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The next morning, Maddy woke to a headache, unlike any hangover she had ever experienced before. She was at the Chateau, but she had no idea how she'd gotten there. Or what had happened the night before. As if a tidal wave had washed over her, the memories of Brad and the beer returned to her, making her gasp and check the bed she was in. Surprisingly, it was empty. That wasn't normal, and she knew that Pope had helped her get away from the touron, but every one of her friends knew how much she hated sleeping alone.
Within thirty seconds, JJ walked into the room with a glass of water. As soon as he saw her awake, he ran to her side and brushed her hair from her face.
"Shoot, Mads, I didn't think you'd be awake yet. I was just grabbing a glass of water."
"Did you stay with me last night?" Tears started to form in Maddy's eyes as she thought of what could have happened.
"Of course I did," he responded, wiping away the stray drops that had fallen from her eyes. "I know how much you hate being alone."
"W-what if... what if Pope hadn't been there..." The shaking girl trailed off, letting herself feel warm in JJ's arms.
"Then I would've been there. Pope just beat me to it."
"JJ, I remember enough to know that you were involved in the fight with John B and Topper. Don't lie to me, okay?"
"I'm not. I physically feel weak if you're not by my side for about three minutes or more, so I would've found my way to you anyway."
"I love you, J," the girl whispered, wrapping her arms around his torso. The blonde's heart soared, soaking in every ounce of meaning her words held and wishing they meant something more. Until they did, though, he would be content with hearing her say them platonically.
"I love you more, baby."
Maddy's stomach flipped at his words, letting them wash over her and feeling safe for the first time since she had left his side at the kegger. She didn't understand how his words had such an effect on her or why butterflies seemed to fill her entire body when he held her tight. There was no way it was a crush because there was no pogue on pogue macking. Everyone knew that. So instead of even considering that possibility, Maddy convinced herself it was a phase that would be gone soon.
But she couldn't have been more wrong.
Shaking the thoughts away, the confused girl remembered her other best friend who had nearly been drowned the night before. "How's John B?"
"A little banged up, but otherwise okay. Everyone's on the porch if you want to join us."
"My head is killing me, so I might just rest a little bit longer if that's okay. Tell JB I'll have my mom check out his bruises in a little bit."
