"Gee, what luck. My best customers are back," Macy says dryly, when Madison and Nick hurry into the booth of The Love Shack.

Nick turns to Madison, as she rubs down her seat and steadily ignores the dark scowls that Macy is sending her. "How sure are you that he's going to turn up?" he asks.

Madison narrows her gaze at him. "Are you doubting me?"

"Yes," Nick says, without hesitation. When Madison scowls, he adds, "Well, you didn't manage to get me expelled, did you?"

"I still might, if you're not careful," Madison bites at him, huffing. "And you're the only exception anyway."

She shakes back her hair as she seats herself, feeling a little dizzy for the barest moment. It takes her a few moments to catch herself and by then, Nick is blinking at her, with concern.

"You look you're about to pass out," he tells her. "Did you eat today?"

Madison thinks back to the thin, wilting salad she'd had for lunch and she nods furiously. "Yes, I did," she tells him defensively, not liking the way Nick looks at her. There's something within his face that she saw in that night on the rooftop, that she thinks about more than she likes to admit. "But that doesn't matter. What matters is that you do your part of the job. Ash should be coming by, soon, and if you don't knuckle up, we'll lose him."

"Knuckle up?" Nick repeats, spluttering with laughter.

Madison rolls her eyes towards him. "You have to do your job as the muscle. I did my part. Now it's your turn."

Nick tells her, "Stop objectifying me."

Madison has to bite down on her lip to stop herself from laughing. Nick orders from Macy and when he looks at her, she shakes her head because she's already had lunch today and she can't eat anything else for the rest of the day. Despite this, Madison is still hungry and the smells in the café are glorious. Nick eyes her carefully and she's stupid, she thinks, if that's concern flickering within the light of his eyes. Outside, the storm brews, cracking greatly as lightning shatters against the sky in long lines of yellowed silver.

As they're waiting, the conversation between them turns to the painting above their table. "It's ugly," Madison says. "There's nothing to say about it."

Nick shakes his head. "It doesn't have to be deep and profound for it to be a thing of value," he argues back, pointing at the painting. "Look at the colours. See how there's reds and blues on one side but then it gets darker when it goes towards the skeletons and the food? That's the artist starving for creativity and inspiration."

Madison peers at the painting before shaking her head. "No, the artist is hungry," she says. "The artist is saying that we shouldn't live in a world where money equals survival, see? That's the money burning up over there but it means nothing because he's starving for food, not creativity. That's not going to keep him living."

Nick is looking quizzical, nodding as he hums along. "You could be right," he says and something about Nick's opinion sends up a wave of warmth within her. Madison hopes that she isn't flushing. "What about the sky, then? If it's so calm – do you think it's the calm before the storm?"

"I don't know. Maybe it's, like, a trick?" Madison suggests. "Like everything looks amazing but when you reach through the cracks, they're pulling apart at the seams."

Macy clears her throat. "God, you're such nerds," she mumbles disparagingly, as she puts down Nick's food on the table. "Just kiss already."

Both Nick and Madison flush horribly, staring at each other, before they realise that they've grown too close to each other. Madison flinches back, just at the same time as Nick does, both of them hitting painfully against the booth and hissing in pain. It is then they both spot Ash outside of the window, furrowing his brows in worry towards the charity shop.

"That idiot," Madison snarls out, as she stands up from her seat. "I told him The Love Shack. Why is he going towards there?"

"Navigation doesn't seem to be his strong suit," Nick agrees, and they hurry outside the café, to surround Ash.

Ash sees Madison first, staring at her, his lips parting. "Look, I'm here," he begins, and suddenly, his whole demeanour changes as he reaches out for Madison, his thick, meaty fingers wrapping themselves tightly around the bone of her wrist. "Whatever you've got against me, drop it, Madison, now. You don't know what game you're playing."

Madison is about to roll her eyes and push Ash away disparagingly when Nick reaches for him, looking utterly enraged. His breathing is coming out hard and Madison sees the very instant where Nick's fingers drag Ash away from her, releasing he. Nick breaks Ash's hold, slamming the boy against the wall. Ash's breathing is hoarse and terrified as Nick glowers darkly at him.

"You were going to threaten her?" Nick bites out. "You idiot."

And suddenly, as her gaze drops to her arm, where a red imprint of Ash's fingers still remain painfully, Madison realises she has never been more grateful for Nick's towering figure. She's made fun of him so many times but now he towers over her and Ash, quietly intimidating in a way that makes her feel utterly safe. There's something rather heated about the way he intimidates Ash, too, Madison thinks faintly and when they push Ash into the booth at The Love Shack, Nick rolls his sleeves up and Madison has to stop herself from melting. She turns her head quickly, gulping down her water.

Ash is staring up at him. "You tricked me," he blurts out, disbelievingly.

"We tricked you," Nick corrects proudly, turning his head to Madison, who finds herself smiling, in spite of it all.

She supposes it had been a team effort and truthfully, it was relieving to have someone beside her who could take away some of the heavy pressure. And despite what she'd said, it wasn't that she was the brain and Nick was the brawn. They had both talked through their ideas, in a rare moment where they weren't arguing, before executing their plan out successfully. Talking with Nick brings about a sense of peace to her that Madison desperately doesn't want to explore.

Madison waves away Macy, who rolls her eyes and grumbles away.

"Last night," Madison begins, "at Kyle's party. You were drunk off your stupid ass and you said stupid things. What do you know?"

Ash shakes his head. "I don't know anything –,"

"Stop lying," Nick bites out. "See, I can beat you to a pulp and Madison can destroy whatever's left of you or you can tell us the truth."

"Violence should never be the answer –,"

"When the question is your face, we're willing to make exceptions," Madison says as Nick chuckles lowly. "Tell us what you know."

Ash lifts his head. "Kyle took the pictures," he confesses heavily as Madison stills, her lips parting in shock.

"What?" Madison says and her voice is rather faint, so faint that Nick looks to her with concern.

"Kyle took the pictures of Audrey," Ash repeats. "He gave them to me and he told me that I had to get money out of you."

"Why her?" Nick asks.

"She has the most money in all of Redwood," Ash replies.

As if she couldn't have any more reason to hate Audrey's bastard of a boyfriend. Soon to be ex-boyfriend, Madison thinks grimly. Nick is looking at her curiously, his brows furrowed together in concern.

"What were you going to get out of it?" Madison says.

"He promised me a cut, said the money would help my mother's company," Ash says, swallowing thickly.

Nick parts his lips. "Kyle is – Audrey's boyfriend, isn't he?" he asks, and Madison stiffens in automatic defence.

"Yes," she says shortly, feeling uncomfortable at Nick's probing. She doesn't like that Nick seems liable to push and though they've gotten to an easier point where they can plot together, she's not comfortable with letting him know the extent to what punishment she's planning to exact on Kyle. She then asks, wanting to change the subject quickly, "What did you want to ask him, about Mitchell?"

Nick flushes but he turns to Ash, his brows furrowed. "Mitchell," he says. "You said he was coming for me. That he was planning something. What?"

Madison turns her head, slightly alarmed, in spite of herself. He didn't tell her this, she thinks, her forehead creasing in concern. For some reason, she doesn't like the thought that Nick might get seriously hurt. She knows a brief amount of what Mitchell is, though she's sure Nick had glossed over certain details. Though he laughs and jokes, Madison knows that he's concerned, too. But not for himself.

He's concerned for the ones around him. His mother, she thinks.

She can understand that. She can understand doing anything to protect the ones around her.

Ash is lifting his head, his brows furrowed together. "I don't know, I swear it – I swear," he says, fumbling over his words as he continues. "I just know that Mitchell is getting angrier and angrier against you – he hates you, man. He hates you. I know that he's planning something against you, something to cripple you or something – I swear, I don't know any more."

Madison furrows her brows concernedly as she tilts her head towards Nick. "What game have you been playing?" she asks and really, she did not mean for her voice to come out so concerned. She clears her throat, flushing hotly, and amends her words quickly. "I told you this Mitchell sounded like a nutcase – why have you been goading him even more?"

Nick shakes his head. "I didn't do anything more than what I told you!" he tells her defensively. "And what are you doing against Kyle, who is bigger than you and could crush you like an ant?"

Madison rolls her eyes. "Not all battles can be waged by resorting to primitive fistfights," she tells him, annoyed. "What are you going to do against Mitchell? If this guy is as insane as you told me, you need to do something fast before he sends more idiots after you."

"I can deal with Mitchell myself," Nick says. "But what are you going to be able to do against Kyle? He doesn't even go to Redwood, so you can't fail to expel him from there."

Ash is clearing his throat and Madison throws him a dark look. "Shut up," she tells Ash, before turning back to Nick. "I don't need your help –,"

"I wasn't offering –,"

"Because, of course, you'd only fail, as you do, in most –,"

"Can't even breathe without insulting me, can you –,"

Ash clears his throat again and both don't even turn their heads before biting out, "Shut up!"

Madison realises that she is too close to Nick and her gaze lingers on his lips briefly before she inhales sharply and draws herself away. Nick is towering over her, his voice turned slightly husky, his eyes looking slightly darker and unfocused as he stares at her, before he pulls himself away as well. The air between them simmers, crackling with unshed tension and annoyance and unspoken words.

Ash speaks, uncertain.

"Can I go now?"

*

When she goes back to her house, it's surprisingly not empty for once and for a moment, a blinding moment, Madison stills. Then, her friends appear.

Elliot has already broken into the drinks cabinet and Lula and Maria are giggling drunkenly together over a Vogue magazine and pictures of the people from school, sprawled out onto her white carpet. Becky has given them a plate of foods and there are small cakes and sweets and chocolates scattered about her room idly. Madison furrows her brows, as she places her bag delicately onto her dressing table, already shrugging off her coat.

Her heart begins to hammer. "Where is Audrey?"

Elliot turns his head, the only one having heard her, his eyes bright. "Said something about Kyle being here," he tells her carelessly, as he points to the balcony.

Madison doesn't even hesitate, crossing the room in angry strides as she reaches to pull open the doors of her balcony. Kyle is standing there, with Audrey, his arms around her. Audrey is trembling and it might be from the cold or Kyle himself, but Madison doesn't care. She swallows down her shattering anger, realising that Nick's words were right. Kyle is a massive guy, she thinks. Though not so big as Nick, Kyle is still big enough to actually do her physical harm, if he thought he could get away with it.

And Audrey is smaller than Madison.

The thought makes Madison burn with anger.

Kyle's lips part and he lets out a quick, shaky laugh. "Hey, Madison," he says easily, and Madison has to talk herself out of pushing him over the balcony ledge. "Audrey says she was missing me and I couldn't leave my girl –,"

"How did you get past the security guards?" Madison demands, her gaze flickering to where Kyle's thick fingers tighten around Audrey's elbow. She swallows and makes an effort to sound as pleasant as she can, as she moves to Audrey's side. Kyle is already looking suspicious, his gaze turning to Audrey, who has ducked her head in that way Madison knows means she is utterly terrified. "I mean, it's fine that you're here for Audrey, but I need to know. For security."

She needs to know so she can update the security guards on Kyle's stupid face, after she disfigures it. Kyle laughs again and Madison doesn't think she's hated anyone more. He wanted her money so he manipulated Audrey and gave those pictures to Ash. That disgusting bastard. Madison reaches for Audrey as carelessly as she can make it. Her fingers wrap around Audrey's wrist, as she pulls the girl to her, attempting to brush it off as a welcome hug.

Audrey is trembling in her arms.

"Oh, I just climbed in through the back," Kyle is telling her.

If only he could have broken his neck doing so, Madison thinks viciously, before she forces a smile to spread across her lips. "Oh," she says evenly, thinking of the damage she will do to Kyle. "Well, it's a Redwood-students only party tonight, I'm afraid. So, thanks for coming, Kyle. Take the exit out by the gates. I'll tell the guards you're coming."

Kyle nods, but his eyes are on Audrey. "Let me just say goodbye to –,"

"Oh, what's that, Audrey?" Madison says loudly, and her eyes fixate calmly on Kyle. "You're tired out after studying so hard at school? It's okay, you can sleep over at mine for the night."

Audrey lets out a quiet whimper, but Kyle's face is suddenly devoid of all humour as he holds Madison's eyes steadily. Madison wonders briefly if he suspects but she doesn't let him think, bustling Audrey into her room as quickly as she can. When she turns back, Kyle is already clambering down her balcony. Madison feels a sliver of unease linger within her and she makes a note to tell the security guards to keep an eye out for Kyle.

"He didn't do anything, Madison," Audrey is murmuring to Madison, but Madison knows what the long sleeves are for. She had seen Kyle's thick, red fingerprints pressed deeply against Audrey's thin, paled wrist. "I swear it, Madison. I'm fine now – he's good now."

"You need to sleep," Madison says abruptly, changing the subject, her fingers ghosting over the heavy bags under Audrey's eyes as she examines Audrey's carefully covered bruise.

She is already beginning to wonder whether she might be able to send them all on an overseas trip where Kyle, poorer than anything, wouldn't be able to follow. Madison would be able to take care of the scumbag in that time. She can also take care of Lula's parents, who are beginning to probe into their dead relative who left them too much money. But exams and schoolwork are beginning to pile up on all of them and though her friends aren't so concerned, Madison knows that it will be difficult to get their teachers to agree to an impromptu trip.

Unless it was a school trip, she thinks.

When a text comes for her, Madison thinks it might be her father. She is already gearing up to be utterly furious at him, when she realises it's just Bastien.

Dance studio's caved in, because of the storm. Your headteacher said it would be cool if we could use your school assembly hall for the next night. See you two then.

Elliot clears his throat. "Is that more business from your mother?"

It's not exactly a lie, Madison thinks as she nods. "Yes," she says, pulling up the covers over Audrey, who has already fallen asleep. "Unlike you, Elliot, I take well to the responsibility my mother gives me."

But instead of looking offended and dropping the subject as she'd hoped, Elliot continues to probe. "Didn't you say she was in Monaco?" he says delicately as Madison's fingers still briefly, even and watchful as ever. "How come you said you went to see her during this afternoon?"

The unspoken question is clear: what are you hiding, Madison?

And suddenly, Madison is beginning to feel the effects of everything piling up on her: keeping the secrets of Lula, trying to plan Kyle's murder without letting Audrey know, trying to appease both Maria and Elliot, the former of whom is still harping on about Eleanor stupid Yates and the latter who is continuously watching, pleasing her mother with the dancing lessons with Nick that she has to keep a secret from everyone simply because the shame will kill her, the exams piling up on them, the fact that she hasn't eaten anything solid for a few days and has slept so few hours that she might actually faint, her father's stupid attempts to rekindle a relationship with her, and the fact that she can't seem to stop dreaming about running away.

Instead, Madison pulls herself up straight and smiles, her eyes bright. "There is such a thing as the Internet, Elliot. It helps me see Mother and talk to her, even when she's in another country. Do keep up."

*