five
W hat was paradoxical about growing up was the fact that, while no one can ever wait to become an adult and gain that elusive independence, that is also the moment when they wish they could be a child for just a little while longer.
That, sometimes, desperate need to go back might hit when they least expect it.
When they’re feeling vulnerable. When they’re hurt.
When they’re homesick for a place and a time that has gone and will never come back.
And Maddy couldn’t help but think it true.
As eventful as that day had turned out to be, it had nothing on the hectic everyday life she lived.
She couldn’t remember the last time she had stopped to take a break and slow down unless she’d had to.
In her adult life, she was either working, or trying to catch up with everything, or buried under the pressure that built and built and built as responsibilities piled up.
But right then, she felt as if in limbo.
Everything had started hitting her little by little as the hours had gone by.
What it meant to be back. Sometimes, people wished desperately to relive certain moments, instances, even entire parts of their lives.
To have the chance to be coddled by their mother one more time.
To be able to call their father to pick them up because it was getting late and they didn’t feel safe walking home alone.
To simply be able to be again in the presence of people who would do the utmost to protect them.
And maybe, to say things they’d never said.
The last bell of the day had sounded but Maddy didn’t leave straight for home. She had catapulted into a gloomy mood that she was unable to shake.
The weather looked like rain, and the occasional, wet gusts of wind whipped her hair across her face as she headed towards the little park nearby.
She sat heavily on the wooden bench that overlooked almost the entirety of the park and took off her glasses for a bit to rub her eyes, wishing it was enough to cast away the wistfulness that had overtaken her.
She kept replaying her conversation with Nate in her mind.
If she could call that a conversation. She scoffed, remembering the absolute nerve of him accusing her of causing this mess.
It’s not like she’d made him come to her rescue.
It’s not as if she’d known she would end up here and now, dragging him along for the ride. Or maybe he ’d carried her along.
Okay, this was too much to process.
A ringtone that sounded suspiciously like the intro from ‘Bring me to Life’ by Evanescence sounded muffled from one of her bag’s pockets.
Maddy saw her dad’s name appear on the screen and felt her lips stretch into a beaming grin.
Maddy and her dad, Marc, had always been two peas in a pod. Both of them extremely stubborn but surprisingly capable of getting along. He’d always been the one to take her to children’s playgrounds as a kid, or to birthday parties organized by friends and classmates in elementary school.
So hearing her father’s “Hey, Little M!” as she answered the phone, she felt like laughing and crying at the same time.
Since both their names started with an M, they’d developed the habit of calling themselves the ‘M & M’s, probably as silly as it got but it was their thing, so her dad’s boisterous voice calling her their private nickname made her heart squeeze with joy.
“Hey, dad! What’s up?”
“Nothing much, I’m just on my way back from work. Are you home already or do you want me to drive by and pick you up?” her dad asked.
Maddy felt a wave of affection. For as long as she could remember, her dad would always offer to drop her off somewhere or pick her up whenever she wanted, no matter how far or how late it would be. “No, I haven’t left yet. I’ll wait for you outside of school.”
“Okay great, see you in a bit!” He hung up and she walked the short distance back to school, the pressure constricting her chest, momentarily eased.
***
That afternoon, her phone chirped with a text message.
Unknown number : We need to talk.
Well, that was a message no one wanted to receive. Like ever.
Maddy : Who dis? New phone.
Wow, she had completely forgotten the long ass time it took to type even the briefest of messages.
Unknown number : It’s the vampire lord.
Maddy stared at her screen. Had he just made a joke?
Maddy : I don’t believe you.
Unknown number : You’re gonna make this difficult, aren’t you?
Maddy : A little bit.
Unknown number : It’s Nate.
Maddy : Hi Nate! How is my fellow time-traveling pal?
Nate : Very low on patience and running lower by the second.
Maddy laughed softly as she imagined Nate’s grumpy face hunched over his phone. She couldn’t resist teasing him just a bit.
Maddy : Those frown lines are going to be permanently etched when you’re older.
Nate : I am older, Madison. That’s the problem.
Maddy : And this is your chance to strike pre-emptively so that your future self will reap the benefits.
Nate : Why am I feeling like this discussion is leading nowhere?
Maddy : Because you’re determined to be grouchy. I can feel your negative vibes all the way over here.
Nate: The situation calls for some negativity, don’t you think?
Maddy : Would you feel better if we met up and talked things out for a bit?
Nate : I don’t know. Is it going to be more talk about frown lines?
Maddy : I can’t promise it won’t be.
Nate : That’s what I’m afraid of.
Nate : But since it’s the lesser of two evils, I’m sending you my address.
Maddy : Woah, easy there.
Maddy : Is that a Netflix and chill kind of thing?
Nate : There is no Netflix.
Maddy : Oh. Right.
Nate : And no chill.
Maddy : Fine, fine.
Maddy : You’re no fun.
A new message pinged with Nate’s address.
And then a second one.
Nate : Is seven good?
Maddy : Yep, all good.
Maddy : Should I bring anything?
Nate : Like what?
Maddy : I don’t know. Something to eat or drink maybe?
Nate : No need.
Nate : Yourself will be more than plenty.
Maddy : Why do I feel as if I should be offended?
Nate didn’t dignify that with an answer.