"Do you have any idea how much trouble your in?" She asked hand on her hip. And that when Maddie yelled, "I hate you, " And ran out of the door.

I didn't know whether to stay and defend Maddie or follow her out. I knew there was no way I could catch up with her but I also knew that I had a better chance of staying on her trail and letting her cool off then trying to talk to my stubborn parents so I yelled, "Maddie wait," And dashed out the door jumping over the first two stairs and down the rest.

Maddie turned on Emmington street and then on Winchester. It just now occurred to me that we were only two blocks away from Lukes.

"Wait Maddie what do you plan on doing," I said catching up to her brisk walk as she let herself catch her breath.

"I don't know. But I won't stay away from Luke and my friends and they can't make me no matter how much of a burden I am."

I was too stunned to reply, a burden, how could Madison feel like a burden? Our parents adore her. I can tell. She might be the worst and toughest but they love her for the courage and strength she has, more than they did in high school. In Moms Covert Ops Reports she always says how she was scared but I don't think my sister is ever scared.

"Are you crazy Mom and Dad love you. You're their world they just don't want you to break the rules like that because you might get hurt," My voice quivers and I touch her arm as she puts her arm around my shoulders.

"They broke rules, I am not doing anything worse then they did."

I frown, "Yeah but there parents, they worry, silly."

"Are you going to stand up for me?" She asks biting her lip. For the first time ever I realize I know that Mom was scared because she wrote it down she told the world practically but Maddie is just as scared from the look in her eyes she just doesn't want me too know.

"Always," I whisper.

After getting ice cream at the dinner on the corner of the street she goes to see Luke and tell and comes out ten minutes later biting her fingernail, "Lets go home," She takes my hand in her hand, "Its almost dark."


"Where have you been young lady?" Dad asks when we walk in.

"Out," Maddie answers.

"I see that you have been out," Mom snaps, "Now Madison I will overlook your smart reply from earlier. Give us your phone and your grounded from the TV, computer, going out, seeing Luke, and breaking rules until the end of the summer. This will count for your time at Gallagher also if you are caught breaking these rules at Gallagher you will be grounded longer, until Chirstmas."

"Mom paaaleeeaaasee," I said, "Come on its not like she ran away."

"Bella stay out of this," Mom said.

I smirked, "No no no no no no no. I am not staying out of this, its ridiculous. You broke worse rules than this and got in no trouble. You had a boyfriend. I mean my gosh I know you love Maddie I see. You don't want her to get hurt, I understand shes my sister but this isnt going to do anything but piss her off."

"But this i how we choose to protect her form what happened to us," Mom argued back.

"What," Madison also yelled to catch our attention, "I told you Bell, WHAT HAPPENED TO US," She said and I knew she was referring to her being a burden. Her eyes now shimmered with tears and I saw her mascara smudge, "You mean that you made a mistake. You got pregnant with me, that was mistake. I get to now, I know that was a mistake because I shouldn't be alive right now then you couldn't be yelling at me for wanting to be a teenager like you got to be," She thrashed her voice raising, "I shouldn't be alive because I am your burden," She threw her self up the stairs wiping her eyes.

I was about to go after her but Dad stopped me standing up, "No its okay I think we got we got this one."