Chapter 45
NOT SO DIFFERENT
NATALIE
The street was quiet as I sat in Will’s driveway, my phone in my lap and my thoughts racing. Jason had taken Bebe and James home without hesitation, offering me a small smile and a quick, “Good luck.” I took this as a sign of us being united. Now it was just me, waiting at Will’s house.
The faint rumble of an engine broke through the silence, and I straightened in my seat. A Hummer pulled up to the curb, its headlights cutting through the dark. My chest tightened as I watched Madison climb out, her shoulders hunched and her head down.
The driver, who I assumed was the boyfriend, Kellen, glanced toward me briefly, guilt etched across his face. He didn’t say a word before driving off, leaving Madison standing alone on the sidewalk.
I stepped out of my car, walking toward her cautiously.
“Madison,” I called softly.
She froze, her body tense, before turning to face me. “What are you doing here?” she snapped, her voice sharp.
“I’m waiting for you,” I said, keeping my tone steady.
She let out a bitter laugh. “Well, you found me. You can leave now.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I said, taking a step closer. “What happened?”
She crossed her arms, her voice cracking as she muttered, “Nothing.”
“Madison,” I said gently, “you wouldn’t have gotten out of that car looking like this if it was nothing.”
She glanced away, her jaw tight. “Fine. Kellen dumped me, okay? Happy now?”
Her words hit me harder than I expected, but I kept my expression neutral. “Why?”
Her voice broke as she said, “Because I wouldn’t sleep with him. He said I was immature, and then he just… left.”
I closed the distance between us, my heart aching at the pain in her voice. “Madison, I’m so sorry,” I said softly.
She shook her head, her hands trembling. Tears starting to form. “It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters. My dad is with you, my mom’s with Jeff, and now Kellen’s gone. Everyone’s moving on, and I’m just stuck.”
I swallowed hard, her words pulling at a part of me I hadn’t thought about in years. “I know how it feels to think everyone’s leaving you behind,” I said quietly.
She scoffed. “You don’t know anything about how I feel.”
I hesitated, then made a decision. “When I was your age, my parents divorced too. My dad remarried quickly, and I hated his new wife. Her name is Veronica. She made me feel like I didn’t belong—like there wasn’t room for me in my own dad’s life anymore.”
Madison’s glare softened slightly, her arms loosening around herself.
“I was so angry at them, at everything,” I continued. “There was this boy I was dating at the time. He wasn’t kind, but I didn’t see it then. I was so mad about Veronica, so lonely, that I…” I paused, the words catching in my throat.
“You what?” Madison asked, her voice quieter now.
I took a deep breath. “I lost my virginity to him. Not because I wanted to, but because I was angry and desperate to feel like someone cared about me. The truth is that it only made me feel worse. I didn’t have anyone to talk to about it, and I felt even lonelier afterward.”
Madison’s face softened, her gaze dropping to the ground.
“I’m telling you this because I don’t want you to feel like I did,” I said. “You have so many people who love you—your dad, your mom, your siblings. And I know I’m not your favorite person, but I care about you, too.”
Her eyes filled with tears, and she blinked quickly, trying to hold them back. “It’s just… everything feels different now. My mom’s getting married, you and my dad are together, and it’s like no one cares what I think.”
“I know it feels that way,” I said gently. “But I promise you, your dad cares. He worries about you so much. And your mom—she loves you more than anything. They’re not moving on from you, Madison. They’re just trying to figure out how to be happy again. That doesn’t mean they don’t need you.”
Madison swiped at her eyes, sniffling. “I just… I don’t know.”
“It’s okay to feel like this,” I said. “It’s okay to be upset and confused. But you’re not alone in this, no matter how it feels right now.”
She nodded slowly, her defenses beginning to crumble.
“Can I walk you inside?” I asked softly.
She hesitated, then nodded again.
We walked into the house together, and she slumped onto the couch, hugging a pillow tightly to her chest. I grabbed a bottle of water from the kitchen and handed it to her.
“Thanks,” she murmured, her voice barely audible.
“Of course,” I said, sitting across from her.
The sound of a car door closing outside drew our attention, and Madison stiffened as the front door opened.
Will walked in, his gaze locking on Madison immediately. Relief flooded his face as he took her in.
“Madison,” he said softly.
She stood abruptly, clutching a throw pillow to her chest. “I’m fine,” she said. “You don’t have to act like you care.”
Will stepped closer, his voice calm but firm. “Madison, I’ve been driving all over looking for you. Of course, I care.”
Her lower lip quivered, and she glared at him. “Then why didn’t you tell me about her? Why did I have to see it for myself at the concert?”
Will paused, his shoulders stiffening.
“I’m not a little kid, Dad,” she continued, her voice breaking. “If you want me to be honest with you, then you have to be honest with me.”
“That’s fair,” he said after a long pause, his tone heavy with regret.
I stepped forward quietly, touching his arm. He glanced at me, his eyes filled with uncertainty.
“Not right now,” I whispered. “Don’t let this turn into a fight. She needs to know you love her.”
He nodded, his gaze softening as he turned back to Madison. “You’re right, Maddie,” he said. “I should’ve told you sooner, and I’m sorry. I love you, and I didn’t want to hurt you. I know this is hard, but we’ll figure it out together. I promise.”
Her face crumpled, and for a moment, she looked so young, so vulnerable. Will stepped closer, hesitating before pulling her into a hug. She didn’t resist, her arms wrapping around him tightly.
I stepped back, giving them their moment, but I couldn’t help feeling a flicker of hope. Maybe tonight wasn’t just about finding Madison—it was about something that may have been lost and was starting to heal.