Once I’m in the car, I rip my phone out of my pocket and tap Madison's name. It doesn't even ring before it goes straight to voicemail. "Fuck," I shout. If I can just find a way to get her off my ass, this can be over. Offer her something she can't refuse. Force her to leave town. If only the roles were reversed and she could go while Willa stays.
I have no fucking idea what it is with Willa, but she's getting to me. She's crawling into my skin and I can feel her piercing the veins of my heart. When all of this started with her, it was a stupid bet, but the more time I spend with her, the more time I want to spend with her. I can’t wrap my head around this nagging desire to be near her. Even if it’s just to watch her from afar.
I’m suddenly noticing things I never did before. The way her rapid blinking happens mostly when she’s nervous. How she has a dimple on her left cheek when she smiles that matches the one on her chin, but her right side is unblemished. Whatever this is, it’s unexpected, and to be honest, it’s unwanted. Yet, the idea of Zed or Madison going anywhere near her stirs something sinister inside of me. Makes me crazy and puts irrational thoughts in my head.
Trying again, I tap Madison's name over and over and over again. Climbing into my car, I keep trying. Starting the engine, I keep trying. Voicemail. Voicemail. Voicemail. School got out ten minutes ago, she should be answering her goddamn phone.
Just as I start driving down the road, the Bluetooth kicks on, and her name flashes on the screen.
Now that I've got her on the line, I'm not even sure what I want to say. But, I play nice.
"Hey, Madison. Where are you?"
"Sitting at home. Bored as fuck. You?"
"I'm coming over. Don't leave." I end the call and shuffle through different options in my head.
I walk up to the front door that was once blocked with an abundance of shoes. My house was always the go-to hang out spot. We'd all come here after school, raid the refrigerator, drink endless cans of soda and play video games until curfew. It was just Dad and me and he was always busy working. My dad wasn't as absent as some parents, but he definitely favors work over family life. It wasn't always that way. It wasn't until we lost Colby that we all changed.
At the very last minute, I think I've come up with a plan. Madison pulls the door open and invites me in, as if this isn't even my house. She and her mom have made themselves far too comfortable here for my liking. Regardless, I bite my tongue. "How was school today?" I ask, making small talk.
"I missed you in drama class. Where were you? Were you with that girl?"
"Girl?" I play stupid, but she doesn't buy it.
"You know who I'm talking about." Her hands slither up my stomach and she locks her fingers behind my head. I twist my neck, looking to the right and avoiding eye contact, as she tries to kiss me.
"If you're worried about Willa, you have nothing to worry about. She moved."
Her hands unclasp and she turns my head to face her. Her eyes light up. "Yeah, so people are saying. But we both know she’s still here."
Pushing her back a few steps, she pouts while I observe her. “What’s that supposed to mean?"
Unable to keep her bony fingers off of me, she reclaims my personal space and cups my face in her hands. “You can fool everyone else, but I know she’s in Redwood. I also know that you’re falling for her.” She bops my nose. The same way that I did to her a few days ago.
“It is you, isn’t it? You’ve been harassing her? Leaving her sick voice messages, creeping around her house.”
Her forehead wrinkles in confusion, but she’s not confused at all. She’s playing stupid. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Stay away from her, Madison. I’m warning you.”
Suddenly looking like she’s on the verge of tears, she buries her face in my chest. “Why don’t you love me like I love you?”
I attempt to pry her off of me, but she’s like a leech. As I push her shoulders back, she tightens her grip on me.
“Given enough time, I think you could love me.”
“Well, unlucky for you, we will never get that time.” I peel her fingers off of me one by one, squeezing her left hand tightly before doing the same to the right. Once I have them both secured, I give her a push back. “I’ll never love you, Madison.”
Glowering, she comes charging at me. She plants her fists in my chest over and over again. “I hate you, Lars. I hate you, and I’m gonna make you pay for this.” More slaps to the chest as I grab her wrists and she breaks out in an all-out ugly cry. “I hate you.” Once I steady her, she stops crying and her mood swings abruptly. “I’m sorry. I don’t hate you. I love you.” With fluttering eyelids, she smiles while tears still roll down her cheeks from the other side of her personality I just witnessed.
Making an attempt to keep my calm and be as straightforward as possible, I try not to unleash her crazy. “You don’t love me. You love the idea of me. Two different things.”
“I really do. You’re like sunshine behind the clouds and the rainbow after the storm. You’re my soulmate, Lars. And soon you’ll see it. Soon we’ll be together and no one will take you away from me.”
This is getting really fucking bad. She’s getting worse by the minute. Madison doesn’t need to just move out of Redwood, she needs years of psychiatric help.
“Mrs. Rhys said she’s announcing the roles for the play after
