I'm On My Way

Chapter 10

A faint mist had settled around Stoneybridge, and Maddy smiled as she looked at the illuminated windows, the yellow halo struggling to break through the fog. The whole village was a haze of light.

The foursome walked hand in hand as they wound round the village , footsteps echoing off the sleeping buildings. Stoneybridge was so tranquil during the winter, and when Maddy saw the lights on in the windows, the feel of autumn roused in her chest.

The streets started to grow more and more familiar. They crept through the square; Bernie's sat quietly in the corner, the "closed" sign swinging in the window. The line of trees on the hill loomed above them as they carried on through, heading up the hill. Maddy, although she dismissed the thought, felt like she could sense the moors drawing closer again.

The streets became more and more familiar, and Maddy's smile grew and grew. Excitement bubbled inside her, and she wanted to jump up and down recklessly. Instead, she squeezed Shannon's hand tightly. Her friends eyes sparkled, the silent knowledge shining through her glasses.

They walked round a few streets, before reaching the edge of the hill, with the whole of Stoneybridge stretched out below them.

"Hang on..." Maddy said, thoughts starting to flood her mind. Memories of the full moon, of running to school...

Shan bit her lip and raised her eyebrows.

The pace increased as Maddy started to speed walk, almost dragging her friends along.

Maddy stopped outside one large countryside house, which fitted right in with the rural village theme. The garden was slightly unkempt, but there were bulb flowers sprouting in random beds, squeezing out between the grass.

Maddy had an overwhelming emotion running through her. Tears of happiness swelled in her chocolate eyes.

She was home.

Shan and Tom had lead her here; was this where Rhydian lived? Maddy was so glad to see her home again, and it looked so familiar, and as amazing as it would be to have her best friend living there, it would mean she, well, couldn't. And then they would have lost the den, and everything.

"He doesn't live here, does he?" She asked tentatively, glancing at her friends.

Shan shook her head. "Oh, no" she replied, and Maddy's chest seemed to relax slightly. "It's even better!" Shannon knew that Rhydian living in the Smiths old place would be good, but not that great for her. She knew that the current situation, however, was much better.

Tom took a few steps further up the street, and Maddy's eyes widened.

"He lives here?" She went to stand next to Tom. She had seen this house a few times, but it had changed.

It was so perfect. Roses twined up the walls, bright flowers sang in the perfect flower beds. Rhydian was, or, as Maddy thought about it, would've been, a next door neighbour.

But she didn't live there anymore, surely. So..

"What's so good about it?" She tilted her head to one side, eyebrows creased in confusion.

"Because your house hasn't been sold. We kept it safe. We have the keys." Shannon almost squealed. Maddy hadn't seemed to get it, and Shannon was so desperate to see happiness on her face.

"The house is yours again Mads!"

Maddy was speechless. Thoughts swirled around her excited head. Rhydian was her next door neighbour. They lived next to each other. Her friends had waited for her. She could live the old life again!

Shan started walking to the path.

"Rhydian's bedroom is round the back. That's why he hasn't come running out in slow motion." She explained, adding a little joke at the end.

Maddy rolled her eyes. "What are you doing?"

Shan stopped, and turned her back to the blue door.

"He can't see you, remember?" Maddy nodded slowly.

"Don't you think he needs to know you're here?"

Maddy's heart started to flutter quickly. Suddenly she felt sick. Shannon knocked on the door.