Nick
___________

"New month, new quest" Brynn said, handing me a new bag of adderall as we managed to wiggle in a private meeting. It was hard now, because Jason was always invested in where I was going. It's like he doesn't trust me with his baby.

"Please tell me it doesn't involve murder" I replied, "I have PTSD from all those police department visits." Brynn scoffed.

"It involves your cousin, and you're not gonna like it" Brynn said, causing me to groan.

"What is it?"

"Convince Madison that Jason cheated on her" Brynn demanded, making me squint at her.

"Brynn, why?" I asked. "What's the point of that?"

"If you forgot, Nick, this whole mission I'm on, is surrounded by Jason. The faster we permanently rid his relationship with Maddie, the faster this contract between us can end" Brynn advised.

"Well, how the hell am I supposed to convince Maddie that Jason's cheating. She's like, in love with him. Like, Matt type shit." Brynn rolled her eyes.

"You're her cousin, figure it out" Brynn insisted. "I'd like to believe that she'll take your word over Jason's." I picked up my lip in worry. I couldn't refuse to do this either, because adderall was like water to me now. If I even went a few days without it, it was like my whole system would shut down.

"Hey wait" Brynn random said as I stood there, stuck in thought. "Whatever happened to surgery? Or are you letting it heal?" I shrugged involuntarily.

"I'm getting surgery, it's just, I've kind of been postponing it. That, and Sarah's death also naturally pushed it back. The school's investigating and shit" I informed Brynn. "You know?" Brynn scoffed at my words about her deceased sister. What a sick bitch.

Brynn
___________

What Nick didn't know, was that I upped the dose of adderall that I gave him. I had too, because his constant taking it formed a tolerance, and he therefore can function normally a lot more than I'd like, from what I've noticed. If he's sober, then he'll feel bad for doing what I demand and might even chicken out. I can't have that, especially with this request. I'm certain that I was close to having Jason.

Jason
__________

"I need help you guys" I confided in Lewis, Zach, and Rico. I had no idea where Nick was, but I'm sure Brynn's involved somehow. "Maddie's ignoring me."

"Did anything new happen?" Lewis asked, "or is she still mad about Brynn's post baby shower?"

I shook my head, "I don't know. I guess she's still mad, because we haven't really spoken since."

"Pop up at her door" Zach said, "be spontaneous man. We're grown now, fight for what you want."

"Well" I said, "that's another issue. I'm kind of confused on what I want all of a sudden. Being around Brynn so much and seeing her care for our baby has me day dreaming about having a solid family. One where both adults share the same baby."

"Aw man don't say that!" Rico chimed in, "families come in all shapes and sizes."

"Rico, that's great and all," I said, "but what happens when my daughter gets older and finds out about the way I treated her mother? About how I refused to date her and practically left her on her own during her pregnancy?"

"Okay first of all, that baby should be grateful she's thriving. She was born early as hell" Lewis voiced.

I rolled my eyes, "you've seen her Lewis, she's not 'thriving,' she literally has a tube in her nose. She's a premie that was lucky enough to go home within the same week of her birth."

"And that's another thing" I continued, "it seems that Maddie is mad that I'm being a parent. She knew Brynn was pregnant, what did she expect?"

"She probably expected you to have the baby at her place, and then Brynn to have the baby in her own time as well" Rico said. "Which might work in a few years, but it's not ideal when the baby is still really young. On top of that, this baby needs extra care right now." I nodded in agreement.

"She has a name, you know" I told Rico, causing the guys to all look at one another.

"Man, ain't nobody calling that baby Bryson bro" Lewis joked, "like why would y'all name her that?"

Nick
__________

"Okay, I'm gonna say something" I began as I sat in front of my cousin, "then I'm gonna leave." Maddie nodded slowly, giving me a quizzical look.

"Jason is cheating on you" I forced out. I kept my hand balled in a tight fist, I couldn't even believe I was doing this. I'd never wanna hurt Madison.

"I know" Maddie said, catching me off guard.

"Huh?" I asked, in confusion. "What? How?"

"May told me about Brynn and Jason's encounter the other day. He had a hickey, which May sent me a picture of, and Brynn was like, holding his hand or something. They were in a room alone together." I folded my arms at Maddie's words.

"I'm sorry Maddie" I told my cousin, but she shook her head. "Oh well" she said, "I'm not surprised."

"I knew something was up the second he pushed Naya onto you at Brynn's baby shower" Maddie further confided in me. "He seemed so concerned with you and Brynn being close." My eyes widened.

"I can't even be mad at that" I stated, "me and Naya just became official, and I actually really like her so fuck it." Maddie looked at me sympathetically, "so you wouldn't get with Brynn to help me?"

"I mean I'd fuck her" I answered without thought, prompting a look from Maddie.

"Not helping!" Maddie yelled.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry" I said. "But me getting with Brynn wouldn't help anyways Maddie. It would make Jason feel even more compelled to pursue her." Maddie huffed as she rubbed her left arm with her right hand. She slouched in her seat.

"I just don't know how, or why, he'd do this to me knowing what I've gone through" Maddie voiced. "I literally just lost my long-time boyfriend. I'm lost and don't even know where to go from here. You would've thought he, one of Matt's best friends, would've treated me with care the most."

"I know kid" I sighed, "I'll try to see if I could get to the bottom of that. In the meantime, keep your head up. You're a great mom, a greater friend, and are absolutely the greatest cousin. I love you."

"I love you too Nick" Maddie said with a smile.