My Best Friends Wedding

Never What It Seems

Mom, I'm going out!"

"Where?"

"There's a wrestling tournament at school and I wanted to go and watch."

"Be home at curfew please."

I smiled and excitedly picked up my phone and wallet as I heard Jon pull up and honk his horn. I turned to leave as my dad blocked the door. He was glaring at me and was probably drunk again. I tried to step around him but he stepped in front of me.

"Move dad I'm running late" as I tried to push past him

Jon's POV

What the hell is taking so long? I laid on the horn again hoping this time she'd come out. I could see her shadow through the window so I knew she could hear me. I sighed in annoyance and opened my door to walk to her front door. I didn't need to be late to the tournament. As soon as I stepped out of the car I could hear the yelling. I took a step away from the car towards her house when I heard the side screen door slam shut and Maddy came walking quickly down the driveway to the car

"You OK Maddy?"

"Just go"

She got in the car and slammed the door shut. I looked at her through the window and could see her crying. I turned back and looked at the house and could see we were being watched through the front window. I got in the car as she quickly wiped her cheeks and eyes so I wouldn't see her cry. I reached out and touched her arm and she turned her head away and looked out the window

"...Madison?"

"Please just drive"

We drove to the school in silence for the most part. I would look over every time I heard her sniffle or sigh. I felt really bad for her. Obviously something happened, but she'll never tell me. She never does. I wish she'd trust me enough to tell me, but there are things about me that I won't tell her either. It's pretty rare for her to cry. At least in front of me it is. I think I've only ever seen her cry twice in the last 8 months that we've been friends. I pulled into the parking lot and put the car in park. I couldn't take the silence and the obvious problem she was having

"Maddy talk to me. What's wrong?"

She quickly got out of the car and started walking away. I got out and ran after her and grabbed her arm.

"Madison wait"

"You're going to be late"

"I don't care. You mean more to me than some stupid wrestling tournament. Please tell me."

She turned and threw herself against my chest and cried. I was taken back by it at first, but wrapped my arms around her and held her tight. I could be late this one time. I couldn't leave her like this. I gently stroked her hair and let her cry for a few minutes, but it was getting late and I didn't want to be in too much trouble. I pulled her back and tucked her hair behind her ears and that's when I saw the red mark on her face.

"Your dad?"

I softly ran my thumb over the mark as she dropped her gaze

"He said I was mouthing off. You should go. I don't want you to get kicked off of the team."

I pulled her to me and hugged her one more time

"It going to be OK Maddy. I'll see you after the tournament. We'll hang out and talk."

Madison's POV

Jon pulled away, went back to his car to grab his stuff and headed towards the locker room. I wanted him to come back and hug me again. I always felt so safe when I was with him. He was the best friend I'd ever had. He never let me down. He was always there. I made my way over to the gym and paid my way into the tournament. It was packed and I wasn't sure I was going to find a place to sit. I scanned the room and found a few of Jon's friends towards the top of the bleachers. I sat down next to Jeff and Daniel and watched the tournament.

"Madison you should go to the flea market with us tomorrow"

"Uh I don't know if I should That's not really my thing"

"You can be Jon's look out"

"Look out for what?"

"So I'm sure Jon has asked you to the prom"

I shook my head "No, Jeff he hasn't"

"Wanna go with me?"

Jeff has been trying to get at me ever since I started here. I wasn't interested then. I'm not interested now, but I already know Jon asked Lindsie Walsh to the prom so I needed to find a date. I was actually hoping that Daniel would ask me, but I knew at this point I had no choice.

"Uh sure Jeff...I guess"

"Jon won't care?"

"No, Jon is going with Lindsie"

Daniel chimed in "Speaking of Linsdie Walsh..."

I looked up and saw him pointing. She was standing along the back wall with Jon flirting. He reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear and kissed her. It made my blood boil and I hated seeing it. We were just best friends, but I still didn't like seeing him with other girls.

"Jealous?"

I looked back at Jeff and Daniel and made a face "What? No. Just because I don't like her....."

"Because he's 'with' her"

I rolled my eyes "Please. He's not 'with' her. He might be doing things with her, but he won't date her. Jon doesn't date. You know that."

The tournament ended and I sat at the top of the bleachers waiting for Jon to finish his flirting session with Lindsie.  He walked back into the locker room and came out and went over to her and took her hand and walked over to me. My heart was pounding in my chest and it was hard to breathe. What the hell is he doing? I walked down to the bottom of the bleachers and stood in front of him

"Maddy, Lindsie is going to hang out with us OK?"

I just blankly stared at him. I wanted to say NO, but I knew I couldn't. So I came up with the only thing I could think of.

"That's OK. You guys have fun. My...uh...curfew is coming up so I wouldn't be able to anyway."

I turned and headed out of the gym and started walking towards the front of the campus. I felt someone grab my arm and I turned to see who it could be

"Maddy...please...I'm sorry. I know I promised we'd hang out, but..."

"It's fine Jon. Whatever."

"Maddy don't make me choose"

I shrugged "I'm not. That's why I'm walking away. So you don't have to choose. I'm heading home. See ya on Monday."

"Madison..."

".....Jonathan"

"I can't let you walk home in the dark like this"

"I'll be fine"

I turned and started walking away as I hear him sigh. There was no way in hell that I was going to be the third wheel. I guess I could've asked Jeff or Daniel for a ride, but Jon promised we'd hang out. I should've known better. I just didn't want to admit that he was actually dating Lindsie. I guess I just assumed it would be me. I sighed deeply as I walked slowly home