Prologue - Part 2

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Three years later

~ Madison's POV ~

"I wana hear you sing it. Hey, mama don't stress your mind, we ain't coming home tonight. Hey, mom, we gonna be alright-"

"Oh God, shut up!" I jumped at the sound of my bestfriend shouting behind me and I quickly turned down the speaker, giving her a sheepish grin.

"Sorry. I do this in the morning, it helps me to wake up."

Stevie rolled her eyes as she came and sat down on the stool next to where I was standing in my new kitchen.

"Don't worry I remember. It makes me wake up too." I let out a laugh as I handed her a plate of breakfast, knowing it would get her out of her mood.

After living with her for three years in college, I knew what she was like in the mornings and I knew exactly what got her to cheer up.

"This is why I love you." I rolled my eyes before picking up my own plate, putting it down on the island as I sat down next to her.

"So how was your first night here?" I looked around the half decorated apartment and smiled as I nodded my head.

"It was perfect. I've been waiting for this day for a very long time." All she did was give me a soft smile, nodding her head in understanding.

"Thank you for helping me last night. I don't think I would have ever been able to do any of this without you."

"Of course you couldn't have, you're a weak bitch. But it's okay, I enjoyed it. I've missed spending time with you Maddie."

I nodded my head as I ate a bite of my omelet, although I did want to argue with her over the fact she thought I was weak.

And a bitch.

I wasn't a bitch. At least I didn't think I was.

"I know, I've just been so busy over the last few months. As soon as we graduated I started working at the hospital and you know how it is - nurses have long ass shifts."

She nodded her head in understanding although I'm pretty sure she didn't get it. I mean, she was interning with a fashion magazine somewhere in LA, journalism was a lot more glamorous than nursing.

"Well, we have the next few days together before I have to go back to LA, so we'll finish decorating your apartment today and then tomorrow, we're going out."

"Los Angeles is only half an hour away from Santa Ana, Stevie. We could just go out together some other time."

Of course she just rolled her eyes and continued acting as if she lived on the otherside of the world.

"Be quiet, we used to share a tiny room together, that is freaking far for us."

I nodded my head in response to her words, giving her a small smile.

I met Stevie when I first started college, a couple of weeks after I was released from the hospital. It took me a while to warm up to her and to let my guard down but eventually when I did, we instantly clicked.

We were roommates for the entire three years.

Once we'd finished our breakfast, we got on with decorating my new apartment. It wasn't very big, it had one en-suite bedroom and a small bedroom next door with another small bathroom. The living room and kitchen were open plan and there was just enough space to fit a small dining table although I knew I would eat at the kitchen island most of the time.

Since I was living alone now that I could afford it, the other bedroom stayed empty for now. I could just about afford the apartment and the furniture I needed to live in it, the rest was something I would just have to wait for.

Renting this apartment was the first thing on my list once I had the money. I couldn't bare to be at home for too long, there were just too many memories there.

My parents did move house after what happened, but just being around my old bedroom furniture and things, it was too hard for me. Also living so close to that neighbourhood and passing the places like the highschool and his house were hard.

I wanted to forget that chapter of my life completely.

"What's in this?"

But there were somethings I couldn't just let go of so easily.

"I don't know."

I gently took the small black box which seemed like it had gone through a lot, from her hand and put it in the bottom drawer of my dresser at the back.

"What do you mean?" I let out a sigh as I turned to look at her. This was the tiny detail that I'd left out of the story when I told her, but I guess now was the time to tell her this too.

"He gave it to me for my birthday. I didn't open it on the day and after...I just couldn't do it. But I could never bring myself to throw it away. Maybe one day I'll open it, but right now, I'm not ready."

It was the last thing I had left of him.

Once she realised who I was talking about, guilt instantly filled her eyes.

"Oh, crap Maddie I'm sorry. I didn't know." I gave her a reassuring smile as I shook my head.

"Don't worry about it Stevie. Come on, let's finish this and then we can order dinner."

The truth was, I could never bring myself to talk about him for too long. It would be like opening Pandora's box, once it was done I would be left with a million and one thoughts that I haven't dealt with even three years later.

No one ever found out what had happened to him. He and his family just disappeared into thin air.

So I did the only thing I could do.

I grieved whatever loss I'd experienced even though I was sure he wasn't actually dead, but to me, it felt that way.

Was I healed though? Absolutely not.

Would I ever be able to heal?
Probably not, but only time would tell.

I missed him more than I ever thought I could miss anyone. When you hear people on TV talk about how they love someone more than themselves, how they miss them with all their heart, I can tell you emotions like that do exist.

Because I felt them every single day.

Eventually we finished unpacking all of my things before we had dinner together, curling up on my couch with a movie on.

It was simple and perfect. Just how I liked it.

<<<<<<< >>>>>>> <<<<<<<

"I hate sharing a bed with you."

I lifted my head watching in amusement as Stevie got up off the floor and got back on the bed with a glare on her face. The mess of hair on top of her head only made it funnier.

"Tonight I'm going to get laid, so don't expect me to be here again." I let out a laugh as she continued to mumble next to me about her plans to come and collect her things from here tomorrow before she drove back to LA.

"I'm on my side, I was no where near you. Don't blame me because you fell off." Of course she just continued to mumble and then turned away to go back to sleep.

That's how our morning started.

Once we'd gotten another hour of sleep we were up and having breakfast before Stevie forced me to do a workout with her in my living room.

My very tiny living room.

"Stevie, come on. There's no space for this."

"Just because you're lazy that does not mean I'm sacrificing my body for you." I rolled my eyes as I dropped down on the couch watching her work out.

She really did have the best body - a perfect ass and the right sized boobs, hardly any fat and she was naturally tanned.

Unfortunately I wasn't like her. She always told me I had a figure to die for, but I couldn't see it. I had an average body and unless I'd been in the sun to tan, my skin was just warm and peachy. The best thing about my appearance was my long brown hair, but that was it.

After I took a shower, Stevie finally finished her workout and took one too before we went to get some lunch together. We spent the rest of the afternoon together before we eventually went back to my apartment to get ready.

"I'll be back for my things tomorrow morning but I've put them in the spare room anyway, in case you bring someone back tonight."

My eyes moved from the bracelet I was putting on over to my bedroom door where Stevie was standing in her fitted red dress.

I rolled my eyes at her words but nodded anyway. For her it would be easy to find someone, but I knew it wouldn't be so easy for me.

I'm sure a drunk horny guy would settle for me, but after my experience at a party years ago, I wasn't about to let just anyone touch me like that again without speaking to them to get to know them first.

"You're wearing that?" I glanced down at my outfit which consisted of a pair of black shorts and a fitted white T-shirt.

"What's wrong with this?" Stevie shook her head in disgust before going over to my closet. She turned back to look at my outfit again before shivering and then opening the closet.

Talk about dramatic as hell.

"Here." I yelped when I felt something hit me in the face and I picked up the black dress she threw at me. It was a tight strapless dress which ended mid-thigh.

"I don't think-"

"Maddie, you're twenty one years old. Stop acting like a baby, put the damn dress on and do your make up so I don't have to see your hideous face. You're freaking beautiful."

Only a best friend could insult you and compliment you in one go.

"Fine." I let out a sigh as I took off my shirt and shorts and before I could put the dress on, she jumped up off my bed.

"Wait!" I let out a sigh and turned to face her, holding the thin material of the dress in my hands.
I watched as she went back to my closet and started digging through my drawers inside until she threw two pieces of material at me.

"No guy would stick around if he took off your dress and came face to face with Mickey Mouse." My mouth dropped open and my hand went to the fabric of the panties I was wearing.

"I'll have you know these are comfortable and cute."

"Whatever. Change." She gestured to the lacy lingerie set in my hands and with a sigh I quickly changed into the the underwear before putting the dress on. It didn't take long for me to do my make up and hair and for the first time something was actually to Stevie's standards.

She always said I should have been a beautician. She claimed making people less ugly was just as good of a deed as looking after the sick.

"Ready?"

I nodded my head, as I walked past Stevie towards the front door only to stop and glare at her when I felt a sharp sting on my ass.

"Sorry I couldn't help it. You look amazing." I held eye contact with her for a moment before I let out a laugh. I grabbed her hand in mine before walking out of my apartment, shutting the door behind us as we left.

We made it to club we chose to go to within ten minutes before spending the next fifteen minutes in the line waiting to get inside.

"Drink first or dance first?" I let out a thoughtful sigh before taking Stevie's hand and dragging her over to the dance floor once I'd made my decision.

We danced to a few songs together enjoying the feeling of being sober for a little while before we eventually headed over to the bar to get a drink.

We sat for a while, drinking, talking and laughing before Stevie decided it was time for some 'real fun' and went off to find a guy.

It was only then that I remembered, I actually wasn't as excited about this whole thing as she was. Stevie was always the outgoing one in our friendship whereas I was too busy trying to deal with my issues to be enjoying the things she wanted to enjoy.

That didn't mean I didn't accompany her though, because I did. Like tonight - I let her think I was having fun but all I really wanted was to be at home.

"Can I get another one of these please?" I held my drink up to the bartender who nodded and got to making my third drink of the night.

At least I could handle my alcohol a lot better than a few years ago.

"Hey." I turned my head to look at a young blonde guy who was smirking at me as he took a seat on the stool next to me.

Is it just me or are smirks on a guy who's hitting on you just instantly a turn off? They only suit some people and this guy definitely wasn't one of them.

"Yes?"

He let out a laugh at my response before he leaned closer to me, allowing me to smell the alcohol on his breath.

Don't get me wrong I wasn't sober, and I'm sure after my next drink I'd be feeling the alcohol a lot more. But, I wasn't drunk enough to deal with him, that was for sure.

"I think you should go and find some other girl to hit on. I'm not interested." I gave him a 'look' before I turned and took my drink from the bartender, thanking him as I did.

"Why are you here, dressed like this, if you're not interested?" I stilled under his touch, feeling his hand grazing along the edge of the bottom of my dress as he spoke.

"Get your hand off me."

My words came out slow and thankfully, he removed his hand off my leg before he let out a scoff and got up, clearly struggling as he did.

"Bitch."

I had to stop myself from responding to him as he walked away to find some other poor girl who would be drunk enough to give into his advances.

"Here." I lifted my head to look at the bartender who gave me a friendly smile as he slid another drink towards me. "It's on the house. After dealing with that asshole I'm sure you'll need it."

I gave him a grateful smile as I finished the first one before moving onto the second one.

I didn't order another drink for a while as I just sat there, watching the people around me dance and have fun, without a care in the world.

I used to be like that.

A small laugh escaped my lips when I thought back to one of the parties I went to in highschool.

Flashback

"Madison! Madison I'm not freaking joking, don't do it."

I let out a laugh as I faced him, stepping closer to the edge of the pool. I was aware of people watching me, but my eyes remained focused on him.

"Why you calling me Madison? My name is Maddie." I drunkenly pointed at him attempting to appear like I was scolding him but all he did was step closer to me, ignoring this.

"You'll get hurt if you jump, just come here. I'll get you another drink, just don't get in the pool."

He definitely wasn't drunk enough for this party.

"Ugh fine Santi, but you owe me a lot of drinks. Like, you owe me a tonne of drinks because that would have been so funny."

I shook my head as I walked past him, ignoring the relieved expression on his face as I went back into the house. I was vaguely aware of him picking up my heels which I'd taken off by the pool before he followed me inside.

Although I was laughing, the memory only caused a sharp pain in my heart.

Apart from Stevie, he was the only one who ever looked out for me like that. Actually, most of the time Stevie would often focus on herself once she'd had a few drinks.

Somehow Santiago was able to do both, like I was always on his mind - drunk or not.

"Maddie I'm leaving." I turned my head to look at Stevie just as she started walking away following a guy to the exit of the club.

She's moves fast.

"Can I get one more please?" The bartender nodded as I slid my empty glass towards him and moments later he placed another drink in front of me.

I downed the last drink before I stood up, holding onto the bar for a second so that I didn't fall over.

I was only just starting to feel tipsy, so thankfully I was still able to walk myself out of the club without falling on anyone.

At least I thought that was the case until I accidentally crashed straight into a hard chest outside the club.

"Oh, sorry." Two hands shot out to steady me and the first thing I noticed were the tattoos on his wrists poking out from under his sleeves onto his hands.

Tattoos are so sexy.

I lifted my eyes away from his hands trailing them along his arms and firm chest, past his broad shoulders and up to his face. I took in his plump lips, his sharp jaw line and his dark brown eyes which were staring back at me in shock.

It only took me a moment before I stepped back, my face probably mirroring the shock on his.

I had no clue what to say. I couldn't even bring myself to speak.

It felt like I was dreaming. I'd dreamt of the moment I finally saw him again, but I always thought he would come looking for me. Maybe if he'd heard what I did, maybe he'd come back.

"Maddie..."

His voice was a lot deeper than I remembered.

I stepped back again as I stared at him, before I found myself stepping forward. His hands were still on my shoulders from when he steadied me so that I wouldn't fall over.

Still as caring as ever, I see.

"You...you're here..."

The alcohol definitely didn't help the way I was reacting to him. Part of me felt like I needed to get away from him, that he wasn't real, it was all a sick trick. The other part of me felt like I needed to be in his arms, I needed to be close to him, I needed to be with him.

Neither of us said a word, until someone pushed past me to get to the doors of the club and it was like he suddenly remembered we were still on the sidewalk by the club.

"Are you leaving? Let me take you home."

I still couldn't bring myself to reply to him.

Santiago seemed concerned by my silence and he stared into my eyes for a moment, probably noticing how they were glazed over from the alcohol, before he let out a curse word and turned around as if he was looking for someone.

I was vaguely aware of him speaking to someone, but it definitely didn't sound like English to me, or maybe I just couldn't understand since I was so disoriented at that moment.

"Come on." He took my hand gently in his and I suddenly felt electricity shoot through my hand at the contact.

You're drunk.

Santiago led me over to a glossy black car before helping me into the back seat and then he got in next to me. This time when he spoke to the driver, I could tell he was speaking in Spanish now that we were safely in the confines of the car and not outside a noisy club.

"Where do you live?"

I turned to look at him, suddenly realising just how close he was to me and it was only then that I could smell the alcohol on his breath although he definitely wasn't drunk. He didn't get drunk easily.

A moment passed before I found myself telling him my address.

We didn't say a word for the whole ten minute drive back to my apartment building until we finally pulled up. He helped me out of my car and said something to the driver before he guided me through the front doors and up the stairs.

Thankfully I was able to take my keys out of my clutch and I opened the door, stepping into my apartment. When he didn't come in behind me I turned to face him, to see him just watching me from the door of my apartment.

Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the pain in my heart, or maybe it was the sudden intense love that I felt for him that made me step closer to him, taking his hand in mine.

Whatever it was, I couldn't pin point it.

In that moment, I didn't care about why he left or where he went. All I cared about was the fact that he was okay, that he was alive and that he was right in front of me.

I felt this need to be in his arms. To be close to him. To never let him go again.

It was a bad idea, I knew that. But I didn't care.

All it took was a little tug of his hand and he stepped towards me, closing the door behind himself.

He came closer to me, placing his hands on my waist as I

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