#25- The Aftermath

                                    

                                          
A/N
MAKE SURE YOU READ THE TRIGGER WARNING IN THE DESCRIPTION OF THE STORY BEFORE YOU READ THIS CHAPTER!! THE NEXT COUPLE CHAPTERS ARE GOING TO START GETTING MORE INTENSE AND MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR SOME READERS.
                          
#25
Cole's POV
                          
I rush back to the party to get my car, my heart still pounding from the confrontation with Madelyn. 
                          
As I approach my car, I see Lucy rush up to me. "Are you okay?"
                          
"Do I look like I'm fucking okay?" I yell at her, "What do you want?" I snap. 
                          
"I-I was just-" She stutters. 
                          
"Why did you kiss me?" I ask her. 
                          
"Why did you kiss me back?" 
                          
"I didn't" I yell to her, "I tried to push you away"
                          
"I thought there was something between us" She says. 
                          
"There is nothing between us and there will never be anything between us. I like Madelyn, a lot. More than I've ever liked anyone, and I just fucked it up" I yell, tears welling in my eyes, "Did you send out that picture too?"
                          
"I-" She starts but stops, "Yes, I'm sorry"
                          
I ignore her apology and hop into my car. I storm into my apartment building and take the stairs up to my floor, not wanting to have to stand still long enough to wait in the elevator. I step into my apartment and shut the door behind me, resting my head against it and taking a deep breath. I turn around and grab the first thing I can, a lap, and slam it against the wall watching as it shatters into a million little pieces along with my heart. 
                          
***
                          
The next morning I wake up and immediately clean up the glass shards from last night. Now feeling less angry and more... sad.
                          
I push the feeling away and try to clean up the lamp without getting glass stuck in my body, and am actually successful in doing so. 
                          
I'm never going to a party again, bad things always happen there. 
                          
Except for that one party that was here. The one with the shower.
                          
I look towards my bedroom door and remember that night. 
                          
The first time that Madelyn was naked around me. And although it wasn't in any specific night, that night made me really happy because it was the night I realized that Madelyn truly trusted me.
                          
Not only did she trust me to keep her safe throughout the night, but she also trusted me to be around her when she was naked and at the most vulnerable state. 
                          
Maybe that was the night that I realized I like her more than like. 
                          
Maybe that was the night that I realized that I want a relationship with her. 
                          
Maybe that was the night that I realized that I'm in love with her.
                          
Holy shit. 
                          
I'm in love with her. 
                          
It's because I love her, that I need to stay away. 
                          
Everywhere I go, bad things happen. Like I'm cursed. 
                          
I've already subjected her to enough of that, and I won't do it anymore. 
                          


                          
Madelyn's POV
                          
I get out of bed for the first time in a week, and walk to the bathroom to shower. 
                          
I stand under the hot water and let it trickle down my body. Feeling too tired to lift my arms to wash my hair.