𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄
to feel anything deranges you. to be seen feeling anything strips you naked.

FOR ONCE, since the Cullen's have been back in town, Maddie woke up in a good mood. She had decided to give herself a treat. So, she had taken a shower, put a face mask on, and painted her nails.

All was good.

Until she walked out of her bedroom and heard voices coming from Bella's room — one belonging to the one and only Edward Cullen.

And just like that, her mood plummeted.

"Are you kidding me?!" She shouted when she slammed open her sisters door, her dark brown eyes looking black as she saw Edward and Bella on her bed, holding hands. "What the fuck is this?!"

Bella gave Edward a look as she got up from her bed and held her hands up to her enraged sister. "Maddie, I—"

"What the hell is he doing here?" She ignored her sister and pointed at Edward who awkwardly stood up, his brows furrowing as he focused on the redhead. "Don't you dare try to read my mind, asshole!" His eyes widened in surprise and she snarled at him. "It's fucking obvious what you're trying to do, dickweed!"

"He just came over to apologize for yesterday, and—" the brunette haired sister stopped and winced once her words registered.

"Yesterday?" Maddie repeated with narrowed eyes. "What happened yesterday?!"

Edward took a small step forwards, but immediately stopped when Maddie pulled out a dagger from god-knows-where. "I came by yesterday to apologize for my behavior, and she didn't take it lightly."

"Lightly?" Bella scoffed, rolling her eyes at him. "Why would I take it lightly? You and your family broke my heart and you left me in the woods knowing there was a vampire out to kill me." She rose her brows at him, asking him to challenge her. "It was a really cold night and you left me in the middle of the woods. You knew — know — that I suck a directions, and yet you left me there anyway."

Maddie crossed her arms, angrily staring between them. "What else happened after he tried to apologize?"

"I slapped him, of course," Bella remarked, smirking proudly. "But it hurt my hand. He tried to help me, but I struggled which resulted in him gripping my arm a little too tightly. I cried out in pain, he apologized profusely before zooming off."

Maddie clenched her jaw tightly. "He left you... again. While you were in pain?" She took a threatening step towards Edward, but Bella grabbed her by her hand, shaking her head.

"Yes, he did. And that is what he was just apologizing for. He was down on his knees, begging for my forgiveness. I of course cursed at him, threatened to cut off his dick, and then — only then — after he started crying venom, did I slowly begin to forgive him." She saw her sisters hardened stare and sighed. "It hurts... what he did to me. It always will. But, I don't want to be burdened by that kind of anger and hatred forever. I had to let it go to survive. So, I forgave him."

Maddie angrily clicked her tongue, shook her head, and stormed out of the bedroom, ignoring Bella's calls.

And her anger led her all the way to the Rez where she stroked up to Emily's house, not bothering to knock because this was their normal at this point.

The pack stopped their chattering and game playing to turn to stare at the redhead who was muttering to herself in frustration.

"Does she have no idea on how to survive in this world? What the fuck is she thinking? Stupid vampire. Stupid sparkling disco ball. Stupid Bella," she angrily grabbed a chocolate muffin from the basket on the table, and took a huge bite out of it. She slowly looked over at everyone, her dark brown eyes immediately landing on a boy she doesn't know. "Who's this?" She asked through a mouthful of muffin.

All the boys laughed loudly, even Emily giggled at the sight of Maddie quickly reaching up and swiping at her mouth to get rid of any crumbs that fell when she talked.

At the sight of all the boys doubling over, some even falling off whatever they were sitting on, Maddie almost completely forgot why she was angry in the first place.

And then, the dreaded question was asked; "who were you mumbling about?"

She frowned at the question and slammed her half-eaten muffin on the table, huffing. "Edweirdo, that's who." She crossed her arms like a child. "Bella decided to forgive him for everything he has done."

"What?!" Jacob stood up, completely stoic now. He frowned, shook his head, and then angrily stomped out of the door.

"Ignore him," Paul stated as he stood up and approached Maddie who watched him with carefully guarded eyes. "Why did Bella — who we have known to come to a strong minded girl — decide to forgive that jackass of a leech?"

Maddie's frown deepened. "She said something along the lines of; she doesn't want to be burned by that by that kind of anger and hatred forever, and that she needed to do this to survive." And scoffed. "That's bullshit. I have survived this long because I have been guarded." Sure, she does of this sort of 'friendship' thing with Crowley, but she has never put her trust in him, and she certainly hasn't forgiven him for certain things.

"She's kind of right," Sam decided to speak up. "Sometimes forgiveness is harder than holding onto pain and anger. Her letting that go to move on in her life, is a big step. She's brave for that." Maddie clenched her jaw, and he sighed. "It's hard to be vulnerable, pretty much everyone in this room understands that. But, it's also very freeing to move on from situations, because at the end of the day, what kind of person do you want to be? Do you want to he weighed down and burdened by anger and hurt from long ago? Or do you want to free yourself from that snare and become a better and stronger version of yourself?"

Maddie looked down, swallowing thickly. His words struck something in her. She has been burdened by her hatred of the world for so long now, maybe it was time to move on from that. But, it's harder than he says it is. She has so much blood on her hands and so many deep-rooted issues that it's hard for her to see past all of it.

Paul, as if sensing her inner battle, grinned mischievously as he came up with a plan to distract her. He picked her up and flung her over his shoulder, making her laugh loudly in surprise.

Although her morning had been ruined, the rest of her day had been fixed by a group she never thought she would be friends with.

But, this good day was just the beginning of something new.