My Best Friend [COMPLETE]

Chapter 15 - Home Again

When we finally got home, two weeks later, I packed my bags.

"Madalyn, honey, let's- What are you doing?"

"I've been talking to Thomas on text. he's going to Cali State University. I'm going to California, and I'm going to see him."

"You can't leave me here."

"Then come. A break from here would be good for you. Maybe we should move to California. I could say I'm seventeen and start as a senior, and then go to college, and be the 'same' age as everyone else."

"Madalyn, no."

"Mom, please. I need to see him."

"Then FaceTime him."

"Mom," I groaned. "Not what I mean."

"Too bad. You are on house arrest, missy."

"Great. More time being wasted, in an enclosed space, away from the precious Vitamin D that all human bodies need." I said.

"Madalyn, I just don't want you hurt, or taken from me. I want you to stay with me. We are moving, Madalyn. We are moving to Alaska."

"Alaska?! Mom, you can't be serious."

"I am, Madds."

"Don't call me Madds, mom."

"I know you're mad, but-"

"That's not it!" I shouted. "When I was... well, comatose, in my little reality, the guy I was dating called me Madds. Constantly. Like it was my real name, not Madalyn. I think I loved him more than any other guy I was with in that reality."

"How many guys had you been with?" she raised an accusatory eyebrow.

"Mom! Not like that! God, no. I was still a virgin. But I had three boyfriends... and then the fourth I wanted to be with forever, and I know who he is in this reality, I know how to get to him. And ironically, the guy goes to the same college I imagined."

"Well, who is he? Do I know him?"

"Yes, mom. You do."

"Well when did you envision you started to have feelings for him?" she asked.

"Junior year of high- oh my god, mom I didn't come up with that on my own, they were there. Mom, now I have to go see him. If I didn't just dream it, if it was a connection to before the accident, I have to see him."

"Who?" she half demanded.

"Mom, I have to-"

"Who." she wasn't asking anymore. I sighed, and moved past her to go to my closet doors. I walked in, and went to shoes. I'd need a whole other bag.

"Madalyn Grace Cross! You tell me this instant!" she said, yelling.

"Mom," I blushed.

"I'm waiting."

"It's... well, it's embarrassing." I admitted.

"Embarrassing? I've never met this boy, but you say I have..." She decided to crack a dad joke. Just what I needed.

"Mom," I whined.

"Madalyn" she pulled out the 'n' like I had the second 'm' and looked at me the way I was looking at her.

"It's Thomas." I said, pushing past her, trying to walk out of the room. She caught my arm, and pulled me back, but I stumbled and fell.

"I KNEW IT! I KNEW YOU-"

"Mom," I cut her off. "Don't make a big deal out of-"

"LIKED HIM! YOU GUYS ARE SO-"

"Mom! Act like your age! Not your shoe size! I was trying to finish a sentence and you cut me off."

"Using my own words against me, I see. And I was talking first, so let me finish, please." she had calmed down. "CUTE TOGETHER!" she squealed. I huffed, and sat on the bed. I put my pillow over my head, and my blanket over it, smashing it into my face.

"Mom," my voice was muffled, so I lifted the pillow slightly off my face. "Stop. Please."

"Fine."

"I have to see him," I mumbled into the pillow.

"What? Madalyn?" she was curious. I lifted the pillow slightly.

"Nothing mom," I dropped it on my face. "I just have to go to California, now. And you won't stop me."

"What?"

"I didn't say anything," I said, moving the pillow off my face again.

I got out of bed when she left, and finished packing my bags. I slipped downstairs, and grabbed the car keys. I shoved my bags in the trunk of the car, and walked back inside after locking the car.

"Madalyn, what were you doing outside? And with the car keys?"

"Mom, I just needed fresh air, and I took the car keys because they have a house key." I explained. It was a total lie. I felt guilty, sing to her.

"Oh, okay." she mused, walking back to the kitchen. I ran into my room, keys in hand, and changed into jeans and a hoodie. i pulled a piece of notebook paper out of a notebook, and began to write.

Mom,

I love you beyond belief. I'm sorry if I hurt you by leaving, but I have to see Thomas. I really hope you'll forgive me for this. I'll be back in a week or so. Just ask yourself this:

if you were in my shoes, and dad was in Thomas' position, would you go and see him, even though you know your mom would be mad, sad, and upset all in one? Because I know this, but he's like a magnet, he's going to pull me and pull me, hoping to connect to me, and the longer I resist, the longer it takes. The result won't change, it'll just be harder to get there. So please, let me go. I love you.

~Your baby girl XOXO

I put it in an envelope, folded another piece of paper like it, but addressed it to Thomas.

"Mom, I'm going to go mail a letter." I called, putting her letter on the table where we kept the keys.

"Okay, honey."

"Love you!" I called through the doorway.

"I love you too," she said just before I closed the door. I went out to the car, fake letter in hand, and started it. I drove in the direction of the post office, conveniently the same direction as California. I had five hundred dollars with me, So I was set. California, here I come.