Chapter 10

On Monday, I'm extremely embarrassed. Maddox hasn't talked to me all day and I'm still cringing at the memory of my father harassing the two brothers in the supermarket. I'm not sure whether or not Maddox told all of our mutual friends. When I sit down at lunch with my food, I tune in to the conversation. Nicholas is explaining his Thanksgiving diner.

"It was pretty boring. My mom got drunk and almost hit her head on the refrigerator- that was pretty funny," he explains with a weak shrug.

"How was your Thanksgiving, Maddox?" Nicholas wonders and I'm guessing Cassidy and Winona already shared.

Maddox glances at me before grinning back at the group. "Well, I met Olive's father," he announces. All of our table mates whip around and stare at me, which results in me uncomfortably locking my eyes on my food. "Do you want to tell them how, Olive, or should I?" Taking my silence as an answer, he falls into the story of how he met my dad.

Everyone's laughing while I'm cringing and putting my head in my hands. "Is that true?" Cassidy asks once she stops chuckling.

I groan as I bob my head up and down. "My dad's insane," I explain vaguely.

"I don't think we've ever asked you why you're here," Winona reminds me after a moment of silence. I was thinking we'd fall into a different topic or at least move on from me. I can never be that lucky, though.

"According to my parents, I partied too much," I explain vaguely. The table is silent before everyone falls into fits of laughter. When they see that I'm serious, they slowly stop giggling- everyone except Maddox.

"You don't seem like the party type," Jackson explains as he sobers up from his laughing fit.

"Yeah, I know that," I agree with him before giving a meek shrug. "But I did party a lot."

"And how much is a lot?" Maddox interrogates me. I can tell that any answer I give won't satisfy him.

"I went to at least three parties a week, sometimes four if I was up to it," I provide an answer. All of their eyebrows raise on their faces. "And on vacations, I went to way too many."

"Did you get drunk?" Winona wonders aloud and I can tell everyone wants to know.

 I sheepishly look down at my hands. "Occasionally," I answer quietly.

"How often is occasionally?" Maddox continues to prod, still doubtful.

"Whenever I got into a fight with my dad," I respond as I draw circles on the table with my finger.

"And how often did that happen?" Winona continues to pry. I let out a long sigh as I purse my lips.

"Often," I confirm.

"I can see it," Nicholas announces with an imaginative nod.

"You're lying," Maddox spoke as he slowly stopped laughing.

"Why else would I be here?" I snap back in an annoyed state.

"I don't know, you tell me," he rejoins as if I'm going to confess to my lies and reveal some deep dark truth.

"I just did," I bite back with a slight glare.

"I don't believe you," he concurs with crossed arms.

"Well, that sounds like a personal problem, doesn't it?" I retort with a roll of my eyes.

"You've never even kissed anyone yet you were a partier? Yeah, believable," Maddox scowls.

"Just because I was a partier doesn't mean I went around kissing everyone," I clarify, surprised that he's so oblivious. "I just knew how to have a good time without hooking up with random people."

"You obviously don't know how to have a good time!" he retorts, slowly raising his voice. "You punched the only person who could stomach kissing you!"

"I wanted to save my first kiss for someone special! I'm sorry for not making out with every guy who comes within two feet of me!" I shout back, feeling my face get hot.

"That's totally why you didn't get your first kiss!" he yells sarcastically as he rolls his eyes. "It was definitely not because guys don't like you!"

"You know what Maddox? How about you take the stick shoved up your—?" I begin to insult but Winona cuts me off with a scream.

"Okay! That's enough!" she calls with a shake of her head. I glare at Maddox, who dramatically storms off and exits the cafeteria. I simply scoff and drop back into my seat with a shake of my head. I feel everyone's eyes on me and the cafeteria remains quiet. Great, I think, we made a scene.

+ + +

When I got home, I find my cousin sitting on the couch with a curious expression on her face. I'm no longer sweating because of the walk but because the temperature has dropped severely and I'm so bundled up that my body is overheated. "So, what was that argument about during lunch?" she wonders as she picks at her cuticles.

I shouldn't be surprised at the fact that after a week of not talking to me, the first thing she asks me about is drama that doesn't even involve her, but for some reason, I am. "Why does it matter?" I retort as I take off my bag.

She shrugs and doesn't even bother glancing at me. "It doesn't. I'm just wondering," she replies dryly.

I roll my eyes as I shed off my coat. "Well, don't worry about it because it's not your business," I conclude in short.

My cousin simply glares at me as I walk up the steps and to my room, where I close the door. I'm surprised when I find an emailed response from one of the many places I applied to. After looking at the name of the fast food restaurant, I grin. Burger King- the same one where Abel works. I manage to score myself an interview for next Wednesday. Now all I have to worry about is getting there and back.

+ + +

It isn't until the following Tuesday that I finally talk to Maddox, and it isn't even my choice. We'd been going about our business at the table, ignoring each other, aside from his snide remarks, which I've been trying my best to ignore. But in the morning, he approaches me while I'm standing at my locker; I'm confused as to how he even figured out the location if we're being honest. When I see him advancing, I do my best to act like I haven't noticed him in case he doesn't plan on talking to me. But, because I'm oh-so fortunate, he does intend to start a conversation and he does.

"You left this in my car," he expresses in a monotonous tone. I look down at his outstretched hand and my eyes widen when I realize that he's holding an unused feminine item. I immediately snatch it from him and look around to ensure that no one saw the exchange. I must've left this in his car when I dropped my bag a couple weeks ago. Shoving the pad in my backpack, I glare at him as an embarrassed blush rises to my cheeks.

"You waited two weeks to give this to me?" I hiss as I zip up that compartment of my bag.

"Raven found it yesterday wedged beneath the floor mat. I figured you're the only other girl who's been in my car these last few weeks. I remembered when you dropped your bag and I presumed it was yours," he explains with a weak shrug.

I cringe and feel my face continue to burn as he stares at me, unfazed by the fact that he'd just handed me a pad. "Well, yeah, it's mine. Now go away," I concur in an attempt to get him to leave me alone.

"You're still mad?" he wonders with a scoff.

I glance at him as I continue to shuffle around in my bag. "About what?" I ask in a neutral voice.

"That's the spirit," he responds, which makes my eye involuntarily twitch.

"About how you almost killed us on the Ferris wheel?" I start before I can stop myself.

"You're over exaggerating," he dismisses with a roll of his eyes.

"Or about how you insult me almost every day? In front of everyone?" I suggest with a titled head. "And how you refuse to apologize?"

"I take it you're still angry," he concludes with a slow nod.

"I thought you liked me when I'm angry," I basically growl as I slam my locker shut.

"I do," he confirms with an entertained grin.

"Don't," I threaten him before exhaling slowly in an attempt to calm myself down. When the urge to rip his face off is less strong, I ask the question I've been thinking about this past weekend. "Is your brother working tomorrow?"

"I think so," he nods slowly before his eyes narrow. "Why?"

"Do you know what time?" I inquire, ignoring his question.

"Like, five, I don't know. He leaves a little while after I get home," he shrugs as if genuinely clueless.

"Do you think he can swing by my house before he heads out to work?" I ask him, hoping he successfully relays the message without too much editing.

He wrinkles his nose. "I'm not going to tell him to go over there so you guys can—," he starts but I hold up a hand.

"Don't finish that sentence. Just give me his number," I request when I realize that expecting him to do me a favor like that is fruitless.

"I'll text it to you," he assures me. I leave it at that before walking off in the opposite direction, despite the fact that we have class together.

+ + +

When Wednesday comes around, I'm nervous about the interview. Surprisingly enough, Maddox comes through with his brother's phone number. Abel agrees to bring me to his job but I'd have to find a way home because he's going to be working. I'll deal with that when the interview is over. When I hear the obnoxious beeping from outside, I leave the house and get into Abel's car.

"You look nice," he compliments me and I offer him a smile.

"Thanks," I mutter as I look down into my purse, trying to find my perfume. When I manage to snag it, I look at him and hold up the bottle nervously. "Do you mind?"

He shakes his head so I began spraying myself with it, inhaling the smell of sweet citrus. He takes a deep breath and nods approvingly. "That smells good," he mumbles.

"Thanks, I guess," I nod as I tucked the perfume away. It's a slow drive to the fast food restaurant and I'm nervous the entire time. I didn't really have to do much to get my last job at an ice cream parlor, which was open year round. I simply applied and they accepted my application. There was no interview. Abel explains that it's just for any questions that I might have but also because the manager needs to know who he's hiring.

"Are you nervous?" he wonders me when he notices how quiet I am. I shrug, not wanting to admit it. I mean, it's not even a job that you need skill for; you just have to have a lot of backbone. He laughs when he sees my worried expression. "It's okay. My father is good friends with the manager. I'll put in a good word for you."

I smile at Abel and nod appreciatively. "Thanks."

+ + +

After the interview, which wasn't as stressful as I thought it was going to be, I get a drink and see myself out. The manager, whose name was Jack, simply asked me if I have experience working a grill, register, or janitorial services, to which I answered honestly. He asked if I had any questions and then he questioned me about my availability. He told me that he'd get back to me in a week or so. I nodded and thanked him for his time, like Abel had told me to do.

I exit the office to find the nineteen year old sitting at a booth with a happy meal from the neighboring McDonalds in front of him. When he sees me staring, he blushes and looks down sheepishly. Through a mouthful of food, he mutters: "I'm on a diet; plus I like the toy."

I laugh and plop down in the seat opposite to him. "This place is so empty," I announce as I look around the restaurant.

"That's what happens. People will start coming back in a half hour or so. Adults get off of work; they're too lazy to cook so they buy fast food for their kids, which starts the health problems at an early age," he mutters thoughtfully. I roll my eyes and cut off his rant before he can start stressing too much.

"When does your shift end?" I ask and he looks at his phone.

"At nine," he responds, which gets a noisy sigh from me. It's barely six o'clock! "Why? You don't have a ride? I told you to get one."

"Who is there to ask?" I mutter under my breath. "Vivica's not too keen on answering my phone calls. My aunt's at work and will be until seven thirty, and I'm not trying to walk across the highway to get home.

"How do you plan on getting here if you get the job?" he asks me with furrowed brows.

"I told him about my schedule and he said he's willing to work around that as long as I can work on Sundays," I elucidate with a wave of my hand. "My aunt doesn't work on Sundays, so she'll be able to bring me." Abel looks at me and scoffs.

"You're giving up your Sundays?" he questions me in slight shock.

I shrug yet again. "It's not like I do much on those days anyway. I'd rather get paid for working than be broke and sitting around."

"I guess that makes sense," he mutters with a nod. "How are you getting home?"

I shrug as I look out the window. "I don't know. I'll have to wait until my aunt can pick me up."

"I might be able to get you a ride," he suggests with a smirk.

I give him a flat look. "With who?" I wonder.

"Maddox," he responds. When he sees the scowl on my face, he rolls his eyes. "Do you want a ride home or not?"

I don't speak and he only smirks wider as he takes out his cell phone. He holds his burger in one hand and dials Maddox's number with the other. He quickly puts his brother on speaker so he can eat and talk at the same time. It rings twice before he answers. "What do you want?"

"I have a favor to ask of you," Abel responds through a mouthful of food.

"If it involves cooking, cleaning, or lending you anything, it's a no," Maddox retorts bluntly.

Abel scoffs and shakes his head. "How low do you think of me?" he asks Maddox.

"Pretty low," Maddox answers honestly.

"I just want you to give a friend of mine a ride home," he explains hopefully.

"And who is this friend?" Maddox asks without skipping a beat. "If they're creepy, I swear to you Abel—."

"She's not creepy! She's cool," Abel dismisses his worries with a wink at me. I'd smile back if there wasn't a smear of ketchup across his cheek. Instead, I stifle my laughter with my hand.

"You said that about the girl who ended up getting arrested from your job for being a peeping-tom," Maddox rebuts pointedly.

Abel puts his hand over the phone and looks at me. "Have you ever been arrested?" he whispers and I blink a few times.

I think about it for a moment. "Not for anything detrimental," I whisper back dismissively. I mean I've been taken into the station and received several warnings, but I don't think any of them were officially taken down, at least not that I know of. Besides, they were for stupid things- like being at a party with alcohol as a minor, but I was never caught intoxicated so there wasn't much they could do.

"Yeah, she doesn't have a criminal record," Abel assures his brother, who grumbles in annoyance. "Come on, Maddie! Please! She has no other way home!"

Maddox sighs loudly. "You're lucky I'm taking a break from my homework."

Abel grins at me as he holds out his fist. I bump mine against it with a slow shake of my head. "She's here at Burger King."

"Let her know she's sitting in the backseat," Maddox informs his brother and I roll my eyes. I'm definitely not sitting in the backseat. "Any weird habits I should be aware of before I pick her up?"

Abel squints at me before starting to speak. "Yeah, she—," I cut him off with a sharp kick under the table. "She's violent."

"Great, another violent person to deal with," Maddox groans.

"Don't kiss her and you'll be fine," Abel snorts, which makes my face heat up. Maddox didn't bother to respond and simply hangs up the phone.

Abel has to return to work so I'm left in the empty booth with my thoughts. I really need to figure out a better way to get around. Back home, there was no need for a car. Everything was within fifteen minutes of my house and what wasn't close was easily reachable by the public transportation. Here, the only buses that run are for school and I can't afford to taxi everywhere. It's not even like I can try to save up for a car; my parents kept putting off me getting my license as a punishment for all the trouble I kept getting into. The way they saw it was that by giving me the power to drive, they were giving me the power to leave.

Twenty minutes later, Maddox texts Abel to let him know that he's outside in the parking lot. Abel calls me over after he finishes serving a lady and her son. "Maddox is outside," he relays.

"Okay," I nod as I move to grab my jacket from the booth I was sitting in.

"Wait," he blurts quickly. I watch as he runs around the counter and hugs me. "I rarely see you anymore."

I smile and return the hug. "You smell good," I announce in surprise. I thought he'd smell like fries but apparently not.

He laughs and lets me go when a customer walks in. "I hope you get the job," he announces.

"I do, too. I need the money," I mumble as I grab my jacket. My face is bright red as I try to repress my grin. He gave me one final smile and wave before I slip out of the building and into the nippy weather. I tug at the zipper of my hoodie and yank it upwards as I approach Maddox's familiar car.

I pull at the door and it opens, revealing Maddox, who's decked out in sweatpants and a sports hoodie. He looks up at me and his unruffled face turns into a scowl. "Are you kidding me?" he grunts.

I get into the car and buckle my seatbelt. I grin widely and I'm sure my face is still red. "You know the address," I retort sassily.

"Why couldn't you get a ride from someone else?" he inquires in an annoyed voice as he backs out of the lot.

"Because I don't have anyone else to ask for a ride," I bite back, slowly coming off of the momentary high that I was on thanks to Abel. He's so nice. How is he Maddox's brother?

"Why are you so happy?" he questions as he tears me from my thoughts.

"I-I might have a job," I stutter awkwardly.

"I hope you don't," he murmurs , which earns a glare from me.

"You're so rude," I snap.

"I know," he confirms. "People tell me that every time I open my mouth."

"Doesn't that bother you?" I ask with a curious gaze.

"I'm not going to change myself for people," he shrugs. "Besides, I'm funny."

"The only person who's ever laughed at your jokes is Raven," I retort with a slight scoff. He gives me a suspicious side glance and I shrug defensively. "I can't shut off my ears no matter how much I want to." He glances at me again and I want to groan. "Does she still hate me, by the way?"

He's silent for half a minute before he decides to reply. "Hate you?" he asks.

"Yeah," I reply with a slow nod.

"Why do you think she hates you?" he wonders as he racks his brain for a possible reason.

I shrug and look out the window. How do I say this without sounding...odd? "Nicholas's lock screen- she wasn't exactly happy with me," I elaborate vaguely.

"I don't know," he replies gruffly. "She's being petty."

"What?" I ask him. He glares at the road as he continues to drive.

"She knows that I don't like her in that way. She gets mad over the smallest things. I've told her multiple times that I'm seeing other girls yet she gets so angry when I simply talk to a girl in front of her. It's so frustrating and I-I-I... don't know why I'm telling you this," he halts with a loud sigh.

"She likes you," I remind him, ignoring the latter part of his rant.

"She knows that I don't like her," he repeats after a moment of complete silence. I was under the impression that our little "moment" had come to a quick end.

"But kissing her makes her think that she might have a chance," I assure him.

"She knows that my feelings left when she left," he confesses stubbornly.

"She probably thinks they came back when she came back," I retort as I keep my gaze on the road. He grumbles something under his breath and I glance at him out of the corner of my eye. "She feels used."

"Used? Why would she feel used?" he questions me in slight shock.

"Because you know about her feelings and you're taking advantage of them," I explain in my best attempt to not seem judgmental.

"She's the one that initiates the kissing," he responds with a shake of his head. "I rarely, if ever, do."

"Yeah, but you go along with it, which makes her think that she might have a chance with you. And when she sees you with other girls, she realizes that she doesn't have a chance, and that makes her feel like you're just using her," I summarize in the best way I can bring myself to.

He's silent and the only word that escapes from his mouth is a single swear. I think he realized that I'm right. If that's the case, he doesn't bother to speak or even thank me for the clarification. Instead, he just sits there with a sour look on his face.

+ + +

The next day back at school is quiet, mostly because I'm too excited to see if I got the job at Burger King. It's not the fanciest job but it's money that I so desperately need. It feels weird going from making a solid couple hundred a week to living off of $50. Like my dad always says, a job is a job. Besides, how cool will it be to work with Abel?

I don't bother to say anything to Maddox about his lack in apologizing, seeing as it would do nothing but create more anger. There's already enough tension between us. Besides I'm still surprised at the fact that he had opened up to me. He's never said anything of substance to me until that brief conversation about Raven, which I still think about from time to time.

In the first class we have together, he immediately approaches me and I can already make out the words on the tip of his tongue. His hair is a mess and I have the urge to run my fingers through it to fix it, but I repress. If I so much as lift my fingers in his direction, he'll probably rip them off. Abel would probably laugh and allow me to fix his hair, even leaning down so I wouldn't have to stretch to comb it. Maddox comes to a halt once he reaches me. He keeps a good distance between us and he stares down at me. I stretch out in my usual seat and watch as he bounces from foot to foot, refusing to sit down; it's not like I expected him to.

"Just because I talked to you about Raven doesn't mean—," he starts, just as I had predicted.

"I know, I know. We're not friends. You just needed someone to talk to and I happened to be there," I exhale the line I rehearsed.

"Good," he nods and briefly looks away.

"Great," I mumble back as I silently try to gauge where this leaves us. So we're not friends, but we talk from time to time. Does that make us acquaintances? I look up and am slightly surprised when I find that, not only is he still standing here, but he's scrutinizing me. 

"You're still mad?" he asks curiously. I stare at him and attempt to distinguish the emotion on his face. He doesn't look annoyed but he definitely doesn't look happy.

"What do you think?" I retort with raised brows.

"Listen, if you want to be... friends... then you'll have to learn to deal with it," he says the word 'friends' like it burns his tongue.

"Friends?" I ask him and he gives a strained nod. I roll my eyes as I assess him. He screams messy- from his poorly tucked uniform shirt to the mop that is his wavy, brown hair. "Don't do anything else to annoy me, Maddox, because I won't hesitate to hurt you."

"I'm absolutely terrified of a five foot girl," he murmurs sarcastically as he holds his hands up mockingly.

"I'm 5'6"!" I inform him with small a frown on my face.

"Are you really?" he wonders with a tilted head. I nod quickly and even stand up to prove it to him. He stares clear over my head in slight amusement.

"How tall are you?" I wonder as I stand eye-to-shoulder with him.

"6'1"," he responds blandly. I narrow my eyes at him in an attempt to seem threatening. Judging by the bored expression on his face, I can tell it's not working.

"I can still beat you in a fight," I remind him, which gets a loud scoff from him. He looks almost amused as his eyes flit between both of mine.

"Sure you can," he replies with a small nod.

"Glad we can agree on something," I grin widely at him.

+ + +

Shortly after lunch, it starts to rain very hard. Before I can swallow my dignity and ask Vivica for a ride home, I reach the parking lot and find her speeding down the slippery road. I sigh and yank the hood of my coat up. I'm not used to the cold. Where I come from, the coldest it ever gets is barely 50° Fahrenheit. Here, it reaches as low as 15° and it's barely mid-December.

I'm trying to cross the parking lot but a revving engine from behind scares me. I quickly move over and make room for the car to pass. It only speeds up a bit before idling beside me. I notice Maddox sitting there with a stupid grin on his face as he taps on the steering wheel casually. It's an odd sight- Maddox staring at me with a smile. I don't know what the cause of it is but it's probably something malicious.

"What?" I ask him as the rain pelts the top of my head, being absorbed by my coat.

"Nice weather we're having, isn't it?" he asks teasingly, which explains the smirk. "Great for walking, right?"

"Get out of here," I scoff with a shake of my head. I ignore his laughter and continue to walk.

"Do you want a ride?" he asks me. I debate on whether or not I should say yes. Why is he being so nice? Knowing Maddox, he'll probably wait until I reach the passenger's side before he speeds off, cackling loudly.

"What's in it for you?" I scoff.

"I have to ask you a question," he tells me as he slowly moves the car alongside me.

"Ask me now," I insist as I keep walking

"I'm not going to ask you unless you get in the car. And it's very important," he presses and I stare at the car, imagining the warmth that it provides. If I say no, I'll be trapped in the rain for another half hour, unless I fall back down the big hill; that adds another fifteen minutes.

I walk around the car and open the passenger side door. I shed my jacket and shove it, along with my bag, onto the floor. I climb in and slam the door shut, which gets a cringe out of him but he drives off regardless. He doesn't speaks so I jerk my head at him, wondering what's so important that he chased me down to get into his car? "What is it?"

"Oh, yeah," he nods. "Tomorrow, everyone's hanging out at Cassidy's house."

"To do what?" I wonder with a raised brow.

"To hang out, I guess," he shrugs. "It's after school at around five. Winona wants you to go, and so does Cassidy, and so does—basically everyone wants you there, except me of course. But Cassidy's making me ask you or else they won't let me into the house. I'll bring you if you need a ride, which I'm assuming you do."

"Okay," I agree.

"You'll go?" he asks me and I give a shrug in response.

"Sure, why not?" I reply. He lets out a groan, which gets a grin out of me. I can have fun all while ruining his night.