Raining Tears

Chapter 19 - Broken

☆ Madelyn ☆

We all crowd in Andy's 'den'. A large plasma screen TV sits on the far wall, an Xbox system setup beneath it. We all sit in either gamer's chairs or plush chairs.

"...,and that's practically what we do together. Just talk." Will raps up his converstaion on what Ellie and him did together.

I can't help but feeling invasive, making him tell us all about what they did together. That's their private information, and he doesn't need to share it if he doesn't want to. But, I think he feels like he owes us and explanation of their relationship. That or he's afraid of Jocelyn, who gets right up in his face when he hesitates to tell something.

"There's nothing else you want to tell us?" Jocelyn asks.

"No. That's all about me and Ellie." Will answers.

He checks his watch. "Sorry, but I gotta leave. It's 6 o'clock. I told my mom I'd be home around 5:45." He gets up, and walks to the door. I get up to follow after him.

Andy tugs on my hand. "Where you going?"

"To let him out the door." I answer.

"He's a dude. He knows how to open a door."

I roll my eyes at him, and jog out of the room. I meet up with Will at the front door.

"Hey, um, thanks for, you know, telling us more about Ellie." I say.

He looks straight into my eyes. "Of course. Though I hope your friend Mia won't be mad at me."

"Oh, she won't. I think she just feels betrayed from Ellie."

"Well, I guess we all do. Goodnight." Will says.

"Night." He leaves, and I lean up against the door.

Wow he's good looking.

Maddy! I scold myself. That was Elle's boyfriend. You can't have feelings for him!

With those wonderful thoughts, I go back to where the others are. But Jocelyn and Colton are on their way out, Andy trailing behind.

"Hey, sorry Mads, we gotta go. Need a ride?" Joce asks.

I look at Andy and his pleading eyes.

Mom did make plans for me to stay over and keep Andy company.

"Nah, my mom is picking me up later." I say.

Jocelyn looks between me and Andy, a sly smile on her face. "Okay."

She and Colton leave, and Andy and I head back into to game room. We start to play BlackOps, or whatever that game is where you shoot people for a points.

"No! Andy, I said watch my back, not shoot my back! We're on the same team!"

Andy laughs, and I punch him in the shoulder.

"Actually no, we're not. I was just making that up." He laughs harder.

I look at the screen and realize he's right.

Fudge.

"You're so gullible." He says, leaning over to me.

I tip over his gamer's chair. He gets up, and tackles me.

I look at him, and realize I'm on top of him, him holding my waist with his hands.

Awkward.

"Uh..." I can't find words.

Andy let's his hand fall limp.

"Madelyn?" He asks.

"Sorry, I just, um, awkward situation?" I stumble over my words.

"How is it awkward?" Andy asks, an eyebrow arching.

"Um, it just kinda is?" I feel the color rising on my cheeks.

"Aw, you're blushing."

"Shut up Andy!" I slap his chest playfully.

He laughs, and I can feel the shaking in his chest.

I roll off him. He rolls over to his stomach, right beside me.

"Andy? Do you miss her? Do you miss Ellie?" I ask, all the humor gone from the atmosphere.

"Of course I do."

"I don't understand why she killed herself. She had us. She had Will. She had good grades. The only problems were her father and Hannah."

"I don't think we'll ever understand why Madelyn. We're not her. And, sometimes things get overwhelming." Andy takes my hand, and I twist my head to face him.

I then twist so I'm in his arms, and let his shirt soak up my silent tears.

I remember a lesson from 8th grade health class.

Sometimes somebody commits suicide because they don't know what to do with their feelings.

And, to my surprise, Andy starts crying to.

He starts stroking my back and whispering, "It's gonna be alright."

I pull away from him.

And, because I am broken, I lean in. And because he is broken, he leans in too, our lips touching softly.

He slides his hand through my hair, and I put my hand on his cheek.

And because we are broken, we ruin the friendship that we had through a kiss.