#peytonlist

The Doors Weren’t the Afterlife: The School Spirits Finale Just Opened a Second Limbo

Okay… we need to talk about the finale of School Spirits.

Because honestly?

What did we just witness.

This show keeps getting better in a way that reminds me of the first time I watched Being Human. That same eerie balance between supernatural mythology and emotional storytelling.

And what impresses me the most is how carefully the series treats the paranormal framework behind its story.

Yes, it’s still television — obviously some things are dramatized to serve the narrative. But the core concepts about energy, liminal spaces, and the veil between worlds are surprisingly aligned with real-world paranormal theories.

For someone like me who follows ghost-hunting research quite closely, that level of care is genuinely impressive.

When a Show Isn’t Writing for Fan Service

One thing that becomes very obvious watching School Spirits is the difference between writing driven by story and writing influenced by fandom pressure.

School Spirits has eight episodes per season.

But every single episode matters.

The narrative is tight. Nothing feels random. The mythology unfolds slowly but deliberately, and the writers clearly know where they’re going.

There’s no pandering, no shortcuts, no last-minute fan service.

Compare that to some mainstream network shows where audience expectations sometimes start steering the ship, and the difference becomes even more striking.

Ironically, I’m almost glad School Spirits isn’t massively mainstream yet.

Because it allows the writers to keep building their world exactly the way they want.

The Finale’s Biggest Twist: The Doors Aren’t the End

For the longest time, we assumed the mysterious doors were the way out.

The final step.

The moment where the trapped spirits finally move on.

But the finale completely flips that assumption.

Instead of leading to the “afterlife,” the doors appear to lead into another liminal space.

A second waiting room.

Another layer.

Which means the place where the ghosts were trapped before might already have been just the first level of something much larger.

And that’s where the show introduces one of the most fascinating concepts of the finale.

The Ley Lines Theory

Janet refers to the phenomenon as Ley Lines.

If you’re familiar with paranormal or esoteric theories, you probably recognized that term immediately.

Ley Lines were first popularized in 1921 by Alfred Watkins. Originally he theorized they were ancient pathways connecting landmarks used for navigation.

But over time, the concept evolved into something much more mystical.

Many researchers now believe Ley Lines are energy currents that run through the Earth, connecting powerful energetic locations across the planet.

Think of them as the energetic circulatory system of the Earth.

Some famous examples connect sacred or historically powerful locations — places that seem to share unusual energetic patterns.

And if School Spirits is using this concept, it changes everything about how their afterlife system works.

The Veil Between Worlds

In paranormal theory, increased energy activity along Ley Lines can thin the veil between dimensions.

Which means the barrier between the living and the dead becomes weaker.

This actually mirrors something many paranormal investigators claim to observe: that communication phenomena appear stronger now than decades ago.

School Spirits seems to be playing with that same idea.

The boundary that once trapped the spirits inside the school has now broken.

They can leave.

They can move.

And that suggests the Ley Lines are acting as corridors between different states of existence.

Not the final destination.

Just another passage.

The Forest Limbo

The forest sequence might be the most important clue in the entire finale.

Across the river, we see peaceful figures — including Simon’s mother and the pastor with the children.

They look calm.

They look… complete.

But the ghosts cannot reach them.

Dawnn warns that if you cross the river, you return.

At first I assumed that meant returning to the school world.

But now I think something more complex is happening.

Crossing the river may send a spirit back to the entry point of the Ley Line network.

Which explains why Dawnn says it’s incredibly difficult for spirits to find each other there.

The forest isn’t the afterlife.

It’s another liminal maze.

A transitional corridor.

And somewhere beyond that river might be the real “beyond.”

The Possession Twist

Then the finale drops another bombshell.

Van Aight is now inside Maddie’s mother’s body.

Which raises an enormous question:

Where is Maddie’s mother’s spirit?

The most logical explanation is the hospital scene.

If the possession happened there, then her spirit might now be trapped exactly the way Maddie once was.

And if that’s the case, there’s one very interesting implication.

Xavier might be able to see her.

The New Ghost Team in the Forest

Right now, the forest limbo contains:

Dawn

Janet

Wally

Maddie’s father

That combination alone suggests the next season could explore a completely new supernatural layer.

The show already expanded its mythology this season with the introduction of the Forgotten, and the explanation that if the place of death disappears, the door may never appear.

But the finale suggests we’re only scratching the surface of how this system works.

Are We Heading Toward the Final Act?

The biggest narrative shift is Van Aight.

This season introduced him as a mysterious figure pursuing his own goals.

But now?

Those goals are gone.

The protagonists ruined his plans.

Which means his motivation has shifted.

From ambition…

to revenge.

And in storytelling terms, that usually signals something important.

When the central villain moves from long-term plotting to personal conflict, the story is often approaching its endgame.

That’s why I suspect Season 4 might be the beginning of the final arc.

Maybe the last season.

At most, I could see the show stretching to a fifth.

But the story already feels like it’s heading toward its ultimate confrontation.

A Dark Possibility for Maddie

And here’s the theory that keeps haunting me.

The most logical ending might actually be tragic.

What if Maddie dies?

Not in a meaningless way — but as the final step in resolving the entire liminal system the show has built.

It would be heartbreaking.

But narratively?

It would make sense.

More Questions Than Answers

The finale didn’t just close a chapter.

It exploded the mythology.

Ley Lines. Multiple limbos. Possession. The forest maze.

We now have more questions than ever.

And honestly?

I love that.

Because if this finale proved anything, it’s that School Spirits is playing a much bigger game than we originally thought.

Your Turn

So now I’m curious.

What are your theories about the School Spirits finale?

What do you think the forest really is?

Part 8: The Truth

Wally x Maddie

Warnings and info: everyone is Alive AU, set in 2023-24 (in line with the show), swearing

Summary: Wally, Rhonda and Charley tell Maddie about Xavier and Claire. After school the teens head to the cabin to distract Maddie from all the drama. 

Masterlist

Wally slept for a solid four hours that night. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was the photo of Xavier and Claire tangled together like it was the most natural thing in the world. He’d wanted proof, and now that he had it, he wished he didn’t. 

By morning, guilt sat heavy in his stomach. He stood in front of the bathroom mirror, his eyes no longer looked as tired as the day before, but tired none the less. He splashed cold water on his face, grabbing a towel, patting his face dry. His stomach was in knots. He couldn’t eat breakfast. He grabbed some coffee, quickly said morning to his mom then he was out the door. Bea noticed how tensed he looked so she decided not to press him – he’d fill her in later. 

Outside, snow covered grass and his truck. Leaning over the hood, he brushed off the snow, glancing across the street for Maddie. A moment later, she stepped out – bundled in her jacket, her short hair tucked under a beanie and coffee in one hand. 

“Morning!” she called, her breath misting in the cold air. She crossed the street like she had done a thousand times before – easy and familiar.

“Hey,” He said, forcing a smile. 

“Did you get much rest after yesterday? Charley would be glad you haven’t developed any dark circles.” She laughed lightly. 

“After school I had a solid ninety-minute nap. Then maybe four hours last night.” He admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. 

“Wally,” she said gently. “I know you’ve got a lot on your mind - with your parents, football, me- but you need to take care of yourself. I’m starting to worry about you.” 

Wally looked down at the snow gathering around his boots before meeting her eyes again. “I’m fine, Mads,” he said quietly. “Just been a lot lately, that’s all… I’ll be okay.” 

“You always say that,” she replied, her tone soft but pointed. She nudged his arm with her elbow, a small grin tugging at her lips. “I can tell when you’re not okay. And clearly you aren’t.” 

He huffed out a laugh that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah, well you’ve known me for too long, Nears. Kinda hard to hide anything from you.”

“Exactly,” She said. “So don’t even try. Tell me when you’re ready.”

He nodded, grateful for her concern and hating himself for what he had to tell her. He opened the truck door for her, and she climbed in, shaking snow from her boots. 

The drive to school was quiet at first, the hum of the heater filling in the silence. Maddie sipped on her coffee and watched the snow blur past the window before speaking.  “So, the cabin,” she began. “Turns out my mom signed the papers before she even looked at the place. It’s a mess, Wally. It kinda looks like the cabin from ‘The Lodge’. The porch is falling apart, the windows broken, and there is a hole in the roof with a huge pile of snow in the middle of the room. Simon and my mom had to cover it with a tarp and some nails for now while Nicole and I got rid of the snow.”

Wally glanced at her, trying to piece together her words while his mind was elsewhere. “That’s… a lot.” He said, his voice distant. 

“Yeah,” she said, her voice tight with disbelief. “The place smells like dust and metal, some of the floorboards are all warped and the plumbing’s fucked. I just don’t know how we’re supposed to fix it all before I go to Northwestern next year.”

“You will,” Wally said softly. “I know you will. I’ll help in any way I can, Mads,” He gave her a quick look before returning his eyes to the road. “You will be at Northwestern next year.” 

Maddie smiled faintly. “You really know how to make any situation sound positive. Like it’s all going to work out.”. 

“It’s kinda my thing, Nears.” Wally said, pulling into the school parking lot.

They both got out of the truck, the cold air biting at their cheeks. Maddie adjusted her beanie and shouldered her bag. “I’ll see you in English?” she asked, looking up at him. 

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Wally said, forcing a small grin. “Maybe I’ll even stay awake this time.”

Maddie laughed, shaking her head. “I’ll believe that when I see it.”

He watched her walk toward the building before turning around – only to nearly bump into Charley and Rhonda by the student lot. 

“Morning, sunshine,” Charley greeted, nudging his arm. “You look like a man carrying a heavy secret.”

“Because I am.” Wally muttered, glancing toward the doors Maddie had just disappeared through. “I haven’t figured out the right words to say.” 

Rhonda sighed, pulling her jacket tighter around her. “We need to tell her today, Moose, before she hears it from someone else. If Ava could easily overhear Claire and Chloe talking, someone else easily could have.” 

“I know,” he said quietly. “I just… don’t know how to do it without breaking her. Her and Sandra just started to fix their relationship.” 

Charley gave a sympathetic look. “Then we’ll figure it out together. You’re not doing this alone. We all have study hall first period, let's figure it out then.” 

Wally nodded as they walked towards the school entrance, Wally shoved his hands in jacket pockets, heart heavy. He wanted to protect Maddie – but he knew he couldn’t protect her from the truth forever.

The cafeteria was loud, full of chatter and clattering trays, but at their table, things felt off. Maddie filled Rhonda and Charley in on the cabin, describing the hole in the roof and how they’d had to shovel snow out of the room. Simon and Nicole added their own complaints, half joking about frostbite. Wally though, barely said a word. Normally he’d be cracking jokes or stealing fries, but now he just stared at his tray, lost in thought. His stomach had been in knots all morning. Every time Maddie smiled, every time she laughed it twisted tighter. 

“Okay, what’s going on Wally?” Maddie asked, setting down her fork. “You’ve barely touched your food - and if Bea were here, she would be shovelling it into in your mouth saying, ‘you need protein for football.’”

Wally didn’t respond to her - just exchanged looks with Rhonda and Charley. His stomach turned. 

“Just tell her,” Rhonda said quietly. “She deserves to know. 

Maddie frowned, raising her eyebrows. “Tell me what?”

Wally’s throat went dry. “Maybe we should talk somewhere else.” 

“Wally, you’re freaking me out.” Maddie said, her voice tightening. “What the hell is going on?” 

“Just- come with me, okay? Please.” Wally pushed himself up from the fixed seat, his palms flat on the table for balance. He looked at Simon and Nicole. “You guys too. You should know.” 

“Guess we’re doing this now.” Charley said, following them out of the cafeteria with Rhonda by his side. 

They slipped out the cafeteria, the echo of laughter and clattering trays fading behind them. The five of them went into an empty classroom, the hum of the heater filling the silence. Maddie looked between them, her brows pinched. 

“Okay,” she said. “Someone better start talking. What’s going on?”

Rhonda glanced at Charley, then at Wally. No one moved. 

Charley sighed, breaking the silence. “It’s about Xavier.”

Maddie blinked. “What about him?”

Wally’s stomach twisted. His voice came out quieter than he meant. “On Sunday Conrad overheard Ava talking with their mom – about Xavier and Claire. They have been hooking up, meeting at abandoned properties her stepdad owns. We-” he trailed off “got proof.” 

Maddie blinked. “Wait, Claire? As in the Claire? Cheer, captain, perfect hair, talks-likes-she’s-in-a-commercial Claire?" 

Charley couldn’t help it- he snorted. “Honestly, that’s the most accurate description I’ve ever heard of her.” 

Rhonda shot him a look, half warning, half amused. “Not really the time, Charley.”

He lifted his hands in mock surrender. “What? I’m just saying- Maddie’s not wrong.”

“You said you have proof?” Maddie asked, her voice quiet “What kind of proof?” “When Conrad told me, at first, I was fucking pissed. Like I wanted to kill the guy.” Wally said, his throat tight. “Then when I calmed down, I asked myself how I was supposed to tell you. That’s why I haven’t been sleeping. When Charley and Rhonda took me home yesterday, they dragged it out of me. They got the proof.” 

“I’m so sorry, Mads” Charley said, handing his phone to her. 

Maddie stared down at the screen. Xavier and Claire were kissing in the middle of a half- empty room, his hands on her waist. Maddie’s face didn’t change at first. She just continued staring at the photo, her fingers tightening around Charley’s phone until her knuckles turned white. Then, without a word, she handed it back. 

“Thanks for telling me,” she said quietly, her voice steady in a way that made Wally’s chest ache.

Rhonda took a small step forward. “Mads-”

“It’s fine.” Maddie shook her head, her voice tight. “I just… need a second.”

She turned and walked out before anyone could say anything else, her shoes echoing against the linoleum. 

Wally hesitated, then stood up from the table he was leaning on. “I’ll go,” he said softly, following her out the door. 

The room fell into an uneasy silence once the door shut. 

Charley let out a long breath, he took off his glasses rubbing his eyes. “That could’ve gone worse.” He muttered. 

Rhonda gave him a look. “Charley.”

I said could’ve,” he said under his breath, guilt flashing across his face. 

Simon leaned against the teacher’s desk, brow furrowed. “So… how did you even get that photo?” 

“When Wally told us yesterday, he didn’t want to believe it.” Rhonda said, crossing her arms. “That’s when I got the idea to get proof.”

“I remembered that Claire added me on Snapchat, and I used the location thingy and saw that she was at a house three streets away.” Charley explained.” So, we came up with the plan. We went to the property and - low and behold - they were there together.”

Nicole didn’t know what to say. Simon, though, had the same rage Wally had when he first found out. “I’m gonna kill him.”

“Nope. That’s not happening. No one is committing a felony.” Charley pointed at Rhonda. “I had to stop this one from committing double homicide. Believe me, we all want to hurt Xavier for what he did, but I think whatever we do would just make it worse. Let Maddie handle it.”

Rhonda sighed, rubbing her temples. “Yeah, well, handling it doesn’t mean she has to do it alone. She’s gonna need us- all of us – when it hits her.” 

“Aww, look at you. Caring for her.” Charley teased.

Rhonda gave him the middle finger, muttering, “Shut up.” 

Nicole nodded quietly. “Yeah. She looked calm, but… she’s breaking inside. I could see it.”

“Wally’s with her,” Simon said after a moment, voice softening. “If anyone can get her to talk, it's him.”

Wally didn’t spend long trying to find Maddie. She always went to the same place whenever she needed to think. At first it was her spot, her own little getaway from the chaos of high school. Wally had spent so much time there too; it became their spot. 

Wally opened the doorway leading to the stairs to the roof. He opened the door to find Maddie, in her usual spot – sitting on the edge, feet dangling over the sides of the building, staring out at the snow- covered school grounds, her breath coming in soft, steady clouds. 

Wally sat down beside her, he sat down beside her and placed two steaming cups of vending machine coffee beside her. Neither of them spoke. The wind nipped at their faces, carrying the sound of distant chatter from the courtyard below. 

“I don’t even know what I’m supposed to feel,” she said quietly. “Angry? Sad? Stupid?”

Wally kept his eyes forward. “Probably all of it.”

She huffed a weak laugh. “Thanks, that helps.”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said, glancing at her. “It’s just- there’s no right way to deal with something like this. You didn’t do anything wrong, Mads. He did.”

She nodded slowly, but her voice was small when she said, “I just keep thinking maybe I missed something. Maybe there was a sign.”

“Don’t,” Wally said softly but firmly. “Don’t do that to yourself.” 

Maddie didn’t reply. She just sat there, watching her breath cloud in the air. After a moment, she reached into her pocket, glanced at her phone and sighed. 

“Mom texted,” she said. “She picked up another shift tonight.”

Wally nodded. “So, you’ll be home alone.” 

“Yeah,” she murmured, slipping the phone away again. “Which is fine, I just - I don’t want to be there. I don’t want to think about him or-” She broke off, shaking her head. “I can’t deal with Xavier right now.” 

“Then don’t.” Wally said simply. 

She looked at him, eyes tired but certain. “What if we go to the cabin? Just for a while. I’ll text the others – we can hang out, fix a few things, whatever. I just need to do something that’s not this.” Wally studied her for a moment, then nodded. “The cabin it is.” 

“After training,” she added, because she knew how much trouble he’d be in if he skipped again. “Your mom would be so mad if you ditched two days in a row.  

“Oh, trust me – she’d have me running laps until graduation,” Wally joked. “After training it is. We’ll grab some snacks and cleaning supplies on the way.” 

Maddie smiled faintly, turning her gaze back to the snow-covered school grounds just as the bell rang for next period. 

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Maddie kept her head down, drifting from class to class without really hearing anything. Every time her phone buzzed, her stomach twisted – she didn’t need to look to know it was Xavier. 

She saw him once, standing near her locker before the final period. She walked past, pretending she didn’t realise he was there. She wasn’t ready to deal with any of it, not yet anyways. She was still trying to wrap her mind about what he did, second guessing herself if she did anything wrong. 

When the final bell rang, she headed straight for the gym – her usual routine. Normally, she’d wait for Wally in the bleachers out on the field – doing homework or doom scrolling on socials. While Wally and the football team did practice plays and throws. But the football field was still blanketed in snow, so the team had been forced indoors, trading grass for squeaky gym floors. 

She slipped inside quietly, finding her usual spot halfway up the bleachers. The gym echoed with the sound of shoes hitting the hardwood, the couch shouting over the whistle and the rhythmic slap of footballs being thrown and caught. Maddie settled in, scrolling through her phone without really seeing the screen, letting the noise blur around her. 

Every now and then, Wally glanced up between drills, just checking she was still there – like always. She gave him a tiny wave once, and even from a distance, she could see his faint grin before he turned back to his coach’s barked instructions. 

When practice finally wrapped, Wally slung his bag over his shoulder and jogged up to meet her, still breathing a little heavy, his hair damp with sweat. Maddie was right where she always was – legs tucked under her, bag at her feet, phone in hand. 

“You ready to go?” Wally asked, dabbing sweat from his face with a towel. 

Maddie glances up, half smiling. “Been ready. You were out there forever.”

“Coach thinks snow means double practice time.” Wally dropped his bag next to Maddie and sat for a moment. “Though it probably means I’ll sleep more tonight than I have in a while.”

“We don’t have to go to the cabin,” she said gently. “You can head home, get some rest.” 

“I’m okay, Mads. Kinda need a getaway from my house too. The cabin sounds good.” He ran his hand through his damp hair. “You okay?”

“I will be.” She smiled faintly. “Go take your shower - I’m not sitting in your truck if you smell like that.” 

“Thank you for saying I stink. Means a lot coming from my best friend.” Wally said. 

Maddie huffed a laugh “I truly mean it. I’ll wait for you in your truck, then we’ll head to the cabin.” 

By the time Wally came out of the locker room, hair damp and hoodie tugged over his head. Maddie was already waiting in the passenger seat of his truck, scrolling through her phone. The heater hummed low, fogging the windows slightly. 

Wally opened the back door, tossing his duffle bag and school bag inside before shutting it with a thud. Climbing into the driver’s seat, he glanced over at Maddie “Ready to go?”

“Yeah,” she replied. “It’s about forty minutes away. I texted my mom to let her know we’re heading up, and she said it’s fine as long as we do some cleaning. So, we should probably stop along the way to grab a few extra supplies.”

“And snacks too.” Wally added. 

Maddie shot him a look. 

“What? I need to fuel my body. I’ve got a football game on Thursday.” He said grinning

Maddie gave a small laugh. “Okay, okay – snacks too.” 

The hum of the truck filled the space as they drove through town, headlights cutting through the soft flakes of falling snow. They made a quick stop at the corner store – the kind of place that always smelled faintly like coffee.

Wally grabbed a basket and headed straight for the snack aisle.  “Alright- chips, chocolate, maybe some sour worms.”

Maddie shook her head, tossing a pack of gloves and sponges from the cleaning aisle. “You’re supposed to be fuelling for football, not a sugar crash.”

“Carbs are carbs,” Wally said, grinning as he added a drink to the basket. 

She rolled her eyes. “You keep telling yourself that.”

A few minutes later, they paid for everything and headed back to the truck, arms full of snacks and cleaning supplies. 

The truck tires crunched over the snow as they pulled into the narrow driveway.  Wally leaned forward, eyes widening at the sight of the rotting porch and broken windows.

“Wow,” he said slowly. “You weren’t kidding.”

Maddie huffed a laugh, grabbing bags from the back seat. “Told you it was bad” she said. “My mom did a bit of cleaning before Simon, Nicole and I got here yesterday, so it’s not completely tragic anymore. But it still smells like old wood and like something died. 

“Noted,” Wally said, following her up the creaking steps. “Hearing about it and seeing it are two very different things.” 

“Welcome to my financial trauma.” She muttered, pushing the door open. 

Inside, the air was cool and faintly musty, though most of the dust had been cleared away in the living room. The faint smell of cleaning spray lingered beneath the smell of damp wood. A small table sat in the living room near the fireplace. To the right, the kitchen came into view- cramped but neat, the counters wiped down, and a few cleaning rags left drying in the sink. The sunlight filtered through smudged windows, reflecting off the snow outside and giving the space a pale, tired glow. 

Maddie and Wally began spreading snacks on the kitchen counter when they heard the crunch of snow under tires. Maddie glanced out the window as two cars pulled into the snow-covered lawn.  

Nicole and Simon climbed out of Nicole’s car, arms full of folding camp chairs, blankets and a small bag. Charley, Rhonda, Yuri and Quinn spilled out of Rhonda’s small hatchback. 

Nicole was the first to step inside, “The smell is somehow worse than yesterday. Which is why I’ve come prepared.” She said, pulling out a few scented candles from her bag.

Charley followed in behind her, carrying a box full of board games.  “Okay, first of all- it smells like mouldy sadness in here. Second, you said this was supposed to be a distraction from Xavier, so I brought Monopoly, not bleach.”

Rhonda rolled her eyes. “You’ll live.”

Maddie smirked, leaning against the counter. “I said I needed a distraction, and you said you’d help. This counts.”

Charley groaned. “This is not what I pictured when I said I would be there for you. I was thinking more… gossip and junk food.”

Maddie grinned. “You’re getting the junk food part.” Pointing to all the snacks Wally and her brought on the way. 

Charley sighed dramatically. “Fine, but I’m calling first pick of snacks. I need motivation.” 

Nicole rolled her eyes, setting her bag down on the table. “You’ll survive.” She started lighting the scented candles she’d brought, the faint smell of vanilla and cedar pushing back against the mustiness. 

Simon unfolded the camp chairs around the table near the fireplace, brushing off dust as he went. Rhonda and Yuri began cleaning cobwebs from the corners, while Quinn started wiping cabinets in the kitchen. 

Before long, the cabin buzzed with overlapping voices – Charley’s dramatic groaning over cleaning duty, Nicole muttering about the uneven floorboards, and Wally trying to get the fireplace going. Despite the dust and the cold seeping through the cracks, the space slowly started to feel a little warmer. 

By the time the kitchen counters were wiped down, and the living room windows were cleaned, the group had settled into an easy rhythm. Someone started playing music from their phone – quiet enough not to echo, loud enough to make the work less painful. Maddie for the first time all day, felt something close to peace. 

Then Simon glanced at the clock on his phone. “Uh, guys? It’s six-thirty and all we’ve eaten are the snacks Wally brought.”

Maddie tied up another rubbish bag, adding to the pile of trash bags in the corner. “When we were at the corner store, I saw a pizza place. We could get some pizza?”

There was a round of murmured agreement – and a cheer from Charley- before Rhonda grabbed her keys. She and Quinn volunteered to go pick it up while the rest of them cleared the last of the cleaning supplies. 

When they returned, the pizzas disappeared in minutes. They sat around the table near the fireplace – the candles flickering, the snow falling outside – laughing, teasing and taking turns losing miserably at Charley’s stack of board games. 

By the time the clock hit nine-thirty, the laughter had softened into that warm, tired quiet that came after a long day. Nicole started packing her things, Simon folded the chairs, and the rest followed suit. 

Outside, the snow had eased into a light dusting. Everyone said their goodbyes – promises to come back soon and finish what they started. Even Charley, with his usual flair, called dibs on first pick of snacks for next time. 

Maddie and Wally loaded the last few bags into his truck. When they climbed in, the heater kicked on with a low hum, filling the cabin with the scent of cleaning spray.

For the first time all day, Maddie felt her chest unclench – the cabin had been exhausting. For a few hours she hadn’t thought about Xavier at all. 

For a while, Maddie and Wally didn’t speak on the drive back home. The snow tapped gently against the windshield, and the streetlights stretched into long, golden lines on the wet road. 

“Not bad for a Tuesday,” Wally said finally, eyes still on the road.

Maddie gave a small laugh. “Yeah. Dust, bleach, and pizza- what more could you want?”

“Maybe less dust,” he said. “And maybe a day off school tomorrow.”

“Now that,” she said, leaning her head back,” would actually make this week worth it.”

They feel quiet again, the comfortable kind of silence that came after a long day together. 

As they turned onto their street, Wally’s headlights swept across the row of parked cars – and then stopped on a familiar red truck in front of Maddie’s house.” Her stomach sank. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” 

Wally slowed the truck to a stop, glancing at her. “Guess avoiding him didn’t last very long.”

Maddie rolled her eyes, jaw tightening. Through the front window, she could see the glow of the living room lamp – and the shadow of someone pacing. 

She sighed, unbuckling her seatbelt. “Guess the night’s not over.”

Part 7 Part 9

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