The evening after Elle's graduation the Laurent family threw a party to celebrate Elle and her friends. They invited some family members along with all of Elle's friends and their families. Maddy was editing a video as the party began, and still had to get ready. David was downstairs in the family's small backyard with the rest of the Laurents while Maddy finished up her editing and getting dressed. About an hour after the party started, Maddy came downstairs into the backyard. She walked out her back door and scanned the yard for David, finding him talking to someone else. Her face dropped as she realized who it was. David waved to Maddy. She walked over, putting on her most normal smile.
"Hey Ethan" She said to the boy David was talking to, a tall 22 year old with short brown hair.
"Hey Maddy" He said, giving her a hug. "It's been a while"
"Yeah, how are you?"
"I'm great, i'm starting law school in the fall"
"Wow, that's awesome! Where are you going?"
"Columbia"
"Wow, damn! I knew you'd be able to do it though"
Ethan smiled in return.
"So how did you end up getting roped into a high school graduation?" Ethan asked.
Maddy felt a cold wave come over her as she realized Ethan may only knew who David was from youtube, and have no clue they were dating.
"The Laurents invited me out, I hadn't met them yet. I figured hey, it's about time to meet my girlfriend's family" David said, putting his arm around Maddy.
Maddy smiled awkwardly.
"Oh, you guys are dating!" Ethan said. "That's awesome"
"Thanks" Maddy said.
"I'm gonna go see what Rex and Ben are up to" Ethan said, looking behind him. "It was really great meeting you, David. And great to see you Maddy. I hope you're doing well"
"Thanks, Ethan. You as well"
Ethan walked away and Maddy took David's hand and casually yet forcefully led him inside. They went upstairs and into her room.
"Who was that?" David asked.
"That was my ex"
"Oh shit, like... the one from last year?"
"Yeah, that one"
"Maddy i'm so sorry I didn't know"
"No, no, no, it's not your fault. What are the fucking odds though that that's the person you're talking to when I come down?"
"He knew I was one of your youtube friends, we were just talking about youtube and how your sisters are good friends and stuff, I didn't even think-"
"Seriously, David, it's ok" Maddy said, taking his hands.
"Did you know he would be here?"
"I mean, I guess if I had thought about it I could have figured it out but I wasn't like... expecting it, per se"
"Are you ok? Do you want to just stay up here?"
"No, no, I'm good"
"What ever happened.... nevermind"
"No, it's ok, you can ask"
"What happened between you two exactly?"
"Well... we started dating in 11th grade, and he went to NYU and I moved to LA for vine stuff. We did long distance for what, three and a half years? And I think we just realized that we didn't talk a lot, and neither of us were putting in an effort to visit, and that our lives just weren't going to line up any time in the foreseeable future unless one of us compromised. I mean, he fucking hated LA and there's not a lot for me in New York... so I broke up with him because it's all I could think about. He agreed, it was mutual, but then once we broke up I thought for a while that I had made the wrong decision, and then I realized that I was just so comfortable because we had been together for so long but nothing even changed in my life without him in it. But now I feel really bad because I don't think he's dated anyone since we broke up and I hope that didn't just really hurt him"
David rubbed his hand in a circle on Maddy's back.
"You're a really good person for thinking about that" David said.
"Well, let's go back down" Maddy said.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. There's no bad blood between us, it's just awkward and I can deal with that"
"Ok" David smiled.
Maddy kissed him before going back downstairs. Ethan avoided Maddy and Maddy avoided Ethan, making the rest of the party relatively easy. Maddy introduced David to other friends and relatives, and David somehow ended up in a conversation about investments with some of Nick's colleagues who doubled as family friends.
"They really like him" Elle said to Maddy as they watched David sit at a table talking to Maddy's parents and some of their friends.
"I knew they would" Maddy said.
"He's so sweet, Maddy, seriously" Elle said. "He's really good for you, I've never seen you this relaxed with anyone. I am so happy for you"
Maddy knew this was coded language that her last boyfriend was kind of a boring, stuck up prick who was no fun at all.
"Thanks, Elle" Maddy smiled, taking a sip of the wine she was holding. "I'm happy too"
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I can't believe people are actually voting on this and reading it, holy shit! I'm giving Maddy a little bit of a backstory with this chapter and the next- I know usually characters in books have a little bit of a dark backstory but I kind of wanted to make Maddy a happy and light character... idk if that's just me though! Comment if you have any suggestions or anything- it's still pretty early in this book so I can definitely change stuff up! I have a lot written, I think i'm technically done but i'm also not positive.
