90% 15.51
Chapter 2
Maddie sat on the edgy of her bed, staring ut her phone. The social media frenzy that hard consumed her yesterday was now
cruel comment and even the leaked photo mare gone, wiped clean as if they had never
doing. This time, the one standing behind
Spaws pas
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fingers trembling
ont later, she sent anoth
om: Don’t wor
mce I’m back in
bout me tor
Haichester, F
I
almost
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instantly: (Alright, sweetheart. Mom is Counting down the days until you re
skeppsop
Chapter 8
home.]
The image of her mother waiting by her phone, anxious for a response, made. Maddie’s eyes sting. This was what she had been missing all along–a sense of family, love without conditions, a place
where she was wanted.
**
Maddie was about to reply to Lucy when her phone buzzed with an incoming call.
“Maddie! You scared me half to death, Lucy exclaimed, her tone frantic. “Why didn’t you answer my messages? I thought something had happened to you!”
“What could possibly happen to me?” Maddie replied with forced lightness, trying to put her friend at ease.
“Well, Rico took down the hot search, didn’t he? That must mean something. You‘ re not as upset now, right?”
Maddie hesitated, her voice softening.
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pter 8
my brother
ucy, it wasn‘ t Rico. It was my
handled it. And honestly, I’ve
thmother
pped caring about Rico. I’m getting
for a respu
sting. This
y to go home.”
g all alvords barely left her mouth when a
out conduit came at the door.
vanted.
Maddie, breakfast is ready,” Rico‘ s
ce called from the other side.
ut to repeart jolted. She had slept so deeply ed with anight before that she hadn’t heard
eturn. Panicking, she quickly ended ll with Lucy and opened the door,
scared me
her tone
wer my he
ing hadi
tood outside, dressed casually in his ossibly harias. His dark hair was tousled and his
with for ssion was unreadable.
a friend atrien
said you’re going home?” he
ok down his tone sharp.
at mustmejus,
le’s mind raced. “You misheard,”
upset now set
id quickly. “It was Lucy who’s
ed, her home.”
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Chapter 8
Before Rico could press further, a soft voice
1 floated in from the kitchen.
“Rico, has Maddie gotten up yet? Breakfast is ready!”
Jane appeared, balancing a plate in her hands, wearing Rico’s shirt from the night before. She beamed at Maddie as though the previous day‘ s chaos had never happened.
“Good morning, Maddie!”
Maddie bit back a bitter retort. “You two enjoy. I’m not hungry.” She turned to close the door, but Rico grabbed her arm.
“Don’t be rude,” he said, frowning. Est “Jane worked so hard to make breakfast
despite her burned foot. She even woke up early to cook for you and you won‘ teat?”
A laugh burst from Maddie’s lips–sharp, Habitter and uncontrollable. The emotions.
she had buried for so long finally erupted,
er
Chapter 8
spilling out in a flood of anger and
heartbreak.
“Rude? You‘ re calling me rude?” Her voice trembled, but it was steady enough to cut through the air. “Rico, it was Jane who bumped into me yesterday. But you didn’t even care to ask what happened. You blamed me–me! And now you‘ re talking about her burned foot? Did you know I had to get stitches? Did you know I needed a tetanus shot? Of course not. You didn’t even notice!”
Rico froze, his eyes dropping to her feet. For the first time, he noticed the thick gauze wrapped around her right foot. Maddie was barefoot, standing on the cold. floor and tears fell silently, splashing against the ground.
“I didn’t know…” he murmured, his voice tinged with guilt. He moved as if to crouch down and examine her injury, but Jane quickly intervened.
“I’m so sorry!” Jane’s voice quivered
517
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with practiced regret. She stepped beside Rico, her face a picture of remorse. “I had no idea you were hurt. I didn’t mean to bump into you yesterday–I swear!”
Maddie‘ s jaw clenched as she watched Jane’s theatrics. The sweet, apologetic tone was for Rico‘ s benefit, not hers.
***
Maddie’s chest heaved as she took a step back, leaning against the doorframe for support. “Save it, Jane,” she said coldly, her voice sharp enough to slice through the air. “You‘ ve done enough.”
Rico glanced between the two women, conflicted. “Maddie, she didn’t mean any harm-”
“No, Rico.” Maddie‘ s voice cracked, but she held his gaze. “You didn’t mean any harm either, right? But every time Jane hurts me, you‘ re the first to defend her. Every time I need you, you‘ re too busy. Do you know what that feels like?”
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Chapter 8
with practiced regret. She stepped beside Rico, her face a picture of remorse. “I had no idea you were hurt. I didn’t mean to bump into you yesterday–I swear!”
Maddie‘ s jaw clenched as she watched Jane’s theatrics. The sweet, apologetic tone was for Rico’s benefit, not hers.
***
Maddie‘ s chest heaved as she took a step back, leaning against the doorframe for support. “Save it, Jane,” she said coldly, her voice sharp enough to slice through the air. “You” ve done enough.”
Rico glanced between the two women, conflicted. “Maddie, she didn’t mean any harm-”
“No, Rico.” Maddie‘ s voice cracked, but she held his gaze. “You didn’t mean any harm either, right? But every time Jane hurts me, you‘ re the first to defend her. Every time I need you, you‘ re too busy, Do you know what that feels like?”
3:51
B
gret. Stretened his mouth to respond, but no ictureicturcame out.
hurt hurt. I
m done,” Maddie whispered, her
estergesterda
barely audible. “I’m done waiting
enclenched to care.
allities. Thes
Psico sint also like
92
direst
