Anyone Else But You

Chapter 5 - In Which Fate Plays it's Hand

Beulah – Popular Mechanics for Lovers

Maddie spent the rest of Sunday finishing off her history essay and by the time she’d finished it she was actually quite proud of what she’d done. She went to bed feeling better about school the next day, but still couldn’t manage a full night without tossing and turning thinking about what had happened between her and Jasper. When she woke up on Monday morning she still couldn’t comprehend it, she hadn’t known how bad his parents had had it and she’d definitely felt a little bit sorry for him.

Grumbling to herself she threw the covers off her bed and was instantly hit by a rush of cold air that had her reaching for her quilt again. Unfortunately it had fallen to the floor and she couldn’t reach it without getting out of bed. Standing up she tried to stretch some of the tiredness out of her body before taking a shower. Her bedroom was on the second floor along with her brother’s old room, before he had gone away to university they had shared a bathroom which meant she now had it to herself.

Maddie dressed in her Rolling Stones t-shirt, blue hoodie and skinny jeans, finishing the look off with her black converse. This was generally her go-to look, she lived in converse trainers and jeans. Kate and her parents were in the kitchen when she got downstairs, all eating breakfast and looking refreshed and ready for Monday morning. The complete opposite of how she felt.

Mondays were always the worst day, she had four out of five lessons on her timetable and three in a row before her free period. Maddie grabbed the biggest mug she could find in the cupboard and filled it with strong, black coffee. Carrying it to the table she sat down next to her dad and sipped the hot liquid to try and wake herself up. He looked up from his newspaper and raised his eyebrows at her mug.

“I didn’t sleep very well last night and I have double history first.” Maddie shrugged her shoulders and smiled at him, he shook his head back but smiled as he folded the newspaper up and placed it on the table.

“Right. Anyway I better be off, I’ll see you later.” He stood up and placed his cup by the sink, then walked over to her mum and gave her a quick kiss. Maddie watched her parents in awe, they had met when her mum was 20 and her dad was 22. It had been love at first sight for the both of them, her dad had been on duty at Rolling Stones concert and her mum had been in the audience. While her mum’s friends had been fighting to get to Mick Jagger her mum had been chatting up one of the policeman guarding the stage.

“I better get going too, remember I’ll be back late tonight. I’m helping out with the art club at school so I’m going to have to help clean up as well, the kids always make a mess.” Maddie’s mum picked her handbag and tote bag up from beside the table, waved goodbye and followed her husband out the door. Maddie looked at her sister who was texting, when there was no response she picked up her mug and finished the rest of her coffee.

She checked her watch and saw that it was quarter past eight, she’d have to get going soon or she’d be late. Registration started at 8:35 and she’d already been late twice this term, once more and she’d get an afterschool detention, something she’d avoided so far throughout school. “What have you got today?” She asked her sister as she finally put her phone down.

“Maths, Science, PE, History and French with Madame Judeaux.” Kate rolled her eyes and smiled tiredly, Maddie had had Madame Judeaux for French and they hadn’t exactly gotten on.