No Introduction Needed

Chapter Eleven

Melissa could feel the sudden awkwardness as she sat across from Maddox watching as he ate in silence. They had driven to a park that was not far from the company and found a bench that was under a tree where they could be free from the sun. She felt that maybe Maddox had needed a change of pace but she never would have expected the current result.

It was as if Maddox had started giving off gloomy smoke, it was obvious that he suddenly didn't want to be there but because it was Maddox it was hard for her to figure out why. Maddox had just started eating with her and spending time with her so she knew that she wouldn't be able to read him just yet, but what she could see was that Maddox had just rebuilt the wall that he had up, the wall she had been chipping away at bit by bit.

She didn't say a word and barely touched her food, the most she could do was offer to drive Maddox home after they had decided it was time to end the awkward encounter but she could say nothing as he refused. Melissa sighed and decided that maybe it would be best to leave the questions for the next day, thinking that Maddox had just been in a bad mood and by the next day it would all be better.

_____

Maddox walked into the house and went straight to his room, he felt drained suddenly and all he could do was sleep.

It was one in the morning when he awoke because of his hunger, he got up and made sure to put on a shirt on the off chance that Mathew would still be awake. Maddox relaxed as he went into the kitchen and found all the lights off, Mathew and Alistair must have been in bed.

Maddox went into the cupboard and pulled out the cereal before setting out the bowl, he moved to pour out the cereal but stopped as the kitchen light flashed on. He looked up a bit startled and was met with the sight of Alistair, he leaned against the wall with a sigh and then leaned off of it moving to the counter.

Maddox took a step back and could only watch as Alistair closed up the cereal box and put it back where it needed to be and followed by doing the same with the bowl and the milk. He went in the fridge and pulled out a foil covered plate, uncovering it and tossing the foil in the garbage can.

He moved to the microwave, putting the plate inside and setting it, when he was done he leaned on the counter and looked at Maddox, who frowned.

"Did something happen today?" The only reply he received was Maddox folding his hands over his chest and lowering his head, Alistair's brow furrowed as a glazed look passed over Maddox's eyes. He started to worry but decided to leave it alone, as something in him told him that he should. "You must have overworked, huh?"

Maddox eyes snapped to him and he stared for a bit and then he relaxed, a smile forming on his face. "Yeah there is a lot more work to do during the day, but it's not something I cant handle, it will just take me some time to get use to."

Alistair nodded and went to retrieve the plate of food as the microwave dinged. He set it down and placed a fork in it, deciding to go back to his room so that Maddox could be by himself, although he was still curious about what happened, he would leave it alone.

Maddox sat in silence as he ate, only staring out the window after he was finnished eating and washing his dishes. The silence of the night was getting to him and he wanted to do something, without a second thought he returned to his room aand slipped on a pair of sneakers and jacket quetly leaving the house to go sit on the swing in the back yard.

Once again silence took over as thecold breeze of the night rushed over his skin and tussled his hair. Maddox thought back on what he decided today and realised that the same should be done where Allistair and mathew were concerned.

As much as they were good to him and treated him with respect, atleast where most things were concerned, he knew that he couldn't stay around them, not for long. He felt that if anyone found out he was living with them, even if it was just as a tenant it would have a negative effect on them and that was the last thing he wanted.

Another hour passed and Maddox decided that since he couldn't sleep it was best for him to get ready and head off to work early. Starting today he would work to stay out of their ways so his past didn't affect their futures.

Maddox was soon bathed dressed and headed off to work, even though he was gonna be two hours early, he wpuld prefer to just wait in the office instead of the house that he no longer felt he should ge in.

He needed to come up with a way to save his money so he could be able to get his own place away from the others, no matter how small it would be. The thought of forcing his presence upon someone else made his bones chill, he just needed to remain with Alistair and Mathew for a few more months and then he would leave.

Heaving a sigh Maddox got off the bus and headed into the factory that was still in full swing as the night workers did their job. He walked over to the cafeteria and found a corner to sit down where he planned to stay till it was time for him to work.

A while later he checked the time to see he only had an half an hour before it was time work. Just as he was about to get up he heard someone call his name and turned to see Mallisa as she made her way over to him with her usual smile on her fave.

Maddox could only stare at her as she moved across the room to get to him and when she moved to pat his back he stepped aside. Her hand was left in the air as her eyes seemed to search his face for something, his eyes looked from her to the ground and Maddox walked away leaving the room to go and prepare for his day.

Maddox entered the locker room, his legs leading him to his locker so he could put on his belt, gloves and other protective gear. When he was done he went out, going straight to loading area to stand in the corner until it was time to start.

Soon the manager entered the area and they were assigned to the area where they would be working in, Maddox moved to his truck just as it was pulled into the area and began loading the boxes into the truck. The boxes he carried were much bigger than usual, some even needing teo people to carry them.

But the thing that caught Maddox's attention was tge lable on the boxes, the sightvof it nearly had him dropping the box, he could only grit his teeth and move it on the truck, passing it off to the person that awaited it in the truck.

His chest seemed to heave, his stomach churning as he quickly moved from the truck going to the nearest exit, as soon as he reached he heaved his breakfast onto the ground nearly collapsing to his knees as the kast of it rushed up his throat.

Maddox felt someone touch him and looked back to see Malissa and the manager standing by the door as one of the workers he often worked with held him up. This caused his skin to crawl so he just lightly pushed the person away and stepped to the side as he turned to look at his manager.

"I'm sorry it seemed I ate something bad this morning, I'm feel better now, I'll go wash my face and I'll return to work."

The manager nodded and Maddox ignored the stare of the two others and walked away, his feet carried him through the building and into the bathroom, he went into a stall and closed the door in, heaving into the toilet, until his throat was burned raw and his stomach was truly empty.

The sound of the toilet flushing as Maddox stumbled out the stall going to tge sink, he washed out his mouth abd splashed his face with water until he was calmed down. He needed to work and he couldn't let something as stupid as memories distract him, he would focus on his work and earn enough money to move into an apartment by himself and then he would work to make a decent life for himself.