love, maddie ✧ one tree hill

e l e v e n

"Hey."

Peyton had been out in the courtyard lost in her own thoughts. Although the girl was deemed 'popular', she never tried to give off a 'Hey, come talk to me' vibe. Usually trying to send out signals from the opposite end. She was slightly annoyed that someone clearly didn't get the memo. She was ready to send them away with an icy look, but when she came face to face with the person who spoke, the blonde's annoyance went away and was replaced with shock seeing her ex's sister standing in front of her. The two who had once been fairly close, hadn't talked in weeks since her breakup with Nathan.

"Oh, Maddie. Hey, what's up?"

"I just wanted to check on you, see how you were feeling after the other night."

"I've definitely been better. Uh, I actually have been meaning to come and find you to thank you by the way. I heard you sat with me while Brooke and Lucas went and confronted the jackass who drugged me."

"You don't have to thank me for that. I figured it was best if someone you actually knew was with you. Have some kind of familiar comfort around, you know?" The younger girl said with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Yeah, I know." Peyton said with a soft smile.

"Uh, yeah, anyway I should probably head to class now before I'm late—"

"I wanted to tell you that I'm proud of you too, by the way." Peyton interrupted the girl before she could walk off.

"Proud?" Maddie asks, genuinely being confused.

"You remember how many times we talked about you actually reaching out to Lucas? Actually talking to him? I mean not only did you do that, you're hanging out with him now. I know it took some courage to do that."

"Oh yeah, it's crazy to think about it all really. I never thought this would really happen before, sometimes it still doesn't feel real to me. After wanting it for so long, not believing that I would do it."

"But you did."

"Yeah, I did." Maddie says smiling with Peyton.

"I'm happy for you."

"Thanks Peyton. Means a lot."

"Don't be a stranger Maddie. Okay?" Peyton tells the girl letting her get going to her class.

"Okay." Maddie waves slightly before walking away.

☻☻

"Maddie, come eat. I picked up some sandwiches." Dan tells his daughter seeing her finally come down the stairs after being holed up in her room for hours on the phone with her friends.

"As amazing as that sounds—" Nathan scoffed at her words, "—I was actually wondering if I could go eat with Uncle Keith tonight instead?" She was hopeful until she saw his face.

"I don't think that's a good idea sweetie."

"Dad, c'mon. Why not?" Maddie didn't even try to hide her disappointment.

"Maddie, stop. Come sit down and eat please." He says again with a more stern voice. She knew there would be no getting through to him so she obliged slumping down next to her brother.

Maddie was hyper aware that the only reason he said no was because he knew Keith was watching Lucas while Karen was gone and he would do anything to keep his family away from what he refers to as 'the mistakes of his past'.

"How's your sandwich Nate?"

"Almost warm." Her brother responds.

"Well, I'll start cooking again when your mother comes to her senses." He says. Maddie rolls her eyes at his words.