SPASE

SPASE: CHAPTER FORTY

Maddie opens their swollen eyes and glances at the sky, not at Reynolds. Not at the sunflowers. Not at the pile of rubbish Reynolds curls up on. The purplish, blue sky with stars shining brighter than before. It is as if they are looking for something or someone in the stars. Something is changing.

They are changing.

You okay, sunflower? Reynolds relays.

As tears swell in their eyes, they continue to peer up at the night sky.

What kind of tears, love? Reynolds says as he slowly stands and strides over to their side. Maddie sits just as they came, with legs crossed in the grass between the sunflowers. Reynolds lies in front of them, resting his face in their upturned palms.

"Happy."

Reynolds lifts his head. Happy?

"Happy. I got in," Maddie screams to the sky's vastness.

RISD... Momma and I knew you were going to make it there, darlin'.

Frustrated, Maddie stands. "But, I'm not. I'm here," they say, throwing up her arms. "Melissa said she loved me. My drunk ass dad, who by the way is actually trying to get sober, visited me in the hospital. They actually talked, you know? They had a conversation..."

They talked?

"They talked! I just can't believe that I got in. How did I get in? And on a full fucking ride," Maddie questions.

Because there is more to you and your art than you know. You are strong and talented. You don't give yourself enough credit. RISD doesn't just accept anyone to its programs. It's highly competitive and the fact that you received a full scholarship says something.

Maddie stands silent and still. Reynolds has a point.

Reynolds turns his head quickly to the sound of rustling among the flowers. Although his ears still sag, his left ear perks out of instinct. He knows who is there.

It's Nick.

Maddie notices Reynolds. His thoughts are loud.

He's here. He's here. He's here.

"Who's here?" Maddie whispers.

"I am," Nick states, as he emerges from behind the flowers. He appears disheveled and not put together. His grey polo shirt wrinkles and holds a mustard stain near its breast pocket. His khaki shorts don dried mud. With every breath out, a hint of bourbon fills the air. He is obviously drunk.

"Where have you been?" Maddie asks. "I feel like you owe me an explanation because you see, there was a girl named Parker that was harder than..."

"I don't owe you jack shit," Nick spits back. "And I know who Parker is. I haven't seen her. I take it she chose to buy into your scheme."

Reynolds began a low growl. Maddie sticks out their hand to calm him.

"Reynolds, it's okay. I got this," Maddie says.

Reynolds doesn't say anything back. He glances at Maddie, both worried and proud they feel like they can handle the confrontation. Maddie begins to walk toward Nick, eventually meeting him by the sunflowers.

"You're drunk. What's going on with you?" Maddie asks.

"With me?" Nick accuses. "What's going on with me? I've been waiting, hanging out, trying to find a way out of this dump because we are sitting ducks and here you are pretending to be your stupid, made-up, superhero. You only made her because you can't do it on your own. You can't be yourself. Now, here... you feel like you're someone actually important."