Present

CADEN

"If we ever get out of here, will we go to the pharmacy to get your bruises treated?" She discreetly inquired, her voice so soft.

"We will get out of here. It's not like I stayed locked up for years the other night. I only spent the night, and they let me out the next morning."

Her eyes widened. I gave attention to the sharp intake of her breath when she squirmed slightly on my lap and faced me fully.

"You've been locked up? When? How?" She maintained a moderate volume, but I could sense the shock in every single word she spoke.

Yes, that's Mad, my beautiful stepsister with OCD, ADHD and everything in between that you can imagine.

She had curled up on my thighs and held me firmly ever since we got here.

Mad had been obsessive with hygiene since I knew her and had made it prominent how much dirt makes her feel. So this place was very opposite of her. I feel so stupid for dragging her into my shit.

For hours, Mad has sustained a quiet tone in the cell and avoided by any chance looking towards the two men snoring in the space.

She wouldn't sleep even though it must be very late, given the fact that the department had become silent compared to when we arrived, and the numbness and tingling in my legs from sitting for a very long time.

And I don't blame her. I mean someone harassed her some hours ago, but the officers believe it's wise to throw a lady in a boy's cell? Great!

"It's a long story."

A frown etched on her expression while she asked: "Why didn't you tell me?"

I inhaled and exhaled, aiming to brush away the lock of hair covering my sight, but Mad's fingers were quick to caress my hair in a way I didn't want her to stop. Just like yesterday at the park.

I smiled and answered her question: "We weren't talking at the time."

"I was your emergency contact."

Correct, and she still is.

"I called Paxton; he got me out." He was the option at the time.

She chuckled, raking my hair with her fingers. "You two are like what? Sometimes he's bailing you out of jail, and sometimes he's kicking your ass."

I watched her while she spoke each word; she was stunning and very precious. Even though we ended up in jail, I am glad we are here together. I get to hold her, inhale her, and feel her touch.

At least, what we have didn't end.

"I wouldn't say he kicked my ass, but yes, he managed some punches." I tittered, remembering the immature reason and also Paxton's face the next morning.

She smiles small at me and pulls my head to her chest, hugging me closely. My eyes instinctively closed; I bask in the warmth of her arms. She smells so pleasant and incredibly soothing. Mad was my heaven in hell, and she was beginning to notice it.

If prisons felt this promising, I wouldn't mind life imprisonment where I wouldn't face any pains but the warmth of the only human I can't get disconnected from.

"Just see a physician, please." She mumbled from my neck.

She has no idea. "They will get better and disappear themselves."

"You don't always have to be like that." She whispered and trembled against my body.

Confused, I ask: "Like what?" in an equal tone as hers.

I sensed her swallow and tightened her grip around me before she mumbled: "Like you can handle everything. Like you don't matter to others."

That stopped my heart, and I tensed. 'Don't lose it, don't get angry. She needs me right now.' I mentally remind myself, also mentally hitting my head against the wall.

I had to gather all the strength I had to not lose it and scream in her face to stay away from me. It wasn't her place to ask; she shouldn't mind about me.

And so I pleaded with the universe for anything but not that conversation.

But of course, Mad won't miss an opportunity, and so she went on, scratching the aged wound in my chest: "Caden, I know I've said a lot of hurtful things to you, but if I'm doing justice to myself, I've always known you matter to me."

I smiled small at the last line; it brought solace to me in some ways I don't understand.

"You should get some sleep," I told her, and she shook her head no.

"I can't sleep," She replied; her head came out from the nook of my neck and turned towards the two men by the end side of the cell.

She was scared; she shouldn't be. I wouldn't let anything bad happen to her.

"Hey." I made her look me in the eyes; hers were slightly twitching. "I will take the watch, get some rest, okay?" She nodded and settled back into my arms not saying anything else until her breathing became even.

We slept that way until the sun came up, or more fairly, Mad slept in my arms until the sun came up fully, and those two fat heads had woken up.

Though she didn't say a word because she had completely become conscious of the situation, and was probably regretting taking off with me for our turned-out unfortunate adventure.

I am sure she prefers to be in class than sitting on my lap in a cell, and she's right.

I should have let it go as she had wanted, but no, I had to go and get us into this mess.

I was staring at the apprehensive girl on my lap when two officers approached with a familiar face that resembled our neighbor. Michael was it?

"Mitch!" Mad exclaimed, shooting upright when the guards began unlocking the cell.

Exactly, Mitch. Dad's and Martha's eyes.

I remember Mad giving out his digits to the officers last night, instead of our parents.

"You two are cleaned. You are free to go." The ugliest announced.

We compost ourselves and follow behind the officers to get our stuff which includes Mad pink whale I won for her, my wallet, my car key, and Mad's tiny backpack.

"Thank you, Mitch. We really appreciate this. We will pay you the money when we get home." Mad convinced the man in a yellowish t-shirt and baggy pants when we got out of the department, and she was struggling to fit the quite big stuffed whale in her tiny backpack.

It was frustrating for her, and I did everything to not laugh at the view.

The chunky man twirls around, trying to appear intimidating, but he ends up looking like a rabbit suffering from constipation. "Are you two insane? Causing troubles and getting me to fly here to get you out?" He sparked, sounding parenting.

Here we go again.

My eyes rolled, and I couldn't help pouring out: "For a plane, you weren't that fast getting here."

"Caden," Mad instantly warned, shooting me pleading eyes.

"What?" I shrugged, confused. "I get it, he did very well taking the whole night until morning to get us out. We've learned our lesson behind the bars. Look how spooked Mr. Martin got me. Now can we get going?" My eyes arched at the last words when I nodded once.

I am sorry, but I don't know how to not be a dick.

"I am really sorry, Mitch," she pursued, seeming somehow disappointed.

Oh, for fuck sake.

"You better caution him because, in the next couple of minutes, he won't be sarcastic. I'm telling your parents." He threatens, bringing out his phone from his ridiculous pants pocket.

Before I could stop her, she was already tailing after the guy, begging him.

Oh, Mad! Hasn't she degraded us enough?

"Please don't, they can't know about this. It was just some misunderstanding that won't happen again, I promise."

What does she mean it won't happen again? Of course, it would.

"Oh, it will, I will make sure to haunt that jerk and dice his fingers after thawing his actual dick though." I retorted, scowling at her for thinking this was a closed case.

The two gape at me and in unison: "Seriously?"
Why are they looking at me like I've grown two heads? I know my rights, and I know I shouldn't be locked up for standing up to harassment.

"He doesn't mean it, believe me," Mad rushes her words at the meaty guy before bringing back her eyes to me: "Caden?" She implored.

Confused as to why she's acting this stressed out, I almost yell: "The jerk harassed you, and he gets up, walks freely around, while we, on the other hand, get locked up in jail?"

Yes, I know the world is always unfair and packed with injustice, but yesterday was too much. The unfairness crossed its border, and I watched an aged man squeezing my stepsister's ass without her consent.

Of course, a carved message on his car isn't enough; the asshole's testicles must be fattened.

"What? You were harassed?" The man clamored, probably feigning panic.

I mean this world is messed up; no one cares. Those who claim to do so are nothing but liars.

"No, uh uh!" Mad swallowed; she was nervous and distressed! Maybe she didn't want him to know? No, she's doing her thing again, her forgiving and forgetting thing. "We will go now. Thank you so much." She tugged me by the arm toward my parked vehicle far away from the crowd.

Like why don't I get the forgive-and-forget bonus? But instead, she gets all crazy at me often.

By the time we got to the vehicle, I was fuming. I yanked my hand from the hold and paused, firing her an unbelievable glare.

She won't just let this go, right?

When she was convinced I wasn't letting it go, her shoulders slumped, her lips thin, and she stood there, weary, watching me.

"I don't understand you, Mad." I frustratedly brought my hand to my temple and all the way up, pushing through my hair. My eyes looked everywhere but at her. "Why would you forget everything like that? It's not like you forgive me when I do things not even close to what he did." I shook my head all through the statement.

She stepped closer until our bodies were touching, grabbing my face in her hands, her fingers stroking my cheekbone. She delayed for a while, just preserving healthy eye contact.

But eventually, she responded in a fragile voice, she said: "That is because you aren't supposed to do that to me. You are not like them."

My chest rose and fell at her words.
"You think?" My voice came out very vulnerable, not the way I wanted.

It dragged me down how much hope she has in me, and I kept disappointing her because I just didn't know what to do with myself.
Why am I like this? Why can't I just be perfect for her?

"I believe you are different." Her lips pulled into a sincere smile, warming me up.

There was no word more worthy than a kiss, so I excitedly leaned in and kissed her smooth, tasty lips.