"Can I come in?" Her mother knocks gently on her bedroom door.

Madison lifts her head from rearranging the rest of her study books. Exams are finally finished and though she's packing them away for the only charity shop in Redwood, there's still a strange restlessness that echoes through her. She wonders if her mother will ask her about joining the ranks at their office in the city and for the first time, Madison wonders what answer she will give.

Her mother is a tentative figure, looking slightly hesitant. Madison is no longer angry with her mother, but she still doesn't want to forgive her. She'd spent years thinking the worst of her father and denying herself and her father the relationship they could have had because of her mother. Though her father was still in the wrong, Madison can forgive him for leaving because he came back. Her mother, on the other hand, lied to her face and left her to struggle constantly.

How much time had they lost?

"Yes," Madison says quietly, watching her mother carefully.

She enters the room shyly, no sense of the usual confidence and bravado that Elizabeth Sutton used to wear. Madison lifts her IT textbook and places it in the charity box that she and Nick are taking together to the shop.

"Madison, I wanted to tell you how sorry I am," she begins.

"I know you are," Madison tells her mother, her chest aching, wanting to give her a break. "You don't have to say it."

Her mother's face only creases in pain. "But I do," she says softly. She is starting to cry, to Madison's horror. "I chose myself over you and I never should have done that." Her voice is a heavy confession. "Your father didn't cheat. I only told you that because that would mean that it was his fault and not mine. I should have been better to you, I'm so sorry—,"

"It's—," Madison pauses. "It's not okay. I did everything because I just wanted to make you proud of me, for once—,"

"I am, I am always—,"

"Would it have killed you to at least tell me, once in a while?" she asks, her voice keening. "To stay home? To, at the very least, ask me how I'm doing, what I'm feeling? It was always only ever about you and I hate that your selfishness did this to us."

Her mother's face is a picture of distress, brows pulled down in slight horror and pain. She tries her best not to sniffle, her eyes brimming with tears, but Madison forces herself to breathe properly. She hates the sight of her mother in such pain and she reaches for a box of tissues to offer, her fingers still shaking. Even though her mother is crying, Madison knows that she is not in the wrong. Her mother was the wrong one here.

"Is there—is there anything I can do?" her mother asks desperately. "I want to fix this. I want to—what can I do?"

Madison gives her a soft smile and her voice is quiet when she speaks. "Put us both first for once?"

.

.

The preparations for the graduation party are underway when Madison sees her friends again.

Usually, she will have undertaken responsibility for the party but she's trying to take a step back from shouldering the world these days. It's a little easier to breathe through the days now, though she still feels sometimes like she's got a lot on her plate like before. Habits are hard to break, she guesses, but she's spending her free week with Nick and patching things up with her family again.

Her breaths hitch when she sees Lula and the others and Madison knows that she, at least, has to make an effort to patch things up with the rest of her family. She darts forward, cutting a path through the hall quickly, aiming to cut them off at the doors.

"Hi," Madison says when she's at the door, slightly breathless from having half run through the place.

Audrey gives her a tentative smile, but Maria is stony-faced. Lula doesn't make eye contact, ducking her head and hiding her face with her hair, while Elliot simply lounges, looking impassive. For once, Madison considers what an intimidating image they make. No wonder the kids at school were always so terrified of them, she thinks to herself.

Once, she'd thrilled in the sort of intimidating fear she could inspire.

Now, Madison thinks she'd rather spread warmth than cold fear. She doesn't want people to be afraid of her. That's an awful feeling.

Maria speaks first, her voice clipped. "Get out of our way," she says.

Madison swallows hard. Being on the opposite end is not a nice feeling, she thinks, but she holds herself straight.

"I will—I just—I wanted to say I'm sorry," she says, and when they stare at her in surprise, something uncomfortable curls in her stomach. "I'm really sorry for everything that I did. For—for meddling and for hurting you all. I wanted to help you, but I just made everything worse and I'm so sorry for that."

She doesn't stick around to hear their replies, hurrying away from the doors sharpish, her breaths fraught. There's something sticking in her throat, but a weight has been lifted off her shoulders. At the very least, Madison thinks, she apologised for what she did. She couldn't do anything more than that, at this point, especially with how mad Maria looked and now, if her friends want nothing more to do with her, then she'll accept that.

"Get back here!" Lula is calling after her and when Madison turns her head, she only has a moment before they're all piling themselves on her.

"Madison!"

"Wha—," Madison begins, just as Lula and Audrey and Elliot ram into her.

She almost stumbles on the floor, but they're catching onto her and Madison's breath hitches, a half-sob escaping her mouth when Lula hugs her tight. She can't quite let herself believe it, but they're embracing her tight, breathless.

"You're an idiot, but you're our idiot!" Lula's voice is muffled into her shoulder and Madison lets out a half laugh of delight.

Elliot's breathless as he speaks. "We forgive you," he tells her.

Madison lifts her head to look at Maria who has folded her arms, still hanging back. Audrey reaches to squeeze her fingers comfortingly, nodding towards her, and her heart is in her throat. She adores Maria, who was in their friendship group from the very beginning, and though they're both confident powerhouses, Madison knows she'd never want to let Maria go.

"Olivia started tagging on," Maria says, her face still hard. "Seemed to think that since you were gone, she'd fill your place."

Madison's lips twitch. "How'd you feel about that, Elliot?"

The boy rolls his eyes and groans. "She's a nightmare, Madison," he mutters. "We have to do something."

But Madison focuses on Maria, who looks back at her. "Do you want her to fill my place?"

Maria hesitates. "No, you idiota," she mumbles, hurrying forward to embrace Madison tightly. "I can't believe you're such an idiot."

Madison thinks back to the previous hectic antics of the past week. "You have no idea," she murmurs, but the grin that splits across her face is blinding.

.

.

She taps her pen impatiently on the table.

They're in class and Madison has long finished the work before anyone else. Her back is still straight before she slowly decides to slump a little, leaning back to relax against the chair. She still half feels like her mother will burst in to strictly command that she sit up straight, so Madison leans back even more, resting her chin on her hand.

"I don't understand," Audrey tells her quietly, as Madison turns her head. "What happened after?"

Madison looks at her friend and swallows hard. She'd briefly explained what had happened over the past couple of weeks, not including Nick, but she hadn't exactly talked very much about her father or Kyle, wanting to spare Audrey's feelings. But Nick had been right. It was high past time that she stopped deciding what to do for other people.

"Kyle got arrested," she says, her voice low. "Mostly because of the drug racket, but my father made sure to mention the—the abuse, too, Audrey."

Audrey is staring at her, eyes wide, before she lets out a taut breath. "Abuse," she repeats, her voice quiet. "That's what it was."

Her throat is thick, but Madison nods. She reaches out to squeeze Audrey's fingers tightly, becoming the comfort that she should have always been for her friend, and gives her a wan smile.

"Yeah," Madison says softly. "I'm sorry, Audrey. For everything."

"I know," Audrey murmurs. "I think I was too in love with him to see it properly. To see what he really was."

"But you're going to be okay now and he's going to rot," Madison tells her fiercely.

A small smile lifts up the curves of her lips. "Yes," Audrey says, her voice growing stronger. "I'm going to be okay." She pauses, her smile turning into a wide grin. "Especially if Lula keeps letting me use her sword."

Madison gapes. "What?"

"Lula has a sword, didn't you know?" Audrey's eyes are wide as she gossips with delight. "She gave it to me because she says it makes her feel strong, so I tried to hold it and oh my God, Madison, I scared my mother out of her mind, but it was amazing."

She starts to giggle uncontrollably at the image of Audrey wielding a sword and scaring the daylights out of her mother. Madison's laughter rings slow and quiet, but it's enough to get the attention of the people around her. The scholarship girl—Diana, her mind corrects—lifts her head, barely holding herself back from rolling her eyes, but it's Nick, who winks at her, making her heart skip a beat, something in her chest tugging for him.

Madison's gaze turns back to the scholarship girl thoughtfully, as the bell rings for the class to finish. The teacher is already trying to restore order, but everyone ignores him, rattling their desks and getting to their feet. "Hey, Audrey?"

"Yeah?"

"I've got to do something," she says. "Save me a spot?"

Audrey squeezes her fingers and nods. Madison watches Diana pack away her things as she makes her way to the girl, eyeing her carefully. Diana doesn't seem to notice her until she's right there, her shadow casting long slants against the scholarship girl's desk.

Diana rattles the desk. "What do you want, Madison?"

Her hackles raise at that and Madison completely disregards her previous plan. Screw kindness, this bitch is too annoying.

"You know what your problem is, scholarship girl?"

"My name is—,"

"Your problem is not me. It's you," Madison says, eyeing the stunned girl before her. "Your problem is you. You know why people don't like you? It's not because you're smarter than everyone, or that you're pretty. It's not because of me, either, no matter how much you might try to convince yourself."

"Madison—,"

"I wasn't finished," Madison says sharply. "It's because you think you're better than everyone."

Diana's face creases in hurt, her eyes widening. "I don't—,"

"Yes, you do," Madison says, promptly cutting her off. "You come to this school on a scholarship, which is an accomplishment and I congratulate you for that, but you go through your days filled with resentment and bitterness, Diana. You feel as though we didn't work to get where we are now, like you, and you're jealous and insecure and judgemental because it makes you feel a little bit better."

The scholarship girl stares at her. "You don't know me," she manages to finally say, but it's a half-hearted protest.

"I've known many girls like you," Madison tells her. "And I know that you're not going to get far on that scholarship if you go around comparing yourself to other people like this. Be a little more confident, scholarship girl. You worked hard to get to where you are now and throwing it all away just for a single moment of pettiness is beneath you."

Diana lets out a breath before she gives an amiable nod. "Thanks for the advice," she says and when she holds out her hand to shake, Madison takes it. "Have a good holiday, Madison."

"You too, Diana."

.

.

"Yeah, I'm alright," Nick says to his mother once they're out of the therapist's office.

He's only a little surprised to find that it's the truth. They've only been going for a little while, but already the cracks in his relationship with his mother have been healing. Nick's managed to finally get out his resentment that his mother left him to his abusive father, and he's accepted his mother's apology for it. But even better, he understands her actions and why she felt she had to do it.

It may have not been right, but now he sees her as a flawed person rather than the flawless mother figure he'd always dreamed of. Nick knows he prefers the flawed person than the flawless.

His mother smiles at him, as they get into the car. "I think we're doing well," she tells him quietly, looking slightly pleased. "You think we should treat ourselves to some ice cream?"

Nick grins. "Does that even need an answer?"

As they drive, he texts Jake to check up on his friend. Jake's getting better, thanks to his mother's efforts, and Mitchell's secured a long time away in jail. His gang has been broken up now and though there's still a danger, Jake thinks they've done enough that nobody will go after them now.

"Raspberry ripple?" his mother asks as they drive to the drive-through and Nick nods. "Hey, what's Madison's favourite?"

"Blueberry," Nick says automatically before he can stop himself.

His mother gives a knowing smile. "She's a really nice girl," she says meaningfully, as Nick blushes hotly.

"Yeah," he mutters, embarrassed. "Can we just eat ice cream, please?"

He's already spending sleepless nights, trying to figure out how to tell Madison that he really likes her. Nick's already running out of paper, trying to put down his thoughts. I don't mind dancing with the devil anymore, had been his first option before he'd realised that he couldn't call the girl he liked a literal devil.

"Alright," his mother says. "Can I ask another question, then?"

"If it's about Madison—,"

"It's actually about what you want to do after school," she says, as Nick pauses.

His mouth is dry, his brows furrowed. But Nick's gaze turns to the long open road before them, something tugging in his chest.

"I don't really know," he offers, reaching a hand up to rub his head tiredly.

That's another thing to worry about—his future. Before, he never thought that he'd really have one, but Nick's starting to want to make something of himself now. But what?

"I think you do," his mother tells him. She doesn't continue, to his chagrin, but only smiles. "I trust in you to make the right decision."

And when Nick follows her gaze, he realises she's looking at the open road, too.

.

.

It's the dead of night when Madison calls him.

Nick's not ashamed to say that his heart skips a beat at her name on his phone. He practically dives for it, grasping it tightly, the smile already spreading across his face. He's in his room, having been up pacing about her and what he's going to do after leaving school, and he'd been halfway to just getting on his bike for a late-night ride before his phone rang.

"I'm not waking you, am I?" Madison asks.

"No," Nick tells her, shaking his head as though she'll actually see him.

Madison pauses. "You're shaking your head, aren't you?"

He chuckles. "Yes."

"You're a dork," she tells him laughingly. Her breaths hitch a little as she continues and Nick realises vaguely that she's nervous, his brows furrowing together. Why would she be nervous? "Hey, I—I was wanting to know about... Um, the books!"

Nick frowns. "Books? What books?"

"Our old textbooks," Madison says. "The ones we planned to—,"

"Take to charity?" he says, blinking. "I thought we were going to do that next week?"

"Yeah!" Madison says quickly. "Yes, of course. Uh, I—must have forgotten."

Nick pauses. "Are you alright?" he asks worriedly. "You don't forget things, Madison."

Madison lets out a breath. "I—um, I'm just a bit worried, you know?" she says. "About what I'm going to do after school."

"What happened to your plan?" he asks. "It was full-proof!"

She gives a slight noise of discontent. "It doesn't... sound very appealing right now," Madison confesses. "I don't ...really know what to do. All my back up plans focused on working in the office with my mother, but now..."

She trails away a little, but Nick sees the answer for her, clear as day.

"You're free," he tells her quietly, his head lifting up to look at the night sky. "You can do anything. You've got endless possibilities and opportunities, Madison. Honestly, I can't really wait to see what you do. I think whatever it is will end up being amazing. Like you."

There's a small pause.

"Look out your window," Madison says eventually, and Nick almost falls.

He stumbles, hurrying to his window to where it faces the driveway. Madison's car is gleaming in the moonlight, as she quietly slips out and her form is framed in silvery glow. She looks utterly stunning, wrapping a small cardigan around her to keep herself warm in the cold, as Nick's smile widens across his face, his heart lightening.

"Romeo, Romeo," Nick calls down to her, as Madison grins up at him. "Wherefore art thou Romeo?"

Her eyes are brighter than the stars as she responds, "Deny thy father and refuse thy name!" He sees her hesitate a little before she continues, "Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love."

Did she just—?

Nick's smile fades away as he stares at her, utterly stunned. Madison looks nervous, her brows pushed together as her breaths quicken, and she flushes hotly, her cheeks flaring red with embarrassment. She's shaking her head, already stumbling back to fumble for her car, but Nick can't let her leave! Not after she could be—did she—

"Madison!" he calls after her, already clambering clumsily out of the window. "Wait!"

Madison turns her head, her eyes widening. "Nick, stop—that's dangerous—!"

But he's already managed to drop to the ground, the reverberation going through him as Nick practically collapses. Madison is already running to his side, her breaths fraught.

"Madi—,"

"You stupid idiot!" she chides, her voice ringing with horror and relief as she checks him over. "Why would you do that—,"

"I like you," he blurts out helplessly, as she stares at him, trying to get to his feet. "A lot. I tried—I tried not to, but—,"

"I tried not to like you either," Madison confesses heavily, staring at him, as Nick reaches for her fingers, clutching them tight. "But you—you didn't just get into my head, you—,"

A slow grin spead across Nick's face. "I got into your heart?"

"You cheesy—," Madison breaks herself off, laughing too hard and as Nick laughs with her, his chest feels lighter.

This feels right, he thinks to himself, ducking his head to meet Madison's lips in the moonlight.

"So, what are we now?" he asks, taking more and more sweet kisses as Madison loops her arms around his chest, quiet and passionate. "Boyfriend, girlfriend?" Nick tastes the words in his mouth before shaking his head. "Partners?"

Madison nods. "That sounds better. Boyfriend just..." She trails away, pulling a face of distaste. "Ew. I'm too good for that." She reaches forward to nudge him softly. "You're too good for that."