~Author's Note
Warning : bad language ahead
__________
~Madison

Last night was quite a night. I barely slept, when Cameron was on my mind the entire night, also the fact that my parents were making too much noise in their room. Just the thought is making me gag with disgust and annoyance.

I never told my mom about my dinner with Cameron, it'd only make her feel worse, especially hearing it from the Dallas family. On the bright side, Sierra is finally back at college, and I probably won't see her for a couple more months.

"Thanks for the breakfast Mom." I said handing it to her, as she was washing the dishes.

"No problem honey; you better head off to school now." She said ordering me. It was already hard enough to get used to her being here, but now she's going back to her usual commands.

I was finishing my orange juice, and as I was about to gently set it in the sink, I noticed something on the counter: mom's ring, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't her engagement ring from Mason.

"Mom, what's that?" I said, pointing to the ring.

"Oh, nothing. Why don't you head to school; or you'll be late." She said, covering the ring with sigh the dishrag.

I had a little time to argue back and forth with her, but I decided to let it go.

•

At school, it felt a little weird seeing Cameron, knowing I was with Jack last night. Sure, he feels a little awkward about all this, but I am too. I don't understand how Jack functions.

"Cameron, can we talk?" I said, walking up to him.

"Sure babe, are you okay? You seem shaken."

"Uhm, actually no, I'm not okay." This would be a great time to tell Cameron about Jack. Then, maybe we'll be in the clear.

"What is it, Madison?"

"My mom was wearing a wedding ring this morning." I'm such a coward.

"Really babe? What do you think that could mean?"

"That maybe she's into my dad again, Cameron. And my dad isn't denying that he feels the same way."

"Madison, just talk to your mother about this, and maybe things will work out. I gotta head to class." He said, kissing my forehead. I need to talk to Cameron, ASAP.

"Well, well, well." I head from behind me, along with clapping. "That was some talk." Said Tess, it's like she has nothing better to do than instigate.

"What do you want Tess?" I said annoyed.

"Well, don't you think it'd be better if you told Cameron about last night? Or better yet, maybe I should." Tess said twirling her hair.

"You wouldn't." I said in her face.

"Let's remember how my cousin nearly broke you two up. Imagine what I could do."

"Let's remember that I'm the junior, and you're the sophomore. You may be a cheerleader, but I still have more popularity than you. Don't go down this road." ***

"I'm just saying Madison," Tess said looking at her nails. "Don't push me." Soon, we saw Jack heading our way, and Tess pulled his arm and took him in the other direction.
What a bitch.
-
~Tess

After lunch, Jack drove me to the nail salon to get a manicure, which he's also be paying for. How sweet, right? Even though he's being tutored by Madison, I don't know why anyone sees in her that makes her worthy enough to even be someone's friend? Let alone anyone's girlfriend. Poor Cameron.

"You know babe, we went the whole day without talking about last night."I said as he blew my nails to help them dry faster.

"I told you there's nothing to talk about. Matt and I played videogames." Jack said annoyed.

"Well, unless the game had some girls giggling, it sounded to me that Madison was there. ***I told you to keep your distance from her."

"Maybe I don't want to. You don't control me, Tess."

"I'm aware; but you're not aware of what I can do. ***Watch me, I'll make sure she regrets everything and anything." I said smiling and laughing to myself. Poor Madison.
-
~Cameron

After school, I decided to drive the gang to the mall. Sure, we did want Matt to tag along, but that would just remind me about Jack. There's no way those two could be related. Tess and Brooklynn, that makes total sense; but Jack and Matt? No sense at all, and I'm not referring to appearance, but personality. Matt's friendly and welcoming; Jack is unusual and suspicious. Matt is hilarious and a decent looking dude. Jack is nonchalant and has such a stiff face, i mean, if you ask me.

"Man, I feel bad we didn't include Matt. He's our friend, the fifth amigo?" Madison said next to me in the passenger seat.

"Yeah, well, I didn't want to make Jack feel bad." I said continue to steer the wheel.

"Well why didn't we just invite him?" Carter said in the back seat.

"Carter, do me a favor, and shut up." I said keeping my eye on the road.

"Babe-"

"Babe nothing, Madison. I don't want to talk about Jack."

"Okay," She said looking out her window, ever so innocently. "I'm sorry I brought it up." I felt kinda bad about shutting Carter and Madison up. But this Jack for to me more and more each day. There's something about that guy. Not the fact that he's totally into my girl, but because he believe he can take her right from my fingertips. And that'll never happen.

•

After going to about three stores-including Madison's girly store, we went to the food court, to share a pizza, the gang's favorite.

"It's really not the same without Matt." Nash said taking a slice.

"Yeah, bro used to love taking the first slice for superstitious reasons." Carter said slowly eating his pizza.

"Well, sorry guys," I said taking a slice. "I didn't want to exclude Jack."

"Dude, stop using Matt as an excuse." Nash said putting his pizza down. "You just didn't want to stand up to Jack. Not to be an asshole right now, but stop being a bitch and set Jack straight. Mads is your girl. Tell him straight yourself."

You'd think I'd be pretty pissed off he embarrassed me in front of my girlfriend, Carter, and whoever else was in the food court, but I wasn't. In fact, I was determined, more than ever.

"Just in time, Matt and Jack is heading our way." Carter said pointing them out.

"Babe, I know what you're thinking. Don't do it." Madison said pulling my arm. Her sweet voice made me want to stay, but I couldn't.

"Hey Jack!" I yelled across the court. "Who do you think you are?" I said walking up to him.

"Running 'round leaving scars." Matt said singing. "Man I love that song too bro." ***He said walking over to the us.

"Jack," I said. "I'm not gonna humiliate you, but I'm just warning you, hands off my girl. Just cause she's taken, doesn't make her your new target." I said getting in his face.

***"Cameron, if anything, I'm the one making her feel safe. Everything seems to go along great when she's with me." Jack said grinning."

"You're delusional." I did annoyed.

"How 'bout you?" He said grinning again. "I'm sorry, when was the last time you guys had a perfect date?"I didn't know what made me madder. The fact that he knew about my relationship problems, or the fact that he thought he had the answer to everything. Before you knew it, my fist went flying into his face. We were going back and forth, rolling on the ground, flying into strangers, and food, and it was getting out if control to be honest.

From the corner if my eye (while we were still going at it) I could see Tess and Macy flying to the scene, as Nash, Carter, and Matt broke us up, along with police officers flying to the scene as well.

"Babe!" Madison said, but I could barely see her; all I could see was blood, and flashing sirens.
-

~Madison

What a long day. Jack, Cam, all of this, is too much, was too much. It got worse once I unlocked my front door to see my on the couch eating my snacks, wrapped up in my blanket.

"Maddie, you're home later than usual." Mom said getting up from the couch.

"Yeah well, who wants to come home to see some woman eating her snacks on top of her favorite blanket." I did sarcastically, dripping my bag and keys.

"Madison, I'm not some woman, I'm your mother."

"Biologically." I said under my breath.

***"Madison, what's been going with you lately? ***You seem real confusing."

"I'm confusing? You're the one staying at home that you no longer reside in!"

"Madison, you know I'm here to help your dad. He has been trying to make a living with these longer shifts, and I'm just trying to help."

"Yeah well, you would've been helping if you came back years ago. But oh, your job going down the drain, and you nearly married a monster, this must've your midlife crisis or something." I've never talked to my mom this way before. I don't know, it felt somehow strange.

"Madison, we all have tough times-"

"Yeah." I said interrupting her. ***"My boyfriend was nearly knocked out, I'm in a stupid love triangle, and the last thing I need is my past trying to come back into my life-which took forever to get together, just to break it apart again. I've been doing well without you for these years. Perfect attendance, an outstanding G.P.A. and wrote for the school paper. What makes you think I need you anymore?" I said running to my room, slamming the door shut.

Headphones in. World out.
________
Hey guys ! I hope this story's worth it.
Once a daughter says "I don't need you anymore", it surely breaks the parents heart. Motivation to finish this chapter was JohnFrisby 's little sister 💋
Thanks for reading. #QOTC: do you have a ringtone ? / mine used to be "Life of the Party" by Shawn Mendes.
Thanks for reading though.