CHAPTER TWENTY
( GET LOST )
THE SLOW AMBIENT music of the restaurant didn't seem to steady her nerves as much as she wanted them to. Her foot taps nervously against the ground under the cloth tabletop, as she looks towards her phone at the time.
Her heart begins to sink in her chest as she realizes that Maddox is twenty minutes late to their date. He hadn't sent her a single text or even bothered to call her. She had never been stood up before.
Her fingers absentmindedly start to play with the smooth fabric of her peach-colored dress that Jo has picked out for her, insisting that it fit nicely with her waistline.
She shoves another piece of oil-soaked bread in her mouth as the server came over to the table to place more water in her glass. She had only ordered one glass of white wine but she was ready for hard alcohol if Maddox wasn't going to show.
Especially with how busy this restaurant was at the moment. She could see people waiting to sit down in the lobby. She made sure to avert her gaze as soon as an older man made eye contact with her from the waiting area, she was sure the glare wasn't meant for her and that it was out of hunger.
She checks her phone once again out of habit to see if Maddox had contacted her at all. Nothing. Just a text from Jo telling her to be patient. As she clicks on the messages app on her phone she notices that she hadn't texted Steve in a couple of days, to be fair, she hadn't really spoken to him since he watched Forrest Gump at the loft.
It happened to be the night she realized she had feelings for him starting to pinprick their way out. She couldn't have feelings for him. She made a promise to her mother.
Maddox was different, he was a cocky guy, with a normal job, and a nice face. There was no target on his head, unlike Steve. No threat of danger for her or those closest to her if she went on dates with Maddox.
Although, that's what it seemed she was training for, the inevitability of getting attacked as people recognized her to be with Steve (as friends). She knew Steve had plenty of friends, did they all have the same training as she did or were they all just agents and didn't need it?
She picks at the bread once again as her heart begins to sink lower and lower into her chest. Maddox was now thirty minutes late.
As she picks up her phone her fingers don't go to Jo as she'd like, they automatically go to Steve's name and press of the messages. The last one she had sent was a couple of days ago letting him know she had a date and couldn't have him over for lessons.
She had gotten no response back just like Maddox. For some reason this made her chest ache with hurt from feeling abandoned by her date and not hearing from her friend.
It takes a lot of strength to not let a sob rip through her chest. She lets out a deep breath and inhales one as well, she couldn't cry in public, she couldn't show weakness to strangers.
She looks at the cursor on her phone, blinking in and out of existence as it idles in the chatbox for Steve. She picks up the phone and absentmindedly begins typing up on the keyboard, she hesitates as her thumbs hover over the send button, reading the text once again.
She shakes her head from side to side. She couldn't let him know she was hurting right now, especially since she blew him off for this date. However, her thumb accidentally hits the send button, causing her to have a moment of panic and dread flow through her.
Her wide eyes scan through the message that she had sent him. Although it was short and simple she felt as though it displayed that she wasn't able to withhold any type of friendship or relationship. Even though it's not true - whenever she got into a panicked mindset her thoughts seem to run to the extremes.
So even though she just told Steve that Maddox was a no-show and asked to meet back at her place for a lesson; she figures he'll see it as a sign that no one likes her and he shouldn't either (even though deep down she knows that's not true).
She runs a hand down her face in frustration as she tries to hide the tears that are starting to pool up in her eyes. She had been ditched by someone she truly cared about and had even accepted his flaws of being arrogant and cocky as just part of his nature.
She couldn't believe that she agreed to come to this date. Until a familiar voice greets her from across the way. She looks up to see Maddox limping behind a server as he is shown to his correct seat next to her. He passes her a bouquet of yellow roses as the server takes his drink order.
"I'm sorry, I'm late," he apologizes almost immediately after the server leaves. "Yeah?" Quinn's voice is on edge and harsh as she crosses her arms over her chest.
"Really, I have had the worst day. I pulled a muscle running, I didn't know what to wear and then I figured I would stop to get you flowers and then I didn't know which to get because I remember Jo saying you liked another flower that wasn't roses, so I went to three stores and none of them had them. So I went with red roses, then I thought 'How cliché Maddox, get her something other than that' so in the end I got you yellow roses and that's why I'm late," he rambles out his excuse, causing Quinn to raise her brows at the far-fetched story.
She takes a long sip of her wine as she nods her head, taking in his rambling and what exactly good came out of the excuse. She peers at him as he gives her a wide smile. "You look beautiful," he compliments, trying to melt away the tension.
Quinn presses her lips into a firm line and hums in reply. Although she was angry with him, the compliment did make her cheeks burn. She had tried hard to look pretty only to have her date show up forty-five minutes late with friendship roses and a limp.
Instead of berating him like she wanted desperately to do she smiles lightly, hoping it could change her mood. "Thanks, Mads," her hand grips around his in the center of the table. "You do too." And just like that, she forgot what she was even mad about.
~BOOK ONE: WINTER SOLDIER~
THE COOL NIGHT air whips around the trees, rustling through the leaves around the complex. The sweet hum of crickets chirping through the tall grass was soothing to anyone's ears that night. There wasn't even a cloud in the sky.
Quinn's brows furrow in frustration as she walks beside Maddox. If it was a beautiful night then why was hers going so horrible?
She had been listening to Maddox drone on and on about The Joggernauts and about who's dating who, and who had tried to flirt with him throughout the time of being its instructor. It was something no one wanted to hear on a date.
She was practically clutching on to the arm of a gossipy high school girl which irritated her soul. His voice continues to ramble as she tries her best to stay interested in the conversation but it doesn't seem to be working as her mind drifts anywhere but the present.
Their first date had gone sour, and now the second date was going south as well. At least he hadn't insulted her friends yet. Yet. As they approach the door to her complex she drops his arm, letting her hand stretch from the discomfort.
Everything seems to be quiet, Jo's car isn't in its usual spot, although there is a blinding reflection coming from the area causing her eyes to squint involuntarily.
Maddox sucks in a deep breath as he turns to face her, a slight blush appearing on his cheeks. Whether the blush was from the sight of her or from the alcohol he consumed earlier she couldn't decipher but she took it as the latter.
For the first time since their date began, Maddox was silent. His eyes seemed to wander down to her lips before catching her gaze once again. A small smile appearing on his face as he stepped closer to her, closing the distance between them.
Her breath was caught in her throat as she gazes up at his eyes which were starting to droop shut. The last time she had been close to someone like this was with Steve, and he hadn't attempted to kiss her like Maddox was - he merely was just standing there awkwardly with her at the time.
She pushed Steve away for being close to her in general; could she even possibly let Maddox go in for the kill? The answer was a clear no as she nervously moves her head back to avoid clashing lips with her not-so-fantastic date.
Maddox pulls away with a confused look on his face while she bites down of her lip in an attempt to make an awkward smile. "Is there something wrong?" he questions, his voice sounding a bit on edge as he nervously begins tapping her bouquet of flowers against the top of his leg.
"Uh, yeah, you know," Quinn stammers awkwardly, her cheeks heating up in embarrassment. She had never had to be so direct with someone before.
"It's just...I'm not really into this whole thing. I mean tonight was okay, thanks for taking me out. But I'm not sure I can handle a relationship right now," she admits, cringing from the fact she had to reject Maddox.
She could never deny someone anything but, this had gone on for far too long. Even though he was good looking, he was still an arrogant, competitive, mess that pushes her to her limits each day (along with Edith).
She waits, staring at the ground for a moment as Maddox takes in her words. It isn't until she sees his hands move from a shrug that he displays that she can even look up at him. "That's fine," he says, his cocky grin appearing once again as he closes the distance once again. "It doesn't have to be a relationship, it could be -"
"A one night stand?" Quinn clarifies for him, taking a step back to avoid being closer to him. Maddox let's out a wry chuckle before placing his free hand in his pocket. "I was thinking it could be a little longer than that," he admits, nervously biting down on his lip. "Then when you're ready we can label it,"
"Maddox, I'm sorry, I can't," Quinn excuses herself, taking her keys out of her purse to open the door to the building. She pauses as she sees him frowning as if he were a toddler who got denied a cookie. She lets out a long sigh as she twists the doorknob open, jamming her foot in so it wouldn't close.
Her hand stretches out and grasps on to his arm in assurance, earning a questioning look from his deep green eyes. She takes a moment to memorize his features, copper hair, almond-shaped eyes, tanned skin, toned - it was the last she would see him pining after her. She attempts to lighten the mood by offering a small smile.
"You'll make someone happy one day," she says, opening the door to the building to enter. Before she can even get through, Maddox has his hand on the door frame preventing her from entering. She stumbles back a few steps, giving him a confused yet annoyed look - she just wants the date to end.
"Can you at least tell me what went wrong?" he pleads, his voice cracking in the process. Her heart seems to soften a little as she hears the crack, he's been chasing after her for months it felt like, he was sure to be heartbroken and she was the cause of it.
Her lips press into a thin firm line across her face. "Nothing went wrong. I'm just...not looking for a commitment right now, Maddox," she clarifies for him, trying to move past him towards the door once again but he, in turn, blocks it again.
She doesn't like where this was headed. She was glad she was put through that training now, even if she was rusty. If he was going to try anything, she'd be ready. "I just don't get it. Are you seeing someone or something? Because I can prove I'm better - look at me,"
"I'm not seeing anyone," she emphasizes while restraining herself from rolling her eyes. She didn't need to justify her reasoning and she had already told him before that she wasn't interested in anyone at the moment. "And I see you everyday Maddox, I know you're attractive, and trust me I've heard you all night long - to the point where I couldn't say anything," she counters.
"Is that what your problem is? I talk too much?"
"No, I just -"
"Then what is holding you back?" he pries, taking a step closer to her, which makes her take another two back from him. Her heart was pounding at how unpredictable he was acting, this wasn't the Maddox she knew. She furrows her brows once again. "I've already told you -"
"Hey!" A voice calls out, catching them both off guard - she basically jumps out of her skin. Her heartbeat steadies, her chest becomes relaxed as she watches Steve walking up from behind her on the sidewalk.
Maddox seems flabbergasted as he tries to utter out a response but all he can say is, "Cap...Cap'n".
This makes her smile, for once Maddox is speechless. "She said she's not interested. Respect that and leave her alone," he says coolly towards Maddox, his face holding a scowl.
She had never seen Steve upset like this before, it made her feel protected and safe yet at the same time incompetent. Maddox narrows his eyes as he glares between the two.
"I'm sorry, are you two together?" Maddox's voice is filled with judgment beyond comprehension. Quinn rolls her eyes at the assumption, crossing her arms across her chest as she gets ready to respond. However, she's beat to the punch.
"She's not seeing anyone. So, quit pestering and get lost," Steve speaks up, his voice now in full authority mode. She had only ever heard him talk in the tone on the news while conducting interviews with the Avengers a couple of years ago, even then it gave her chills.
Now hearing it in person, it made her want to melt on the spot. Maddox glares between the two for several more seconds, Quinn makes her way behind Steve as he widens his stance, placing his hands on his hips while returning the stare-off with Maddox.
After a few moments of challenging Steve, Maddox eventually withdraws and retreats towards his car with several grunts of frustration.
As Quinn watches him drive off she has a slight smile on her face before she turns to Steve. She purses her lips for a moment before she speaks up. "You didn't have to do that," she says softly, she's thankful that he was there for her.
"I don't like bullies," is all Steve says in response. No 'you're welcome', no 'what's wrong in your taste of men'. He didn't rub it in, which made Quinn even more relieved.
She gives him a pressed smile before she lets out a sigh of relief. "What are you doing here anyway? Are you spying on me?" she asks in a confused tone.
He quickly pulls out his phone from his back pocket and reveals the text that she had sent him earlier about her date not showing up. "I came over to see how your date went," his teases, his voice sounding light-hearted even though the situation she put him through was a bit intense.
"Oh yeah?" she exclaims with a perked brow and smirk. "And what if it had gone the way he wanted it?"
"I would've left," he says sheepishly, his cheeks showing a bit of pink as he thinks about Quinn and Maddox being together and witnessing if it happened. "I wouldn't have bothered you," he adds on, earning a soft chuckle from her.
"Since you're here, do you want to come on in?" she offers with a smile, admiring the slight blush on his face, even though it was hard to see at this time of night. Steve shifts his gaze from the ground to her eyes, giving her a pleased look with a small smile. "I thought you'd never ask,"