SPASE

BEFORE: CHAPTER SIX

"You know your dad is beyond a douche, right? Just because he says something negative about you doesn't make it true. In fact, he's wrong a million times over," Melissa exclaims into the sky as they walk along their normal route. It has become routine every day; they always walk home together. Maddie isn't quite sure where Melissa lives, but she puts in an effort to never point it out.

"I don't know, I mean, he is an asshole, but he's all I have left," Maddie admits, looking down at their feet as they walk.

Melissa grabs Maddie by the shoulder to get them to look at her. Both of them stop and lock eyes.

Just within the past week, the air has grown colder. Icicles form on the empty branches of the trees now. The dried leaves on the ground have now mixed with mud to make leafy frozen mud puddles.

"You damn well know that he isn't your only person," Melissa says, shaking their shoulders.

With a shrug, Maddie stares at her blankly.

"Mad, you have me," Melissa declares shaking them by the shoulders as a joke.

"Haha funny," Maddie rolls their eyes.

"Yo, not cool! Enough with that eye-rolling bullshit. I only speak the truth," Melissa winks, giving off the hint that she isn't being as serious as her words intend.

"Fine, I have you and Nick," Maddie admits. They continue to slide their feet amongst the frozen mud.

"Well, Nick can be questionable sometimes," Melissa laughs. "He's kind of a dick to you, you know that right?"

Getting kind of offended, Maddie speaks up as they continue to walk. "Look, we have history. We've been friends since kindergarten, and..."

"Is that what you call it?" Melissa interrupts, peering down at her shoes as she walks. "I don't think it's fair that he'll say comments that insinuate that you're not good enough all of the time. That's not how friends act."

Maddie knows all of this. It stings hearing it out loud from someone else though.

Melissa giggles nervously as she puts her hood over her head. "It was just a comment."

"I know," Maddie admits, placing their hands back in their pockets. "Jesus Christ it's cold."

Suddenly Maddie feels Melissa's hand slip into their pocket, interlocking with their fingers. It's as if Melissa's hand is electrified. Uncertain, Maddie accepts Melissa's hand.

"This can't be real, can it?" Maddie wonders.

"Enough about Nick and Frank," Maddie says under her breath. "Can we just be?"

Melissa smiles. "Absolutely."