31 Chapter 31

° Reginald Val Johnson

° The Next Day, Lunchbreak

Matthew walked through the hallways of the school like nothing had happened, the only remaining evidence of the 'hit and run accident' was the custom forearm splint/wrist protector on his right arm.

He felt better now after only a day out of the GDA's medical ward, courtesy of amazing Viltrumite healing, though still not in tip top shape but at least his arms and back didn't hurt that much anymore.

His self esteem, however, had not recovered as well from the massive hit it got. The nightmare he had last night almost made him want to scream, the vision of that lionman's crazed grin and the suffocating feeling that followed kept him up for most of the night.

He let out a shaky breath and he closed his eyes, willing himself to ignore the looping scene in his mind as he made his way to the cafeteria for lunch break.

A gentle hand slipped under his arm and gave it a gentle tug.

"Matthew. Need a hand?" Madison came up to his right, concern and slight relief written all over her beautiful face, her blonde hair cascading over her jersey as she offered her arm.

"Haha, very funny" Matthew said sarcastically.

"Hey, that wasn't a joke! I'm being serious" Madison protested, slipping her arm around his as they walked side-by-side.

Matthew looked away from the girl and set his eyes on the hallway "I know. I'm fine. The doctor said that I just need to keep this on for 2 or 1 and a half days before I fully heal. Hopefully nothing else happens before then"

"Then I just need to make sure that you're not going anywhere without me. Easy" Madison said.

Matthew snickered at her choice of words, which earned him a heated glare from the girl as she complained about whatever perverted ideas he was thinking up.

They arrived at the cafeteria and Madison stuck to her best friend all the way until they picked a spot to sit on before she continued.

"And speaking of going somewhere" she began "William is planning on visiting Upstate University this friday and he's inviting us to go with them. Wanna go?"

"Upstate?" Matthew was surprised at the sudden topic.

"Yeah. It's a good university, one of the many choices I'm actually planning on applying for once the 2nd semester is done. And it's not that far, just a 50-minute ride away. Or a 5 minute flight?" Madison said.

"Okay...and who are we going with?" Matthew asked.

"He didn't say. But I assume your brother is going and maybe even Amber, not sure about anyone else" Madison answered after a short consideration.

"How about Eve?" Matthew asked.

"Like I said, I'm not sure. You remember what she said last week about running away?" Madison asked, cringing grimly at the memory.

It clicked almost instantly and Matthew slowly nodded in understanding.

"Yeah. I think it's a personal issue, so we shouldn't talk about it behind her back. But if she needs help, I'll make sure she knows that she has it" Madison said with a sad smile.

Matthew smiled back at his best friend, feeling proud of her. He didn't wish to offer his help as he knew he wouldn't be the best person to talk to with her specific problem.

"Anyway. Back to topic" Madison broke through his thoughts "Do you wanna go? If not, we could just hang out at the mansion or do something else in your house. I refuse to spend a free day without doing anything"

"No--I mean, Yes. I wanna go" Matthew accepted, his reasons were two-fold.

One, he wanted to be informed of what the college offers for his future plans. He hadnt given it much thought in the last few months as he was preoccupied with adjusting to the consequences and enjoying his superpowers and all the things it allowed him to do.

Two, he wanted to surprise his girlfriend. And maybe get some alone time, if he can. To take his mind off his wounded pride.

"Great!" Madison smiled and pulled out her phone "I was hoping you'd say that! Alicia was telling me all about the school and I got pretty excited about it. I'll text her now and maybe we can schedule a hang out! All three of us!"

Matthew could only watch as his second reason withered and fell from his thoughts before he could even protest.

Resigned, he held his sigh and eat his meal.

***

° Grayson Residence

° Friday

Matthew finished packing up for the trip and exited his room, feeling refreshed but still somewhat sore and weak on his forearms despite being almost fully healed.

He went to Mark's room to knock but stopped when he sensed someone in there with him. He mentally scanned the presence and stepped back when he touched Eve's mind and felt her conflicting emotions she was feeling bursting through the momentary connection. He made a concerned face as he turned around and walked down the stairs.

"I hope you know what you're doing, bro" he whispered to himself "Dating two girls is gonna be very difficult"

"What was that honey?" Debbie asked as she entered the living area.

"Nothing, mom" Matthew rounded the stairs and pecked her on the cheek "Just some random thoughts I've been having lately"

"Oh, honey. Are you sure you're okay with this? You can just stay home and play some of those video games to take your mind off things" Debbie suggested hopefully.

"You don't have to distract yourself" Nolan said, walking up to the pair "Think of it as a lesson for improvement, a vivid scenario you can play out in your mind over and over again to analyze what you did wrong and what you could've done better"

"Nolan" Debbie glared at him.

"What? I'm trying to help him deal with it" Nolan argued.

"It's nothing like that, don't worry" Matthew cut in before the situation devolved any further "Just some thoughts about school, friends, college and other things"

"I haven't even thought about the Harlem incident once. I'm dealing with it on my own" Matthew lied, biting back a cringe for remembering the fight.

Nolan shrugged "Suit yourself. Just don't let it make you hesitate the next time you--"

The doorbell rang and Matthew was relieved for the interruption as he swiftly turned and dashed beside the door.

Opening it, he found both William and Amber standing there. Behind them and on the driveway was parked the blue sedan that was William Clockwell's car. But no Madison beside or behind the pair.

"Hey, Matt" William said plainly.

"Hey, Matthew. How are you?" Amber greeted Matthew with a warm smile.

"Hey you two. I'm feeling great, thanks for asking" he replied and looked around once more before asking "Where's Madison?"

As if on cue, Madison walked into view wearing her usual outfit with the added sunglasses that suited her well. She was pulling a medium-sized, white wheeled luggage bag with her as she stopped by William's parked car.

"Hi, Matt!" she waved at her best friend, her smile seemed to shine along with the sun.

Matthew looked at her suspiciously then turned to the pair near him, "She was waiting to do some kind of dramatic entrance, wasn't she?"

Amber just giggled while William looked away to avoid answering. Madison huffed and pouted at being called out.

"No, I wasn't" Madison insisted.

"Yeah, sure" Matthew rolled his eyes.

"Whatever!" Madison looked to William "William, please pop the trunk and help me with my luggage"

Matthew walked ahead of William and picked up Madison's luggage then gave her a light bump to cheer her up "I'll do it. It's the least I can do"

"That's more like it. That is the normal reaction a guy should have when a hot girl needs help" Madison demanded as she followed him.

Matthew placed both their bags in the trunk and waited for Mark to finally come out with his own bag. Debbie and Nolan followed behind him.

"Come on, slowpoke! Let's hit the road!" William hollered.

Everyone greeted the parents and bid their goodbyes as they slowly piled into the car. With William as the driver, Madison riding shotgun out after winning a quick rock-paper-scissors match, and the rest in the back with Mark in between Amber and Matthew. By the time they were done getting settled, the engine was already rumbling on neutral.

Matthew felt a little uncomfortable sitting beside the lovebirds that was his brother and Amber, but he planned to distract himself by texting with Madison the whole way.

"Okay, be careful" Debbie said, waving her hand at her boys.

"Don't have too much fun" Nolan awkwardly started.

"No drinking. No drսgs. And NO SEX! " Debbie listed out, putting a strong emphasis on the last one as she yelled it out loud.

Both boys cringed and hid themselves out of view, the other 3 laughed at them good-naturedly.

"No sеx. Got it. I'll take good care of them, Mrs. Grayson!" William said as he whirled the engine and they took off. Nearly running into another car before William blasted his horn and swiftly maneuvered out of the way.

They hadn't even made it past the second intersection when the girls started gossiping about William's boyfriend. Madison and Amber were fully engrossed in the topic.

Matthew could only look away and amuse himself by counting the houses they passed by while Mark made eyes with Amber as they traveled.

***

° Upstate University

° About Half an Hour Later

They finally arrived at Upstate University after a short drive and William parked the car not too far from the campus's main entrance. But somehow the topic of his boyfriend was going on.

"Anyhoo" William said after a while "I don't wanna bore you guys any more about Rick"

Then quickly added "Ooh, except that he's--"

"We get it!" Mark interrupted, feeling a little annoyed about all the gushing his friend was doing as he quickly summarized "You're in love with the guy"

"Mark!" Amber called out.

"What? No" William denied.

"It doesn't sound like it" Matthew chimed in "You haven't stopped talking about him for nearly an hour now"

"I mean, Rick's amazing, but love him?" William asked, more to himself "No"

"Oh, my god, here he comes!" he then quickly said, scrambling to get out of his seat and the car.

Everyone looked ahead and saw a handsome blonde in a yellow polo shirt and jeans that fit his muscular body perfectly approach the car, waving at them with a bright white smile.

"William! Come here!" the young man called Rick said with open arms, giving willing a close and warm hug as everyone watched.

"What's up, Rick?" William said with a shaky voice, as if unable to hold himself back for moment.

Madison elbowed Matthew lightly and gestured to her phone, letting him read the message she opened.

[We'll be right there, Mady! Thanks for the heads up]

A small smile immediately grew on his face as he gave Madison an appreciative look.

Mark and Amber went to pop the trunk picked up their bags as they let the couple hug it out.

They finally parted and William introduced each of his friends. Rick's eyes widened slightly as he counted all of them.

"Hey. Nice to meet you guys. I got my dorm room all set up for us. But uhm...I must've miscounted?" he looked to William for help.

William looked to Madison and shrugged.

Madison answered "Dont worry, Rick. Matthew and I will take care of it ourselves"

"We will?" Matthew asked, somewhat lost on the conversation.

"Yes, we will" Madison glared at him and squeezed his arm, holding his gaze until understanding settled.

"Oh" Matthew said in realization "Right. It's fine,  Rick. Really"

Rick nodded, accepting their reasons "If you say so"

Rick helps the others with their bag and proceeds to lead the group to his dorm, Madison and Matthew following behind. All of them watching as William was not so subtly starting at Rick's ass as he walked.

Rick guided the group to his dorm, gave a small tour inside the lobby area where he dropped their bags, and guided them out to give them for a more thorough your of the campus itself.

Matthew was impressed with the campus itself, seeing it in the daylight rather than in the early evening most definitely improved his view of it. The school's ample population, the remarkable facilities it housed, and the enormous school grounds itself only added on to its other positives. Madison shared his sentiments, but she mostly focused her attentions on the other students with her furtive glances and winks.

However, a particular negative Matthew noted was the significant presence of missing posters plastered around school boards and some tree trunks.

Matthew pulled on one and read it.

Madison looked over his shoulder as she walked beside him and mumbled quietly "Doug Cheston. Last seen by the Fountain. If you have information..."

She trailed off, looked at Matthew, and gave a stern "No".

"No what?" Matthew asked quietly "I wasn't planning anything. I was just curious"

"And that's how it starts. You get curious, you ask around, you get interested, and then you get in trouble. But, you are still recovering. So No, I won't allow it" Madison grabbed the poster and threw it away.

Matthew grin slightly "Yes, mom"

As they continued on the tour, Matthew became a bit bothered by the number of posters on different missing people hanging all over the campus.

Wondering to himself, what was happening in this college.