Haunted

So Much

Maddox: i miss you a lot today

Maddox: i finished our family room thought you'd want to see

Maddox: sorry twink is in every pic he wouldn't move

Maddox: anyway i thought you should know i love you

Brent: k

Maddox: any chance i can come see you next weekend?

Maddox hadn't really expected Brent to say yes, but he had hoped Brent would say something. But the text went unanswered for a few days before Maddox gave up and changed the subject. The only thing Brent ever texted back anymore was "k."

Sometimes Brent would answer if Maddox called, but it didn't happen much. Mostly Maddox found himself texting with no reply. The only time he managed to get Brent to say "I love you" those days was over Twitter. All Maddox kept thinking was that if he could just see Brent and spend some time with him it would fix everything.

Instead, Maddox found himself hanging out with Emily a lot more. She usually always had homework to do or something to study for but since their trip to New York, Maddox felt like Emily was one of his best friends. He begged her to come over for dinner most nights because that was when he missed Brent the most.

"I have a surprise for you," Maddox said after dinner that night. Emily laughed.

"Your family is big on this whole secrets and surprises thing," she accused. "I know you like your fun but can't you just be like normal people and talk to each other?"

This isn't like a secret, it's my new album. I wanted to play it for you," Maddox explained.

"You mean I get to hear the new Dax Bieber album before everyone else?" Emily gasped. "Let me tweet this immediately so everyone can be jealous!"

"If you're not interested I won't torture you," Maddox laughed.

"No, I'm sorry, I really do want to hear it."

"Okay, lay down," Maddox insisted. Emily tilted her head to one side and glared at him. "I'm not messing with you, music sounds so much better if you're laying on the floor. Just trust me a little."

"Alright," Emily shook her head but stretched out on the rug. "Should we try to sync up The Wizard of Oz to play at the same time or?"

"Shut up," Maddox laughed. "Just listen," he pushed play on his computer and hurried over to lay next to her. He had to smile as the first song started playing. It always made him nervous the first time he listened to one of his albums with someone but it was the excited kind of nervous where he was sure the person would like it.

"It's very you," Emily sat up as the last track finished. She was smiling so he assumed that meant she liked it.

They hung out for the rest of the night watching mindless TV until neither one of them could keep their eyes open anymore. Emily slept on the couch and when Maddox woke up the next morning she was gone. She'd left a note that said she had to leave for class and didn't want to wake him.

Brent's phone went to voicemail after the second ring that morning so Maddox knew Brent was ignoring his call. He tossed his phone on the couch and sat down next to it. Why? Why had he done the one thing that Brent couldn't forgive him for? And why did he keep doing it? Was he just completely broken?

Thinking back, Maddox could remember the first time Justin had explained to him what sex was. Kylie had been begging Clara and Justin for a younger brother or sister. A bunch of kids at Maddox's school had gotten them that year so he knew it was something that happened but he didn't really know how it happened.