just like before | maddie ziegler & josh hyland

3

[ MADDIE ]

10:30 am?

I swear it was midnight 2 seconds ago. Frustrated that it's time to hop out of my bed, I tap the snooze button then glance at Paige's bed to see it perfectly made and very much empty meaning Paige probably left a while ago.

I grab a robe and trudge over to our bathroom to begin getting ready.

I was never one to take long showers so I got out after I finished thoroughly washing myself in under 10 minutes.

Returning to my room I decide to wear a grey t-shirt dress with a jean jacket cloak and black booties to finish off the outfit. It's supposed to be fairly hot out today so this outfit should be fine.

Heading back to the bathroom I do light makeup and straighten my already straight hair.

I take a look on my phone and realizes I have minutes to spare so I head downstairs to wait there.

As I'm heading down the stairs my phone beeps indicating that I've received a text.

Changing direction, I begin heading towards the door.

"Where are you going, dressed up all pretty like that?" Josh's voice booms from behind me.

"Out with Lilia," I reply simply as I attempt to hide the blush that appeared upon him calling me pretty.

"And why didn't I receive am invite to this outing?" he questions although I know he's just teasing.

"Because dear Joshua, you're just not cool enough to hang out with us," I quip playing along.

"Well that's just not nice," he huffs but his familiar smile was still resting upon his face.

I smirk as I lower my sunglasses from the top of my head onto my eyes, "being nice has never been a goal of mine."

And with that statement, I strut out the front door to see Lilia and her familiar red BMW parked on my driveway.

"Nice house you've got here," she grins as I hop into the passenger seat.

"It's something but it's nothing compared to the castle you call home," I challenge and she shrugs.

Lilia Buckingham's family was incredibly wealthy. She attended Brentwood, a private school which educates Los Angeles' greatest celebrities' children including North West, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's daughter.

I was introduced to Lilia years ago when her mum was in business with Abby Lee Miller. We had dancing and many other things in common which caused us to immediately click. She's been one of my best friends ever since then.

"It's been a while Madison," she huffs as she shifts the gear shift into drive mode.

"Indeed it has, Lilian," I retort.

"That isn't even my name," she huffs sneaking glares at me as she continuously shifts her focus between the road and I.

"Well I hate being called Madison and you know that," I shrug.

"You really haven't changed."

-

"I haven't been here in ages," I sigh as I take in the amazing scenery of the Soho House West Hollywood. It is a private members club on sunset club on sunset Blvd and Lilia's family are all members. I used to be invited as their guest quite often when I was visiting California.

I follow Lilia through the front door and we walk over to the check-in.

"It hasn't changed much since you were here last," she assures me, referring to my most recent visit here when my younger sister Mackenzie and I spent a week living with the Buckinghams.

Lilia turns her attention to the guy at the check-in before he lets us into the club.

"What do you want to do first?" she questions. What I love about Lilia is she's not a typical stuck up, rude rich girl. She doesn't boss people around just because she is more privileged then them and genuinely cares about what the want.

"I could really go for some food right now," I suggest. "I haven't eaten all morning."

As if on cue, my stomach makes the annoying gurgling sound that it's prone to do at the mere mention of the word food.

"If your stomach's inhuman noises are any indication, getting some food in you is not such a bad idea," she chuckles as we begin to walk in the direction of the pool.

The food here is to die for. Eating here is exactly like eating in a five star restaurant except the food is free. Well in theory, I guess it's not free as each member does pay about $50,000 a year but if you ignore that fact it's free.

I order a waffle with a variety of fruits on it while Lilia orders a very unhealthy eating crepe.

"Don't you dare judge my unhealthy eating habits," she warns as I watch her devour a forkful of chocolate sauce as well as other unhealthy toppings.

"Don't worry I'm not judging," I chuckle assuringly.

"Good, because you are in no place to. I've seen you scarf down double Big Macs on more than one occasion," she snorts.

"You know how I get when I'm hungry?" I shrug as I take other bite of my waffle.

"So, how are you liking the LA life?"

"Well I've only had two weeks to judge it on but I would say that it seems pretty exciting compared to Pittsburgh," I reply.

The two of us continue talking about everything happening in our lives  unti we finish our brunch. We then agree to head to the pool as it's a perfectly sunny day, fit for tanning.

"So Josh?" Lilia abrubtly asks me as we were relaxing on pool loungers.

"What about him?" I ask innocently even though I know exactly what she's implying.

She raises her sunglasses off her eyes to give me a look, "oh come on Maddie. You've had a crush on him for as long as I can remember."

"That's when I was a kid, things have changed," I shrug.

"Mhm, if you say so," she mumbles evidently not believing the words that came from my mouth. slipping her sunglasses back onto their rightful place over her eyes.

When Josh and I were growing up I may have had a slight crush on him that wasn't so slight. Everyone around us knew except him of course and thought it was just the cutest thing.

It was all good being best friends with Josh while secretly being in love with him up until the period when we weren't allowed communication with the Hyland family.

By the time everything was good between our families Josh and I had drifted apart. We didn't have much in common and it was just generally awkward between the two of us.

It took years to get to the point we're at now. I guess I just haven't time to think about any of my feelings for him until this moment.

At this point it seems like there's no avoiding it as I won't be able to get the thought out of my head. I need to think about how I feel about Josh Hyland.