Eclipsebrook Town

The campfire burned bright in the middle of Eclipsebrook Lake Park.

Orange flames crackled against the cold evening air while students from Eclipsebrook High crowded around logs, folding chairs, and pickup trucks parked along the grass. Somebody had brought giant speakers, and now slow rock music echoed through the trees while groups of teenagers laughed loudly beneath strings of hanging lights connected between branches.

It was the night before prom.

And for once—

almost everybody seemed happy.

Cheerleaders sat wrapped in blankets sharing chips and gossip. Football players argued near the coolers. Couples wandered near the lake pretending they weren’t cold. Smoke from the fire mixed with perfume, cigarettes, and fresh grass.

The whole place looked like a scene from an old movie.

And right at the center of the attention—

was Maddison Dior.

Like always.

Her long red hair fell over the shoulders of her black leather jacket while silver earrings reflected the firelight every time she moved. Even standing still beside the bonfire, people noticed her.

Some admired her.

Some feared her.

Most did both.

“Okay but seriously,” Kimberly whispered dramatically beside Jenny, “if Maddi gets any prettier, I’m literally ending it all. As in all.”

Jenny snorted quietly while drinking from her soda can.

“You say that every week.”

“Because every week she somehow gets hotter.”

“She’s standing right there.” she pointed Maddison who's standing just inch away from them, sipping her drink in a red plastic cup.

“I know,” Kimberly whispered louder. “I want her to hear.”

Nearby, Maddison rolled her eyes without even looking at them.

“I heard that, Kimberly.”

Kimberly immediately grinned proudly.

“See? We’re connected spiritually. awesome!” she exclaimed together while clapping and looking sideways to Jenny.

“Unfortunately.” Maddi said, taking another sip not acknowledging Kimberly.

Jenny laughed softly under her breath.

For a moment, everything actually felt normal.

Then Oliver Jenkins arrived.

The loud revving of his truck instantly caught attention near the campfire as headlights flashed briefly through the trees. Some students turned immediately.

Others groaned.

Oliver stepped out wearing his varsity jacket over a black shirt, chains hanging from his jeans while he slammed the truck door harder than necessary. Ricky Martinez, sitting on a cooler nearby, muttered under his breath—

“Fantastic. Human anger issue dude arrived.” Ricky joked while playing the stick to the fire.

William laughed from across the fire.

“Behave for ONE night, Ricky.” William told him.

“No promises.” Ricky responded.

Meanwhile Oliver’s eyes immediately found Maddison.

And Maddison noticed.

Jenny noticed too.

That alone made her expression shift slightly.

Kimberly leaned closer dramatically to Jenny who's now watchinh Oliver and Maddison.

“And here comes Romeo.”

“Don’t start,” Jenny muttered in serious tone.

Oliver walked toward them slowly, hands inside his jacket pockets, while some looked at their way.

“You disappeared after school,” he said directly to Maddison while still walking until he stops in front of her.

“No hello?” Maddi said, hands in both side as if looking for everyones reaction.

“You ignored my calls.” Oliver added.

Maddison shrugged casually.

“I was busy.”

“With what?”

“Living.” Maddi said to him while sipping to her cup.

Ricky nearly choked trying not to laugh nearby.

Oliver glared briefly toward him before looking back at Maddison.

“You coming tomorrow or not?”

“To prom?” Maddison asked. “Wow Oliver, what a shocking event.” she said sarcastically and looking at her friends and back to him, “Of course I’m going.”

“With me.” Oliver said.

Maddison tilted her head slightly.

“Didn’t know I had ownership papers.”

Jenny quietly sighed already sensing where this was going.

Oliver stepped closer.

“Seriously, Maddi.”

“And seriously,” Maddison answered calmly, “stop acting like you own me.”

The mood shifted instantly.

Kimberly slowly looked around awkwardly.

“Oh God.”

Oliver looked irritated now.

“I’m just asking.”

“No,” Maddison replied. “You’re demanding.”

“Because every time I ask something simple, you make it difficult.”

“And every time we talk lately, you act insane.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

The students nearby slowly started pretending NOT to listen.

Which obviously meant everybody was listening.

Jenny rubbed her forehead tiredly, standing now, Kimberly looked at her as she stood.

“Can we not do this tonight?” Jennie said, looking towards Maddi and Ollie.

Oliver looked toward her immediately.

“Stay out of it, Jenny.” Oliver snapped to her.

Maddison scoffed loudly.

“Don’t talk to her like that.”

“Oh, so NOW you care?” Oliver turns to her.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Oliver laughed bitterly.

“You know exactly what I mean.”

Before Maddison could answer—

Ricky suddenly stood up from the cooler.

“Okayyyy,” he interrupted dramatically. “This tension is ruining my nachos.”

“Shut up, Martinez,” Oliver snapped, looking really irritated now that he's stepping in.

Ricky raised both hands innocently.

“Relax, quarterback. Your forehead vein’s about to explode.”

A few students laughed quietly.

Oliver stepped toward him immediately.

“You got something to say?”

“Actually yeah,” Ricky answered casually. “You act weirdly possessive for a guy constantly flirting with other girls.”

Silence.

Then several students went—

“OHHHHH—”

Oliver’s jaw tightened.

Maddison’s expression changed slightly too.

Jenny immediately looked toward Oliver.

“…What?”

Oliver looked annoyed now.

“Don’t start believing clown rumors.”

Ricky laughed.

“Clown rumors? Half the school saw you with Melissa Grant after practice last week.”

“That meant nothing.”

Maddison crossed her arms slowly.

“Interesting.”

Oliver looked back at her quickly.

“Oh come on.”

Jenny watched the entire thing carefully now.

Not angry.

Concerned.

Because beneath all the arguing and sarcasm—

something felt wrong tonight.

Like everybody was standing too close to an explosion waiting to happen.

Maddison suddenly looked at Oliver calmly.

“You know what? I’m done talking about this.”

Oliver blinked.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“Maddi—”

“I said I’m done.”

She grabbed her drink and started walking away from the fire.

Kimberly immediately panicked and followed her.

“Maddi wait for me because emotionally I’m weak—”

Jenny hesitated for a second before following too.

Behind them, Ricky muttered quietly—

“…That went well.”

William threw a chip at him.

“You make everything worse.”

“I make everything interesting.”

Meanwhile farther from the fire, Maddison kept walking toward the darker side near the lake.

Jenny finally caught up first.

“Maddi.”

No answer.

“Maddi stop walking.”

Finally Maddison stopped near the wooden fence overlooking the water.

The campfire still glowed brightly behind them, but the music sounded farther away now.

Kimberly awkwardly looked between them.

“…Should I stay or disappear dramatically?”

“Disappear,” both girls answered.

Kimberly immediately nodded.

“Fantastic. Love being unwanted.”

And she walked away.

Leaving Maddison and Jenny alone beside the lake.

For a long moment—

neither spoke.

The wind moved softly through the trees while the water reflected the distant lights from the campfire.

Then Jenny finally sighed.

“You embarrassed him.”

Maddison laughed softly.

“He embarrasses himself naturally.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

Jenny stepped beside her against the fence.

“What’s happening with you two?”

Maddison stared at the lake quietly.

“I don’t know anymore.”

That answer surprised Jenny.

Because Maddison almost never admitted uncertainty.

Jenny looked at her carefully now.

“You still love him?”

Maddison stayed silent too long.

Then finally—

“…I think I’m starting not to.”

The words hung heavily between them.

Jenny’s expression softened slightly.

“Maddi…”

“I’m tired, Jen.”

The honesty in her voice felt strange.

Real.

“He gets angry over everything lately. Every girl I talk to becomes an issue. Every party becomes a fight. Every conversation turns into him accusing me of something.”

Jenny leaned quietly against the fence.

“You could leave.”

Maddison laughed bitterly.

“You say that like it’s easy.”

“You know it’s getting toxic.”

“Yeah,” Maddison whispered. “I know.”

The fire crackled loudly behind them from afar while laughter echoed somewhere near the trucks.

Then Jenny suddenly looked at her seriously.

“…Promise me something.”

Maddison glanced toward her.

“What?”

Jenny hesitated first.

Then—

“If things get worse tomorrow… don’t stay alone.”

Maddison frowned immediately.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Jenny quickly shook her head.

“Nothing.”

“No, seriously.”

“I just mean— prom nights are messy. People drink. People fight.”

Maddison narrowed her eyes slightly.

“You’re acting weird now.”

Jenny forced a small smile.

“Maybe I’m just nervous about tomorrow.”

Maddison studied her face carefully.

Like she was trying to read something deeper hidden underneath her words.

Then quietly—

“You’d tell me if something was wrong… right?”

Jenny looked at her.

And for one strange second—

she almost answered differently.

But instead she smiled softly and nudged Maddison’s shoulder.

“Relax, Dior.”

Back near the fire—

someone suddenly shouted for everybody to gather for pictures.

The moment broke immediately.

Maddison rolled her eyes.

“Oh my God. Humanity was a mistake.”

Jenny laughed softly.

“Come on.”

And together—

the two girls walked back toward the firelight.

Back toward the music.

Back toward everyone else.

Neither of them knowing that by the next night—

one of them would be gone.