Happy reading.

Chapter 25: Aw, Snap

Maddox claimed to no longer be angry. He even offered me what he called an apology, which went something like this:

We were in third period, Forensic Science, and we had a small project to do. He decided to be my partner and I didn't bother telling him to bug off, partially because I didn't want to work with someone I didn't know, but mostly because he made an effort to fix things- which isn't something he usually does. I'm usually the one doing the fixing.

"You're not mad anymore?" I asked as I pressed my finger against an ink pad, putting it on its designated box on the paper.

"No," he replied stiffly. I glanced at him before slightly shaking my head.

"What if I'm still angry?" I responded.

"You're not," he replied bluntly. I looked at him and he shrugged, fingerprinting his ring finger. "Winona told me."

"Of course she did," I muttered.

Despite the fact that he claims not to be angry, everything he does around me is tense and uncomfortable. I suggested getting car rides from Vivica but he shook his head and insisted on bringing me back and forth from school. However, he doesn't speak and everything he does seems irregular and jumpy. For example, I went to go change the music (because that's what he does to fill in for the awkward silence) and he apparently went to do the same. Our hands touched and he jumped away so quickly that he nearly swerved us into some lady's yard.

On Wednesday after school, I caught a ride with Vivica because I didn't feel like sticking around to watch a bunch of freshman try out for baseball. Even our friends sense the tension around us because apparently, he doesn't act like this when he's with them. They've said so themselves. They all came up with the conclusion that it must be me.

After an uncomfortable car ride with him on Thursday morning, I managed to slip away after saying an awkward farewell, which would usually be him 'accidentally' walking with me to class and then, if I brought it up- which I always did, he'd insult me, blush, and then walk away. Despite the fact that we had the same first period class, he always had to run upstairs to get to his locker, which was always a last minute thing for him. But this parting was just him speed walking to the entrance and then brokenly waving before jogging in the direction of Jackson's locker, which is where the guys usually meet up.

By the time lunch slid around, I was grateful to be around our friends. Maddox usually doesn't act as stiff around them, but they said it was still noticeable. "We're still hanging out today, right?" Winona inquired as she looked around the table.

"Yeah," I nodded as I poked at my food. Everyone else agreed that they would be meeting up at the mall at five o'clock like we planned.

"I don't think I should go," Maddox bluntly said.

"Why not?" Jackson inquired as he looked at Maddox, as did everyone else. I let out a very long sigh.

"Yeah, why not, Maddox?" I asked, pulling his attention from Jackson, who he was straining to send mental messages to. I wasn't even a part of the messaging system, and I could tell that he wasn't going to go because of me. It didn't take an idiot to see that was what he was trying to tell his friend.

"I have homework," Maddox attempted to excuse, staring at his tray.

"I can help. Is it Algebra two?" I asked with narrowed eyes, throwing down my French fry and rubbing the salt from my hands.

"No," he bluntly stated. His eyes flickered from the corners of his tray as he struggled to think of something. "It's, uh, from—."

I scoffed. "Are you serious?" I snapped.

"What?" he asked, playing dumb.

"You know that you don't have homework," I retorted. "And when you do have it, you wait until the last minute to do it."

"Well, I'm trying to get it done early so I don't have to stress about it tomorrow," he responded.

"Use your free period to do the homework," I suggested, sitting back with crossed arms.

"No," Maddox replied.

"You're still angry," I told him with narrowed eyes.

"I'm not," Maddox informed me.

"Fine, stay home and do your homework. I'm just going to ask Abel if he wants to come," I retorted as I stared at him, scrutinizing him.

"Good," Maddox replied. "I hope you two have a good time."

"We will," I responded. He sat there for a minute before standing up and walking out.

"You two need to fix whatever that was," Jackson noted. I pushed my plate away and bit my lip.

"You know what? You're right," I responded as I stood up.

I jogged towards the cafeteria exit, hoping to see Maddox making his way to his destination so I could follow. I heard the opening of the creaky stairwell doors and I immediately walked over, slipping inside the slowly closing wooden slabs. I saw Maddox walking up the steps.

"Maddox," I called as I approached him.

"What?" he asked, finally sounding normal- just a little ticked off. "Shouldn't you be asking my brother to hang out?" he asked as he leaned against the wall.

"I was bluffing," I responded. "You fell for it, too."

"I didn't fall for anything," Maddox replied.

"Of course you didn't," I muttered. "Can I ask you a question without you flipping out and storming off?"

He rolled his eyes and nodded. "Fine, whatever."

"Why do you get so mad when I hang out with your brother? And when I talk about him?" I inquired. I saw that he was about to say something, probably stupid, and I cut him off. "And don't say that you don't, because you and I both know that you do." He went to open his mouth but decided not to and went with a shrug instead. "Maddox," I spoke quietly.

He glanced at me and shrugged again, huffing loudly. "Olive," he decided to reply.

"If you were jealous, it doesn't mean that you like me. And I won't assume that. There's such a thing as friend jealousy," I explained as I stared at him. "You can be jealous that I talk about Abel so much around you because you don't feel validated as a friend."

Maddox grunted. "Fine, whatever."

"'Fine, whatever' doesn't fix the friendship," I told him with my hands on my hips.

Maddox narrowed his eyes at me. "Fine, I was friend jealous," he explained before looking at his shoes. "Are we okay now?"

"Yeah," I nodded. He mirrored my actions and shoved his hands in his pockets, causing me to smirk. "And you shouldn't feel like the inferior friend compared to your brother; you're a great person," I joked as I patted his arm. His eyes glanced at my hand before he blinked a few times.

He furrowed his eyebrows as he looked at me. "That reminds me, why did you feel my chest?" he asked.

"What?" I inquired.

"After we kissed, you reached out and touched my chest," Maddox replied. "Why?"

I felt my face heat up and I began chewing at my cheek. "To feel your heartbeat."

He smirked. "To see if I was real and it wasn't a dream?"

I scoffed and shook my head. "No, you idiot."

"Then what?" he asked me curiously. I stared at him. He was leaning his shoulder against the wall as he stared at me. His hands were in his pockets and he had the familiar smirk on his face. He was facing me as I pressed my back against the wall, wanting to sink into it and fall into oblivion.

"I'm going to sound stupid," I muttered.

"Most likely," he told me. "But I'm in need of a laugh, so go on."

I sighed and shrugged. "To see if your heart was beating as fast as mine was." The moment the words left my mouth, I cringed and put my head in my hands. "I sound like an idiot."

"Was it?" he asked me. I stood there internally shaming myself as I waited for his laughter, which never came. I nodded as I removed my hands from my face. He took a step forward, grabbing my hand and putting it on his chest. "What about now?" Similar to mine, his heart was hammering in his chest. I nodded my head as my stomach filled with butterflies.

He took another step forward so his face was only inches from mine. "And now?"

I slowly nodded as I stood up on the tips of my toes. The sound of the doors opening caused me to jerk away. I heard the familiar voices of our friends slowly quiet down as I shoved Maddox away from me. I turned and stared at the intruders, red faced and jumpy.

"You couldn't give us two more minutes?" Maddox asked, surprising me. Instead of looking at him, I ducked my head.

"I see you two have made up," Winona noted. The bell rang and I felt Maddox put his hands on my shoulders.

"Let's get to class," he muttered as Jackson and Nicholas began whooping loudly.

+ + +

"You're coming later, right?" I asked Maddox as we exited our last period class. I was grateful that it was over. Whenever I'd glance at Winona and Cassidy, who were sitting in the front seats, they'd pretend to be kissing someone, wrapping their arms around their bodies. I know Maddox saw them too because he chuckled at one point when Cassidy had her hands on Winona's chest and Winona was blinking at her overdramatically. Mrs. Reanna wasn't exactly happy with the interruptions.

"Yeah," he nodded.

"What about your homework?" I asked him with a smirk.

"It can wait," he retorted, chuckling quietly.

Refraining from asking him about what happened in the stairwell, I decided to ask him something that hadn't left my mind. "How was helping the coach with junior varsity try-outs?"

He shrugged. "There are a few good players. One kid missed every ball tossed at him," he cringed slightly.

"Are you any good?" I asked him curiously. Abel told me yesterday that his younger brother is good at baseball. In fact, he said that Maddox made it to the varsity team his sophomore year.

"Am I any good?" he scoffed. "I'm about as good at baseball as I am at kissing."

My face blushed red and I tried to scoff. "So not that great."

He rolled his eyes at me. "I like to think I'm good. You should come watch one of my games."

"When's the first one of the season?" I asked him curiously.

"Two weeks or so," he replied. "You'll go?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I will."

"Good," he nodded.

"You better hope you're good or I'm leaving halfway through," I responded with a smile.

He rolled his eyes at me. "No, you'll stay for the guys in baseball pants."

I felt my face redden. I imagined him in baseball pants for a moment before scoffing. "I know a thing or two about baseball, believe it or not."

"Do you?" he inquired.

I nodded my head. "Yeah, I do. I watch it with my dad."

He smirked at me. "Good, maybe you'll stick around for the actual game then."

"Also for the baseball pants," I responded. "Unless you'll get jealous." He gave me a flat look and I smirked. "Friend jealous, that is."

+ + +

We were at the mall, walking around together, talking excitedly. It wasn't until Winona and Cassidy wanted to dive into a familiar shop that the trouble began. I immediately cringed and looked at Maddox, shaking my head, but it was too late. Raven's perky voice greeted us. "How may I help you?"

"Raven?" Nicholas asked as his eyes landed on her.

"Guys!" she greeted. "Girls! Everyone!"

"Well, this is awkward," Winona muttered from beside me.

"Olive and I are going to go wait—," Maddox started but was cut off.

"Olivia!" Raven greeted me. "Nice to see you again!"

Maddox looked at me with furrowed eyebrows as Raven encased me in a hug. "Raven," I greeted her with a smile.

"I see you haven't taken my advice," she smiled at me after glancing at Maddox. I shrugged and looked down at my hands. I'm getting there, Raven. I'm slowly but surely getting there.

"There are some obstacles, but I'm working towards it," I told her.

"Obstacles?" Raven asked.

Deciding not to go too into detail because Maddox was literally a foot away, I nodded. "My father doesn't approve."

"Why not?" Raven inquired.

"He thinks it's a bad idea- doesn't think the shade will suit me," I responded.

"Get a wig and show him that it's a good color," she smiled at me. Maddox looked completely and utterly confused.

"I'll be sure to do that," I told her. "Maddox and I are going to go check out the, uh, children's center!"

Maddox managed to keep up with me. "You weren't talking about hair, were you?"

"No!" I responded once we entered the toddler's clothing shop. "We were talking about you."

"Me?" he asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"Yes!" I told him. "She knows that I like you. And...some other stuff."

"Some other stuff?" Maddox asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"Yeah, some other stuff," I retorted. "We had to get out of there or else she would've turned on you and start asking question you don't have the answer to."

"I don't have the answer to?" he asked.

"Yes," I nodded my head quickly.

"Like what?" he inquired.

"I've already embarrassed myself enough for today," I told him.

"Just say it," he insisted.

"No," I responded. "It's going to make things awkward."

"When have I ever acted awkward?" he asked me. I stared at him and he sighed. "When have I ever acted awkward because of something you said?"

"She thinks you like me, too," I told him as I turned around and began examining a red onesie.

"And how'd she figure that?" Maddox asked from behind me. He didn't sound angry or shocked, but he sounded genuinely curious.

"Because I went and visited her not too long ago to apologize for my rude behavior," I responded. "And she asked if I liked you and I told her that I did. And then she said that she thinks you like me because she knows you."

"She doesn't know me. She knew me, but she doesn't know me," Maddox sighed.

Thankfully, our friends came crashing into the store. "What was that about?" Winona asked with wide eyes. "You're besties now?"

"Besties for the resties?" Nicholas asked.

"Besties for the resties until deathies?" Jackson inquired.

I scoffed and shook my head. "No, we're only...acquaintances."

"Can we get going? This store is giving me the creeps," Cassidy piped as she poked the baby mannequin.

"Definitely," I muttered quietly, trying not to be deterred by what Maddox had just told me.

+ + +

When we finally decided to eat, we saw yet another familiar face hanging around. Parker was walking a few feet ahead of us when Nicholas jogged over. Soon enough, we were informed that Parker was going to be eating with us. Because both Maddox and I wanted Chinese food, we walked over towards the bistro. When we approached the table, I noticed that Parker was greeting everyone. Parker gave Maddox a short 'man-hug' while I moved around them. After putting my food in front of the seat I wanted to sit in, I was pulled into a large, bear hug by Parker. I returned the hug with a laugh.

Once I pulled away from Parker, I noticed a ticked off look on Maddox's face. Awe, is he friend jealous again? I dropped down in the seat I chose for myself and, as Maddox went to sit down in the chair beside mine, Parker slid into the seat. Maddox glared at the back of Parker's head. "It's not like I was going to sit there or anything," Maddox grumbled.

"Sit next to Winona," Parker smiled.

"Yeah, sit next to me," Winona grinned at Maddox, who rolled his eyes but sat down.

"What is that?" I muttered when I noticed the weird looking food on Parker's plate.

"Sushi," he responded. "Try it."

"No thanks," I replied, shaking my head. I'm not a fan of seafood.

"Come on," Parker insisted as he moved his food towards me. I shook my head again and he went to move the plate but a deep voice spoke.

"She doesn't want your sushi," Maddox's snapped.

Parker's grin faltered, but Jackson quickly spoke. "Calm down, Maddox."

"Yeah, calm down, Maddox," Parker nodded before turning to me again. "Are you sure you don't want any sushi?"

Maddox let out an annoyed sigh and I shook my head. "I'm sure, Parker. Thanks, though."

"Call me Park," he smiled. I smiled and nodded before going back to my food. A few moments later, he announced that he'd be going to the bathroom. The moment he was out of hearing range, Maddox mocked him immaturely.

"'Call me Park,'" he imitated him with a scrunched up face. Without hesitation, he snatched Parker's sushi and placed it beside his own. He then slid his food across towards Parker's empty seat before walking around and dropping beside me.

When Parker came back, he looked generally confused but slowly sat down in Maddox's old seat. "Why are you in my spot?" he asked coolly before picking up a piece of sushi.

Maddox, who bore an annoyed look, opened his mouth to speak but Nicholas had anticipated it. "He wants to sit next to his girlfriend."

I immediately looked down at my food as my eyes widened. "Girlfriend?" Parker inquired.

Instead of responding, Maddox reached down and grabbed one of the legs of my chair, yanking me towards him. Parker didn't say anything else to me for the rest of the dinner.

+ + +

Once Parker said his goodbyes, which included no physical contact, I couldn't help but sigh in relief. Though jealous Maddox is adorable, it's hard to have a conversation with him when he's clenching his jaw and glaring at Parker whenever he so much as glances at me. And I can honestly say that Parker wasn't making me uncomfortable at all- he's flirtatious, which isn't weird among guys his age. "What was that about?" I asked Maddox as I fell behind the group in order to stand next to him.

"Parker's a jerk," Maddox responded. "He preys on innocent, young girls."

"You make me sound like a twelve year old," I replied.

"He's twenty years old," Maddox told me. My eyebrows hopped up quickly and he nodded. "Yeah."

"I thought you guys were friends," I muttered.

"We are, he just needs to be put in his place occasionally," Maddox shrugged. I nodded as I stared at the linoleum floors of the mall. "And maybe I was a bit friend jealous."

My head snapped up as I looked at him. I mean, I noticed, I just didn't expect him to openly confess it. "It's only Parker," I told him. "And Abel is, well, Abel."

"Yeah, I guess," he murmured.

"There's no reason to get jealous," I informed him with a small smile on my lips.

He sighed as he assessed me from head to toe. "Tell me about it." I scoffed and hit his arm. He chuckled, looking at me with a smirk. "No offense."

"None taken," I sarcastically retorted. "I think your jealousy is unnecessary. Parker and Abel are my friends; Parker's your friend and Abel's your brother."

"You can't say anything about jealousy," Maddox told me. "Remember the whole Raven incident?"

"Yeah, but that's different," I replied.

"How?" he inquired.

"Because..." I started, trailing off.

"Yeah, you're right, that's completely different," Maddox sarcastically blurted after a moment of my hesitating.

"No, it's different because you guys were a thing at one point," I informed him.

"We stopped being a thing a very long time ago," Maddox responded. "And I don't like her anymore."

"Yeah, I know that now," I replied. "But what you're doing is like me going off on Winona and Cassidy."

"Is this just harass Maddox day?" he questioned. I rolled my eyes at him and shook my head. We made our way to the parking lot, parting ways from our friends and telling them we'd see them tomorrow.

I got into Maddox's car and he closed the door