"You know. A party doesn't sound like a bad idea-" Isadora chimed as she rifled through the clothes in Maddox's room. Everything he wore always so fun and weird. It was an interesting style. One that she admired quietly. It took weird confidence to wear whatever you want like he did.

"A party?" Maddox slipped on a lace shirt. One he hadn't worn in a while. But it was a warm night, he was sure he could get away with it.

It's been a while since they went to a party together. Mainly because Maddox seemed like he didn't like it.

"This one seems cool. Not like that last one where that guy-" Maddox cut her off with a fake gag as she wrapped his feather boa around her neck. Already thinking about the dude, covered in his own vomit, trying to make out with that girl. There's partying hard of course... But then there's that.

"I do not want to remember that, thank you." He made her giggle with his retort, pulling on a coat before looking in the mirror, trying to see if his back up accessory would look alright. Issa continuing to look through his things with curiosity.

"I'm just saying, they have cool burnouts instead. Maybe you'll meet cool people." She could have said something along the lines of... Well... Making new friends.

But she liked being his only one.

It wasn't exactly selfish if he agreed, was it? He didn't seem to be very interested in making new friends after the way he trailed after Isadora. For some strange reason she never thought to ask herself, she was the only person he seemed interested in to care about.

She ran her fingers over the fabric of a skirt. She's never seen it before. It was dark red, soft. And really.... Small. It was definitely not Maddox's. She wouldn't doubt that he'd wear a skirt, but he was a big guy. Too big for this at least. Who's was this-?

"Well let's go then, I'll give it another try." He hummed happily. Surprising her a bit at the lack of his usual whining resistance.

"Great. Drive me home really quick, I'm going to get dressed while you can keep looking as fashionable as always-" She laughed. Losing her place in the racks, the skirt disappearing from her view, and suddenly completely off her mind.

He frowned, but followed her out as the small creak for a few hangers was all they left behind.

~

It took maybe four of those tiny jello cups Maddox almost inhaled to realize they weren't cheering him on because that was just a lot of little jellos.

It hit the blond a lot harder than he thought as the two beers and shot someone pushed into his hand earlier seemed to finally all work together. The green jelly suddenly as unattractive as all the people's loud music and laughter.

He ate it anyways. Wondering how it would feel to get this bad anyways. Maybe Issa knew. She seemed to know everything about stuff he asked. She was an expert in what seemed to be the teenage agenda.

He tossed the little cup at a guy before they moved on to something else to rile themselves up for. The shifting his eyes did as the room seemed to swing in beat to the music, the warmth in his chest as he felt his head grow light. No wonder she liked to drink so much. It felt so nice like this. If only there weren't so many-

He fell over as someone ran past, two idiots chasing each other around for who knows what. Mads gave a small grunt in displeasure from his spot on the floor he was debating even trying to get back up from. But someone grabbed his hand, he didn't notice that they did until he was hauled up to his feet, eyes catching sight of his only companion across the room as he thanked the person he didn't even turn to see. A few guys quietly chatting over her as she grinned from her spot on the ottoman between them. Sunglasses slipped low enough that even he could see she was far past her usual go.

"Izz!" He called out from across the room, not making a single head turn as he stumbled against the dancing and screeching bodies moving all around the room. Carelessly pushing the dudes around her away as he looked at her with a huge grin.

"Mads... Havin' fun?" She slurred heavily. His smile immediately falling as he pushed her glasses up. Trying to shrug the hand off his shoulder as soon as he felt it, immediately trying to get her to stand.

"You're having too much fun-" He started. Ready to haul her out like last time (though he wasn't this drunk last party) only so that she fell back into her seat with a scowl, smacking at his hands as another two hands patted at his shoulders. Someone was saying something. But he wasn't listening as he persisted.

"I'm fine! Go sm'where-" She kept trying to pull her hands away. But Maddox knew this was too much- Even this drunk he had to get her out of here before something bad happened. He couldn't trust strangers.

"Hey- Leave the girl alone, she said she's fine-" One of the hands he kept shrugging of grabbed him more firmly, spinning him around to meet toe to toe with a very unenthused guy.

"It's none of your business." Maddox frowned. Not sure who the hell be thought he was to stop him from helping his best friend.

"What are you here boyfriend? I can't let you just-"

Maddox wasn't listening. Mad now at how much Isadora wasn't listening. He didn't want to be here anymore. This wasn't fun when she got like this. His brain hurt to the point the room started to tilt in an ugly way. And everyone's talking seemed to run over each other like a car crash. He pulled her up hard. The grip on her wrists maybe a bit too tight as he pushed the guy back, keeping her steady as he tried to hurry her past the other people trying to stop him. The way they closed in making his heart stutter and the painful pulse on his head only go harder. He didn't notice Isadora yelling until they got outside.

"Let go of me Maddox or I swear to God! What are you?! Crazy?! I was just-" She pushed a hand over her mouth as he stopped pushing and started pulling her forward with her other hand, persistent to get her into his car, and even in this state, take her home. But she nearly stumbled over the farther away they got from the loud house, stopping as she pulled back. Watching her curl over herself and vomit on the ground. Instantly pulling his hand back to tug at his hair.

The blond boy didn't know what to do to stop the painful feeling in his head and chest. Why in the world did he think it would be a good idea to do this again. He hated it the first time because of this, and he hated it now. He hated watching Isadora do this. Surrounding herself in that stupid thing that kept her 'safe' from her own mind, this "fun" she always quoted him everytime she drank from that flask, or cup, or glass. Maddox hated watching her stumble around like an idiot, drunk out of her mind and around so many strangers. He hated just watching her do this instead of being useful for once. He hated watching her get sick the next day only to nurse herself back with the same poison.

He hated watching his best friend destroy herself like this while he was there to witness in quiet.

You can stop it. You can keep her safe.

He walked over to her. Gently rubbing her back as she heaved. The words in his head speaking over the pulsing pain, working alongside of it as he stood her back up, the words she was saying falling on deaf ears as they walked back to her car.

She's been so good to you, you've tried your best to love her, you can help her, you can-

He sat her down on the hood of his car, taking off the coat he wore over that lace shirt and draping it over her shoulders, her head turned away from him. Angry. Cold. Sick.

Take her to a better place, a safer place. One where she doesn't have to hurt herself like this. You know you want to, Maddox.

He swallowed hard. Tilting her chin up as his head felt like it could burst. Vision bleary, barely even able to make out her face.

"Is she a good friend, baby?" She asked over his shoulder. Gently, in his ear as his hands wrapped around her throat.

"She's the best." He whispered.

~

"My girlfriend told me to watch out for her as she looked for some water. So me and my buddies tried to make sure she was just sitting down where no one could mess with her too easy."

The policeman jotted his notes down. Sympathy in his eyes as he looked up at the kid. The look of panic still on his face as he watched him remember from across the steel table.

"Did he know her?"

"I-I think he did. She was talking like she did." His words tripped. Hands knitted tightly in front of him as he pursed his lips. "I tried to get him to just leave her alone, he was pretty blasted too y'know? But he had this look in his face that..." He paused. He looked like he saw right through him, his eyes burned like he hated him for no reason at all as he pulled her up from the seat.

"My girlfriend told me to go follow them when she got back... T-Thats when I s-saw them again-"

The officer watched his eyes fall to the floor as his voice dried up just like that. If they continued like this, he might just give this kid a panic attack. It's been a long night. They both needed some rest. He looked to the doctor, standing by his side. The way he was staring at the wall while he listened. The air of exhaustion and worry too much in such a small room.

"Don't worry son. We can talk more about it later. At your pace. We understand that things like this can be..." He glanced back at the frigid man who demanded to sit in. The guardian. The failed keeper. "Stressful. Please. Go home. Get some rest."

As he let the kids, the witnesses leave, he couldn't help but sigh.

"Sir, I know you-"

"Forgive me, officer, but you don't know anything." He stopped him before he could finish his sentence. Turning back around to finally look at him, actual worry worming into the officer at his expression. One he couldn't quite describe.

"I've spent years raising him as my own. Trying to keep him away from that part of himself we both knew was there. He was a good boy, my son struggled so much, he only wanted to be good. And he tried so hard to be. But this is no one's fault but mine now. Mine."

He rushed out. Slamming the door as he left him there. Alone with the photos, the notes, and his own dreary thoughts.

~

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