You're My Best Friend Until You Weren't (Madlyn AU)

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Summary: With some drunken secrets spilled Maddox tried to navigate where her emotion lies while Ashlyn had another dream and interactions that stirred up questions.

Notes: Here is chapter 6! This is more of the aftermath of the party and is like a lot of filler but has some plot to it. If that makes any sense.

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After Gina's party, every girl stayed over, even Maddox. They split up into two, occupying Gina and Ashlyn's bedrooms. Ideally, Gina would sleep with her girlfriend but she insisted that someone else stay with her, and Maddox knowing they were in a relationship and maybe there were still some boundaries between them, volunteered.

Though if Maddox was being honest, she just needed the excuse. It's easier to sleep with Nini who has been her bunkmate since she was 7 instead of sleeping with Ashlyn or people she barely knows with the possibility of making things so awkward.

It was almost midnight, Maddox was staring at the ceiling of Gina's bedroom, still thinking about all the things Ashlyn had said to her today. Ashlyn remembers her. Or kind of remember her, but the point is she didn't completely forget her.

Maddox couldn't help but flush, every word, every compliment made her heart beat faster than it ever had. "God, why won't it stop," Maddox murmured, placing her hand on her chest as she stirred at the bed.

"Dude, shut up," Nini mumbled, burying her face on her pillow. "Sorry," Maddox apologized, nervously playing with her beaded bracelet.

This seems to catch Nini's attention and even though Nini would 100% rather sleep she can't exactly ignore Maddox when she's like this. So instead Nini abruptly sits crisscrossed on the bed and encourages Maddox to do the same.

"Okay, what's wrong?" Nini asked, rubbing her forehead feeling the headache because of the alcohol in her system. "There's nothing wrong," Maddox said, hesitantly.

"But?" Nini added, waiting for Maddox to continue. "Moony, I mean Ashlyn remembers me. Or at least I think she does," Maddox admitted, scratching the back of her neck. "What do you mean? And you can call Ashlyn 'Moony,' I know that's what you're used to," Nini muttered.

"Y-yeah, thanks. So, earlier today Moony got a bit drunk, and when we talked on their porch... she kind of confessed that I seem so familiar to her, like she thinks we met before but she just can't pinpoint when and where," Maddox explained.

"That's a good thing, right?" Nini inquired. Maddox glanced at Nini before looking back down to her hands. "It is because this means that she might remember me," Maddox answered, biting her lips.

"Then what's the problem?" Nini asked, tilting her head. Maddox paused before confessing, "I just don't want to get my hopes up. But at the same time, I want her to remember me. Does that make sense?"

"It does. But why won't you just admit it to her? Don't get me wrong, I support you, but I was just wondering," Nini explained. "To be honest, I'm not sure why anymore. When I first saw her after many years I was just surprised and disappointed. So, I didn't tell her the truth," Maddox started.

"But now... I wished I had told her who I was," Maddox admitted, nervously playing with her bracelet. "Maddie, you know you could still tell her, right?" Nini reminded her.

"But that would be embarrassing and stupid! I mean what if I told her but nothing clicked on her? I don't want to be rejected," Maddox replied with a frown. Nini looked at her for a second before an idea came to her mind.

"How about this? Make her remember you," Nini suggested. Maddox scrunched her nose in confusion. Nini rolled her eyes and clarified, "Turn off your filter, Mads. Just be yourself. Be open about some parts of your life and the life you had before. Maybe knowing something she used to know about you will trigger some memories in her mind."