TW sexual harassment, mentions of suicide

Shane is outside my door at 10am.

"Madeleine! I got up early for you!" He raps on the door. "We're going into the city!"

I've already been up several hours, so I open the door. "Morning, Shane."

He glances me up and down. "You look nice. That's a pretty dress."

"Thank you." I reply, grabbing my bag and kissing Betty on the head. "I'll be home soon, my honey." I murmur to her.

I follow Shane to the bus stop, playing with my hair.

"Your hair's long." he comments.

"Yeah, I guess it is." I reply, watching for the bus. He stares at the ground.

"Hey, Madeleine, I, uh..."

"Oh, the bus is here!"

He looks up. "Oh. Guess we'd better get on it."

After a short bus ride, we step off onto the city centre. It's been a while since I've been here, and almost immediately I regret it. I forgot how loud the sound of traffic and conversations are. I edge closer to Shane.

"So, would you like to go for some lunch, or... are there any spots you really like?"

"There's a lovely little café near the park."

"Oh, yeah? Sounds good. Lead the way."

I start leading Shane towards the café.

"I forget sometimes you're from the city, and not a country bumpkin like the rest of us." he says.

I laugh, when there's suddenly a shout from a group of men we're passing.

"Nice tits!"

I freeze up and Shane glances at them. "Are they talking to you?" he murmurs.

I nod. "I-it's fine, don't worry."

"Hey!" Shane shouts at him. "Who the fuck do you think you're talking to?!"

"Huh?" The man who shouted turns.

"Why do you think that's appropriate to say to a stranger? Apologise right now."

"Jesus, it was a compliment!"

"I don't give a damn! You do not speak to her like that. Or any woman for that matter, you asshole."

Before he can answer, Shane puts an arm around my waist and starts leading me away. I feel myself blush at his touch.

"Are you okay?" He asks.

"Yeah. Thanks for sticking up for me there." I mumble.

"It's okay."  Shane replies.

"Here's the café." I say as we arrive outside. Shane removes his arm from around me and we head inside.

We get seated at a table. "What do you suggest?" he asks.

"Uh... I usually get tea, and their chocolate cake is to die for."

"Okay, I'll have that. I trust your judgement."

We put the order in, and Shane smiles across from me.

"I'm really sorry again about those guys. That's just not okay. They should have kept their thoughts to themselves."

"It's okay, Shane. Don't worry."

"Does this happen a lot in the city?" he asks.

I nod. "Yeah."

"That's disgusting. I'm glad you're out of here."

I nod, looking outside. "I love how it looks over the park. That's my favourite part. It's so nice. It's quiet, and you get the flowers in spring, and on an evening up and coming bands like to perform."

"We should go there after this."

I nod. And then my mother walks into the café.

"Oh, shit." I whisper.

"What's up?" he asks.

Eyes wide, I stare at him. "That's my mom." I whisper.

He looks up at her. "Oh, god, the abusive one?"

I blink. "Uh, yeah?"

"Do you wanna go? We can go."

"No, no, it's okay, just as long as she doesn't see us-"

"Madeleine?!"

I feel myself cringe and I look up at her. "Hi, mom."

She stares at us, and then glares at me. "What the hell are you doing here?!"

"Just... just enjoying a day out..." I mumble.

"Eye contact, Madeleine! And who's this?"

Shane looks at her. "I'm Shane, it's nice to-"

"Shh. You move to a nowhere town, and as expected, the best you can do is end up with a nobody kind of person." She laughs tauntingly. "What did I tell you?"

"He is not a nobody." I respond, through gritted teeth.

"Maybe he isn't. But you certainly are. You know, I shouldn't have ever bothered having a child. That suicide attempt should have worked."

I feel my eyes tear up when a waitress comes over.

"Ma'am, we're going to have to ask you to leave."

My mother nods, her eyes burning into my skull as she leaves. I stare at my lap, tears in my eyes.

Shane looks at me in concern. "Hey..."

"I'll be right back." I mumble, heading into the bathrooms.

I spend a second, trying to calm down. Her words circle in my head.

I lost my father, now I've also lost my mother.

There's a knock at the door and Shane comes in.

"Shane, this is the women's-"

"I don't care. I needed to check on you." He replies. "Are you okay?"

A tear falls down my face, and I shake my head. He pulls me into a tight hug.

"She was wrong. I'm so glad you're here."

"If- if that's what my own mother thinks, then-"

"Hey, shhh." He rubs my back. "What she thinks is completely irrelevant. You are a wonderful person, and I'm so glad you're here. You're... you're really my only friend, Madeleine, and I'm not sure what I did to deserve you."

I sniffle, and I look at him. "Sorry..."

"Don't apologise, Madeleine. Here." He hands me a tissue. "Let's go to the park." I nod, wiping my face, taking a few deep breaths. "That's my girl." he says with a smile.

We head to the park, where a band is setting up.

I look over the flowers. They're in pretty, symmetric shapes, and it satisfies my brain.

The band starts playing, and Shane offers me his hand.

"Because you're such a good dancer, you wanna...?"

I smile. "Are you being sarcastic?"

"About the good dancer thing? Yeah. But we should still dance." Shane grins.

I take his hand and let him spin me around a couple times.

"You're not that bad, actually." He says. I laugh.

We continue on for a few minutes, until the song comes to an end.

Shane gazes at me with a smile, clinging to my waist.

Then, he leans in and kisses me.

I'm taken completely off guard for a moment, but sink into the kiss. Then, he pulls away, his eyes wide. There's a moment of silence.

"I-I'm so sorry, I-." he says, a deep blush on his face. I'm so shocked I don't even respond. "This was a complete mistake, I'm so sorry, Madeleine. Let's go."

And with that, we head home.