Maddie stood at the end of the driveway, staring at the large brick house in front of her. The house that she left so suddenly just a little over a month ago. The house that her parents were in - probably watching one of their late night crime shows they love so much. After the taxi pulled up in front of the closest motel, which had that stereotypical deserted small town vibe, she quickly changed her mind and gave him new directions - ones that led her to where she was now standing, contemplating her next move. Either she suck it up and just face them, or she holds on to her pride and finds somewhere else to say. 

 However, she didn’t choose either of the two options. This new one was better, even though it required her to let go to some of her pride. Instead of facing her parents, she was going to face her best friends - Grace and Olivia. After not having contact with them for the last month, she wasn’t sure how this was going to go, although she had a pretty good guess it would be awkward. So, Maddie pulled out her cell and called the Taxi Service, calling yet another taxi. 

 Soon enough, the yellow car pulled up next to the curb. The driver opened the trunk for her bag, which she tossed in, and then got in the back. She rattled off the address of her two friends’ apartment they rented for the summer and for their first year of college and sat back, leaning her head against the cool window. Her gut twisted nervously at the thought of seeing them again. Sure, they were both to blame for this, but Olivia and Grace could have easily sent her even one text. But it is a two way street, and Maddie could’ve sent them a text as well. 

 The drive ended much too quickly for Maddie’s liking. She paid the driver and grabbed her bag from the trunk, making her way to their door. Hesitantly she knocked on the door, figuring it was much better to get this done and over with. After a few moments, the door opened revealing Grace with a surprised expression, and Olivia tagging along behind her.

“Maddie?!”

 “Hey...do you think I could crash here tonight?”

 “Of course, come in,” She replied, offering her a small smile -more than likely noting her red eyes and bags forming under eyes. 

 The apartment was nice for soon-to-be college freshmen, a small kitchen, connected with a small sitting area, and a narrow hallway leading to what she assumed was the bathroom and bedrooms.

 They looked at each other for a few seconds, an awkward silence forming over them, before Maddie finally spoke up. “I’m sorry for not telling you guys when I left with Ryan, but I mean the whole thing was so spur of the moment. And, I don’t know, I couldn’t help but feel like you guys would be mad, so it’d be best just to ignore the whole problem instead of calling, or even texting you. So I’m really sorry.”

 “Oh, Maddie it’s fine, honestly,” Grace replied. “We knew it was really sudden. And we figured you were busy, and finally getting to spend time with Ryan, so we’d let you two have your time, and not impose.”

 “Yeah, we weren’t -or aren’t- mad at you; that would be ridiculous.” Olivia added on matter-of-factly. Maddie smiled at them, thankful she still had them.

 - - - -

 Of course, after they got over the initial awkwardness in the beginning, the whole break-up came up. Maddie didn’t blame them for being curious, she would be, too. But it did sting to talk about. The two of them were convinced that what Ryan said actually didn’t come from Ryan, but rather well, her parents. And that made Maddie even more positive that she was right. But as of right now there was nothing she could do. 

 “Just so you know, you can stay here as long as you need,” Grace said, interrupting Maddie’s thoughts. She smiled at her friends, a silent thank you before getting up and grabbing her bag.

 “Is that all you have?”

 “Yeah, it’s all I really had time to pack for tour, and there really isn’t that much room to bring all of your belongings.”

 “Well tomorrow we can go back to your parents’ place and get your stuff, if you want. We’ll be sure to go when they aren’t there, so you don’t have to worry about running into them.”

 “Thanks guys...for everything.”

 “No problem, Maddie. That’s what friends are for.”

 - - - - - -

 Ryan ripped out another page of his notebook with a loud groan, throwing into the garbage. He had so much he needed to say, but for once he couldn’t find the words. There was this feeling in his gut that was weighing him down. A constant reminder of what happened a few hours earlier. He kept trying to tell himself that it was for the best, but he wasn’t so sure. Footsteps interrupted his thoughts, and he looked up to see Jamie sitting across from him at the Kitchen table. 

 “How’s the writing going?” He asked, offering him a small smile.

 “Awful,” Admitted Ryan. “I usually don’t have this many problems with writing, but, I don’t know this time I just can’t find the right words.”

“Well, the best songs are usually the ones that are the hardest to write, because they’re the ones that have the most emotion behind them.”

 Ryan smiled gratefully at him, and looked back down at his notebook, trying to clear the jumbled mess that was his head. 

 “Can I see what you have so far?” The older one nodded and passed his notebook to him. Jamie was the one person that Ryan always went to for advice and vice versa. That’s one of the reasons they were so close. “This is really good, Ryan. What’s it called?”

 “I’m thinking about Keep You With Me,” He answered hesitantly.

 “It’s definitely one of the best you’ve written,” Jamie assured, and then a few seconds later, added, “I’m sure she’ll love it.”

 Ryan didn’t need to ask who he was talking about.

 - - - -

 A/N Sorry this took so long to update! But I have been insanely busy since I last updated. I blame school and work. Anyway, sorry this chapter isn’t that great, but yeah, I had really bad writer’s block and I’m just glad I finally updated. But thanks for all the votes and comments last chapter, I really appreciate them! Keep them coming, please? Thanks xx

 Oh! and in exciting news, last week I got to meet Ian, Cher Lloyd, Ariana Grande and Nelly :D Annnnddd I also got to talk to Ryan on the phone (he called me a few weeks ago and it was AMAZING okay)