Y/n flinched. And for the first time tonight, she looked affected.

She looked like she actually felt bad. But it wasn't enough. I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. "I can't keep doing this, Y/n."

Y/n's expression tightened. "Doing what?"

I blinked at her, stunned. "Are you serious?"

She shrugged. "You're the one making this more complicated than it needs to be."

I laughed—a sharp, bitter sound. "Right. Because wanting to be with someone who clearly wants to be with me too is so fucking complicated."

Y/n rubbed her face, frustrated. "Madz, I—"

"No, you know what?" I cut her off, stepping forward this time.

I looked her dead in the eye, and then I said it.

"You didn't seem so conflicted the other night when you had your hands all over me."

Y/n froze. Her face went blank. I scoffed. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

I stepped even closer, my heart pounding in my chest, my anger mixing with something deeper.

"You wanna tell me how that makes sense? How you can act like you don't want me, but then practically let me ride you on your couch like you were about to give me everything?"

Y/n's breathing stuttered. "Madelyn—"

"No, I need to hear it from you." My voice was almost desperate now. "Because I was there, Y/n. I felt you. I felt the way you grabbed me, the way you pulled me closer, the way you let me—"

I cut myself off, inhaling sharply. Because if I kept talking about it, I'd start crying. Y/n closed her eyes for half a second, exhaling slowly. But she still didn't say anything. She didn't deny that she wanted it. She didn't deny that she wanted me.

She just... stood there.

That made my chest tighten even more. I let out a shaky breath. "You don't get to do that. You don't get to pull me in just to push me away. That's not fair."

Y/n finally looked at me again, guilt written all over her face. I hated it. I hated that she felt bad but wouldn't do anything about it. I shook my head, swallowing hard. "You don't deserve me."

Y/n's body tensed like I had slapped her. My chest ached the second the words left my mouth, but I didn't take them back. Because maybe, just maybe, she needed to hear them.

I swallowed, voice quieter now. "Not when you refuse to let yourself have me."

Y/n stared at me, something breaking in her expression. And for a second, I thought she was going to say something. For a second, I thought she was going to finally let the walls down.

But then— The door opened.

"Madelyn?" Carlacia and JD stood there, clearly sensing the tension.

I blinked a few times, willing the sting in my eyes to go away. I nodded once. "I'm ready to go."

Carlacia frowned. "Madz—"

I shook my head. "It's fine." JD's gaze flickered between me and Y/n, his expression unreadable. Y/n shoved her hands into her pockets, looking down.

And I wanted her to stop me. I wanted her to say something—anything.

But she didn't. I wiped at my eyes quickly and walked inside. And just like that, I left her standing there.

A/N: How are we feeling people?! Thoughts? Is Madelyn valid in how she feels? What do you think is stopping Y/n?