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"I'm moving out."
"What?" Madison shrieked, almost choking on her coffee.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner but..." Rachel apologized, "I got a job as a RA at Brittany Hall."
"Rach that's awesome!" Madison cheered, "Does Angela know?"
"I actually told her this morning," Rachel explained.
Madison felt sad that her best friend was moving out of their shared apartment. It was Rachel who had gotten her into that apartment, and subsequently back with Eric. Rachel had done so much for her. Real tears pulled at the edges of her eyes.
"So I guess its just gonna be Angela, Shawn, and I," Madison sighed, "Kinda weird."
"I mean, Eric could move back in," Rachel hummed, sipping at her tea.
Madison rolled her eyes at her poor facade. It had been a constant scheme of getting Eric and Madison back under one roof, even when they reassured their friends that they were still immensely happy together apart. She couldn't lie and say living together wouldn't be great, but it wasn't a necessity at this time. It wasn't like they were getting married or anything.
"Speaking of, how's things with him?" Rachel prodded.
"It's really great Rach," Madison sighed, but felt a familiar feeling bubble up, "Well, there was one thing..."
Rachel's attention and intrigue immediately spiked, the tall redhead straightening up in her seat.
"When we were on the trip, he kind of asked what I would do if he proposed," Madison explained, cringing slightly.
"No way!" Rachel shrieked, "That is awesome news!"
Madison tried to nod along with her, but felt her uneasiness grow. Rachel, ever the great friend, seemed to notice and calmed her excitement.
"You do want to get proposed to don't you?" Rachel inquired.
"I- I think I do I just... that's a lot of commitment..." Madison sighed, "And I've never been one scared of commitment but I'm just..."
A silence passed while Madison tried to figure out exactly what she was so afraid of. Commitment was never something that was difficult in her life. She was committed to school, to her friends, to her family, to Eric... so what was stopping her now? Her parents were in a loving long-term relationship, so it wasn't like she had any trauma relating to that in her childhood or young adult life. So what the hell was it?
"I think I know," Rachel hummed.
Madison looked up at her, sceptical.
"You've hurt him before, big time. You chose a completely different life over him," Rachel explained, "The reason why you're hesitant is because you think he would be making the wrong choice to choose you after what you did."
Madison's jaw could've hit the table at that one.
"How in the hell do you know everything?" Madison sighed.
"It's a gift," Rachel chuckled, "But seriously Maddy, you're going to have to let that go. That was years ago now."
"I know," Madison exhaled.
The pair both smiled weakly at the other, feeling their friendship cement itself even more.
"So... what are your wedding colours gonna be?" Rachel giggled, leaning forwards expectantly.
Madison could only let out a cackle in response.
--
A soft knock at her bedroom door startled her out of the immersive experience of reading.
"Come in," Madison invited.
The door swung open to reveal a sheepish looking Angela. Madison and Angela hadn't gotten that close in the course of their friendship, it was always Topanga and Angela and Rachel and Madison. It wasn't unwanted for Angela to visit her when Shawn was still here, but it was out of the ordinary.
"Hey Angela," Madison greeted.
"Hey Maddy, I just wanted to talk to you about something," Angela mused.
"Sure, sit," Madison reciprocated, moving her books to allow Angela to perch at the end of her bed.
Angela seemed a little off, her demeanour and energy heavy. Madison prayed her and Shawn hadn't broken up again.
"I'm... I'm moving out," Angela revealed.
It was apparently a day for moving.
"What? Why?" Madison said in shock, feeling sad that another friend was leaving her.
"Shawn and I we... we're still together but... we think its better if we don't live together anymore," Angela sighed, "So, I've decided to move out and let Shawn and the boys retake their space."
The boys? Wait, she didn't mean...
"Eric and Jack are on their way over tonight to help me move," Angela continued, "And to move in. I just wanted to have a little heart to heart and goodbye before I just left in the night."
Madison and Angela both giggled at her attempt at a joke, smiling sadly at each other. Madison was absolutely bubbling inside at the realization that Eric and her would finally be under the same roof and in the same space again, but she was holding it in out of respect for Angela. She was going to miss her.
"I'm gonna miss you here, you're the only one that actually cares what it looks like," Madison softly chuckled, reaching forwards to bring her into a hug.
"I'm gonna miss you too," Angela sighed sadly.
Angela held the hug for a few more seconds longer than normal, really sinking into Madison's arms. Madison knew there was probably more to the story than she was telling, but didn't want to pry. Before anything more could be said, the sound of jingling keys and a solid knock on the front door pulled them back to reality. Madison launched herself off the bed, darting out into the hallway, across the raised second floor, and skipped over the staircase. The second Eric stepped foot into the apartment he was assaulted with her leaping hug.
"I can't believe it!" Madison cheered.
"Mads!" Eric cheered back, beginning to litter kisses all over her cheeks.
