More Lies, More Cameras and Much More Action

Chapter 7

JOE

I shouldn't of mentioned it. It was clear we both wanted to avoid talking about it.

'I'm sorry.' She whispered, straight afterwards.

'No don't, please. I shouldn't of said anything. Please can we talk about something else.' I begged.

I didn't have the mental or physical strength to discuss what happened. I was still trying to get over the fact Maddy is back in England with me. The goriness of the situation can be discussed another time.

'How's YouTube going?' She asked, after thanking the waitress as she came out with our drinks and told us our food was on the way.

'It's good, yeah I'm still at it - as you know. I've had a 6% drop in views this month though, that's kind of the point of the article - to boost it up.' 

'So it all rests on what I choose to write, eh?' She teased.

'Scarily, yes.' I laughed.

'How's Zoe?' 

'She's good! She's living in Brighton now with Alfie. They bought a lovely house, oh they have a dog now as well!' I replied enthusiastically, trying to cover up how much I didn't want to talk about Zoe or anyone else for that matter. I wanted to talk about us.

I wanted to know if Maddy also barely slept for months after she returned to her parents house or if she too missed me so much sometimes, she didn't know what to do with herself. I wanted to know if there's been any other boys involved in her life between then and now and if so, did she like them more than me. I wanted to know if she ever got tempted to book a flight and come back to me, where she belongs.

'That's good.' She smiled. Still sipping her wine nervously.

The waitress came over, thankfully breaking the awkward silence and putting two plates down infront of us. My burger looked amazing and much bigger than I'd imagined and Maddy's looked good as well. I've never liked seafood, I didn't even know she did.

'Can I get you anything else?' The waitress smiled.

'Yeah, can we get two more drinks please. Do you want the same again, Maddy?'

'Um, okay then.' She said unsurely, making the waitress give me a reassuring smile.

'Coming right up.' She said kindly as she disappeared again.

I took another look at Maddy, still not believing she was actually here. She looked well, her skin had more colour to it and she wasn't as thin as she used to be. Of course she wasn't fat, she just looked a more healthy weight. Her hair didn't look as thin as before and I just felt so glad she was taking care of herself, I obviously struggled to do so 2 years ago.

'Why do you keep staring at me?' She laughed slightly and she began cutting her food up.

'Sorry, I just can't believe you're here really. I thought I'd never see you again.'

'Me too.' 

'You look so well though and you seem happy so that makes me feel better.' I admitted.

'I am happy, I hope you are too.'

'I am.' I smiled, taking a big bite of my burger after noticing how much she'd eaten in comparison to me. I'd been talking too much and eating too little.

'This is really nice.' She said a few minutes later.

'The food?'

'Yes and the company.' She smiled. I wasn't sure if she was saying that to try make me feel better or what but there had been way too many awkward silences and smiles during this dinner to class it as nice. But no matter how awkward it was, it still felt right. I felt right here with Maddy, almost at home.

'I agree.' 

'So then, what happened with Niomi and Marcus after Vidcon? I've got so much to catch up on.' She laughed, before taking her drink from the waitress who had just come over.

'Well, as far as I know, they had an argument in the airport on the way home and Niomi confronted him and then stayed at Jim and Tanya's house for about 2 weeks before she made up with Marcus and they got back together but about a month afterwards they split up for good. They announced it to the subscribers and everything but nobody really knows what happened.'

'Wow, you know it's serious when you announce it to the subscribers.' She laughed, causing a nervous flutter in my stomach.

'Are you both finished?' The waitress asked, coming over again. I'd usually get quite annoyed about how often she's come back but in this case, I was glad. I didn't want Maddy asking anymore questions about my life.

'Yes, thank you.' Maddy replied with a smile and handed her plate over.

'Can I get you a dessert menu?'

'Not for me, what about you Maddy?'

'No thanks. There's a queue of people waiting for a table so we should get going.' She smiled at me.

'Sure, I'll bring you the bill.' The waitress replied, walking off with our plates.

'Looks like we got in at just the right time.' I laughed, examining the queue then cringing instantly, realising how much that sounds like something my dad would say.

'Yeah, who knew a restaurant would be this busy on a Monday night.' She laughed.

'Everywhere is like this in London.' I told her.

'So manic. Anyway, I get if you don't want to talk about it but how's your dad? Did you ever make up with him?' She asked. It was as if she could read my thoughts and knew I'd just thought about how I speak like him. It was little things like that that made me sure we'd always be destined for each other.

'I made up with him, I guess. Things will never be how they used to be though.' 

As the word's left my mouth, I did wonder whether I was saying that in reference to my dad or my relationship with Maddy. It was clear she wondered the same as her glaze dropped down to the wooden table.

'Here's the bill.' The waitress returned again. She put the receipt down on the table and clutched a card machine in her other hand before smiling expectantly. I reached into my pocket to pull my wallet out as she pulled her handbag up from where it was laid on the floor, obviously expecting to pay like she always tried to.

'I've got it.' I told her before putting my card into the machine and punching my pin in. I pulled out a £10 note from the other section of my wallet whilst our server did her bit to the machine. I gave her the note as she returned my card.

'Thank you so much! Have a lovely evening, both of you!' She said before skipping off happily.

'Thank you Joe.' Maddy smiled whilst standing up.

'You know it's my pleasure.' I told her. 

We walked out the restaurant together and stood on the street in-front. I had somewhere I was supposed to be but truthfully, I didn't want to leave Maddy so soon.

'So.' I broke the silence by saying.

'Do you want to go for a drink? The night is still young.' She said slowly, obviously very unsure whether to suggest it or not.

'I would love to.' 

'Great, lead me to wherever is good.' She smiled.

'Right this way then.' I said as I decided we'd go to a nice bar I know. This bar was different to your average one as it was never full of rowdy lads or older woman. It was classy, sophisticated and expensive. somewhere like Maddy deserved to be taken.