It had been one week and it already felt like one month living with this girl. Kian smiled stiffly at me while Claire had a wide smile on her face. Somehow, I had missed them.
"Maddie...you look..." Mom kept quiet, looking for the right word. I look sickly and I knew she wouldn't say it, not here atleast.
"Shitty." Claire opted and I smiled. She never changes, does she?
"Yeah thanks." I replied flashing my teeth. I wonder why Bella is not here, this looks like her kind of place.
"A week changed you...a lot." I could see the pain on mom's face, she was not happy. I honestly wished mom was a lot more outspoken, she was too reserved and kind.
"Its almost as if you've been going through actual hell." Kian added resting his eyes on a bruise on my arm. I adjusted and his eyes landed on mine. I really couldn't stay mad at Kian even if he deserved it.
"I'm majorly starving." I tried to joke to ease the tension and start with the meal, but no one was smiling.
"You heard the girl, she's fine. Now food, please?" Mae spoke up, more like ordered and dad looked at me, staring at my neck. I should have covered this damn bruises! I groaned tired of the attention.
Claire had a smug look that said 'told you bitch' while the others held pity. Like I really need it.
"Maddie you're not okay, you are bruised literally everywhere." Kian spoke up, surprising us all.
"Thanks for the observation. Now that I'm not complaining, is anyone hungry?" No response. For real now? "Alright, good." I stood up and went to my room.
I was extremely exhausted and I meant mentally. I stared at myself on the mirror. Okay this is bad, dammit Madd. I cursed wondering why I would let such a thing slip out.
I covered the ones that were not seen and settled on my laptop when a knock followed by an unwelcomed entry interrupted me. I turned on my chair. Claire walked in with Kian.
"They wanted privacy. Its pretty tense down there." Kian chuckled nervously wondering if he should sit on the bed or not. Claire was already well sitted with crossed legs.
"You can sit. Just be quiet." I turned back staring at the screen absent mindedly.
"Kian told me the truth. You saved him." That sounded like mockery. I faked a giggle too turning serious immediately. "You still upset with him?"
"You don't think he deserves it, right?" I asked not giving an answer. I was not upset with him, just not particularly a fan.
"He told me why he did it." Now I turned back. It was almost as if Kian wasn't there. He didn't need to know but he was still my best bud.
"Do enlighten me." Kian looked at me nervously.
"It was a setup." No shit. That was one thing I picked up from the incident.
"She told me she would hurt you real bad and that I could stop that. I was naive, I just wanted you to be safe. She didn't keep to her word." He added the last part more to hinself.
"You saw 'trustworthy' boldly inscripted on her temples huh? You are still naive." I hissed coldly.
"Take a chill pill and let him continue." Claire defended sassily. Bitch.
"I agreed to do what she wanted. And then that happened. She told me to tell everyone that you are the one that hurt me. I...I didn't want to do it, I swear." He paused trying to choke out a sob. Claire patted his back comfortingly.
"Then why did you agree?"
"I did it for you Madd." He confessed, a tear falling off.
"And from the look of things, did you prevent anything?" No response, good. "I expected more from you. So, why did you tell her the truth?"
"He told everyone at home the truth. Get off your fucking rollercoaster and forgive the boy." Claire defended again getting on my last nerves. What the fuck is wrong with this bitch.
"You better shut your trap up or walk out of my fucking room. Just because I don't wail and cry over silly things doesn't mean I'm not hurt. I don't care why the fuck he did what he did, I won't care about it at all. My fucking issue is you did what the bitch wanted and still? Why the hell won't you let me handle things my own way? I told you a lot of times, I'll fucking take care of everything. Why try being my superhero? As it stands, I'm so tired of everyone and trust me I give zero shits about what any of you think about me. Zero." I had subconsciously raised my voice at the ending. Claire was quiet but still glaring at me.
"What did she do to you?" Claire asked as I turned my back on them.
"I want quietness." I answered in a voice above a low whisper.
"I just thought I could help, I'm sorry." Kian spoke up, ignoring my plea. Yeah it wasn't much of a plea.
"I'm not mad at you, I never was. I knew she had to do something." I admitted more relaxed. I was typing absent mindedly on my keyboard.
"So I'm still your best?" I turned facing him. His face held hope, so much hope that I wanted nothing more than to crush it. But, this was Kian. I would have not hesistated to crush soneone else's.
"There's never been a competition K." I smiled and next thing, I felt a small body on mine. I winced a little at the pain, surprised at the contact. Thankfully, the boy didn't notice. But Claire did. Not my fucking issue.
"That's okay buddy." I laughed and he disengaged. "How's bull dog?" I asked teasingly and he smiled feeling a lot more at home. I feel like somebody liked Susan, a lot more than he was letting on.
"She's not mad anymore." I knew she would have gotten over it by now, it wasn't a really legal insult for a young girl. Ha! Kian really surprised me there.
We discussed about irregular things. They told me Bella could not come because of a date she managed to score with a real hot diet, Kian's words. That'd make sense.
A week without them really showed as I lacked behind on a lot of gossip. I was also surprisingly enjoying Claire's mean company.
"Gimme a sec." Claire excused herself to answer a call.
"You and Claire huh?" I wriggled my eyebrows at him. Seeing them together was odd but not too surprising. He was a friendly person.
"She started off mean but I must confess. She's a better company than Bella."
"I second that." We both laughed. Bella was all unicorns and pink type of girl.
"She behaves like you in a tad bit nicer way." That explains the new found company. "Bella on the otherhand, gets me fustrated. I don't tell her that, because between you and I, that girl would go all loveydovey on me." I laughed. Again, I second that.
"You don't complain when mom goes all loveydovey on you." I pointed out crossing my legs on the chair I sat.
"That's different. Its a part of me and mom is not a fan of pink. Hers is motherly." Speaking of unicorn and PINK. Pink is her best color too.
"And Susan?" And that was how I watched my little innocent brother turn a shade of light pink. I don't think he's still as innocent. The door opened immediately.
"Uhm...they want us downstairs. Three of us." Claire added as I made to turn back to my laptop. I groaned standing up.
"Madd I'm going. Can we talk?" Mom asked. I nodded and followed her to the guest room. She looked at me before smiling. "I know you are not fine, and I also know you are not going to talk to me. All I want to tell you is to remain strong. I am working on staking full claim."
"I am strong. Really I shouldn't be your problem. I'm a grown ass woman mom." I reasoned with a small fake smile. She did not return it. Ouch.
"You are my problem. You are bruised and Kian told me everything. I don't like that girl so don't tell me not to worry." She spat angry. It was new seeing this part of her.
"You should have thought about all these before signing the contract, don't you think?" I asked matching her tone. Hurt flashed through her eyes before it settled back to her signature caring look.
"I was glad...glad that he didn't request for both of you." She paused staring at her hand. "I love you baby." She finished with a small smile.
"Send my greetings to Bella." I walked out of the room. Bading them bye before returning to my room.