MADISON

With the holiday break underway at my workplace, I arrived home around five in the evening.

However, I still made a stop at the police station to talk to the lieutenant, who remained unyielding despite my pleas.

Worn and irritated, I unlocked the door to the apartment I share with my stepbrother.

Stepping inside, it was just like any other day. Caden had already cleaned everything.

He was in the kitchen preparing dinner, dressed in a plain white t-shirt and cargo shorts that made him look innocent.

His tousled hair, shorter on the sides and longer in the middle, highlighted his hazel eyes that could shift in color. They were captivating and could change within a nanosecond, especially in the light.

When our eyes met, a sudden, benign smile spread across his face.

Yes, when I mentioned he needed this quiet treatment, I meant it. Surprisingly, it was working. Apart from trying to get me to talk, all he did was work, play video games, and sleep.

"Hey! Shit," he froze, holding out a tomato in a funny way. I wanted to laugh but refrained. "I forgot you were coming home earlier today. I didn't leave you lunch," he announced, somewhat terrified.

Glancing at him as I took off my boots, I said, "It's fine; I'll go shower."

"Dinner will be ready before you're done showering then."

"Okay!" I simply answered and began walking towards my room.

Then he asked, "You good?"

People might say it's a simple, harmless question, especially with the innocent personality he was wearing. But after a long day like today and the previous ones, it felt like he had stirred up everything I had gone through in the past weeks.

Agitated, I turned around to face him.

"No, Caden, I am not."

Cautiously and curious, he asked, "What happened?"

What? He had to be kidding me.

Can't he see all of this? Can't he see that it's Christmas, and we have to be with the family? But no! We don't even know our fate because he had to go all avengers.

"What happened is that you made a stupid and reckless mistake, and now I don't even know how to get out of it," I angrily retaliated.

A sudden frown replaced his facial expression when he began, "I didn't mean to get you..."

But angered, I interrupted him for interrupting me.

"Let me finish," I sternly said, not knowing where the courage and words were coming from but kept going on. "I am mad at you... You might do all this," I waved my hands around the tidy house that smelled just right. "But it is not going to change the fact that you messed up everything. Mom and dad expect me to be home by tomorrow, and I don't even know how to start because I can't leave you all by yourself here for the holidays. Only God knows what trouble you'll pull off next." I scoffed, feeling actually tensioned as sweat began breaking out from the tiny pores on my skin.

He appeared sad behind the island when his hurt eyes locked with mine.

"I am not stopping you, Maddie," he quietly said. "I never wanted to put you in the middle of this. You can go home; you can go have fun. I am not a child; I've been alone my whole life." The last part came out much lower, but I heard.

"Well, you act like it. Caden, adults don't go solving issues with that kind of vicious behavior."

He could've killed her, and then what? He gets thrown in jail or even worse: a death sentence?

Is that worth it?

He took quick steps, exiting the kitchen area. His eyes wide, his breathing a little bit stressed.

"You have no idea how much I regretted what I did," he was slowly shaking his head.

"I don't... I really don't." How can I? I mean, "It is me who gets to walk around the rumors in school. It is me who gets to apologize to Daisy, not you." I exhaled a frustrating laugh and heaved a sigh. "And do you know how uncomfortable that is? It was like shoving a pole through your ass to your mouth. It was tormenting at hell, Caden." I practically yelled at him, but instead, his eyes widened even more, and he took another step, desperate.

"You saw her? How is she?" He questioned, seeming anxious.

Really? Now he cares?

Watching him unbelievably, I answered anyway: "She has a concussion and looks traumatized. In case you're wondering, she was particular about not forgiving you." Sassy, I threw at him.

He blinked before his eyes dropped to the book sitting on the end table.

"Oh! Uhm," he mumbled.

"Yes, so I will go shower."

After the outburst I thought would help calm me down, I felt even more stressed.

So instead of a shower, I decided to use the bathtub.

Maybe a warm bath will help.

I set the tub full of warm water and dipped my whole body in. My hair was in a messy bun to avoid it from drenching.

However, I felt the need to let my whole body descend to the bottom of the filled tub.

I don't swim often, but when I do, it has always comforted me. Mostly at the bottom of the pool. It's always quiet and breathable to me.

We don't have a pool, but a filled-up bathtub will do.

With eyes closed, I paused my breathing, mentally wishing all my problems away.

My mind and brain were overworking as they zipped from one thought to another.

How I'll have to lie to Mom and Dad if I ever make it to New York for Christmas... Could I even make it to New York for Christmas?

Do I think leaving Caden here on his own is a good choice? No! Maybe I should go meet up with the lieutenant tomorrow morning.

After what happened, I don't think taking my eyes off him for a second is a good idea. Especially now that Kane Esteban is out of jail and lives a mere ten-minute drive away from here.

Kane Esteban! Maybe he's the one I need to talk to. Perhaps he can reason with that lieutenant, and we can...

"Hey!" The alarmed exclamation cut through my disjointed thoughts. "MAD." It sounded like Caden, but it was distant, as if he were in my head but hiding somewhere I can't figure out.

Then, strong hands wrapped around my arms, pulling my body out of the bathtub before I could comprehend anything. "MADISON." He pleaded, afraid. I saw it in his broad eyes filled with terror, his pounding heart prompting his chest to rise and fall hastily.

He was sweating like he had just run a thousand miles. Fuck! He was scared to the maximum; I've never seen him reach this extent.

He shook my naked body in his large hands, calling my name over and over while hyperventilating. There was a frenzied look in his eyes. It bothered me after the five seconds I spent frozen in a totally blank expression.

"You okay?" It was what came out of my mouth, the first thing I could think of.

I had goosebumps from fear and a little from the exposure to the room temperature, but mostly from having him near me, his hands holding me. Bro, I even felt a little dizzy while experiencing the feeling of butterflies breaking out in my stomach.

I swallowed multiple times, but it wasn't helping my dry throat. Concentrate!

"Wha-what are you doing?" He asked, his mouth open.

What?

"I needed quiet," I pointed out.

What's wrong with him?

Suddenly, he's all furious. "Under the fucking full tub?" He barks.

"Excuse me?" I shoved him and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around my naked body. "I was meditating."

"What's wrong with you?" He exasperatedly inquired.

"Nothing. What's wrong with you?" I retorted.

It wasn't me who barged into the bathroom and interrupted someone's bath.

Irate, he orders, with his hand demonstrating, "Get out and use the shower."

Wow! He must think so much of himself. You know, I thought all this was over. I thought he had finally changed, but of course, he will always be a bully.

"You don't tell me what to use in my house." I angrily snapped.

"MADDIE, FUCKING GET OUT OF THE BATHTUB AND USE THE SHOWER OR I SWEAR I AM GOING TO BREAK THIS FUCKING THING." He thundered with his eyes closed, his body shaking, his muscles tensed. His breathing was audible. I could hear it loudly from here.

He wasn't bullying me; he was panicking over something.

Fearful yet worried, I ask, "Hey? Caden? Are you okay?"

"JUST GET OUT." He exclaimed, kicking the tub with his bare toes.

Alright! No need for wounds.

"Okay? Okay! I am out." I stepped out of the tub with terrified eyes, uncertain about what's going on with him. "Caden, I am out." I surrendered with both hands up to help calm him down.