Safeguarders

Chapter 4

Madelyn led them all outside the back, where a red Mini Van was waiting for them. Eli wasn't sure exactly what he expected, but it was in between a limo and a town car, anything that had its own personal driver. Madelyn was driving them to wherever she planned. Luckily, Mads was the best driver of them all.

"So you're a rising popstar and your choice of a car is a... Mini Van?" Ricky said, eyeing the van with some disappointment.

Madelyn put her hands on her hips. "Yeah, is there a problem?" Eli knew that she was saying it as a joke, but something serious was wandering around her eyes. The other guys laughed, but Eli stood there a little uncomfortably. Madelyn's eyes passed over Eli for a second, but left after they noticed Eli watching.

They all got into the car, Tommy sitting up front next to Madelyn, who was frowning at him. Nathan and Ricky sat in the two middle seats while Eli sat alone in the back, glancing out the small window next to him. He looked at the empty seat next to him and an interesting idea occurred to him.

He raised his voice a little before speaking. "Hey, Mads?" She looked back at him. "Do you think we could pick someone up on the way?"

She raised an eyebrow, but nodded. "Who?"

"Do you remember Angus Spicer?" He said, putting on an almost-smile.

She grinned big. "Burger? Of course!" Mads turned back to the steering wheel and called back, "Where to?"

Tommy answered for Eli. "The same house. He never moved out." When they didn't hang out at the diner, they hung out in Burger's basement.

They ended up taking the highway, which was much easier than waiting in all of that traffic, and they made it to Burger's house in the matter of twenty minutes. Burger's house was about a ten minute drive away from Eli's house, so Eli never really had trouble getting over there.

The little white house came into view and Eli was relieved to see the lights on, because he knew that Burger's mom always went to bed early, but apparently not tonight. This was probably because Adrianna, Burger's twin sister, had friends over. Adrianna was almost a girl replica of Burger, except Adrianna was really skinny and was several inches shorter.

Mads was the first to the door, anxious to see another old friend. She rang the doorbell three times before a lady opened the door, Angus' mom. She was dressed in her normal bathrobe attire, cigarette in hand. Her wrinkles reached her eyes and she looked more worn out than any woman of 48 Eli had ever seen. Maybe what brought all of that stress was the fact that she was a manager at an outlet store called Good Stuff. She was a pretty good mom though, always looking out for Burger and Adrianna.

"Mrs. Spicer! It's nice to see you again." Mads said, looking at Mrs. Spicer's appearance reluctantly.

Mrs. Spicer's eyes narrowed at Madelyn and then widened. "Madelyn Shore! How nice to see you, too. It's Miss now, by the way. Mr. Spicer abandoned us a few months ago, without warning. It's okay though, because he was a two-timing fucker, that bastard." Angus' mom said it so casually, Mads was slightly gaping. Nobody was expecting her to be so upfront about it. Eli knew about this right when it happened but Ms. Spicer was usually in a good enough mood to give a small smile. Today must have been a bad day for her.

"I'm so sorry..." Mads said, genuinely.

Mrs. Spicer waved her free hand at Mads. "No, no, it's quite alright, sweetheart. Are you guys here to see Angus?" We nodded. "Well, he's downstairs in the basement, I'm sure. I swear he's a vampire because he never goes out in the light."

"Is Adrianna here, too?" Mads asked, looking behind Ms. Spicer, upstairs.

"Yes, darling, but she has a friend over. Gabriella, I think. You're welcome to go see them, too." Ms. Spicer said, getting out of the doorway so they could go inside.