Quickened

Sage

I struggle to find the words to tell you I want you to stay.

I come to the conclusion that they fail me because you need to go.

It's in those moments that I realise silence has a sound

And mine is screaming to you.

Just stay.

Ridley keeps shooting me smug grins. His been pressuring me lately about being in love with Maddie. Her comment from earlier was not helping. Just because he loved Monique did not mean I loved Maddie. Looking at her it was easy to see it but I wasn't ready to acknowledge my feelings for her. At least not yet. Clint looks up at me and I scowl. Ever since he told me that most relationships that start before a person is famous almost never last a worry had settled itself in my heart. I wasn't ready to lose Maddie.

I had hoped that if he saw us together he would change his mind but so far his keeping his opinion to himself. I look behind me at Maddie who fell asleep an hour ago. Her school uniform is wrinkled and her bag lies discarded by her side. I run a hand down my face. I'm shit tired but we need to get this song down before the end of the day as per the records executives instructions. "I'm going to take Maddie home." The guys wave me off and I walk to her side. I kneel before her and slowly brush a strand of her hair away from her face. She is so beautiful.

"Angel." I whisper. She stirs but doesn't move. Grinning I lean down and place a kiss to her cheek. I run my lips to her ear and bite it lightly. Maddie makes a noise and everyone turns to look at us. "Hey! No getting it on in the studio." I laugh at Clint's remark and Maddie opens her eyes. She looks at me sleepily. "Hey." I murmur to her and kiss her lips. "I'm going to take you home." She sits up and wipes the sleep from her eyes. I grab Maddie's bag before taking her hand and leading her out of the studio. She waves goodbye to everyone. Seeing that Maddie's still half asleep I wrap my arm around her waist and draw her into my side. Maddie leans her head against my chest.

In the car I make sure she's properly strapped in and lower the volume of the radio before driving off. "I have to meet my aunt's boyfriend next week Friday." She murmurs. I glance at her wondering if she's talking in her sleep but her green eyes are on me. "It would be less awkward if you were to come." I know I shouldn't be making promises to her if I can't keep them but I want to be there for her. "I'll be there baby. You can sleep if you want." Maddie leans over the console and kisses my cheek. "Thank you."

I would do anything for her. Especially if I get to see her smile. She leans against the door and closes her eyes quickly falling asleep. When we get to Maddie's house all the lights are off and I know I shouldn't have kept her out this late. I pick her up and hold my breath when she stirs in my arms for a moment. When she settles her head against my chest I walk towards her door and grab the spare key from the flower pot. You learn a lot after dating someone for a little over a month.

I unlock the door and head to Maddie's bedroom. Pulling back the covers I settle her in. She turns over when I take her shoes off and mumbles in her sleep. I don't think she can be very comfortable in her school clothes but I know she will be pissed in the morning if I undress her. I brush her hair from her face and kiss her forehead. Maddie smiles in her sleep. "I love you." Everything inside of me freezes. Slowly I turn to look at her face but she's still sleeping. Ok Sage she could be talking about anyone no need to jump to conclusions. My heart, however, isn't listening to me.

Maddie turns over in her sleep. "Sage." She whispers. And now I know for a fact that she's talking about me. Unable to help myself I smile and cup her cheek. For a second I just sit there on the edge of her bed and watch her sleep. Fuck if I know what love is but looking at the soft smile on my girl's face I know I want to stick around long enough to figure it out. Some sort of emotion wraps itself around my heart as I watch her. I still don't deserve her and I still have a lot of issues to deal with before I am ever ready to consider the L word.