Survive

Chapter Eighteen

Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

September 2, 2022.

Madison Stone's Point Of View.

I get under the shower, close my eyes and run my hands over my hair to try relax.

I can't believe I made it seem like I still like Bryan. I know that from the moment you run out of arguments you give the impression that what the other person thinks is right, but he is not.

I didn't say that out of my mouth. I spoke from the heart. I love him and I only want him.

I stay in the shower for a few more minutes and then leave. I go to my closet, choose a comfortable outfit, but that I can get out with, since I'm thinking of going to talk to him, and put it on.

I leave the room and head for the stairs, but return when I hear my parents talking in a loud tone in their room.

I stop in front of the door and go to knock before entering, but when I hear my mother talking, I give up and just listen from behind the door.

Yes, I know it's ugly and inelegant to eavesdrop on other people's conversations from behind the door, but they are talking about me, so I kind of have a right.

"Sometimes I think you don't care about her," and when I hear my mother say this, for some reason I don't feel surprised, because I think this constantly, but it still hurts.

"Stop talking crap Barbara," and he speaks in a louder tone than they were already speaking, making me startle a little.

"If it's crap, why then didn't you stay here to meet her boyfriend? She was upset."

"It will have other opportunities. She has to understand that it's not every moment that I can be there," my father says and I hear my mother give a wry laugh.

"That's where the problem is, Richard. You're never there."

I think I've heard things I didn't like enough for today, so I move away the door and go downstairs, past the living room and into the outside area of the house on my way to Anthony's house.

I knock on the door when I stop in front of his house and wait for some time for him to open.

"Miss Stone?" He speaks as soon as he opens the door and I don't even say anything about "Miss."

"Can I come in?"

"Oh, sure. You can come in," he says and I go in.

"Thank you."

"Are you okay? Do you need anything?" He asks as he closes the door and sits down in an armchair in his living room and I sit down on the sofa.

"No, no... I just came here to be with you."

"Oh, okay, but your parents are home. Why don't you enjoy some time with them? Then you can come here to stay with me, since I'm always here."

"They're having an argument."

"Oh.. so, you can stay here," he says and gives me a conforting smile. "Actually, even if they weren't fighting, you could stay here if you wanted to," and I give a small smile.

"The reason for their argument is me."

"How do you know that?"

"I listened to my mother telling my father that she thinks sometimes he doesn't care about me." He tries to disguise it, but I know he feels sorry for me.

"But you don't have to worry... your father..." and I interrupt him.

"You don't have to lie Anthony. I know he doesn't care. We all know that. He didn't even have the guts to lie and say he cared about me," I speak frustrated and he looks at me like he doesn't know what to say.

He gets up from the armchair, comes over and sits next to me, so I just lean my head on his chest and close my eyes, feeling his arm around me and his hand gliding over my hair, making me feel comforted and safe.

"It doesn't matter if Richard is such an idiot as to not care about a person as sweet and extraordinary as you.. because I do care and no matter what happens, you can be sure that I will be with you." And as I hear those words I feel tears threatening to fall from my eyes.

Anthony has always been good at saying things that comfort me more than his hugs.

"Thank you, Anthony."

"No need to thank me.. you are the daughter I didn't have and I love you."

"I love you too," I say with my voice a little shaky.

"But I don't think that's the only reason you're a little down," and as comfortable as I am, I unbuckle myself from his shoulder.

"Andrey and I had a fight."

"Oh, so that's why I saw that he was kind of sad when he came to get his car keys from me... but can I know why did you fight?" Anthony asks and I nod my head in agreement, then start telling him what happened.

"So Bryan has joined Royalty.." he says  and I agree it. "Can I say what I think about it?"

"Yes." I answer half afraid of what I might hear.

"I don't think Andrey was upset because you were trying to be receptive to Bryan, but rather because you sidelined him while you were trying," and I feel bad when I hear that, because it really makes sense.

"Yeah.. that may have been why." And he agrees.

"Yes, because imagine for example, he kissed this Sarah girl a while ago right?"

"Yes."

"And even though you guys didn't have anything at the time of the dance, you didn't like seeing him with her, right?"

"Right."

"So imagine for him to see his girlfriend forgetting to give him attention so she could be with her ex, the same one he didn't even know was her ex and found out from someone else."

"So.. do you think he is right and I'm wrong?" I ask and he denies it.

"No. I know you didn't mean it. The problem was that you tried to be nice to one and ended up forgetting to be nice to the other one too," he speaks and I nod.

"Do you think it's a good idea for me to go talk to him?" I ask after being silent for a while.

"I think it's better that you guys talk alone than talking at school with your friends and the reasons for your argument around," and I agree.

"Yeah.. you're right."

"If you want I can take you to his house or somewhere else for you two to talk," and I smile.

"I will have it yes," I say and he gets up.

"Then I will get the car out of the garage while you decide where you want me to take you," and I agree, getting up from the couch as well.

He takes the keys, looks at me and says, "Do you want me to let your parents know or will you let them know yourself?"

"Let me let them know," and he agrees, leaving his house shortly thereafter, as I grab my cell phone to let my mom know I'm leaving, since I'm not in the mood to go upstairs, and call Andrey.