WINGED ₁

47

THAT NIGHT, Lee Fletcher and a couple of his siblings, including Will Solace, who was strictly under Madeleine's protection, led an attack on an Aethiopian drakon. Madeleine hadn't been there, but the whole situation was rather disturbing to Lee, so after he made a speech about it, they skipped breakfast and went with Drew to smoke weed in the forest.

After a few blunts, Lee let out a heavy sigh and said, "I'm going to bed. I'm fucking exhausted." 

Drew offered to go with him, but he refused, so she touched his hair and watched him go. Madeleine was secretly grateful, not because she didn't like Lee, but because she hadn't had any time alone with Drew in what felt like forever.

They put the weed away, since that was mostly Lee's thing, and stared at the creek that ran through the forest. Madeleine thought of Luke.

"So," Drew said, leaning her head on Madeleine's shoulder. "Who were you seeing over the summer?"

Madeleine went red to her toes. She could lie, but Drew could read her like a book, and they had a strict no lying policy between them. So she opted for the truth, because she was dying to tell someone. "Would you believe me if I told you I was hooking up with your boyfriend's dad?"

Drew laughed, paused, and laughed some more. She kissed Madeleine's temple. "You do know he has a history of tragic lovers, right?"

"You do know I have a history of tragic lovers, too," Madeleine refuted. "Besides, it's not like that. We're not going to fall in love with each other."

"Why not?" Drew asked, and now they were dangerously close to skirting Madeleine's jagged edges.

"We both ruin things," she said simply, and hoped that would be enough.

Drew sighed slowly. "You don't ruin things," she told Madeleine. "Things ruin you."

There was a heavy moment of silence. Madeleine could hear the rush of the water and the cicadas chirping in the woods.

"Drew," Madeleine said, "I need you to keep another secret for me."

"Shoot me."

Madeleine finally talked about Ethan's visit to her house. Drew was quiet the whole time, and when Madeleine was done talking, Drew just sighed again and said, "Oh, Madeleine," like she understood a lot more than her friend did.

"What?" Madeleine asked.

Drew took Madeleine's palm and traced the creases in it. She was quiet for a long time before she finally said, "You love him, don't you?"

Madeleine swallowed around the lump in her throat. "I don't know if I can love again. Especially not after Zoe. Especially not him."

"Why not him?" Drew asked.

"Because he's a walking tragedy, Drew," Madeleine said, her voice tight like she was going to cry. "He's like Zoe all over again."

Drew dipped her head in acknowledgement and they sat there for a long time, staring at the creek. Madeleine had missed her Drew. Drew Tanaka was her confidant, her safe space, her home.

Drew would always take care of her.

Finally, Drew stood up and stretched. "So, can I hold it over Lee that my best friend has been fucking his father?"

Madeleine stood, too, and said, "Absolutely not."

Drew grinned. "Fine. Then at least tell me this: how big was his dick?"

"Gods," Madeleine said, and ran through the woods. Drew chased after her, laughing gleefully.

⎯⎯ ୨ winged ୧ ⎯⎯