Madison's POV

A few of us had decided to skip school today and instead head to the Lake and have some fun. Lisa was friends with a few of Amy Miller’s crowd. They were the other popular group at Eastwell and there was a lot of crossover in relationships and friendships between us.

I wasn’t a fan of Amy, she just seemed like a cocky bitch pretending to be nice and treated like a princess by guys who just wanted to fuck her. Besides, she lived with Clay and often tried to involve him in social activities. That bastard deserved to be alone or even die.

Well, as Lisa and I arrive, there was no sight of Amy and even better no sight of Cooper.

We walk over to James, Mark and some of our other friends.

I nudge Lisa and gesture in James direction.

“James is looking good today,” I whisper in her ear. “You better control that drool, sister.”

She shoves me, turns red and starts trying to subtly ogle James. It wasn’t subtle at all.

It was true though, James had really started to fill out these last few years since he started working in the Summer with his dad. He was more lean than muscled, which is why I preferred Mark.

Mark was a pure muscled machine. Ever since Cooper had got the jump on him, he had been hitting the gym hard. He was hot, seriously hot. His blonde hair, with dark blue eyes and dimples, made the package complete. We had been kind of dating for a few months, though we hadn’t actually discussed what was exactly going on. We had both seen other people during that time, so our thing was more casual. Honestly, I didn’t know how to describe it, but seeing a topless Mark jump into the lake did make my heart flutter a bit.

Lisa and I continued walking over towards James and said our greetings. Mark came over soon after, and with a devilish grin slid his arm around my shoulders. I couldn’t help but control the smile that immediately broke out onto my face.

“Hey Madd’s,” he said. “How was yesterday with the douche? You missed out some fun, we went bowling.”

“Ughh, don’t even start with that cunt. He had the audacity to try and act normal, even friendly with me. When I submitted my part of the project, I noticed he hadn’t even done his section.”

“What a fucking wanker. So you guys didn’t finish the work either? Mr.Tanner is gonna kill us.” Lisa gave a toothy grin.

“Wait. What happened with you and James study sessions?” I asked, quirking an eyebrow at my best friend. Her and James were partnered on the same project as me and the douche Cooper and had often forgone social activities in lieu of completing their project.

Lisa just eyed James who gave her a glance back. They both let out some nervous laughter and that’s when I knew. She didn’t tell me that she had hooked up with James! Ughh it was so obvious now that I thought about it. Mark just gave James a high five and a smile.

Circumstance may have initially brought us together, but friendship kept us tight. Our bond was strong and growing stronger by the day. We had first met when we were five, our parents were associates, so we often met up whilst they had met or the such. Clay was with us, then, before he had shown his true colors and what a despicable piece of human trash he was. But that incident only made our friendship stronger.

“Annnd….now that’s covered I think it’s about time someone else got wet,” Mark said, giving my body a quick up and down.

That fucker better not tries it, the lake was freezing in the crisp cold air as winter started to fall upon Haven. I was just about to say something when he suddenly lunged at Lisa and tried to grab her. Lisa started running away, giggling like a two-year-old.

“Don’t you fucking dare, Mark!” She cried out, loudly.

I’d bet that the residents on the other side of the lake could hear the girl screeching as she scampered away from Mark.

“Don’t be such a tightass, Lisa!” Mark called out in reply

I began to engage James in some small talk, discussing the weather, some headlines, and our favorite band, The Legacy. James was the only other fan of the group that I knew of, which combined intricate choreography, powerful instrumentals, and stable and smooth vocals.

It was then that some of the other attendees to the lake party started making a commotion. Amy had arrived, smiling as usual. She made me sick, pretending to be nice all the time. No one could see her real colors, how fake she really was. I had to hand it to the girl, she was tremendously good at acting.

My heart sank as I saw she had a companion. Clay Cooper strolled a few steps behind Amy as they walked towards a group of their friends. I say their friends, but Clay didn’t have any friends, not anymore.

James and I both watched the commotion as Mark and Lisa both came over to join us. We watched the group, not with interest, but more with anger. Even after three years, it had not faded. I had never thought hate was possible before, nor could it burn with such intensity, but Clay had proved me wrong.

Clay had suddenly broken off from the main group after being crushed into a large hug by Ben. Ben was an okay guy in my books, the only downside to the gentle giant was the company he kept. Clay had approached a girl called Claire, I didn’t know her very well but she was rather pretty.

It was unusual to see Clay initiate interactions with a human being, so I must admit I was shocked. The others were also showing a similar expression to mine.

“That fucking moron. What’s he doing here?” Mark spat.

Clay Cooper was a sore spot for all of us, but it seemed to affect Mark the most.

“Following his master like the good dog he is?” Lisa answered with a rhetoric question.

“Well, whatever. Let’s not have him ruin everything.” James said, trying to change the mood.

“Come, Lisa, let’s go for a walk.”

Lisa blushed at his grin and the wink that followed but hesitated to look back at me and Mark. I gestured for her to go and she did.

“Seriously though, who thought the cunt would skip? He’s never missed a day of school in his life.” Mark said, his voice was still filled with disdain but he had reached to hold my hand and we instead turned to watch the two lovebirds walk off.

“Took them long enough,” I said, finally breaking what was growing into an awkward silence.

“Yeah,” Mark said softly.

I was about to say more when I heard the sounds of approaching footsteps.

Clay and Claire were walking hand-in-hand towards the lakefront - and us - in swimsuits.

Although the guy was a despicable piece of shit, I must admit my eyes did wander up and down a little bit, he had turned out well considering his scrawny self from a few years prior. He wasn’t as well built as Mark or James but was still quite easy on the eye.

He marched straight towards us and gave an easy smile.

“Hey, guy’s” Clay said simply. “How are you doing?”

Apart from yesterday, that was the first time he had spoken with us in years, and we were both quite shocked at the audacity he had shown by approaching us, people who hated him. In the corner of my eye, I noticed Lisa and James both returning with quick strides.

Mark suddenly shot forward, getting into Clay’s face.

“WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK, COOPER!” Mark screamed.

He was extremely angry, hate was exuding from his every pore, more than I thought was possible.

“Woah, calm down. I always knew you were a bit of a girl but didn’t realize you had periods too.”

SMACK!

Mark had just punched Cooper!

I didn’t know what to do, I was frozen, just standing there and watching the scene unfold in front of me.

Clair tried to drag Clay, who had stumbled a few steps back, away from Mark but he launched another attack. Mark tripped however and his blow was now aimed at Claire, I thought it was going to land for sure but Clay suddenly twisted Claire around and took the blow to the back of the head.

He fell hard on the sandy beach and lay there unmoving for a brief moment.

I was worried for a moment, the back of the head was a dangerous place to be hit, and I must admit I was pissed at Mark for nearly hitting Claire who was now sobbing on the floor beside Clay. He could have seriously hurt her, and he may have seriously hurt him.

Ben was now arguing loudly with Mark, who James was now restraining but I couldn’t hear a single word. I just stared at the fallen figure with concern and was about to head over to check on him before he rose to his feet.

Don’t get me wrong, I didn't like him. I was sure I hated him. But I… I was still worried for him. I don’t know if it was because he was an old friend, someone who used to be family or whether I’d feel this way about anyone.

Clay turned and I shivered at the Icy smile on his face.

“Clay, you good?” Amy asked, still consoling Claire.

“I’m good, very good.” Clay replied simply, still smiling.

Something in his eyes told me what he was about to do, but I still stood frozen as it played out. Amy also must have seen, as she rose and tried to grab him but he managed to dash past. Ben also tried to head him off, but Clay swiveled past and went bowling into the still restrained Mark. The tackle knocked the three to the floor, with James being pushed back through momentum.

I watched still frozen and unsure of how I was feeling as Clay pummeled Mark in the face.

“DON’T. FUCK. WITH. ME. TODAY.” He shouted each word as another punch landed.

Ben was rushing at him, but Clay simply stood up, held his hands in the air and walked away.

I was confused and dazed. I didn’t know what was going on, it had all happened so suddenly.

Ben suddenly pulled Mark upwards from the floor and started shouting in his face.

“You shit. His parents died. THEY DIED. And yet you pick this day, of all day’s to start some shit. You deserved what you got, and you’ll know it everytime you look in the mirror.”

Clay’s parents were dead? That sucks. That suck’s a lot. I always liked his Mum, who would always get us treats and was very kind to me. Sadness filled my chest, but I wasn’t going to get purely upset over the death of people I hadn't seen in years or ever knew well, right? Was it sadness on Clay’s behalf?

I looked at Mark, his battered face repulsed me for some reason, I couldn’t stand to even face him. It was funny really, it was. Somehow I could bear to look at Cooper, but not Mark. The day prior the reverse was true.

With those words said, Ben dropped Mark onto his feet and went over to speak with Amy, Claire and a few of their friends, who it seemed had decided to leave. Some of our friends decided to go with them, after witnessing Mark’s action and hearing about Clay’s parents but the rest began to gather around.

Mark tried to meet my eye, but I looked away, towards where Cooper was now passing over the verge of the ridge around the lake. I don’t know why, but I jogged after him. I was about to call his name as I neared when he started to sob. I remained silent and watched him walk away, my mind a mess of conflicting thoughts.