BEFORE THE SUN SETS ~ THE MOMENTS

CHAPTER 3

Go to college, they said.

It'll be fun, they also said.

Well, Maddie Bennett had come to the ultimate conclusion that they had lied to her. The lectures, non-stop homework, essays, never ending studying, and countless hours spent in the library weren't fun for her. Sure, she had Hanna at her side to indulge her and make her laugh – and she was more than grateful for it – but still, she was tired.

More than tired. She was exhausted. Which was why when Elijah suggested taking her away for the weekend she readily agreed. Even more perfect they would be going away right before lacrosse season started. She knew that once the season began their time would be limited together – it already was during the year – so this would be the perfect opportunity for them to spend some last minute quality time together.

Packing the last of her things, Maddie almost missed her phone the buzzing away on her desk. "Hello?"

"Why are you breathless?"

She rolled her eyes at Cordelia's question. "I was packing. Had to run to the phone."

"You aren't working out enough if it took that much energy."

"If you were in front of me right now you would see that I was giving you the finger."

"Ha ha," Cordelia said dryly. "Are you excited."

"Excited about the secret weekend that no one seems to want to tell me about? Yeah."

"You'll thank me later. Besides, you deserve this. You've been working too hard, and you forget to take time for yourself. Lacrosse starts Monday, and with that and your course load, you will be ultimately fucked. Trust me, I know. I remember what my days as a freshmen were like."

It was times like these Maddie appreciated her sister. More than she already did that was. Sometimes she needed someone who understood to stop and remind her that she was only human. That meant breaks were okay. And necessary.

"What are you doing?" Maddie asked, sitting on her desk chair.

"Currently, finishing up my English midterm."

"You have midterms already?"

"Doing it early. I know I'm going to be swamped later and Professor Morrison was nice enough to post the whole assignment, which is four fucking parts early. Why not work on it now and save myself the trouble later?"

Maddie nodded, understanding. "Mom and dad would be so proud of you."

"Speaking of, have you spoken to them lately."

"No. You?"

"You know I have. Mom thinks you're avoiding her, which means you aren't speaking to dad because he'll cave and hand the phone over. Want to explain what all that's about?"

She'd rather not.

Maddie loved her mom, honestly. Janette was one of the strongest women she ever had the fortune of knowing. However, like everyone else her mom had her faults. And sometimes that included being pushy. A little too pushy.

"She's just too much sometimes."

"She meant no harm," Cordelia interjected, coming into her defense.

"Yeah, you would say that."

"Now wait a minute, I'm fair to all of my clients."

"Clients? What are you, a therapist?"

"As of now yes. Let me explain. Mom feels you never speak to her about your relationship. She's worried and I guess she came off the wrong way about it, but she does like you and Elijah together. Maybe she didn't express it the wrong way but she'd like you to open up to her more. She feels that you're secretive. Which maybe you are."

"You're one to talk."

Cordelia quickly replied, "This isn't about me." With a huff she continued, "Anyway, as I was saying open up more. Share things with her. Tell her what you're doing. It's different now that you aren't home and she doesn't get to see you all the time, Maddie. She can't walk upstairs, go to your room and ask you what she's thinking. She has to call you and wait for you to either pick up, or call back. And even with those calls she has wait for you to tell her things."

"I do tell mom things."

"But not about Elijah."

"All she wants is to be included in our love lives."

Maddie huffed. "I'll call her later."

"Really?" Cordelia asked. She sounded disbelieving.

"Yes. I think of two weeks of telling her I'm fine is enough punishment."

Cordelia chuckled. "Yes. Also keep in mind, we don't come home all the time for breaks. We're collegiate athletes. They miss us. Dad may not express it as much but he does. He gets his information from her so he doesn't hound us at much."

"Dad hounds us when he checks our grade portals and sees something he doesn't like."

"Fortunately for me, that shits almost over," Cordelia said in relaxed tone. "However, after mom confirms you've spoken to her I'll teach you a trick on how to lock him out of that."

"Oh really?"

"Yes really."

Maddie grinned. "I look forward to it. How are you and Klaus doing?"

Cordelia let out a long sigh. "We're alright, I guess. You know us. One minute it's the moon and the stars and the next minute I'm telling him how much I hate him."

"He makes you happy."

"When he's not being an ass."

"And you make him happy too."

"I make everyone happy."

"Well …"

"Don't even try it, you know I light up your life."

Maddie chuckled. "Fine, fine. You light up my world. I think the two of you just need to go away, maybe one of his private islands and spend some quality time there for a while. You know, no phones or anything. Of course, you need to check in with me, mom and dad, but that would do wonders for the two of you."

"I'm sure you could easily convince him to do that."

"Why?"

"Because anything that involves me naked he's willing to do."

"Too much information, Cord! Too much."

"Sorry."

A moment of silence passed before the two of them laughed together. They both knew she really wasn't.