A/N: Hey! So here is Chapter 14, hope you all enjoy! My last update was Chapters 10-13, and I only received 2 reviews on those chapters :( I have to say that I was disappointed...especially because all of the hits, favourite stories, author alerts, and story alerts. I think you guys can do better! I put a lot of time and effort into these stories so please just leave me a short review and make me feel appreciated! Just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who has reviewed my story! I love you guys! xoxo RedRover94
JOE'S POV
I should text her…or call her. I think I said I would call her…or did I say text? Geez. What time is it anyways?
I glanced over at the clock on the microwave, it read: 8:31 A.M.
Wow…it was early…too early to call.
I pulled out my phone, flipped it open, and started to compose a message.
Hey Maddie. Give me a call when you wake up. Joe.
Now, I just had to wait for her to call.
My phone started vibrating right as I hopped out of the shower. Scrambling around to find a towel, I quickly covered myself up and opened the phone. It just felt too weird to answer the phone when I wasn't dressed, even if she couldn't see me.
"Hello" I spoke into the phone, running a comb through my hair.
"Hey. What's up Joe?" Maddie replied happily.
"Are you free today…to talk?" I asked nervously.
"Yeah…want to come over?"
"When?"
"Is now good?" she asked.
"Uh sure. See you in a few", I said.
"Bye", she replied.
DIAL TONE
10 MINUTES LATER
I got out of the car, slowly walking up the Wilson's driveway. I rang the doorbell, anxiously waiting outside; doing something awkward with my hands.
I heard her footsteps growing louder and louder, coming closer and closer until the door opened and I was met by her face.
"Hi", I spoke softly.
"Hi", she replied in the same tone.
I think we were both remembering the last time we were in this doorway, standing in this position, and what it had led to.
"Come in", she spoke pulling me out of my reverie.
I nodded and walked into her house, stopping when I was in her living room. Everything looked pretty much the same; that brown couch was still there. She was quietly standing behind me, looking around. I went over to the couch and took a seat, she quickly followed suit.
After a few minutes of silence, her voice sounded through.
"So…", she said quietly.
"I'm with Stella", I blurted out suddenly.
Where in the hell did that come from? Way to rush things Joe!
Her expression changed a little. An etch of pain flickered across her features, but I could tell she was trying to smile.
God, this was so messed up, this whole situation…talk about bad timing!
"Yeah I kind of figured after last night", she said with a smile that was so obviously fake, "Joe, were you mad at me yesterday?"
Now I felt bad. It wasn't her fault about my sour mood last night. I mean…it sort of was…she came back…but it really wasn't. The timing with everything was just so off.
"No, I'm sorry for acting like a jerk. It's just that I'm with Stella now, and I know we never really talked about what happened…that night, but you coming back and everything…I thought it would mess up everything with Stella", I spoke all jumbled, so many thoughts coming at me at once.
"So, you just thought that my coming back was about you? You thought I would mess up everything with Stella?"
Okay…that probably wasn't the best choice of words.
"Maddie—"
"I didn't come back for you Joe. I didn't have a choice. I'm only here because of my Dad's job", she spoke angrily.
"I know that. I'm sorry. That's not what I meant", I tried to justify myself.
Idiot. Idiot. Idiot.
"You know that I'm glad you're back"
Even though everything now was so confusing and awkward...all in all, this is Maddie we're talking about. How could I not be happy that she was back? Ecstatic even? Glad was an understatement. Putting my relationship with Stella aside and what Maddie's return would cause, one of my best friends was back. And, I was happy about that.
She fixed me with a "yeah right" kind of look.
"I am Maddie. It's just that I don't know what I'm supposed to do now"
"You're supposed to do nothing", she said seriously.
How can she say that? How can I possibly do nothing? She's back! And, why does she look so serious, so solemn?
"But I—", I began...attempting to make her understand how I couldn't just forget.
Once again, her voice sounded through, cutting me and my train of thought off.
"Stella's my best friend and I know you. You're good for her. We shared one meaningless night together two years ago. There's not really a choice there Joe"
"It wasn't meaningless", I said firmly.
Was that night meaningless to her? Cause it sure as hell wasn't to me.
"Well it's meaningless now. It was two years ago. We didn't really keep in touch Joe, you have a girlfriend now. I can't hurt Stella. So let's just forget about it"
"Maddie, I don't know if I can do that", I replied honestly.
"Don't make this harder than it needs to be", she said sharply.
"Maddie—", I tried to reason with her.
"It was two years ago Joe!"
"Stop saying that! I don't care how long ago it was. That night meant something. It wasn't meaningless. Just admit it!" I said, yelling now.
Her eyes widened as I spoke. She replied in a much calmer, softer tone…probably trying to get me to lower my voice.
"I know it wasn't meaningless. But you've moved on"
In that moment, with the tone of her voice, I realized this was just as hard for her as it was for me, probably harder. But, she was right. We couldn't do this now. I'm with Stella and I loved her.
"Yeah", I said softly.
"I'm happy for you guys", she said smiling.
"Thanks", I replied trying to see if her smile was real or not. It seemed genuine…maybe she's moved on too. Maybe she doesn't want this.
"Well I should get going", I spoke abruptly.
"Okay", she said walking me to the door, "I guess I'll see you tomorrow"
"Yeah"
Wait… tomorrow?
"Wait…what's tomorrow?" I asked confusedly.
"School", she replied as if it was common sense.
"School?" I questioned.
"Yeah…I'm back at Horace Mantis…didn't you hear?" she asked.
"Oh yeah, of course…it must have slipped my mind", I said with a smile.
Great. This won't be awkward at all…
"Ok, see you tomorrow"
"Yeah, bye", I said walking out of the door.
She closed the door with a thud and I didn't even make it back to my car by the time I was anxiously knocking loudly on her door.
She opened it perplexed, "Joe, what are you—"
I pulled her so close to me, and wrapped my arms tightly around her frame. She must have been pretty shocked, her whole body tensed, but I didn't dare let go. It wasn't until a few minutes later that she embraced me too. Her hands rested firmly on my upper back and my hands were smoothing out her long hair. She was gripping onto my shirt as I placed a lone kiss on her head. We were hugging for about five minutes too long.
She pulled away and her deep green eyes pierced through mine.
Man, those eyes.
"Sorry. I just needed to do that", I said suddenly.
Wow, that sounded stupid. But it was true. I needed to hold her one last time…get some form of "closure". Closure? Holy crap! I sounded like a girl.
"It's okay", she said, seeming to understand.
"See you tomorrow", I said walking out the door.
And that was that. My whole focus would be on Stella now; it had to be.
LATER THAT NIGHT
MADDIE'S POV
I jumped out of the shower and tied my hair up with whatever scrunchie was lying around. I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and went to my room. Quietly, I changed into a pair of dark pink pajama pants and a navy blue t-shirt that was way too big…a shirt that I shouldn't have anymore…a shirt that I really shouldn't be wearing. I sighed loudly.
What am I going to do?
JOE'S POV
I couldn't fall asleep. I tossed and turned and tossed and turned. I started thinking about Stella, my beautiful girlfriend. I smiled just thinking about her, but I couldn't stay focused on her for long, my mind wasn't letting me. It kept on wandering off to a certain green-eyed brunette. I couldn't help but frown. This is not good…
What am I going to do?
A/N: Next chapter will be Maddie's first day at Horace Mantis! Review for an update :)