Maddox POV

"Lora?" I ask. It's dark and I can barely see her figure but I can tell it's her.

Her head swings towards me. "Maddox?" I stop the car. She sounds drunk or at least a little buzzed. She definitely should not be walking alone to wherever she's going. She keeps walking after I don't say anything.

"Wait, Lora," I say. I don't know why I keep wanting to say her name. The way it rolls off my tongue is so satisfying. "Get in the car."

She looks at me with a shocked expression on her face. I don't blame her: I don't think we've ever talked in our entire lives. But I can't just leave her alone. My momma raised me better than that.

She shakes her head, though, and keeps walking. I put the car into the slowest gear and edge along beside her. Damn, her outfit is hot.

Wait why did I just think that?

I shake my head and stop by her again. She's still walking. "Please, Lora, get in. It's not safe for you to be out here all alone."

She nods. "I know. You're here. That's not safe already."

I'm hurt. What did I ever do to her? However, she shocks me by opening the door and clambering in. "What are you doing?" I ask.

She stares at me. "You just told me to get in." She giggles. "You must be stupid, Maddie."

I growl. I admit it. The sound that comes out of my mouth is not human and is more feral than anything. "Don't call me that," I say snarkily. I expect her to be afraid but either drunk-Lora is brave or stupid.

She laughs again, a melodious sound. I shake my head again. "Okay, Maddie," she says. "I'm sorry."

I keep driving. Why is this happening to me?

She laughs again. "Why am I here?" she asks. "Don't you hate me?"

I stare at her before turning back to the road. "Why would I hate you?"

"Because I'm me," she says, gesturing to herself. And wow, is she pretty.

I have to stop.

"And you're you. And you're better than me." She gestures at me and I looked down at myself stupidly before shaking my head.

"Trust me, sweetheart, I'm nothing compared to you."

We reach my house and I get out, crossing around to open the door for her. She stares at my house with her mouth open and doesn't move. "Come on," I say, "What are you waiting for?"

She looks at me. "This isn't my house."

"Well, I can't just leave you at your house. And I have no idea where you live so... I couldn't exactly take you home. And I doubt you could tell me right now in your state." I gesture to her drunken figure. She giggles and gets out of my car.

I follow her to my front door and take out my keys, unlocking the door and moving aside to hold it open for her. She crosses the doorstep into my house and collapses. Into my arms.

I catch her with a sharp breath. I check her breathing. Yup, she's out.

I sigh and carry her bridal style up the stairs to my bedroom, where I lay her gently on the bed. I watch as she subconsciously reaches for the blankets and pulls it around her.

I laugh to myself. Who would have thought I would have spent tonight with a girl in my bed? An unconscious, innocent, naive girl. Nothing like the girls that are generally in here.

I shake my head. I shouldn't be thinking about any of the other girls. Not with Lora in the room.

God, I've dreamed about this day for years. And now, to have her here, in my bedroom... It should be a dream come true.

Lora doesn't remember me. She doesn't remember who we used to be. Friends. I ruined it all for her.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper. I move her messy hair back from her face and stare at her for a while before standing up and sitting down in the chair next to my bed.

I can't leave her alone. She's drunk and she could wake up, puke, choke, and die. And Lora cannot die, especially not on my watch.

I fall asleep in the chair.

•••

Lora POV

I wake up with a jolt. I sit up as I take in my surroundings. I look down at myself. This is definitely not my bed and these are not my blankets. But at least those are my clothes.

Then I notice Maddox, asleep in a chair next to the bed. His bed, I'm assuming.

I shake my head. How did I get into Maddox Kade's house, let alone his bed? I slowly get out of it and walk over to Maddox. I examine his face, peaceful and calm in his sleep.

Every time I see him, I get a vague sense of familiarity but I can't describe it or remember anything about him. I feel as if I'm missing something but I don't know what.

I reach out to touch the planes of his face, jutted and defined. It's almost an impossible urge to subdue and I can't stop myself. Then his eyes open and I visibly recoil, my face burning.

He stares at me. "What was that?" he asks, his voice gravelly from sleep. It's rough and smooth at the same time and I love the way he sounds.

I shake my head and laugh. Awkwardly. "What was what?"

He stares at me but I don't say anything else and he shakes his head. "How did you sleep?"

I shrug. A dull headache suddenly becomes more pressing and I groan. "I am never drinking again."

He laughs. "You're fine. Drink some water." He hands me a water bottle and I drink greedily.

I thank him and he waves me off. He stands abruptly. "I should take you home."

A wave of something unidentifiable washes over me. Disappointment. Hurt. I nod. I follow him out of the door when he stops and I crash into his back. I rub the top of my head and groan. He spins around quickly. "I'm sorry!" he says. "Do you want something to eat first?"

I stare at him. Finally, I nod. His piercing grey eyes get to me. He grins and takes my hand. It's a weird gesture and he seems to realize it as well as he lets go of my hand quickly. "Let's go out."

Taken out of context, those words would make any girl's heart beat faster. But I shake my head at the obvious hungover version of me. It's nothing more than a little alcohol making my head spin when those eyes look at me. Or maybe it's just hormones. Let's face it, Maddox Kade is not ugly.

He leads me outside to his car and I buckle myself in. We drive to a tiny little cafe close by and we order pancakes. He claims it's a great way to get over a hangover and I'm grateful for it by the time I start eating. He's right, it is a great cure.

Finally, we're done eating and he pays for the meal. "I can pay," I say. Then I realize I don't have any of my stuff.

"Shit, I don't have my purse or phone or anything!" I can't believe I had forgotten about some of the most important things to me. My mother must be worried sick.

Maddox just shrugs. "It's in my car. I can get it for you. After I finish paying." I sigh and roll my eyes as he smirks and pays the bill.

"You're so annoying," I say as we leave.

His hand finds the small of my back. "I know I am, sweetheart. I'm also a lot of other things."

I nod. "I know."

Maddox smirks and leads me back to his car. He drives me home and hands me my stuff before I leave.

"Bye, Maddox," I say.

He nods at me. "Give me your phone."

I sigh and hand it over. He inputs what I'm assuming is his number and hands it back to me. "Now if you ever need me for anything, you know where to find me."

I just nod. "Bye."

He doesn't say anything back, just stares at me before driving away.