Chapter 340 What If They Never Came Back?
Winston was feeling a bit better after popping some meds, but Riley was still a ball of nerves. She took some time off to let him chill at home, and Landon stuck around to keep him company.
Meanwhile, Finley hadn't seen Winston and Landon at kindergarten for a couple of days, and she hadn't bumped into Riley either. It was starting to get to her. Usually, with Landon and Winston around, she found it easier to vibe with the other kids. But without them, and with her own walls up, the other kids started giving her the cold shoulder again.
After class, Finley would often slump over her desk, pouting and staring at Winston and Landon's empty seats, wishing they'd just pop up out of nowhere.
"Finley, whatcha doing?" Bishop, one of their classmates, asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
Finley just ignored him, keeping her head down on the desk.
"Come play with us!" Bishop invited, but before Finley could even think about it, another kid chimed in, "Bishop, leave her be. Finley never wants to play with us!"
Bishop looked at Finley, unsure. Even before Landon and Winston showed up, he used to hang out with Finley. Back then, she'd at least acknowledge him, maybe even chat or pass notes. But now, it was like he was invisible to her.
Bishop found it super weird and kinda worrying. He couldn't help but reach out to touch Finley. Seeing his hand coming her way, Finley finally reacted, frowning and dodging away reluctantly.
Bishop's eyes lit up, thinking Finley was playing with him, and he reached for her arm again. This time, Finley shoved his hand away, hard.
The kids around them noticed and quickly crowded in, throwing accusations at Finley. "You shouldn't hit others, Finley! Say sorry to Bishop!"
Finley winced, realizing what she'd done, but she didn't feel like apologizing. She'd already made it clear she didn't want to be touched, and yet Bishop kept pushing.
Bishop stood there, his hand red and his face shocked. He just wanted to play, so why'd she hit him?
"Finley, apologize, or we're telling the teacher!" someone warned, hands on hips.
Others quickly joined in. Finley glanced around at the angry faces surrounding her, then back at the empty seats where Landon and Winston should be. Tears welled up as she felt the weight of their absence. Landon and Winston would have had her back.
Thinking of the days when Landon and Winston protected her and remembering how distant Riley had been lately, panic swelled inside her. What if they never came back?
That thought was too much. Finley's eyes flooded with tears, and she broke down crying. The kids around her froze, startled into silence. They were just trying to stand up for Bishop, and hitting someone should definitely get an apology, but they hadn't expected Finley to cry like she was the one who'd been wronged.
The kids felt puzzled, but seeing Finley crying so hard, they didn't dare say anything more. The class bell rang, and the kids guiltily returned to their seats, but Finley's tears kept flowing, her face full of hurt.
