Armed with French fries,hotdogs and sodas in their arms, Madison and her entourage stood before me, and it felt like reality was breaking.

"Or is it taken?" Madison asked me. "Yeah, I mean. . .No." I said and swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat.

Madison's friends, Stacey, Phoebe and Miley sat down facing me and Madison herself sat down beside me.

I couldn't believe this was happening.

Phoebe is Madison's closest friend, she was a short dark girl and was really smart. I actually looked up to her because, not to brag or anything, she was the only person in high school that was smarter than me. I still didn't understand why Phoebe and Madison were this close, they were an unlikely pair. Madison was the popular girl and her name was in everyone's lips and Phoebe was just the little shy girl in class.

Madison knew Stacey from the cheerleading squad, she was pretty cute and had red hair. Plot twist, Stacey is dating Frederick.

Yes, you read that correctly. She's Frederick's girlfriend.

Miley on the other hand, was a girl who was obsessed with the fashion and entertainment world, she's the head editor at the school paper the "Stanley Falls High Sundial".

"You know this is the first time I've seen you here, Chad," Stacey said.

"Yeah, she's right." said Madison popping a French fry into her mouth.

"Uh," I begin. "I'm actually supposed to start working here this Saturday."

"Really," Phoebe sent me a shy smile. "That's kind of nice."

"Yeah," I say realising that I was loosing my cool. I was thinking of plenty ways where I could goof this up. This was a golden opportunity to ask Madison out.

"Maybe when you start working," Miley was saying. "You could slip us extra snacks or something." She shrugged.

They broke into laughter. I let out an uneasy laugh. I wasn't sure if I would actually do that though, I didn't want to lose my job. But for Madison. . .fuck I'd do that.

"And. . ." Madison said twirling a strand of her hair and looking at me. "You'd look cute in a Bernie's Diner uniform."

I think the cells in my heart all shut down at the same time.

"Yeah," I said and decided to take a leap. "Can I have your number?"

Madison raised an eyebrow." What?"

I realised that she was confused, the Stanley Falls resident Nerd had asked for her number.

"Oh, I'm sorry." I say shaking my head. I am such an idiot. "Never mind."

"It's okay," Madison said. "I could give you my number if you still want it. I mean I have all the guys in our class numbers. . .except you"

My heart sunk at the realisation that Madison had all the guys numbers. . .even fucking Jason.

I force a smile. "Sure." I give her my phone and she typed in her number.

"Aren't you going to ask for ours?" Miley says after Madison hands me my phone.

"Uh. . .yeah, why not?" I say and they all punch in their phone numbers on my phone.

The more the merrier, I guess.

We talked for a while and I slowly became more open to the girls and wasn't cowardly as I had been a couple of minutes ago.

"Did you guys hear of the founders Day dance?" Stacey asked. "I know Freddy's already going to be my date at the dance."

"Uh. . . when's this dance?" I asked. I had been in this school for two years but I had never heard of founder's Day dance.

"September 30th," Phoebe answered. "Do you have a date for the dance?"

"No," I say, September 30th is two weeks from now.

"I don't have either," Phoebe said, a foolish smile on her face. I knew where this was going, she's probably going to ask me to be her date.

I respect Phoebe but hell no! I would rather go with Madison than any other girl, if she even agrees. I mean there's about 50 guys who already had plans to ask her for the dance.

"I'm not even sure I might go," I say.

"And what do you plan on doing that day?" Stacey asked me.

I shrugged. "Watch movies, study."

Miley burst into uncontrollable laughter. "Did you come for last year's dance?"

"No."

Miley folded her arms. "You see that's your problem, you're basically anti-social."

Yeah, it's not like I have a choice. What are you supposed to do when you get bullied just for being smart and rejected by society?

"That's why I want to see you at the dance," Miley said. "And you have to bring a date!"

"Which girl do you think would agree to go to the dance with me?" I ask wondering why these girls were being so nice to me. No girl had ever talked to me for more than thirty seconds since I moved to Stanley Falls.

Madison shrugged and took a sip of soda. "You never know which girl might say yes." With that she looked at Phoebe.

What the hell?

Madison's phone shrilled for attention, she looked at it and sighed. "Shit," she groaned. "It's my Mom."

"Which means it's time to go," Stacey said. "Bye Chad." Miley said. "And I MUST see you at the dance!"

"Buh bye!" Madison waved me goodbye.

"Bye Chad! See you later!" said Phoebe as she followed the other girls out the diner.

I sat down by myself wondering if this was all a dream or there was a glitch in the matrix or something. Madison Pines, the hottest girl in school just hung out with me...for about an hour at Bernie's!!

I sighed and grinned to myself. It was no dream and there wasn't a glitch in the matrix at all.

This was the best moment of my life!!! I thought of calling Madison but it was too soon, I mean she just left here. And if I called it would look kinda weird.

But my mind went to Phoebe, it was obvious by now that she had a crush on me. But why didn't she tell me since? I get that she was shy but. . .

I shoved Phoebe off my mind, since Miley had forced me to find a girl to the dance, I'll just go ask Madison.

One of Bernie's employees came over to my booth to clean up my table. He looked at me like I was a hobbit.
"Are you still eating that?" He points to my burger which I had only taken a few bites from. I was too engrossed with Madison, I literally forgot to eat!!

"Uh...yeah," I say. Then I recognize the employee. "Lil Vegas?"

He grinned at me. "Wassup my dude?"

"But," I say. "I thought you work at the supermarket?" Lil Vegas had finished packing up the remnants of the girls meal, "Who said you can't have two jobs, huh?" He turned and walked away. "I guess I'll see you really really soon." He said over his shoulder in a low time.

That is one strange man.

I glanced at the time on my phone. It was three minutes past 10! It was time for me to meet Dad!

In all the excitement of Madison and the other girls, the reason why I came here had left my mind.

"Fuck me," I mutter. I quickly munch my burger,sling my bag over my shoulder and step out of the diner. The air was cool and the night clouds churned with rain. Lightning lit up the sky every now and then.

I was about to go when I noticed a figure standing under a streetlight. I adjusted my glasses to see well. The figure came to focus and I gasped.

It was Dad!

"Dad!" I cry trying not to sound like a kid. But too my surprise he turned around and bolted! I followed him quickly, I thought he said we should meet at the back of Bernie's. Then why was he running?

Turns out, Dad was one hell of a runner, and I wasn't. I dashed through the dark streets of the town struggling to keep up with Dad.

I coughed when I started to feel a painful sensation in my throat, I wasn't used to running this fast.

But nothing else mattered right now. Dad was running like he was Barry Allen himself, I had no idea that he could run this fast. I mean the dude's almost fifty!!

"Dad!" I cried out. "Wait. Please!"

But he didn't wait, he continued running as if he had robbed a bank or something.

Soon we reached the outskirts of town and into the dark woods and then I lost track of Dad in the woods. "Great," I mutter. "Just Great!"

I walk through the eerie woods and try to find my dad. But I was already getting scared by the minute. The woods wasn't a place to be at night. Our town has had our fair share of children going missing at night and finding their bodies in the woods. Which gave the woods its name, Shadow woods.

But trust me I didn't want to be here right now, but given the circumstances I find myself I have no choice.

I tripped over a stump and crash to the ground. My glasses flew off my face and to the ground.

I sighed relieved that my glasses didn't break. I put it back on my face and brush off the leaves off my clothes and hair. A nearby bush rustled and a squirrel jumped out spooked by something.

I called for my Dad once again.

No answer.

I walked into a clearing and found my Dad on his knees and a tall figure wearing a long dark robe with a hood concealing his face stood over him, holding a knife to his throat.

"Dad," I said my eyes widening in horror and confusion."What the hell is going on?"

Dad forced a smile and I could see tears in his eyes. "I didn't want it to be this way Chad,"

I shook my head and bravely took a few steps forward."Dad you're not making any sense, this dude is holding you with a fucking knife to your neck."

"I know,"said Dad. "I love you Chad."

"No," I say. "No!!"

I leapt without thinking, I ran towards Dad but I hit an invisible barrier and was sent flying back. I landed on the ground hard and groaned as pain shot all around my body.

"Tell your Mother that I still love her," I heard Dad say. I stood up but before I could do anything, the hooded figure with a quick movement, drew the knife across my father's neck.

I stared in shock as blood spilled out from Dad's neck and his body fell to the ground.