Big Red's POV
"Hey, Madeline?" I asked as Madeline and I ate breakfast before school.
"Yeah?"
"Ash told me you guys were becoming friends?"
"Oh, yeah. I just apologized for everything, and I think she's forgiven me. Sorry to you, too. I know I was a lot."
"It might take me awhile to forgive you. Ash just means a lot to me. And I guess you regret what you've said... I just can't forgive you this quickly."
"I get that." She nodded.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Oh. Good." He smiled slightly. "I'm walking to school with Ash today, just for fun, wanna join?"
"Sure."
Ashlyn was in a great mood when we got to lunch. "Hey!" She smiled, sitting down and beginning to eat.
"Hey. What's up?"
"Not much. Madeline and I finished a project, it was super fun. I haven't seen Jackson today, which is great."
"Still need to tell someone..."
"I'm going to during my free period. I'm kinda nervous." She admitted.
"I know. But it's worth it." I held her hand.
"I know. I'm just gonna get it over with, as quick as possible."
"Perfect." I smiled. "So Madeline apologized to me this morning."
"Oh, great!"
"I haven't quite forgiven her yet."
"I know. That's fine. I just hope you do at some point, we've been getting along pretty well."
"It seemed like it this morning." I nodded. "I'm glad as long as she doesn't... get weird again."
"She really seems to regret it." She shrugged.
"She does." I agreed. "I'm just nervous."
"Well, take your time." She kissed my cheek.
"Hey, wanna come over later?"
"Sure."
Ashlyn and I hanging out had quickly turned into Ashlyn, Madeline, and I hanging out. And that should've been fine, I saw Ashlyn daily, but it wasn't. I didn't trust Madeline. I didn't like how close her and Ashlyn were becoming. And it was probably stupid, but I didn't trust that one breakup could make her do a full 180.
"Her class is just so awful." Madeline complained.
"I wouldn't say awful, but it's pretty boring." Ashlyn replied. I stayed silent. I didn't even have this teacher.
"Same difference. And her voice is just so monotone."
"Oh, yeah, that's pretty annoying."
"Not to mention the class is just so hard." Madeline shook her head. "Hold on, I'm gonna go to the bathroom. Be right back." She walked to the bathroom.
"Hey, you haven't been talking much. You okay?" Ashlyn scooted closer to me, placing a hand on my thigh.
"I guess I'm just feeling a little... hesitant."
"How come?"
"Madeline."
"Oh, are you feeling left out? I'm sorry, I guess we haven't really been talking about stuff you can talk about too—"
"No, it's not that." I shook my head. "I just don't trust her. And yeah, maybe I feel a little left out, but I don't exactly want to be included either. I just really don't trust her. And I know it's stupid. I'm working on it."
"No, really, it's not stupid. Go at your own pace. Trust takes time to build up. I do, I really do, think she's changed. But that doesn't change how building trust works for you two. Your own pace." She repeated.
"Thanks. You're... you always know what to say." I grabbed her hand.
"Of course, anytime." She pecked my lips.