Disclaimer: I do not own twilight!!
Alright well here is chapter 12!I will be doing the same as the last chapter. One thank you up top and another at the end. So first off i have to thank to my brillant beta, MidnightEmbryMisery!! I don't even have words to thank her for everything she has done for me. She is by far the best beta i have ever heard, i send her chapters and i get them back within hours! I owe her so much and i know this thank you doesn't cover it but she is far beyond anything i could have ever wished for. So everyone clap for her since she really deserves it!! THANKS GIRL!
And now onto the chapter!! Enjoy!
Maddy's POV
"So what do you want to do from here Maddy?" Paul asked, breaking the silence in the car. It has been over ten minutes since we pulled into the driveway of my house and neither of us had made a move.
Running my fingers though my knotted hair, I sighed. "Well…might as well get this over with" I replied while tapping my fingers nervously on my lap.
"Okay, but you want me to come along, or hang back?" His tone was dejected, did he honestly think I was going to make him wait in the car while I do this?
Chuckling humorlessly, I turned to look at him, "Of course I want you in there with me, even though I am not sure if I want to be in there myself."
He nodded with a look of understanding, and opened his door. I did the same, but a last-minute decision had me looking in the mirror. The bruise was now more purple and yellow then blue and there was only one crusted-over gash visible.
The swelling had gone down since we stopped to find ice, but I still looked like I was just beaten down. My eyelid was heavier, but at least I could still open it, and the bruising on it looked almost like eye shadow.
Shaking my head at the reflection, I folded the mirror back up, and turned to exit the car. Standing in front of my car door was Paul, who was offering a hand. Taking his hand he pulled me from the car and shut the door behind me.
I gripped his hand with all my strength, making sure there was no way he was leaving me. Needing someone like this was new to me, I mean I have always needed my family but this was something else. It was more like, if he walked away right this moment I… I would be lost in front of my own house; I wouldn't know where to go.
We reached the front door hand-in-hand and stood there for a second. Taking a deep breath, I turned to look at Paul, and realized he was already looking at me. His eyes were searching mine. I don't know what he found, but a small sympathetic smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
I returned the tiny smile, and he bent down to kiss the top of my head, before opening the door. Sighing, I walked into the house, still gripping his hand with all the force I had. I didn't bother to stop and take off my shoes or coat, why would I when I knew that I might not be staying in here long.
I walked straight though until I was standing in the door of the living room. My face was titled towards the ground – I wasn't ready for them to see the bruise yet - but I could see two pairs of feet hanging off the couch.
Danielle and Tara's feet, I presume, unless my brothers are experimenting with nail polish… The room was silent, not even a whisper shared between Tara and Danielle. I am relieved it is only them in the room right now, because it will easier to tell them then my brothers.
Paul cleared his throat and squeezed my hand before walking towards the empty couch across from Danny and Tara. I allowed myself to be pulled by his strength and sat down right beside him. His warmth was comforting in a time like and his body was perfect for leaning on.
I kept my face down, though. Playing with my fingers in my lap, I felt the tense silence in the room. Hearing another throat clear, I had to fight the urge to see who it was, but my guessing was cut short when she spoke.
"Maddy? Honey? This isn't like you. What's going on?" Danielle's voice was soft but worried. When I didn't answer her she tried again, "Madeline, please just sit up and talk to us face to face. We can work though whatever the issue is!"
I wanted to agree and talk to them, I wanted to lift my head up and tell the story. But my confidence dropped the second I considered it. I was… I was embarrassed. I felt weak and… I just wished it never happened.
Those thoughts brought back some words that were once said to me by someone who understands those emotions;
Embarrassment, I don't feel it anymore. You know why? Because every time I hide myself from the world, every time I give into my embarrassment, I am only feeding his power. I am letting him win, and he doesn't deserve that kind of recognition.
Tara said that to me once, after her attack. She was able to stand on the other side of that bridge after crossing. She knows what it is like to feel weak, feel damaged. She does but she got passed it and now she has Embry.
Thinking about that, I let that voice in the back of my head talk me into holding my head high and telling them.
I opened my mouth but kept my head down. If I showed them my face now, they wouldn't listen to a word I said after.
"I talked him. I talked to Aperio about what was going on in my crazy little world. I went to his hotel, found his room, and went up." I snorted a little because of how normal and monotone all of that sounded
"There was uncomfortable silence when I first went in, but after that he started to talk. He said that he was hopeful that maybe all of this would be a turning point in our relationship. One that would make us stronger, make us happier together but the silence was starting to make him doubt that."
Paul's hand was now resting on my knee in a reassuring manner. It took some concentration but I was able to force my voice back into the monotone voice I had before, "That hurt me, a lot. But I still had to tell him, so I did. I said that I couldn't accept his offer and I was sorry. Then there was more eerie silence while I paced around the hotel room and he sat there shocked."
"I decided that I had said what I needed to, and I was uncomfortable, so I was going to leave. I made it to the doorway in silence, he didn't notice but you know my luck," My tone was now slightly sarcastic and condescending, "He heard me open the door and then in a very strange voice told me we weren't done talking about this."
Now my voice was filled with sarcastic tones, the more I talked about it the more I couldn't believe how it ended, "I didn't like his tone so I let go of the door. He asked why I was doing this and that it wasn't like me so naturally I asked what he meant by that. He responded with saying he knew me, and I was all like how could you know?"
"At that moment his face and eyes scared me. They were hostile. He argued some more about him really knowing me and then it got to yelling, I yelled first but only because he was pissing me off. He then brought up… Paul." I took a peek from behind my hair at his face; he was looking back with a tense, worried expression on his face.
"Aperio got very anger at that point, so I tired to calm him down by saying that we could talk about this reasonably. He didn't go for that one. Nope, he started to laugh. That same type of laugh you hear when a crazy person is being pleaded with by their victim." I tried to make it sound like no big deal, hoping that I would help tone done their reactions a bit.
"I tried to run. I really did. I ran for the elevator and stairs since they were side by side. I didn't know which one to take since with the stairs he could catch me but with the elevator I would have to wait for it to come. He got to me before I had the chance to decide, grabbing my wrist, he spun me around. He asked where I thought I was going and he I said that he bet I was going to find Paul."
I noticed Paul's fingers tremble a little, "He said that when he first met me he thought I was beautiful, caring, smart and an all-around wonderful person. But after coming here he had three new names to that list. The first one was bitch, second one was whore," now it was Paul's whole hand shaking, reaching out, I grabbed it and twisted my fingers though his, "and the third was a waste of skin."
I heard Tara and Danielle both gasp at the names but I kept my head down while I continued, "He dragged you two into it also, he said my sisters were the same. I won't repeat the words he said but insulted you Danielle and then moved onto Tara. He brought up Max, Tara." I paused to listen for her reaction.
All I heard was a small disbelieving, "What?" from her.
I would talk about that later but I need to finish this story before I lose my nerve, "After he said that I was furious with him so I may have punched him. Right in his mother-fucking face. While he was tending to his new wound I made another attempt at getting away, I ran again, but he caught my arm."
Paul's hand quivered under my own with more force then before, gripping it tighter I spoke again, "All he said was bitch before he… before he…" Taking a deep breath I lifted my head for them to see.
Their expressions were shocked, frozen as they took in my bruise and cut. I didn't need to say what happened next, they knew. It was dead silent for a moment, the only thing for me to focus on was Paul's vibrating arm and hand.
Looking away from my sisters, I gave Paul a look asking him to please calm down. The shaking did go down and he pulled me closer to his side as we both waited for them to say something. I didn't have to wait long.
"THE MOTHER FUCKER DID WHAT?"
"SON OF A BITCH IS DEAD!"
Danielle and Tara were both on their feet, yelling at no one in particular. I raised one finger to my lips and tried to 'shh' them because I knew my brothers were home. Thank god my parents weren't though.
I was too late because I heard three pairs of foot steps coming down stairs in a rushed manner. They voices drifted into the room before they even set foot in it.
"What's wrong?"
"Who's dead?
"Is everyone okay?"
They came to a halt the second they saw me sitting on the couch with Paul's arms wrapped protectively around me and the girls standing there with deadly expressions. All three of them looked ready to kill and because of some misunderstanding they all pointed their glares towards Paul.
"What did this bastard do?" Blake almost yelled at Paul. Dillon and Travis stood behind him, ready to jump at him right along side Blake. When Paul didn't answer them, I don't know if he even heard them since he never looked away from my eyes, they took a few steps forward.
I quickly stood up to stop this insanity before it got out of hand. "Paul did nothing wrong! In fact he was the one who saved me!"
In that moment I spaced on the bruise I was sporting but their faces reminded me. Their expressions were broken and distraught. Blake took another step forward so he was close to my face now.
He lifted one shaky hand and ran his fingers lightly over my damaged cheek before pulling me into a crushing hug. "Who did this?" His voice was lethal when he whispered in my ear.
Letting out a sigh I pulled back from the hug to face everyone. Paul came to stand beside me with his arm wrapped around my waist. "Guys, look, I love you all very much but I don't want… please don't do anything to cause harm to him. Okay?"
My expression was hard but I was not going to stand for them hurting anyone. "Maddy, just tell us who did this and we can take care of it." Dillon spoke though clenched teeth. Travis and Blake nodded in agreement.
I shook my head fiercely while mouthing the word 'no' to them all. "I will only tell you if each of you promises not to track him down." I looked around at all of them with an expecting look.
After some annoyed sighs and eye rolls a chorus of promises echoed though the air. Nodding my head once I whispered, "Aperio."
…
Nothing.
None of them even moved, even though Tara and Danielle already knew. I looked away from them for a split second but it was long enough for Blake, Travis and Dillon to make a run for the door. And just as quick Paul was there blocking their exit.
"I don't think so guys." He said to them and I watched their shoulders lump in defeat. They knew there was no way that the three of them could get past Paul.
"Oh come on, like you don't want to go pound that sorry son of a bitch's face in too?" Dillon asked with his eyebrows raised. Paul just gave him a confused look, "I see the way you treat my sister. I know you care about her dumb ass, so I am guessing that you would trade your left arm for a go at him right now."
Paul let out a small chuckle, "You may be right, and trust me you are, but Maddy told me she didn't want anyone to hurt him so here I am."
The three of them rolled their eyes simultaneously before walking back into the living to take a seat on the vacant couch.
I have a feeling this is far from over…
Just wait until my parents get home…
And thats chapter twelve!
Now i need to thank another reader/writer/reviwer, her name is TwilightHeart21 and she is truely outstanding. Without her I can honestly say that my writing would be not be the way it is now. I trust her with my stories and she always gives feedback. I know i can send her a chapter and she will let me know what she thinks no problem, and that is something that still amazes me. And not only does she seriously rock as a person but her stories are out of this world! GO READ HER STORIES! I have read them and now i am addicted, trust me on this one guys, they really do rock!!
Alright so this chapter was harder to write then i thought, mostly because i had a hard time trying to get their reactions right and i still am not sure i succeed in that. I am still happy about all the reviews i have gotten and i need to thank everyone who reviews this story! You guys rock!
But for the people who are still ghost readers, you don't need to review and i am not going to start saying i want everyone to review or i want this many reviews for this chapter, but please. Feed back is the most important thing when it comes to a story, what the readers think is the only thing that matters to me. So please review but for the people who do, well THANK YOU TIMES A MILLION AND HALF!!!!
Thanks for reading and reviewing!!
Swimming cutie xoxo
