You Gotta Love Life... Right?

Chapter 12

"No." She says, and takes a deep breath. "No I didn't believe those rumours. I was just really stressed because of school and then when the rumours came up I wanted to go stay with Alex but I couldn't because her house was getting redone, and then I got an F on one of my tests because I didn't study with you because of the rumour, and then... yeah." She looks up, hoping I understand her pain.

"Well why didn't you say anything? You just believed them because you didn't have the time or the energy to not believe them?"

She nods, "Yeah."

"Well, I would have probably done the exact same thing as you! That makes total sense now."

"Really?"

I nod and laugh a little, "Ye-ah! We're all human here! I'm sure even Maddi would have done the same thing, or Morgan or Dani or Summer- "

"Or Joardan or Deacon or even the cashier at Zehrs, yeah, okay, I get it." She laughs too.

"So will you help me then?" I ask her.

"Yeah!" She gives me a hug and I hug her back, just as another body presses in on us.

"Hi Maddi." I say, laughing even more now, "How long were you eavesdropping?"

"Just got in!" She says loudly in my ear, "I saw a group hug moment!"

We pull apart and I give her an affectionate punch on the arm, "So where were you?"

"Oh! Getting ice cream with Adam..." She swoons.

"Ooo..." Kira teases her, "When do we get to meet him huh?"

"Guys it was like, our first date what are you talking about?!" Maddi yells.

A knock sounds at the door and Maddi runs to look through the peephole, "Who?" she calls to the person at the other side of the door.

"Can I come play Super Smashbros?" Deacon's muffled voice says on the other side.

"Um... I don't know... just kidding, sure!" She opens the door for him. Kira gives me a quick look that says don't-try-anything-funny-and-I-won't but I shoot her back a look that says yeah right and slide up to Deacon, wrapping my arm through his and blinking rapidly in his face.

"Soo... how about you and me go somewhere... private?" I try to keep myself from laughing as I lead him gently away from the group.

Kira grabs his other arm and pulls the other way, "Nuh-uh, come with me." She looks at him pointedly like he should know exactly what's going on but he gives us a look of confusion.

"What the heck is going on?" He looks at Maddi for reassurance but she's cracking up and just shakes her head. We join in laughing as he shakes us off, muttering 'girls' under his breath. He sits down on the couch just as Morgan walks in the door.

"Wait, you have a key?" He asks, as if it is an injustice.

"Well, technically I live here now, so it seemed only fair –even though the door was unlocked again." She glances at the TV, "Oh, Super Smashbros! Can I play?"

"Sure!" Deacon tosses her a controller, he looks thankful to have a 'normal' person in the room, "Anyone but these three!"