A Faltering self (Distorted Reality book 2)

Chapter 51- Careful of those watching

(Maddy's POV)

We all pile into the living room shortly after cleaning everything up from supper. Unintentionally, we separate with the girls taking the seats and the guys bringing their own, with Matt and Ash choosing the floor. Ash takes the space in front of Railey, who sits between Bailey and Indy on the couch; Bailey is the closest to me as I grab the lounge chair. Kalston pulls up a chair to my left and puts it backwards to sit in it, while I can't help but notice Matt seeming to do anything but look at me. I think back on it and realize that he hasn't even said anything since the start of supper. I convinced myself before that there wasn't anything wrong, but now I'm doubting that to be true.

Did I do something?

I don't understand why he's suddenly so... cold.

I want to believe that I'm reading too much into it, and maybe that's true, but how can I deny how obvious his demeanor seems to have shifted? He went from being the one to save me to now not even being able to look in my direction.

Maybe there is something else going on?

'Or he's mad at you.'

Then what did I do?

...Is it that I didn't tell him what happened earlier with Ash? Does he know that I held something back, but it was just for now?

Is he mad about Kalston?

Did something happen with Zach?

Did he tell him something that made him hate me?

...

"Are you okay, Love?" Kalston whispers to me as mild conversation goes on around, while everyone else settles down.

"I'm okay."

I look up at him and he reaches out to brush my left cheek with the back of his fingers before grinning at me softly and makes me feel like I'm home. I am, but with him, I'm beginning to see how much that feeling of safe and secure can be from a person. I don't remember ever having this.

Well... I guess I do. But his memory is tainted now from that monster wearing his face. Even if he was never mine, Peter was the closest I could say gave me this same feeling of home.

"So, what game did we settle on? Sorry or Uno?"

Canton brings my attention to him in front of the T.V. as he leans back in his chair with the front legs off the floor for a moment before he almost falls, and that makes him second-guess doing it still.

"Come on, those are so boring. Let's spice things up a bit and play something for adults."

That gets Indy a frustrated response from Ash.

"But we decided already to play a board game?"

"Yeah, but come on, we play one every year with Mamí. I want to do something a little different."

"I mean, it would be fun to change up the-"

Indy takes a sip out of her glass before cutting Bailey.

"Oooo! Why not a drinking game?! There's no kids to worry about, so we can let loose a little." She laughs. "Or a lot."

"No, no drinking games." Ash is pretty firm in his response.

"Why not? I think that sounds fun."

Canton chips in on Indy's side before Bailey now seems to be against her, and I notice that Railey seems to be uncomfortable with the discussion.