Learning Again

Twenty Three

"And Seonghwa's face!" Yunho joked as we left that night, but I was laying against Mingi as he hugged my shoulders, the two of us walking just a little bit slower than everyone else.

"Maddie, can we get a picture?" I looked at Mingi then saw the Disneyland sign and nodded, going to it with him.

"WAIT, WE LOST THE LOVEBIRDS!" I heard San call, but Mingi and I ignored them as we took a bunch of selfies in front of the sign.

"Here!" I handed my phone to Wooyoung then he took a full body photo of us.

"Another, another!" Hongjoong cheered and I laughed, Mingi groaning as we took more. When the guys were finally satisfied with the photos, I reclaimed my phone then frowned as I saw a call from the California State Prison on there. I sighed and went to clear the notification, when I got another call from them. This late?!

"Hold on!" I called to the guys and they looked at me as we stopped walking.

"'Hello?"' I answered and pressed my fingers to my other ear to hear better.

"'Hi, is this Madison Smith?"' A man asked and I frowned. Not my dad, not David.

"'This is. May I ask who this is?"' I asked and looked at the guys, but San was frowning. He understood a little better than the others, being fluent, but he was softly speaking to them so they knew what was going on.

"'Hi, my name is Officer Thompson of the California State Prison. We had a small incident today, regarding David Smith-"'

"'Wait, David is in prison?!"' I asked and San choked on his water as he looked at me with wide eyes.

"'Yes, ma'am. He's been here for a year-"'

"'When the hell did he get arrested?! We were never told!"' I growled and saw a few guests staring at me, but I was so confused! All this time, we thought David was out there killing more people, but he's really been in prison this entire time?!

"'Miss Smith, he was arrested along side your father after his first escape."' The cop said and I frowned.

"'Why are you calling me?"' I asked and closed my eyes.

"'Right, as I was saying. There was an incident regarding your brother and your father today, and an investigation has been opened with the new evidence that was brought to light. Lawyers are attempting to bring the case to trial, but your brother refuses to talk unless he sees you-"'

'"Like hell!"' I scoffed, shaking my head.

"'You tell that dirt bag I'd rather rot in hell than ever see him! Also, don't bother me with this bullshit again! Now, if you'd excuse me, I have people waiting on me!"' I spit and hung up, shaking my head.

"Your brother is in prison?!" San asked and I nodded, sliding my phone into my pocket.

"He was arrested a year ago." I said and sighed, grabbing Mingi's hand.

"Let's get back home. It's late, I'm tired, and I need to have a long talk with my mom in the morning." I said and they nodded. As we got to the car, I went to get in, but my knee seized and I groaned.

"Mads?!" Jongho called, not in the car yet, but I shook my head.

"Can you grab my brace from the back?!" I asked and he nodded, going to get it as Mingi came over, kneeling and beginning to untie my shoe.

"Here, Mingi." My boyfriend took the brace then set my shoe on the ground, carefully sliding my brace onto my knee.

"Is that okay?" He asked as he tightened it and I nodded.

"Perfect, thank you." He nodded then got my sneaker back on me and tied it.

"Are you okay to drive?" Jongho asked and I nodded, smiling as Mingi stood.

"I'm okay, I don't use my left foot to drive." I said and they nodded. As we finally got loaded up, the others looked worried, but I smirked and grabbed my phone, typing on it before we left.

"Maddie, I'm tired!" San whined and I rolled my eyes.

"Hold on, San! I'm texting!" I said and finished the text to my mom, hitting send. As I went to my Spotify, I handed my phone to Mingi and left the parking lot, beginning the drive home.

"Mingi has control of the music? Wonderful." Hongjoong joked, but Mingi gave him a look.

"Mingi has my music to choose from, so be nice!" I said and grinned as Mingi put on Black-Pink. As I drove, I danced in my seat and Mingi set his hand on my leg, needing the touch. I smiled and set my hand on top of his, driving with one hand. When we got to the house, I saw eight sleeping faces and turned the car off. Instantly, Hongjoong woke.

"Sorry! We're home!" I whispered and Hongjoong nodded.

"WAKE UP!" He yelled and everyone groaned, slowly waking up.

"We're home, guys!" I laughed and we got out, going inside. Waiting in the kitchen sat my mom and a bottle of wine, a glass in her hand.

"Guys, go upstairs." I said as I saw her and the guys slowly went upstairs.

"'Mom, do I need to go get Paul?"' I asked, but she shook her head.

"'My ex-husband is in prison, my son is in prison, and I've never known my son was there because he helped his father escape."' She said and finished her glass of wine.

"'Mom, that bottle is nearly empty. You should get to your room, get some sleep-"'

"'This bottle is from today. I did what you said, made a dinner date for Paul and I. I didn't drink all this just now."' She said and set the glass down, shaking her head.

"'Goodnight, Maddie-"'

"'Mom!"' She looked at me, nearly there already, but I smiled softly.

"'Love Paul tonight, mom, you look like you need it."' I said and she smiled, nodding and going into her room. I sighed then went to her bottle and glass, cleaning it up and finally trudging up the steps to the room I was using with Mingi.