Us [18+]

Chapter 10

IRIS'S POV 🎀

"Madeline Bryce is your best friend?!!" Mitchell screamed so loud a few of the gym members looked in our direction. But my gaze was trained on how the colour drained from Maddie's face. On how she tried not to give anything away and how her eyes glistened before she willed the tears back. I saw it all.

"Yes." I finally looked back to Mitchell and his golden retriever self. You'd think a 6'6 guy with a buzz cut and a brow piercing would be broody and intimidating, but, no. Not Mitchell. He just has to open his mouth and your initial discomfort would be washed away.

"Woah. You just got cooler, RiRi." My face reddened as heat crawled up my neck to my face. I've told him to keep that nickname for when we're alone. I want to facepalm myself.

"I don't know if that's a compliment to me or Madeline." I raised my eyebrow and feigned annoyance to hide my embarassment.

"It's both! She's your best friend so you should be privy to how awesome she is and I already know you're pretty awesome so it's a compliment to you both. You shouldn't take offense, babe." He squeezed my face and then kissed me noisily, smack on the lips.

I couldn't help it when my eyes flew to Maddie and I suppressed the urge to push Mitchell. I saw her laughing- Mitchell has that effect on people- but I felt conflicted when something akin to sadness flash through her smile.

Like she's happy for me and sad at the same time. "Looks like you found yourself a pretty great guy." She finally said something. How voice cracked at the beginning but gained it's usual melody. Mitchell spoke before I could.

"Madeline Bryce just called me great, write that down, babe."

"Aren't you supposed to be on Julia's side? You also didn't freak out like this when you were at my house." Maddie said it like it was incredulous, which it is in a way. Even Jeremy doesn't like her this much, that's a lie, he does.

"That was your house?! I guess I didn't really see you. My dad was giving me shit that night and I wasn't in the best headspace. I'm happy I found Iris again and-"

"Why don't you tell me more over dinner? RiRi, what do you say?" Mitchell has no problem saying whatever comes to his head but I could see it was getting unbearable for Maddie but she invited him for dinner, instead. I know Maddie. This isn't her welcoming Mitchell, it's her keeping her enemies closer than her friends.

Mitchell isn't her technically her enemy but he did steal me from her. I shot her a glare at the use of the nickname.

"We live together, Maddie and I'm sure there's nothing Mitchell wants more right now." Sure enough, when I looked over at Mitchell, his mouth was wide open.

"I would love that!" He clears his throat, probably thinking that we'd be getting bored of him smothering Maddie with admiration by now.

"Just, don't bring cigarettes to my house again."

"Sorry about that." He chuckled like the goof he is.

Maddie walked back to the ring just as a lady with short hair walked up to us- Mitchell. "Why were you talking to her so animatedly?" She had a seductive smile on her face. She tried to touch his arm, which he swiftly moved away and wrapped around my waist.

"Nothing. Meet my beautiful girlfriend, Iris." His looked like he just wants to get rid of her. I remember him telling me that his father basically forced him to coach her. "Babe, this is..." He paused and looked at her like he wanted her to say her name because he couldn't be brothered to remember it.

That's the thing about Mitchell. He can be intimidating, even if it's out of character for him. It makes him seem like a jerk but that's exactly what he wants. For people he doesn't like to leave him the fuck alone.

Her eyes widened and then she looked down before quietly muttering "Julia." I'm not a jerk and I can't- for the love of me- intimidate anyone, Iris does that for me. I stretched my hands to her and offered a smile.

She ignored both, turned around and walked right into Maddie. Guess she didn't go back to the ring. She was staring Julia down and the latter cowered a bit. Her voice came out with the intent to cut. Sharp and cold.

"When she asks for a handshake," she stepped forward, causing Julia to step backwards. "you shake her fucking hand." I heard Julia gulp before Maddie spoke again. Only, this time, the was no a trace of the hostility it carried before.

"Now, be nice to my bff." Julia took my hand in a shaky grip and Maddie smiled. I heard the hitch in Mitchell's breath and decided to ignore it.

He'd see more of Maddie soon.
-

I originally intended for Julia and Maddie to become friends and even shag. But I wanted to capture the moment, Mitchell's admiration turned into something more.