Before The Storm

Chapter 8

I walked into class with Carly, the chatter of students filling the air. I felt a mix of anxiety and hope, wishing things could go back to normal. As I scanned the room, my eyes landed on Ryan, who was sitting at our usual spot.

Taking a deep breath, I made my way over and slid into the seat next to him. The tension from the previous day hung thick between us, but I was determined to break the ice.

"I hate fighting," I said quietly, looking down at my desk.

Ryan glanced at me, surprise flickering in his eyes. "Me too," he replied, his voice softer than I expected.

I looked up, meeting his gaze. "Can we just forget about everything? Please?" I asked, vulnerability creeping into my tone.

He nodded, relief washing over his features. "Yeah, I'd like that. I don't want to keep arguing."

"Good," I said, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "I'm really sorry for how I acted."

"Same here," he replied, his expression earnest. "I just want us to be okay."

As the class started, I felt a sense of calm settling in. We exchanged small smiles, and I could feel the distance between us closing. Maybe it was possible to move forward, to put the drama behind us and focus on what really mattered.

Ryan and I exchanged playful banter, and a small kiss—a simple, sweet moment that felt like a promise of new beginnings.

But just as our lips met, I caught a glimpse of movement from the corner of my eye. Cole stood by the door, his expression a mix of surprise and something darker. My stomach twisted as I pulled away from Ryan, realizing Cole had seen everything.

"You seem definitely happy for someone who tried to cheat on him the other day," Cole leaned in and whispered in my ear, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

I felt a flush of embarrassment heat my cheeks. "What's it to you, Cole?" I shot back, annoyance flaring.

He crossed his arms, his gaze unwavering. "Just saying. You're moving on pretty quickly."

"It's none of your business!" I snapped, frustration boiling over. "You don't get to judge me."

Ryan looked between us, clearly confused by the sudden tension. "Cole, just back off," he said, trying to diffuse the situation.

Cole's eyes flickered to Ryan, then back to me, the challenge evident in his expression. "I'm just looking out for her," he replied, his tone steady. "But if she wants to pretend everything is fine, that's on her."

I felt the weight of his words hang in the air, a reminder of the mess I was trying to escape. "I'm not pretending," I said firmly, standing my ground. "I'm just trying to move forward."

"What is he talking about Maddy?" Ryan's eyes are curious.

"Nothing!" I snapped back. "He just likes to mess with me. That's it."

-

I couldn't hold it in any longer. Fueled by a mix of anger and frustration, I stormed over to Cole after class, my heart racing. "What the hell was that?" I demanded, my voice low but fierce. "Don't ever tell anyone anything about that night, or I swear I'll make sure you wish you never stepped foot in this school."

Cole met my gaze, unflinching. "Who hurt you?" he asked, his tone shifting from defensive to concerned.

"What?" I shot back, taken aback by his sudden seriousness.

He stepped closer, his eyes searching mine. "What happened to you that made you so closed off and scared of people?"

I felt a rush of emotions—anger, confusion, and something deeper I didn't want to acknowledge. "I'm not scared of anyone!" I retorted, trying to maintain my facade.

"Really?" Cole replied, raising an eyebrow. "Because it sure seems like you're running from something. You put up walls to keep everyone out, but that can't be healthy."

I glared at him, refusing to back down. "For the millionth time. You. don't. know. me."

"Then enlighten me," he challenged, crossing his arms, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Because I see right through your bullshit."

"Just stay out of my business," I spat, feeling the walls I'd built shaking under his scrutiny. "You're not my therapist, and I don't need your help."

His gaze darkened. "Fine. But don't come crying to me when you finally break."

I turned away, feeling the weight of his words, the truth they held, and the anger still boiling beneath the surface.

-

As I walked through the hall, I spotted Jamie leaning against a locker, his signature grin lighting up his face. He caught my eye and waved me over.

"Hey, Maddy!" he called, pushing off the locker. "What's up?"

"Not much," I replied, trying to shake off the lingering tension from earlier.

"Listen, I'm throwing a party this weekend at my place. You should totally come," he said, his tone casual but hopeful.

"A party, huh?" I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's the occasion?"

"Just a welcome-to-Beverly-Hills kind of thing," he replied, his smile infectious. "It'll be fun! Everyone will be there."

I hesitated for a moment, glancing back at Cole, who was still watching from a distance. "Sure, why not?" I finally said, shrugging off my reservations.

"Awesome!" Jamie said, grinning wider. "It'll be a blast."

"Looking forward to it," I said, trying to sound more enthusiastic than I felt.

As Jamie walked away, I felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. The party could be a chance to escape my problems, at least for one night. But would Cole be there? And if he was, would I be able to avoid another confrontation?

Just then, I spotted Ryan in the crowd and made my way over, pushing thoughts of Cole to the back of my mind.

-

After school, I spotted Professor Landon's sleek car parked by the curb. My heart raced as I approached, glancing around to ensure no one was watching. The last thing I needed was gossip swirling about our arrangement.

I slid into the passenger seat, trying to appear casual. "Hey," I said, forcing a smile.

"Hey, Maddy," he replied, returning my smile as he pulled away from the school.

As we drove, I felt the thrill of danger mixing with the fear of being discovered. Just as we turned onto the main road, I caught a glimpse of Cole standing by his motorcycle, his expression darkening as he realized who I was with.

My stomach dropped. "Oh no," I muttered, panic rising.

"Is everything okay?" Luke asked, noticing my sudden shift in mood.

"Yeah, just...fine," I said, but I couldn't shake the feeling of Cole's intense gaze burning into my back. I could practically feel the tension radiating from him.

As we drove away, I knew I couldn't escape the consequences of being seen with Luke. Cole wouldn't let this go easily.

-

The morning light filtered through the blinds, harsh and unforgiving. I blinked awake, remembering where I was. I quickly got up and I gathered my things, slipping out of the apartment and into my car without waking up Luke. I needed to talk to Cole before things got out of hand. I drove over to his house, my heart racing with a mix of anxiety and anger.

When I arrived, Cole was in the backyard, leaning against the fence, his expression dark and brooding. He spotted me and pushed himself off the fence, striding toward me, an unreadable expression on his face.

"What do you want?" he asked, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes.

"I need to explain," I said.

"Explain what? What the hell, Maddy? I saw you get into that car with him!" he spat, his tone low and seething.

I rolled my eyes, trying to mask the guilt clawing at my insides. "It's none of your business." I snapped back.

"None of my business?" He stepped closer, his voice rising. "You're sixteen and he's fifty! That's literally illegal! You think that's okay?"

"Oh, don't start with the 'illegal' crap, Cole," I shot back, folding my arms defensively. "You're not exactly Mr. Perfect yourself. You're constantly getting into fights, acting like a damn fool. And now you wanna play innocent?"

Cole's jaw clenched, and his eyes flared with anger. "At least I don't sleep around with older guys just because mommy and daddy don't love me!" he shot back, his voice dripping with disdain.

The words cut deeper than I expected. Without thinking, I slapped him across the face, my hand stinging as tears pricked my eyes. "Don't you dare talk about my family!" I yelled, my voice breaking.

Cole flinched, surprised by my reaction. "Fuck, I didn't mean—" he started, but I didn't give him a chance to finish. I turned and stormed off, feeling the weight of his gaze on my back.

I needed to get away from him, from the reality of our messy lives. But the further I walked, the more I felt the sting of his words. Maybe they were true; maybe I was just a product of neglect, trying to fill a void that would never be satisfied.

I stumbled into the house, my emotions still raw from the confrontation with Cole. The air felt heavy, and I could barely think straight. I needed to escape, to drown out the chaos in my mind.

As I walked through the kitchen, I spotted a bottle of wine on the counter. I grabbed it, pouring a generous glass and gulping it down, hoping it would numb the sting of the evening. My phone buzzed—Ryan's name flashed on the screen. I hesitated but answered anyway.

"Hey, Maddy, can we talk?" he asked, his voice gentle.

"Not now, Ryan," I replied, my tone sharper than I intended. "I'm... busy."

"Busy with what?" he pressed, concern creeping into his voice.

"Just... things," I muttered, not wanting to dive into the mess that was my life. I ended the call before he could respond, tossing my phone onto the couch.

I sank onto the couch, staring blankly at the wall. The guilt from my earlier fight with Cole gnawed at me, but I didn't want to think about it. Instead, I focused on the throbbing headache that was settling in, each pulse echoing the chaos of my day.

A knock on the door jolted me from my thoughts. I shot up, wiping away the remnants of my tears, and opened it to find Jamie standing there, a grin on his face.

"Hey! You coming to the party tonight?" he asked, his energy contrasting sharply with my mood. Shit. 

"Yeah, maybe," I replied, forcing a smile.

"Come on, you're the schools party girl. What's a party without Maddy Kensington?" Jamie said, his grin widening.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at my lips. "You know I'm not really in the mood for that right now."

"Come on, it'll be fun! You need to let loose," he encouraged.

I hesitated, torn between the urge to wallow in my thoughts and the allure of escaping into the chaos of a party. "Fine, but if I regret it, I'm blaming you."

"Deal," he said, his enthusiasm infectious.

I took another swig of wine, steeling myself. If I was going to face the night, I needed to put on a show. After all, what's a little facade among friends?