Want me to walk you home?” he asked, Riley shook her head, based off of the way he had acted with the basketball player, he would blow up at her house.

Riley waved to her friends and disappeared in the crowded sidewalk. Riley walked down the dirt road leading to her house, she could be there faster if she was in her fox form. But she didn’t want to go home. The bitter wind nipped her skin and she shivered. The sun hung high in the sky, but clouds from the north indicated a storm. In a few moments, raindrops fell from the darkened sky. Riley looked up, letting the drops roll down her face. She loved the rain, it made her feel like the world was mourning with her. She stopped outside her two story house, then, she remembered the vision from earlier that day.

Riley smiled and whispered under her breath. “And after so long. Friends again. '' She looked up into the sky, just in time to see a hawk dive into the woods, beyond the house.