Ruthless Devotion

Prologue

Maddie

Erica just gave me a valentine Brayden made for me even though he’s not in my class. She saw him in the hallway at the water fountain a few minutes ago. He is so cute I could die.

“Hey Maddie, I brought the cupcakes. I got them because I know you like pink.”

I turn to find the new kid, Aidan looking at me with a face like a puppy that just caught a frisbee.

His dad and aunt both disappeared in some creepy way all the other kids have been whispering about.

Now he lives with an uncle. I wonder if his uncle will disappear, too.

Maybe he will, and then Aidan will go to a different school.

“That’s nice,” I say. I want to talk to Erica about the valentine Brayden made. I don’t like Aidan.

“Did you like my valentine? I made it special for you,” Aidan says. He’s still talking to me. Oh my god. Why is he still talking to me?

Erica gives me a look, and I give her a look, but we don’t say anything. Why is he sitting at this table? This is a girl’s table. He’s the only boy here. Doesn’t he know that’s weird?

“Oh, was that from you? The one with the little drawing of two stick figures holding hands and all the glitter?” I ask sweetly.

He nods. Why is he looking at me? I’m going to tell one of the moms if he doesn’t stop.

I roll my eyes. “I have a boyfriend already. His name is Brayden, and he’s in Mrs. Hancock’s class. And even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be your girlfriend. You’re weird.”

I laugh, then Erica laughs. We sound mean, but this kid follows me all the time, and I don’t like it. I look up to see one of the parent helpers, a dad, looking at me with a really angry face. What? I didn’t hit Aidan. I just told him he’s weird. My mom said to use my words.

Also, this is what my mom calls a “teaching moment”. I mean he needs to know he’s weird. I’m helping.

Aidan gets up and runs from the room. I roll my eyes again and finish eating my cupcake. I do like the pink frosting.