Chapter 20

The week goes by excruciatingly slow. I'm present when Cassidy asks Jackson out. She does it casually. She simply mentions hanging out together, alone. He agrees and they made plans right there. I, on the other hand, am waiting for Maddox to mention the fact that we have a double date to attend on Saturday. But it isn't until Thursday that he actually does so. He takes me to the side and informs me about it. I simply nod and tell him I'd be there. I wonder why it took him so long. Maybe he'd forgotten.

On Friday, before work, my aunt and I have to stop at the mall. Aunt Genevieve has to get something to wear and buy a gift for a coworker's baby shower that she's going to. I'm only tagging along on the shopping trip because she's going to drop me off at work once we're finished here. We're walking around and she stops in a dress shop to look at their selection while I aimlessly explore. I notice a familiar face standing at the rack a few feet away and my eyes widen.

I'm too busy staring to even think about looking away and when she turns around and sees me, she smiles a small smile. She starts in my direction and I swear quietly, wondering what I should do. Should I leave the store? Should I just stand here and pretend to be a mannequin?

"Hey, Olivia," she greets me as if we're old friends that go way back.

"Hey, Raven," I smile at her. "I didn't know you work here."

"Oh, yeah, I got the job a few weeks ago," she smiles before taking note of my work shirt. "I see you also have a job."

"Yeah," I acknowledge as I look down. "I'm just trying to get accustomed."

She nods in understanding. "So how are you?"

"I'm good, and, uh, you?" I ask her. I hadn't realized how pretty she is when I saw her before. Maybe I was just never close enough to her to notice.

"I'm good..." she trails. "How is everyone?"

This is so very awkward. "They're good," I confirm.

"How's Maddox? Is he alright?" she asks me curiously.

"Yeah, he's good," I reply, feeling nervous. I really don't want to have this conversation with her. There's an awkward silence in which I struggle to come up for an excuse to leave but she continues talking to fill in for it.

"We used to have a thing, you know? I just wanted to make sure he's okay now that it's over," she replies casually before quietly scoffing. "I've moved on but I'm not sure if he has. Or ever will, really."

I stare at her and feel myself growing irritated. She's talking like she's perfect. I, of all people, know that Maddox isn't the greatest person but, from what I hear, she definitely wasn't the best, either. "Didn't he end it?" I can't stop myself from asking. I really should know my place and just excuse myself from the conversation.

She looks taken back and I feel the same way. "Yeah, but I mean, we both liked each other a lot. I was his first love, after all. I don't think he'll ever really get over me," she explains and I suddenly realize what she's doing. She's trying to deter me from pursuing Maddox. I feel irritated that she'd meddle like this. All those times I tried to help him treat her right and this is what she does.

"Didn't he end it because he stopped liking you?" I blurt before I can stop myself. I'm supposed to be the bigger person. "I mean, at least that's what he told me."

"Maddox may be a player, but he loved me whether he wants to admit it or not," Raven assures me with a shake of her head. "He was horrible to be in a relationship with."

My eyebrows jump up on my forehead at her words. "Was he also really clingy? Or was that just you?" I deliver the low blow and she seems to pick up on my insinuations.

"Is that what he told you?" she asks with a clenched jaw.

"Does it matter?" I ask. "You badmouthing him to me does nothing but make you look bitter. If you're as happily moved on as you say you are then you should let him do the same."

"I'm just warning you," she replies with a dismissive shrug.

"I'm not dating him, so you can relax," I inform her.

She lets out a quiet huff as she ties her arms over her chest. "Olivia?" my aunt's voice calls me and I turn around and find her standing close to the door. "Come on, there isn't much here."

I look at Raven. "I'll see you some other time." And before she can respond, I follow my aunt out of the store.

"Who was that?" Aunt Genevieve asks with a glance over her shoulder.

"Maddox's ex," I answer.

She laughs. "Are you jealous?" she sings.

I let out a quiet laugh. "Not really."

+ + +

I get out of work at eight o'clock to find a bunch of text messages from my friends. I'm in the car with Abel, who is driving me home, while I scroll through the texts. Apparently there's a party tonight and they want me to go. I'm not sold until I see a message from Maddox.

Are you coming tonight? I stare at the message before replying with a yes.

"Who's that?" Abel asks with a smirk as he leans over to see my screen. I lock my phone and drop it on my lap.

"No one," I retort dismissively. "Mind your peepers."

"Okay, you just looked pretty bored until you read that message," he shrugs with an amused look on his face. "I was just thinking that it might be Maddox."

"Are we all set for Saturday?" I blurt in a horrid attempt to change the subject.

"Yes," he confirms after giving me a short laugh. "You're going to some weird restaurant in Linus Peak. I went there with Caroline."

"Linus Peak? That's forty minutes away," I respond as I lightly thrum my fingers against the back of my phone. He couldn't have chosen somewhere closer?

"Well, you said you wanted to be alone with him. I mean, he can't leave you in a town forty minutes away, right?" Abel explains his reasoning. "So he'll be forced to listen to what you have to say."

I sigh as I give an understanding nod. "Okay, fine. I feel like such a creep for trapping him there."

"You are."

+ + +

"Aunt Gen, can I hang out at Winona's house? We're going to be watching movies and stuff," I ask her curiously the moment I enter the house. I notice her dressed in her work clothes and I'm hoping she has a night shift. That'd make it easier for me to sneak back inside. I feel guilty for lying to her but I just behaved myself for an entire month; I deserve a break.

"When will you be home?" she wonders curiously. "I won't be here but I want you to call me."

"When do you want me to be home?" I ask her.

She narrows her eyes at me. "Eleven."

"Okay, then I'll call you at eleven," I smile.

"Do you need a ride to Winona's?" she questions as she packs her purse.

"No, I'm good," I reject with a nod. "They're going to come pick me up."

"Okay, well, I'm off. I'll see you tomorrow morning," she hugs me and kisses my forehead.

After I shower and dress, I exit my room and walk down the hall. I knock on Vivica's door and she answers with a tired look on her face. "There's a party tonight. I thought I should tell you."

"I'd go," she smirks, "but I have a date."

"With who?" I ask her, praying it's not who I think it is.

"Jackson," she answers and my smile immediately falters.

"Oh, that's good," I nod awkwardly.

"Yeah, thanks for that, by the way," she smiles.

"Oh, it's nothing," I nod, feeling lost in thought. I stare at the ground as I think about the situation. Cassidy's going to be crushed. What kind of friend am I to encourage both my cousin and my friend to pursue the same guy? Definitely not a good one. In my defense, I didn't know about Cassidy's feelings until after I connected Jackson and Vivica. What am I supposed to do now? Tell one of them to stop pursuing him so the other could have him? It's not like I can talk to Jackson and tell him to pick one; he doesn't know about Cassidy's feelings. At least Cassidy knows about Vivica so she can proceed with caution.

"You're going to the party?" she asks, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Yeah," I tell her, wondering if it was a mistake. She may be nice now but who knows how the tables might turn soon?

"Are you going to do your makeup?" she asks me as she assesses my outfit.

I chuckle at the idea and shake my head. "I don't really know how to do it. I don't want to end up looking stupid," I explain.

"I can do it for you," she suggests with a smile.

"How do I know you're not going to wreck my face?" I question her.

"I won't," she assures me. When she sees that I'm still skeptical, she smiles and holds out her pinky. "I promise."

I sigh and throw my hands up. "Okay. Why not?"

+ + +

Maddox has been honking the horn outside for a good three minutes but Vivica is putting the finishing touches on my makeup. Once she finishes, I look in the mirror and nod. I don't look too bad. It's weird seeing myself with a full face of makeup on but it doesn't look bad.

"Thanks," I mumble as I examine my lashes, which are coated in mascara. They look so much longer. I press my lips together and pull them apart, admiring the sparkles in the gloss. My eyebrows look fuller and my face looks clearer. Hm, maybe I like this whole makeup thing.

"Well, you better go. Your boy's waiting," she encourages me from her bed. It's odd being in her room. It's also odd that she's being so nice to me.

"Oh yeah," I nod before I jog down the steps and out of the house. I'm hit with the cold and Maddox lays on the horn again, so I dismiss the thought of getting a jacket and just run to the car.

"What were you doing?" he asks me as I open the door and get in. "I've been sitting out here for ten entire minutes. If you were going to be late, you could've at least told me and—."

He stops complaining so I look up from the seatbelt, which I was locking into place. "What?" I ask when I feel his gaze on me. He scrutinizes my face with a tilted head and I feel my blush coming as I look in the mirror. "Does it look bad? Oh, no."

It looks the same as it did before but now, I can't help but feel self-conscious. "I didn't say that," Maddox murmurs as he pulls onto the road.

"Then what?" I ask as I shut the overhead mirror

"I don't know. I've never seen you with make-up on," he explains weakly.

"Well, Vivica insisted," I mutter as I rub my inner elbow.

"What if she would've messed it up?" he asks the same question I did.

"Well, she didn't, right?" I retorted.

He looks at me and gives a small head shake. "I guess not."

"So where to now?" I wonder.

"Well, we're picking up Cassidy and Winona, and then we're picking up Nicholas," he lists.

"Are you going to drink?" I ask him curiously.

He looks at me and scoffs. "Why? So you can stick around and try to eat my face?"

I glare at him. "No, I want to know in case you're incapable of driving so I can take your keys and give them to a sober person capable of legally operating a vehicle."

"Don't worry, I'm not going to drink," he assures me.

"Good," I mutter. The last thing I need is to babysit.

"That means no kiss," he informs me with an entertained glance in my direction.

"Shut up, Maddox."

+ + +

Winona and Cassidy run off inside the house after I tell them that I'm not drinking. Nicholas follows behind them eagerly. I go to follow behind him but Maddox grabs my arm. I cautiously turn around. Last time he grabbed my arm, he kissed me. "What?" I ask when he releases me from his grip.

"I got a few texts from Raven today," he tells me as he tosses his phone at me. I manage to catch it and he nods. "Read them."

I look at her contact name and find that it's a very rude one. It rhymes with witch. I hold back a chuckle as I read the conversation.

"I ran into your bodyguard today," Raven sent. She really reported back to him as if she wasn't the one in the wrong.

"And who might that be?" Maddox replies nearly an hour later.

"Olivia," Raven answers in less than ten minutes.

"So?" Maddox replies.

"She knew about what happened between us," Raven sends. There's a half hour gap and she eventually sends a series of question marks, which he replies to immediately.

"Because I told her," Maddox explains briefly.

"Why?" Raven questions him.

"Because I can," Maddox messages her. "Is that all?"

"She said a few interesting things. You might want to ask her about her feelings for you. She got pretty defensive," Raven insists and I want to scoff. Defensive? I defended him from her childish attempts at making me hate him.

"I don't need your advice," Maddox replies, sending a second message as an afterthought. "And do me a favor, lose my number."

"Fine," Raven responds.

"K," Maddox ends the conversation.

For some reason, I find myself satisfied at the fact that Maddox didn't ask her what I said. Not that I'd be embarrassed but I assumed he'd ask and believe her side of the store. I'd smile if he wasn't staring at me. I hand over his phone and pretend like I'm interested in the tree behind him.

"Care to explain what happened?" Maddox prompts the dreaded conversation.

I cough and try to buy myself some time. "I will admit I did see her at her place of employment," I start out.

Maddox looks amused as he stares at me. "And what did you say?" he continues to guide the discussion.

"Stuff, things, I don't really remember," I answer with a shrug. "Well, it's getting kind of cold. I'm going to head inside." I quickly turn on my heel and head in the direction of the house.

"No, no, no," Maddox interrupts, yanking me towards him by the back of my shirt. I turn around and sigh in defeat.

"I don't remember," I lie to him in hopes that he'll put off the convo.

"You're not going inside until you remember," he insists. I stare at the sky as I pretend to strain myself in thought. I remember everything I said. I also remember everything she said, and the feeling in the pit of my stomach that fueled my slight verbal rampage. It kind of reminds me of the feeling in my stomach right now, except it's not jealousy; it's a very, very strong sense of regret and embarrassment. I should've just minded my business and left. "Do you remember yet?"

"Nope," I inform him with another slow head shake.

"We might as well get comfortable out here," Maddox suggests as he stares at me and drops down on the tree trunk. "We're going to be out here until you remember everything you said."

"Okay, not to put the blame on anyone, but she had it coming," I start to explain and his face turns to one of amusement. I start pacing a little as I prepare to relive the cringe-worthy embarrassment. "I'll start from the beginning so there isn't any confusion."

"Okay," Maddox agrees as he stares at me with a small smirk on his lips. He drops down at the base of the tree. His legs are bent and his arms are resting on them. He has his hands on his phone, but he isn't using it. I pace back and forth as I fiddle with my hands.

"She asked me how everyone was. I said good. She asked specifically about you and I said good again. I could tell it was going to get bad so I considered walking away. I obviously didn't. She reminded me that you guys used to date before asking if you're over her yet. She then went on to say that you probably won't ever move on because you were head over heels in love with her and she was your first love," I explain.

"Let it be known that I'm over her," he assures me from his spot on the ground and I glance at him for a second.

"Yeah, I know that. But then I reminded her that you ended things with her because you didn't like her anymore," cue a snort from him, "and she told me she knows you still love her and that you were horrible in a relationship."

"I was horrible in a relationship? I was willing to try a long distance relationship but she refused and basically broke up with me so she could be with other people. Then she tried to come back and pick up where we left off and got mad at the fact that I moved on and was actively dating."

"I know that you weren't horrible in the relationship. When she said that, I asked if you were clingy too or if that was just her," I explain, which gets a grin from him. "She was just trying to convince me not to date you. But don't worry; I told her we weren't dating. And I called her bitter and told her to relax."

"Okay," Maddox nods as watches me walk back and forth with a small grin on his lips..

"I mean, it wasn't my place to say any of that, and if I'm being honest, I didn't think you'd hear about it that fast. Well, I didn't think you'd hear about it at all. I thought she'd be too embarrassed to bring it up to you," I confess. "I don't know. I just got angry that she tried to lie about it. I don't know why I automatically assume your version is the truth, but I just do. Maybe it's because I trust you. Maybe it's because I don't like Raven."

"You don't like Raven?" he asks me.

"Not really, no," I mutter when I realize I've given myself away.

"Why not?" he wonders with a curious gaze.

"I just don't," I answer. He looks up at me with that stupid smirk on his lips and I can tell where his mind is going. "That's the only answer you're getting."

"You just don't," he nods in confirmation. "I'll accept that."

"You're so full of yourself," I scowl at him when I see the playfulness behind his eyes.

"You're something else," he mutters as he starts getting up. I extend my palms and he takes them, closing his large, warm hands around mine. I surprise him by yanking him up completely and he obviously doesn't expect it so he stumbles into me. When he takes a step back, I realize our hands are still entwined so I immediately pull mine back and wipe them on my jeans. Maddox notices the embarrassed tinge to my cheeks as he assesses me. "Definitely something else."

+ + +

Maddox and I hang out for the majority of the time at the party, talking about nothing in particular. At eleven o'clock, we both exit the house and go to a quieter area so I can call my aunt, who speaks for a few moments before hanging up. We then walk side by side back into the house. We sit in a quiet, empty room alone and try not to get involved in the activities of the people around us. We mostly play games on our phones and listen to the stupid conversations of drunken people through the door. It's when I have to run downstairs to go to the bathroom that things get bad.

I run into Winona and Cassidy, who are tipsy and insist that I do a shot. I figure, 'why not?' because I'm stupid. Why not? Well, probably because I'm here in Harrington to escape my old lifestyle. I also have someone upstairs waiting for me to return completely sober and sane. But I watch as Winona shakily fills the small cups and loudly places down the vodka bottle, counting to three over the loud music. We tip our heads back and let the drinks fall down our throats, burning until it reaches our stomachs. I put my glass down and watch as Winona fills it again. I keep going, having one after another until they start to blend into each other. I'm sure I've had at least five shots by the time I wave my hands and tag myself out.

At one point, I'm dragged to the dance floor by Cassidy who is giggling loudly and tripping over her own feet. I laugh with her and try not to fall as we squeeze between people. We dance crazily and carelessly and laugh obnoxiously loud as we do. We behave like that for a while, and I have to admit, it's fun.

+ + +

"Come on, we're leaving now," Maddox grumbles unhappily as he drags the four of us to the car. Winona and Cassidy hold hands as they attempt to skip ahead of us. Nicholas is retching in the corner and I hear Maddox debating on whether or not he should bring him to the hospital. Maddox continues to tiredly round us up, making sure that we all stop at his car. He opens all of the door while threatening Nicholas as he shoves him into the back passenger's seat. That way, he can keep an eye on him and Nick is close to the window in case he needs to puke.

"I'm so tired," I whine as I sat on the hood of Maddox's car. Three hours have passed since I'd downed those shots and I know I'll be regretting it sooner rather than later. I usually can tell how my body reacts to alcohol but since I haven't gotten drunk in a while, it feels as if this is all new to me. I mean, the slurring and confusion has passed, but the blurry vision, excitement, and the inability to keep my mouth shut seems to be kicking in. And soon after that, I'll slowly start to get a headache, which means I'm sobering up and if I don't take medicine soon, I'll have a migraine. Drinking is definitely not worth it.

"Shut up and get off of my car," he mutters as he close the back doors. He leads me towards the car, grabbing my shoulders as a guide and I giggle.

"Your hands are warm," I sing and he sighs as he puts me in the front passenger's seat of the car. He leans over me to secure em in and I put my hands in his hair and comb them through his dark strands. I laugh loudly as he tries to shake my hands out all while trying to buckle my seatbelt "And your hair smells so good. What shampoo do you use?" I lean over and inhale heavily.

"What happened to not getting drunk?" he mutters unhappily.

He sighs in relief as he pulls away from me and slams the car door. "Sleeping," Winona dully mutters from the backseat as she rests her head on the window and nods off slowly. Cassidy is out like a light and Nicholas is gradually falling asleep.

Maddox walks around the car, gets in, and starts it up. "I swear I'm never taking you guys anywhere ever again," he complains more to himself than us.

"Why not?" I whine. "It was fun!"

"Dragging around four drunken people is not my idea of fun," he responds with a sigh.

"What is your idea of fun?" I ask him and wait for him to look at me before I wiggle my eyebrows.

"You're sick," he scoffs and I tilt my head back and giggle.

"No, really, what do you find fun?" I ask him in an attempt to be serious. I try to stifle my laughter and he gives me a flat look. I struggle to remain somber as I begin listing off possible activities. "Reading? Games? Hanging out with your friends?"

"I usually like hanging out with my friends when there aren't secrets," he mutters.

I grin widely at him. "I know something you don't know!" I sing in a whisper.

He glares at me. "You know, you're normally really annoying. But you're even worse when you're under the influence."

"You're just mad because you don't know the secret," I dismiss his feelings. He doesn't reply; he just glances at me before continuing to look at the road. "You know what I've noticed about you Maddox?"

"What have you noticed about me, Olive?" he prompts.

"I like that nickname- Olive," I inform him. "I usually only let Charlie call me that, but when you say it, it's cute."

"You are so going to regret this," Maddox mutters as he turns the corner.

"But what was I saying?" I ask as I focus on him before the thought returns to me. "Oh, yeah, I noticed that you are very curious. You don't like to seem curious though because you want people to think you don't care."

"Really, now?" Maddox questions me with a thoughtful look on his face.

"Yes, it's true. I know," I assure him.

"Okay," he nods in thought.

"You know what else I noticed?" I query.

"You notice a lot of things," Maddox mumbles. "What else have you noticed, Olive?"

"You and Abel look so much alike," I explain as I assess him with slightly tapering eyes.

"First time I've heard that one," he grunts quietly.

"Don't tell Abel, but you're the better looking one," I whisper with a flirtatious wink.

"You're going to regret everything you're saying," he repeats. "I'd stop you from talking but it's interesting so keep going."

"Want to know what else I noticed?" I inquire as I lean forward a few inches.

"For your benefit, I'm going to say no," he replies. 

"I also noticed that you smell really good," I blurt.

"Gee, thanks," Maddox chuckles as he glances at me.

"You know why my father doesn't like you?" I question, not waiting for a response to continue. "Because you remind him of my old crush- Jacob."

"Jacob?" he repeats with furrowed eyebrows.

"Yes, Jacob. He was so pretty," I sigh as I remember him. "He was model worthy, as in he could've been a model."

"He could've been a model," Maddox nods mockingly.

"Anyway, Jacob was way older than me. I was a freshman and he was a senior. He was friends with my older brother, Dylan. My brother found out that I had a crush on Jacob and told him. Jacob obviously didn't like me back. He would always joke around with me and wink at me. He did that at the dinner table one time and my father almost killed him. Ever since then, my dad thinks I have a type," I explain with a sigh.

"And I fit into that type?" Maddox wonders with a curious grin on his face.

"Yeah, I mean, my father seems to think so. He thinks you're a bad boy," I elaborate. "Little does he know, am I right?" I lightly nudge him in the side and he turns to me.

"What?" Maddox asks.

"You're a wimp!" I remind him, which gets a scoff from him.

"I'm not!" he responds.

"Yes you are," I reply. "But it's okay, because I like you just the way you are."

"Are you Bruno Mars now?" he wonders.

"When I see your face," I begin, running my hand down the side of his head, laughing when he glares at me. "Something, something, something..."

"You're the real deal," he mutters as he pulls up to Cassidy's familiar house. He turns to me as he puts the car in park. "Wait here. And don't touch anything."

"Scared of what I might find?" I question him.

"Not really, you just tend to break everything you touch," he grumbles me as he unbuckles his seatbelt.

"Wait," I call out to him as he prepares to get out of the car. I slowly poke his chest. "Boop." He looks at me with furrowed eyebrows before glancing down at his sweater. "Did I just break your heart?"

He sighs noisily loudly as he gets out of the car, obviously not finding the situation as funny as me. I notice Isaac coming out of the house. I roll down my window and grin at him. "Hey!"

"Hey, Olivia," he smiles at me. I lean my head out of the window and look around.

"I feel like a dog," I comment with a laugh. I stick my tongue out of my mouth and begin growling and barking.

Maddox looks at me before shoving my head back in the window. "Drunk?" Isaac asks curiously as I begin rolling the window up and down.

"Hey look! I'm disappearing!" I laugh as I rolled up the window before rolling it back down. "Just kidding, I'm still here."

Isaac laughs and Maddox can't fight the smile that breaks onto his face. He points a threatening finger at me before leading Cassidy to her house. Winona and Isaac follow behind as I sit there, waiting patiently with a sleeping Nicholas in the back of the car. I notice Maddox's phone on his seat and I lift it. I immediately go to his music and wrinkle my nose as I scan through the songs he has. Maddox got in the car moments later and looks at me.

"You're not even going to try and make it look like you weren't snooping?" he wonders me as I hold his phone in my hands.

"I'm just checking out your music," I explain with a disappointed shake of my head. "It sucks."

"You suck," he retorts.

"And if you really want to keep people out, you should put a lock up here," I retort before looking at his notifications. "Or else they might see your two text messages from Jamie and Jackson."

"What do they say?" he questions me as he pulls us onto the road.

"Are you sure I'm not going to see anything I don't want to see by viewing these messages?" I hesitate with my finger hovering above the texts.

"Just open the messages, Olive," he snaps so I sigh and press them.

"Jamie asked if you're still going over there on Sunday and Jackson said 'lol' and added a laughing emoji," I explain as we drive down the dark streets.

"Tell Jamie yes and ignore Jackson," he responds. I confirm the plans with Jamie and I call Jackson a loser, or at least I think I do. My vision isn't exactly the best and auto-correct made no suggestions like it did for Jamie's message.

"So Jamie's place on Sunday?" I ask him curiously as I put his phone down on the center console.

"Yeah," he nods with a smirk. "Jamie's place on Sunday."

"Cool," I reply awkwardly. I'm pretty sure I have an attitude because the word slips off my tongue like a sharp knife.

"If it's so cool, why do you sound so upset?" Maddox retorts, sounding and looking entertained.

"I'm not upset," I answer in the same icy tone.

"You seem pretty upset," he replies with an evil laugh. "If you care so much, Jamie's—."

"If I cared, I would've asked," I snap back, effectively cutting him off.

We pull up to another house. This one is unfamiliar, but it's in somewhat familiar territory. We're getting close to home and I sigh in relief. He wakes up Nicholas, who gets up and slowly walks up the steps to his house, where he unlocks the door, waves, and enters.

We start in the direction of my house and I rest my head on the cold window, slowly dozing off. My head is aching and throbbing and I can tell that I'm sobering up. I'm in dire need of aspirin. We arrive at my house and Maddox jolts me awake as he leans over and undoes my seatbelt. "Do you want to know the secret Maddox?" I ask him as I run my fingers through his hair. He pulls me from the car by my hands and walks beside me along the path to my house. He stands next to me me with his hands tucked in his sweater.

"And again, for your benefit, I'm going to say no," he denies. "If you want to tell me in the morning, I'll be all ears."

"You were right about the crush part," I ignore him with a slow nod. "Can you guess who has the crush? I'll give you a hint. Her name rhymes with Bolivia."

"Let me guess, Winona," he retorts.

"I wish, but no. I'm the one with the crush," I announce with a sigh as I rub my forehead. "Can you guess who my crush is?"

"I feel like you're going to tell me anyway," he replies as he leans against the railing of the porch.

"Well, it's not really much of a secret," I mutter as I try my best to focus on the words I planned on telling him later, on our date. "But I like you. I know it's stupid and I really shouldn't but I do. I mean, I don't want to. You don't really need the ego boost, but I can't exactly help it. And I read online—."

"You looked it up?" he asks me in a completely amused tone. I'm happy he's not freaking out and punching me in the stomach.

"Shut up," I dismiss him as I try to hop back onto my train of thought. It takes me a moment to find it. "Like I was saying, I read online that in order to get over you, I need to tell you that I like you. But I don't want this to mess up our friendship, you know? So, don't try to avoid me or anything. I mean, I can face rejection and I know you dish it out on a silver platter. I just don't want our friendship to end because of my feelings. I mean, you're not that special—."

"Special enough for you to develop a crush on," Maddox adds in as if I don't already know this.

After giving him a pointed look, I pretend that I didn't hear him and I continue. "You're not that special, but it'll be awkward to try and remain friends with our other friends while simultaneously hating you. Alright?"

"Okay," he nods with a small grin on his face.

"So we're good here?" I ask just to be sure.

"Yeah," he confirms. "You look like you need to sleep so I'm going to go home, compile a list of all the embarrassing things you said and did today and send them when I finish so you can see them when you wake up. I'll see you tonight, at eight."

"Eight?" I ask him after cringing slightly at the idea of waking up to a list of all the things I did to embarrass myself.

"Our date," he reminds me.

"Oh, that's cancelled," I responded with a dismissive wave of my hand. "Abel will understand."

Maddox looks at me before kicking off of the railing. "I'll see you at eight." Before I can say anything, he walks down the steps and gets into his car.