LOGINMadison
The leather seats are warm beneath me in Adrian’s car, the heat settling into my skin while the city moves past in long, blurred and bright streaks. I find myself watching them a little too closely, like if I focus hard enough, I won’t have to think about anything else.
JayVoicesspillfromthelivingroomjustofffromthegrandstaircase,screamingformyattention.IturntowardthemandfindMadisonnearthefireplace,withherarmswrappedaroundherselfsotightlythatitmakesmychestburnobsessively.Herfaceispale,herbodytremblesbutshewon’tbackdownthroughhersheerstubbornnessalone.She'sanAlpha’sdaughter,herbloodthickwithdeterminationandlonglineoflegacy.Ialmostadmireit.Alp
JayMadisongasps,hereyesinstantlyswellwithtearsandherhandcovershermouth.Onesideofthegatehangstwistedinward,themetalpeeledbacklikerippedfleshwhileclawmarksscorealongtheframeinthickstreaks.Theguardpostbesideitisbarelystandingwiththewindowsshatteredandtheroofhalfcollapsedin.Thiswasn’tarogueattack,thiswasamassacre.Nashjustdidn’twanttoadmitit.Myfooteasesoffthegasandthecar
MadisonTerrorclawsthroughmybody,burrowingdeepintomybonesuntileverymuscleislockedinplace.Shockisastrangething.Ialwaysassumeditwasloud,dramaticenoughtotearthroughyoulikelightningandleavenothingstandinginitswake.Butrealshock?It’smuchquieterthanthat.Itslipsintoyourbodylikecoldwater,seepingthrougheverylimbuntilyourbodynolongerfeelslikeyourownandyourthoughtsslidethroughyour&
JayYoucan’tbeafraidofthethingsthatmakeyoufeelalive.Idon’trememberwhereIhearditfirst.Maybefromsomeoneolder,someoneawholelotwiser.Someonewhodidn’thavetolivewiththeconsequencesofactuallybelievingit.NowI’mstartingtorealizeit’snotthatsimple.Becausethosethingsdon’tjustmakeyoufeelalive,theymakeyourecklessandeverythingaboutthisistextbookrecklessbutIstilldon&rsqu
MadisonAstingshootsacrossmyknucklesasIpoundonthedoor.Thesoundcomesofftooloudandurgent.Icringe,swallowinghardandsqueezingmyeyesshutlikethat’sgoingtoreversethedecisionI’vealreadycommittedto.Mychestistight,myjawlocked,myfingerscurlingintomypalmasIknockagain,harderthistime,becauseifhethinksI’mjustgoingtowalkaway…ifhethinksI’mgoingtopretend&nb
JayMy jaw shifts slightly, resentment coiling in my chest as Madison’s face flashes through my head and I cut the thought off hard.This is easier, simpler. Straightforward, with no strings attached. It’s just an outlet. A much needed release. “You busy?” I ask.A small pause passes. Then it follows with a softer, knowing exactly what I mean, “For you? Never.”It’s not like I expected anything less. I exhale slowly, something dark settling into place. “Come over.”There’s no hesitation this time. “Send me the address.”I end the call without a goodbye, already keying my address into the phone.I’m not even fully through my door before the knock echoes behind me. A smirk pulls on my lips, a reminder that she’s always been an eager beaver. My shirt’s already halfway off as I make my way to the door, fabric dragging over my shoulders before I toss it somewhere behind me and reach for the handle.The door swings open and she’s standing there already smiling, her long brown hair cascadi
JayIntermission rolls around and Coach is going on about tightening things up, keeping our shifts clean and not getting sloppy just because we’re holding the lead. He’s not wrong but still I’m only half listening, sitting there with my elbows on my knees and my stick hanging loose between my hands
JayThere are two ways to deal with game day.
MadisonI cross my arms, more to hold myself together than anything else.
MadisonWhat the fuck was that?







