Before The Storm

Chapter 4

That evening, as I lounged by the pool, my parents finally returned home from their trip. I sat up, trying to muster some excitement, but the moment they stepped through the door, my heart sank.

"Hey, Hannah!" my mom exclaimed, rushing over to embrace my sister. "We missed you so much!"

Hannah beamed, clearly thrilled by the attention. "I missed you guys too! You have to tell me everything about Italy!"

Meanwhile, I sat there, invisible. They barely even acknowledged my presence, just a half-hearted wave in my direction. "Hi, Maddy," my dad said, but it felt more like an afterthought.

I felt the familiar pang of disappointment. It was always the same. They adored Hannah—the sweet, studious one—while I was left to navigate my own world.

"Did you do anything fun while we were gone?" my mom asked Hannah, her voice full of enthusiasm.

"Just hanging out with friends," Hannah replied, her eyes sparkling.

"Sounds great!" my dad chimed in. "You should introduce us to them sometime."

I rolled my eyes, feeling the familiar sting of neglect. "Yeah, because you care," I muttered under my breath, but no one heard me.

I stood up, deciding I'd had enough. "I'm going to my room," I announced, not bothering to look back at them.

"Okay, sweetie," my mom replied, still engrossed in her conversation with Hannah.

As I walked away, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of frustration and resentment. It was like I didn't even exist in my own home. With a deep breath, I pushed those thoughts aside.

Later that night, Jake came over, a bottle of wine in hand. "I thought we could use a little unwind time," he said, plopping down on the couch next to me.

"Perfect timing," I replied, pouring us both a generous glass. We settled in, the familiar comfort of our friendship wrapping around us like a warm blanket.

As we sipped our wine, I couldn't help but vent. "So, things with Ryan just... aren't working anymore," I confessed, swirling the liquid in my glass. "I feel like I'm just going through the motions."

"Why's that?" Jake asked, genuinely curious.

"It's like he's not really seeing me," I admitted. "I mean, I don't know if he even cares about what I want anymore. He's too busy being Mr. Perfect with his soccer buddies."

Jake raised an eyebrow. "And how does that make you feel?"

"Frustrated," I said, the word spilling out. "I want to enjoy my life, but I feel like I'm stuck in this perfect little bubble that's slowly suffocating me. And then there's Luke..."

"The professor?" Jake interjected, grinning.

"Ugh, don't remind me," I said, rolling my eyes. "It's a mess. I shouldn't even be involved with him, but it's like he gets me in a way no one else does."

"Sounds complicated," Jake replied, his tone more serious now. "But hey, you're allowed to have fun, even if it's with someone who's technically off-limits."

"True," I said, feeling a little lighter. "But it's not just that. I'm just so over this image I have to maintain. I want to break free and be... I don't know, real."

Jake took a sip of his wine, contemplating. "You're allowed to be real, Maddy. Even if it means stepping outside the lines a little."

I smirked, grateful for his support. "And what about you? Any cute guys in your life?"

He chuckled. "Actually, I met someone on Hinge."

"Pathetic," I teased, shaking my head. "You know you could just go out and meet someone in person, right?"

"Yeah, but that's so much effort," he replied, rolling his eyes. "This guy seems cool, though. His name is Aaron, and he loves hiking and dogs"

"Okay, that's not terrible," I admitted, sipping my wine. "But you're still pathetic for relying on an app."

"Better than being stuck in a relationship that's going nowhere," he shot back, smirking.

"Touché," I laughed, feeling grateful for our easy banter. For a moment, everything felt lighter, and I could breathe a little easier.

-

The next day, I lounged in the living room, scrolling through my phone when my mom clicked down the stairs in her heels, the sound echoing through the house. "Oh, Maddy!" she chirped, her tone overly cheerful. "We invited the new neighbors for dinner."

"What's the occasion?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Something about their dad working for the same company your dad has connections with," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "I don't know all the details, but it sounds important."

"Great," I replied sarcastically. "Exactly what I needed."

-

After getting dressed and doing a quick check in the mirror, I headed out to meet Carly and Jessica for breakfast. The café was buzzing with the morning crowd, and I slid into a booth, already feeling the weight of the day pressing down on me.

"Hey, Maddy!" Carly chirped, sliding in across from me. Jessica followed, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she settled in.

I glanced at the menu but wasn't really in the mood for food. When our orders arrived, I picked at my yogurt bowl, barely touching it.

"Is that the secret to staying skinny? Order a yogurt bowl and not even eat half of it?" Jessica teased, a playful grin on her face.

I shot her a glare. "Maybe if you spent less time eating and more time at the gym, you wouldn't be trying to squeeze into that dress," I snapped, my tone icy.

"I was just joking!" she said, taken aback, her smile faltering.

"I'm just saying," I pressed, "if you want to joke about me, maybe you should look in the mirror first."

Jessica frowned, her laughter gone. "I was just trying to make you smile, Maddy."

"Yeah, well, next time, aim higher," I said, dismissing her with a wave of my hand.

Silence settled between us, the tension palpable. I didn't feel bad about what I said; it was just how things worked in our world.

After breakfast, we decided to hit the shops. Beverly Hills was buzzing, and I felt the familiar rush of excitement as we entered a trendy boutique. The racks were filled with the latest styles, and I was determined to find something that would make an impression for dinner tonight.

"Okay, what do we think?" I asked, holding up a stunning, form-fitting baby pink dress.

"Gorgeous! You'll look like a total knockout," Carly exclaimed, her eyes wide with approval.

"I don't know, Maddy," Jessica chimed in, a hint of hesitation in her voice. "Do you really want to turn heads with Cole and Jamie coming over?"

"Why not? They're just the new neighbors," I replied, rolling my eyes.

"Speaking of them, I can't believe you're having dinner with their family," Jessica said as I twirled in front of the mirror, admiring how the fabric clung to me. "What's the deal with their dad anyway?"

"Something about being connected to my dad's company," I replied dismissively, adjusting the straps. "Not that I care. I just want to make sure I look good."

"Let's just hope they don't end up being total duds," Carly said, flipping through some accessories. "Because if they are, that'll be a boring dinner."

"Oh, trust me, with those two, it'll be anything but boring," I said with a smirk, already imagining the playful banter that would ensue.