181 Days of Madeline Jesty

Chapter 62: Self-Reliance

Mickey and I talked about—reminisced, if I must say—a lot of things as we relaxed by the window. We jumped from one topic to another: our first meet, Michael being Steph's uncle, my disgust after learning that Mom wanted to marry him, Mom being unpredictable, Mrs. Angie being the opposite of Mom, Cornelia being the worst adult I knew, and Amielle's whereabouts.

The only subject we didn't touch was my missing father. And of course, my curse.

If it weren't for the impending rain and the loud thunders, we might have stayed there for a few more hours. But Mickey decided that it would be best to drop me off early. Although I was having a pleasant time with her, I agreed. I wouldn't want her or us to get into any accident if it rained hard.

Mickey dropped me off at home just in time for dinner. Suzie and Troy, who waited by the gate with umbrellas in their hands, rushed toward us as soon as we arrived.

"Maddie, dear," Suzie said in panic. "Why weren't you answering our calls? There's a storm coming."

"That's why we decided to end our date early," I replied as I handed the helmet back. When Suzie and Troy looked at each other, I clarified my statement. "A friendly date."

"I'll get going," Mickey then said.

"I don't want you going there, not when you're alone, not when you're with me," I demanded, my tone fierce. I didn't want to sound controlling, but the place was secluded and far from the residences—a perfect venue for predators.

"Didn't I say that I go there once or twice a year?"

"Depending on your stress levels, you said."

Mickey nodded and touched my cheek. "So, my Majesty, you don't have to worry, okay? Ever since I met you, I haven't found a reason to go back. I only took you there because you seem to need a place to unwind before, you know, act on some things."

I smiled, nodding. But the thunder, along with Suzie intentionally clearing her throat, brought us back to reality. The sky was getting darker each second. It made me realize that rainy season was coming and I still had no way of communicating with Mickey outside school. Sending handwritten letters was obviously inefficient.

"Do you still not have a phone?" I asked. "How do we communicate if classes get suspended?"

"Then we don't," she answered, pulling the clutch. "You miss me, I miss you."

"Ms. Maddie—"

I stopped Troy before he could even tell me to wrap up our conversation. "You really should get going," I said. "Be careful."

After Mickey drove off, Suzie, Troy, and I quickly got in the car. Suzie, who was on the passenger seat, looked behind to ask, "Did that girl just call you my Majesty?"

"Just a nickname. I'm Madeline Jesty, right?"

"Are you two . . ."

"We're not what you think," I replied before she finished her question. In my mind, I argued, We can't be what you think.

***

Classes got suspended for straight four days because of the storm, the worst one in our area so far, leaving Friday the only day we had to go to school. During those four days, I looked for private investigators to help me look for Amielle but to no avail. I called whoever was on the business directory, thinking that being a Jacobs would make things easier. But no one believed me. Either they weren't taking a seventeen-year-old seriously, or they would tell me to ask assistance from Mom if what I was saying were true, even though it was.

When we got to school on Friday, we were gathered in the multipurpose building instead of our respective classrooms. Monday was the only day all levels gathered in the multipurpose building, but if there were important announcements, we would be asked to go there instead.