{EDITED}
TW: Body shaming

Maddison Brooks

The hot temperature outside didn't matter, the garage floor was still cold against my sweaty skin. I've been working out since I got home from dance class. Charles had made me think I would walk home alone but instead he waited in the parking lot outside to drive me home.

He waited for one and a half hours only for me to be done, something not even Trevor has done with his busy schedule even if it was summer and I'm almost sure that he doesn't have a job because of his laziness.

It would be better if I walked, especially after what my caring boyfriend texted earlier today. He knows what's best for me even if it causes scars deep inside my bones and mind.

Thankfully Claire hadn't been in the dance class earlier. Yet my mind had been far away from what I needed to do. Cameron had yelled my name more times than normally since I couldn't keep my mind straight. I lost work out time because of both that and letting Charles drive me home.

I'm making up for that time now.

My body aches from everything, still not over Charles and my play yesterday that had made me enjoy myself during sex because I hadn't time to concentrate on how I looked since my mind was busy with figuring out where the ice was moving on my body.

Taking a sip of the water from the bottle I brought with me from the fridge before I walked out here. Letting the water wet my dry throat. Picking up my phone, switching songs to my solo that I still needed to work my soul into just so it could be perfect by the end of summer. "Just one more time." I told myself in encouragement to keep going even if my body could give out any second.

(No Time To Die- Billie Eilish)

The sound of a low piano vibrating through the speaker in the garage. Making a quick walk into the middle of the floor before sitting down on my hands and knees, ignoring the part of my mind that wanted me to remember yesterday when Charles fucked me from behind and kissed my shoulder as he thrusted into me in a way that made me feel as if I was worth something.

As the music got more intense I stood up, walked a few steps before I stopped. Looking at myself in the big mirror in front of me, rolling my shoulders back.

I should of known

Leaning back until my hands touched the floor behind me. Arching my back, my stomach pointing against the floor before I turned my upper body. Letting one of my legs get dragged in half a circle around me, my foot pointing and toes touching the floor after years of stretching and ballet.

Moving forward before backwards, gripping my ankle behind myself for a second before I made a circle with my upper body. Keeping my arms tense but relaxed as I moved them with my body.

I'd leave alone

Taking force with me as I moved my legs in a circular motion below myself. Curling up on my knees, moving my body to the side before I stood up on my knees. Gripping my shoulder with my opposite hand as I let myself fall to the cold floor that created goosebumps on my skin that wasn't covered by clothing.

Just goes the show

Keeping my legs spread when I rolled over my back to get into the other side, my hand still having a hold on my opposite shoulder.

Crawling with my hands over the floor, rubbing the bare skin on my stomach against the floor until I had the sense that my skin was red or pink instead of sun kissed golden.

Pressing my hands against the hardwood floor, lifting my upper body up and down while my legs were resting behind me.

The blood you bleed

Pushing off the floor, tensing my body to get all the way into a standing position by rolling over the front of my feet and my toes that took up all my weight when I was on top of them. My toes ache for a second before I could ignore it in the same way I'm ignoring the rest of my aching body.

Is just the blood you owe

Moving over the floor, my brain gave up on me leaving me to improvise my way to the next step I remember.

•••

I stumbled on weak legs up the stairs. My entire body was dripping wet and shaking in exhaustion from having two intense practices after each other when I tried to burn some calories that I didn't need.

Walking into my room, ignoring the shower that was calling my name. Grabbing the black bikini Trevor gave me a while ago, probably last summer. Standing in front of the mirror as I changed clothes. Looking at me through Trevor's eyes when he watches me before I turned on my heel and walked back down; ignoring my body ache again.

There was no one in the house, leaving me feeling as if going swinging in the backyard pool was a bad idea. I ignored the feeling just as I ignored the rest of myself. If I drown, I won't hear my self consciousness telling me the facts I can see every time in a mirror through my boyfriend's eyes.

Stepping out on the stone brick floor that burned my feet as I tipped on my toes until I reached the edge of the pool. Watching the water gulp below me before I held my breath and jumped in.

Leaving my mind by the surface. Feeling the water turn out the surface sounds and fill my head with emptiness. Opening my eyes underwater, looking around in the water around me as my eyes burned and lungs squeezed in a lack of air.

Pushing my feet against the pool bottom when it felt as if I was going to pass out in lack of air. Just as I got up to the surface, letting air stream into my lungs again and letting my thoughts leave, I left here back into my mind again. "Maddison!" Shit.

Turning around, seeing my dad stand with his hands on his hips with a grumpy look on his face and still in his work clothes from just getting home. "I have told you to not go into the pool when no one is home."

"I know how to swim." I argued with him only to be met by a stern look that told me to take my words back. "Got it."

"Good. When you dried yourself off, I want you to make something for dinner since mom will be home just in time for dinner and I still have a lot of work left to do." I gave him a nod before getting ready to sink under the surface again to give myself another break from my mind. "Now Maddison, so you don't drown." Rolling my eyes as I swam against the pool edge, feeling my dad's gaze on me until I was fully out of the pool.

My dad walked away without a word when I turned around. Holding back the urge to jump back into the pool.

Groaning when I remember that I didn't bring a towel with me. Trying to get water off with my hands instead of letting myself dry under the sun as I normally do. Tipping inside, my dad was nowhere to be seen; probably already had locked himself in his home office.

Water dripped off my body and down to the floor as I tried to walk fast without slipping and falling. Trying to keep notice of where I walked so I know where I need to dry up the puddles of water when I get downstairs again.

Getting into my room and grabbing a towel in my bathroom and drying most of myself from water before I took off my bikini and left it on the floor.

Feeling decently clean when I walked into my closet to grab some clothes instead of running around naked in the house, no one would want that.

Taking out a black crop top and a pair of short sweats that ended by the middle of my thigh. Redoing my high ponytail into a messy bun to not have it in the way while I cook, or at least try to cook.

Grabbing the towel that I left on the floor with my foot. Moving it over the wet puddles of water on my way down and into the kitchen, drying up my mess before anyone notices it even if it still would dry fast in the summer heat.

•••

How hard can it be? It's mac'n cheese.

Let me tell you, it's hard. At least for someone that isn't used to cooking even if it only is mac'n cheese.

The pasta water was fifty percent outside the bowl, yet it somehow looked as if there was only one fourth left in the bowl where most of it was pasta. Grabbing a towel in an attempt to dry the water that spread on the stove. "Damn it." I shrieked when boiling water landed on the top of my hand.

"Maddison! Are you ok?" My brother's voice came from the front door that just opened before it was shut. Steps came closer to me while I turned off the stove and walked over to the sink behind me and turned on cold water. The water hit my burned skin as Max walked in and shortly followed by Evan and Charles. All of them shirtless, Charles showing off the flying bird tattoo that covered a part of his abs.

"How was it in Paris?" I smirked and leaned against the counter while my hand slowly became numb because of the cold water that came from the sink.

"We weren't in Paris?" Evan said looking confused. Max just was questioning me quietly while Charles just shook his head with an amused glimt in his eyes before walking to the stove. "Oh.." Evan continued when he came to realization. "No" He let out a disappointed breath. "Just stop thinking about that."

"Says the guy who probably had his dick in my brother's butthole." I replied when I heard the water starting boiling again without me putting the stove on again. "That's my job!" I smacked my palm against Charles' bare shoulder in an attempt to make him move. Letting my hand linger in his damp, warm skin for a second too long.

"Yeah, well someone needs to say it. You suck." Charles said with his back against me. I felt heat rush up on my cheeks even if it was put in a normal context.

I may be dirty minded, but who isn't at this point?

Continuing trying to get rid of him so I can continue with the food by stepping in between the stove and the man himself. "Did your mind get a little dirty there, principessa<princess>?" He whispered in my ear, Charles' warm breath spreading goosebumps on my skin and a shiver down my spine. Rubbing my behind against him in a try to get him away but ended up being pushed away from him. Looking up to him, seeing him shake his head; barely noticeable. Giving the boys behind me a glance, making me turn around and look at my brother and best friend sticking their tongue down each other's throats.

"I'll just go and make the dinner table." I mumbled to myself when I reached up and grabbed a few glasses and got out of the kitchen to leave them on the dining table before the food was ready. 

Walking in and out of the kitchen a few times and loading up the dining table with plates, glasses and things you need to eat. Evan and Max were talking on the couch while they were waiting to sit down around the table and eat the food Charles took over cooking.

Getting into the kitchen, walking into Charles broad and naked chest. My hand touched the flying black bird over his ink. The warmth of his body overwhelmed me, making me flush before I could back away from him. "Is there anything more I can take?" Brushing my hands on the fabric of my clothes, looking down on the floor to not meet his gaze that put me on fire and made me feel high.

"No."

"Great." I turned my back against him and walked out of the kitchen without looking at the man behind me even if I could feel his eyes linger on me.

Sitting down on the couch as far away as possible to give my brother and best friend more space and not feeling intruded on by me. The front door pushed open the second I relaxed into the couch. "I'm home!" Mom called out into the house.

"Yeah. I heard the door, you don't have to yell!" I said back in the same tone as she yelled. Hearing Evan and my brother move away from each other so Evan was closer to me. Showing in their body language that they haven't told anyone about their relationship.

Turning my head towards the door, looking at my mom who was looking at Evan and Max with a glint in her eye and a rising smirk on her lips. Once she turned her attention to me, I just gave her a low smile and a shake on my head before looking back at the TV screen.  "Maddie, weren't you supposed to cook?" Mom asked me and forced me to turn around again.

"Yes."

"Then why aren't you cooking?"

"I failed and Charles pushed me away and took over."

"Thank god for that." Mom mumbled on her way to the kitchen.

"I heard that!" I called after her even though it probably was a good thing that Charles took over since my cooking skills are far from fine, it's even a wonder that the house hasn't burned down yet.

The smell of mac'n cheese lifted in the house, I heard Charles and my mom talk in the kitchen. Evan and Max ignored each other now, looking down at their phones; texting each other as if they were having a real conversation.

"The food is ready!" Mom called while she walked into the living room to get to the dining room, Charles walking shortly behind her. He said something to my mom before turning towards the stairs, taking them two at the time as he made his way up to the second floor. Admiring his back muscles flex under his bare skin, clenching my thighs together in a weak try to ignore the arousal between my legs.

Damn you back muscles. And damn you Charles for getting back from Italy.

Just as Charles got up to the second floor, my dad showed up around the corner and almost crushed them together. WIthout being able to help myself, I let out a loud snort. Charles gave me his middle finger before disappearing out of my eye sight while my dad came closer while still wearing the grumpy mask on his face.

Taking a deep breath to gather myself from the hotness Charles gives out and that makes me burn as if he was the sun himself.

•••

Everyone was quiet around the table, eating the food that Charles saved from landing in the trash. The only sound came from the scraping sound of metal against the plates, people chewing hungry on the food in front of them. Silhouettes from the sun streaming through the window created shadows over the table.

"How has the basketball season been going?" My dad said. Asking both Charles and Max in one, but I think he was mostly talking to his son as usual.

"Great." They both said at the same time in a dry tone that my dad dislikes. When you talk to my father you need to have respect but also enthusiasm in what you are staying, or you don't get his attention if it's work related.

"Any girl that could distract you from the upcoming season?" He asked a question that made everyone under the age of twenty choke for some reason.

"No, no girl." My brother gave out after taking a sip of water after coughing hard. At least he wasn't lying.

"Charles, do you have any girlfriend? It has been so long since we last spoke properly." My mother asked, making me look down on my plate as something bubbled in my chest that I never felt before. But the thought of Charles having someone else to play with made me want to shrink into a ball and ignore my existence.

"No, no girlfriend."