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

And I Have Feelings For You

Summary: With a slip, Ashlyn had admitted her feelings to Maddox. How would Maddox react to her and where would this lead them?

Notes: Here is chapter 12. There would be a lot of minor relationship developments and backstories. There will explanation of some of the plot holes in the previous chapter.

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Maddox and Ashlyn stayed in an uncomfortable silence for a moment too long. They just stared at each other as if they were trying to look for the right words to say... the right thing to do.

Maddox was the first to break the silence by letting out a very long sigh and dramatically lying back on the grass. "You really do like me?" Maddox asked, her arms covering her face. "Uhm. Yes, I like you," Ashlyn admitted, absent-mindedly playing with her bracelet.

"Ahhh! You beat me to it!" She blurted out, abruptly sitting up again and coming face to face with Ashlyn in close proximity, catching Ashlyn off guard.

"What?" Ashlyn asked with a laugh, glancing over to Maddox who was looking at her with what Ashlyn could only guess was love? Fondness? She wasn't sure.

"I was nervous but... I was planning on telling you I have feelings for you. That I like you," Maddox confessed, nervously playing with her glasses. "Oh," Ashlyn mumbled, biting her lip.

"Don't 'oh' me. Say something," Maddox remarked, chuckling. "I don't know what to say," Ashlyn retorted, mirroring Maddox's chuckle. "Fine. Then I'll say something," Maddox commented, exhaling.

"I like you. I believe I had feelings for you since we were kids when you gave me the name 'Gadget'," Maddox begins with fondness. "I believe that even after 8 years apart from you. And basically, forgetting about me... I still have feelings for you," Maddox continued, taking Ashlyn's hands with hers.

Ashlyn glanced at their intertwined hands before returning her gaze to Maddox. "I thought being best friends with you was enough and I thought I was subtle enough to hide it but when you said you like me. That you are nervous around me. I just knew you were my best friend but I wanted more than that," Maddox confessed, rubbing her thumb on the back of Ashlyn's hand.

"Okay, now you have to say something," Maddox muttered, scratching the back of her neck with her free hand. Ashlyn continues to look at her as she timidly nods.

"I just... okay, I haven't really prepared any speech like that but," Ashlyn paused, releasing a shaky breath as she started again, "I like you too." "You have to give me more than that," Maddox teased. Ashlyn glanced at her, shaking her head in disbelief yet she was chuckling.

"Okay, I'll say more... but only for you," Ashlyn pointed out. "Go on," Maddox encouraged her, excitedly waiting for Ashlyn's 'confession' to her. If that's what you are calling what they are doing.

"Gina was right," Ashlyn simply said. Maddox furrowed her eyebrow in confusion and it seemed like Ashlyn caught it before the next thing she was explaining herself more.

"That I might have been crushing on you since you transferred," Ashlyn clarifies. "I may have forgotten about you but you still took my breath away. You and your stupid cute smile," Ashlyn admitted, earning a chuckle from Maddox.

"I don't know but there is something to you that makes me not want to look away," Ashlyn confessed, staring at Maddox. "I don't know if it's your smartass personality or not-so-funny jokes or your nerdy glasses or your adorable mannerisms," Ashlyn begins but Maddox interrupts her.

"Be honest with me. Are you confessing to me or insulting me?" Maddox commented, playfully. "I don't know! I'm not used to telling how I feel," Ashlyn argued, covering her face. "Even though you literally blurted out that you like me?" Maddox reminded her.