Fading Echoes (OCxArianaGrande) [Being Re-Written]

Chapter 11 (Re-Written)

**DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!!**

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Madison's House
Encino California

Benny's POV

Her house looked like the picture of calm. Polished stone walls. That oversized blond-wood door with its neat little slats. Two lights on either side, warm and even. The driveway was spotless. Like nothing ever blew up here.

But I knew better.

I sat in my black Porsche just watching the front for a minute. No movement behind the windows. No signs of pacing. Just that kind of stillness people put on when they're trying too hard to seem unbothered.

I killed the engine, grabbed my phone, slid it into my back pocket, and stepped out. Door closed quiet behind me. The bricks beneath my boots were cold. Clean. Too perfect.

I walked up, rang the bell once.

It didn't take long.

The door opened like she'd been standing there, waiting for it.

Madison stood in a sweatshirt I didn't recognize—something probably expensive, but hanging loose like she'd thrown it on out of habit, not style. Hair pulled back. No jewelry. No fake casual smile. She looked...tired.

"Hey," she said, like she wasn't sure if she was allowed to use my name anymore.

I gave her a nod. "Hey."

She stepped aside to let me in. I passed her without touching anything.

Inside, it smelled like sage and whatever soft floral candle she always kept burning when she wanted to seem grounded. The room was warm, clean, curated like always. Except now it felt like walking into a set I'd already shot the final scene in.

We didn't sit.

"I won't be here long," I said, turning toward her. "I just came to say what I need to say."

Madison folded her arms across her chest, bracing herself. "Okay."

"I don't know what you thought this conversation was gonna be," I started. "But just so we're clear, I'm not here to work things out. We're not getting back together."

Her mouth opened like she wanted to respond, then closed again.

"You hurt me," I said. "Worse than you know. I wanted you, Madison. You were my girl. You ignored me in London and never texted me back to talk things out like a grown woman. Instead, you ran off and kissed your ex in a public place."

She flinched like she'd been waiting for that line.

"You knew what that would look like," I said. "You knew who Zach was. You knew the second it hit the internet, it'd hit me. And you did it anyway. Not because you were drunk or spiraling—but because you were angry that someone else saw me talking to Ariana and you didn't feel in control anymore."