Nick

Nova has been on her best behavior since that day at Aubrey's house, I expected no less. Honestly, I think she'd make a good actress. She knows how to play a part when needed and can effectively create emotion.

"So I invited Stacey and Nadia" Maddie informed me as she and I sat at my kitchen table. There's no football practice today or tomorrow because our head coach had a family emergency. The day after tomorrow, Saturday, is the day of my party.

"You can't invite them!" I furrowed my brows as I freaked out at my cousin, "they're both my exes." Stacey had gotten expelled from Norwood for allegedly attempting to kill a teacher and Nadia transferred because she figured a private school would suit her better. That being said, neither of them had any idea of Nova—or vice versa.

"Oh" Maddie began, with a condescending sigh present in her voice. "Nova's gonna be there?"

I lowered my gaze at Maddie. "Yes, Maddie" I groaned in a serious tone, "she's my girlfriend."

Maddie rolled her eyes, folding her arms as she did so. "I mean," she began, "yeah, I guess she is. But I don't know how she is after all that she's done to you." I stiffened my jaw, looking at Madison. "If that was me," she scoffed, looking away from me, "Nova's ass would have been grass by now."

"Well, I don't exactly consider it cheating" I defended my girlfriend, unsure of if I even believed what I was saying. "She and Aubrey, they're just two very confused girls who are temporarily fixated on going against the grain." I swallowed the excess spit that was forming in my mouth, "one day, they'll be grossed out by all of this. It's just a phase."

Maddie was not hearing me out, that was evident in her immediate chuckling response. "Cheating is cheating, Nick" she stood firm on her stance. "And because she always gets away with it, Nova will never stop cheating on you—unfortunately."

A pit was forming in my stomach, Maddie was almost always right, growing up. I don't know if she was some kind of psychic or just had wisdom far beyond our years, but she damn near knew all. "I don't know," I breathed out, looking down at the table. "Considering what Aubrey said to her, I doubt that they're still a thing. It seems to be over now."

"Oh?" Maddie replied, with a half-assed, intrigued smile spreading across her lips. She fixed her posture and focused her gaze on me before speaking again. "What did Aubrey say to her?" She asked me.

"I don't know how..." I trailed, unsure of how to start explaining what had happened. "Uh," I said again, looking away from Maddie briefly. "Okay," I finally breathed out, ready to just matter-of-factly state what went down at Aubrey's house. "I caught Nova at Aubrey's place the other day. Aubrey believed that Nova and I set her up, for some reason. Because of that, Aubrey told Nova that she was going to ruin her life." Maddie stared at me once I finished talking, saying absolutely nothing and blinking a few times.

"You caught your bitch at Aubrey's house?" Maddie asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Yeah," I sounded, my response sounding more like a question than a statement. "I believe that's what I just said, Madison." Maddie bowed her head slightly, shutting her eyes as she ran a hand through her hair.

"How fucking dense are you?" She questioned me once she lifted her head up, with little to no emotion emitting from her voice. "Jesus Christ, Nick, this girl is two-timing you in broad daylight and you're just turning the other cheek? Seriously, how are you still with her? This cannot be real, I swear to God you're trolling right now."

I maintained my composure, despite Madison's somewhat hostile words. "I just told you how I'm still with her," I shrugged. "It would be different if one of them were a guy. They're just two horny, curious, confused girls." Maddie shook her head.

"That doesn't change a thing" she retorted. "Girl, boy, alien, your girlfriend kissed Aubrey with malicious intent. She knew what she was doing."

"I don't know..." I began, "malicious might not be the proper word of choice here" I shrugged. "I wouldn't say that Nova was moving maliciously, I would say that she's a people-pleaser who doesn't know how to say 'no' at times, and Aubrey is using that against her." Maddie hung her head back.

She clasped her hands together as she fixed her neck once more to be looking on at me again. "Well!" A sarcastic, fake joyous voice emerged from Maddie's mouth. "If you wanna be dubbed a good boyfriend, or whatever, then continue to be oblivious to the obvious infidelity that Nova is committing, Nick." I knew Maddie wasn't done talking, so I just stared at her as I waited for her to finish.

"But in the case that you do come to your senses," Maddie went on, "know that I did actually invite Nadia and Stacey, both of whom I'm sure will be elated to help fulfill your payback on Nova."

I scrunched up my face at the thought before changing the topic, sort of. "What are you wearing to my party?" I asked.

To my surprise, Maddie did not push the topic of Nova and Aubrey's interactions any longer. "A plain white dress," she answered as she twisted side to side, trying to crack her back. "Something real light, I don't have anybody to impress."

"Fair enough," I replied as I glanced at my phone screen, checking the time. "But, you do have your boyfriend to impress, you know." Maddie laughed.

"No I don't," she scoffed, "I already got him. He's seen me in every season already, I don't need to get all cute for him." I guess Maddie had a point, but I wasn't a fan of that logic. Personally, I feel as though looks should always be prioritized. If not, you'll let yourself go and then be confused when your partner has wandering eyes or downright leaves you.

"Well, I'm gonna clean up nicely" I softly smiled as I looked away from my cousin.

"For the bitches I'm bringing, right?" Maddie immediately retorted.

"No!" I furrowed my brows, "for my girlfriend."

Maddie rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Guess who your girlfriend is gonna be dressing up for?" she began, "I'll give you a nice hint: their name starts with an 'Au' and ends with 'brey'!"

"She's confused right now," I squinted at Maddie, arms folded like they'd been earlier. "It's not that big of a deal. As long as Nova picks me at the end of the day, then it doesn't really matter. I don't care."

"She's picking Aubrey over you if it really matters" Maddie insisted in a patronizing tone. "Only way she'll pick you is if it's some superficial situation that doesn't have a lethal outcome." I was getting tired of Maddie making me feel bad about my own relationship, it was one of the few things that drove me crazy about her—she was way too invested into a lot of things that simply weren't her damn business.

Maddie is a very headstrong individual, which could be a blessing or a curse. Once she believes something, she is the only person who can change her mind. She believes she knows what she's talking about, even after she's proven wrong. And when it comes to Nova cheating, I don't know what to think anymore. Sometimes it feels like she is, other times it feels like some big joke. But I'm certain that, like I said, Nova will choose me where it really matters.