Chapter 12
: The Apology?
I took the bus and got home. I turned my phone off so that no one would call me and ran a bath. I was in the bathtub for 2 hours. My brain was already hurting from all that happened. I got out of the tub and took a shower.
After drying my hair, I turned my phone on and I received a lot of text messages from Chloe, Brooke and Ethan. I ignored Ethan's messages and called Chloe right away.
Chloe: Oh my gosh, Maddie! I am so sorry. I don't know, I just blank out and I could not move so suddenly. I should have been there helping you, not abandoning you. I am such a bad friend and...
Me: Chloe! Listen to me! What happened today was not your fault. You are not a bad friend. Okay?
Chloe: but I should have helped you and.
Me:Hey, it is totally fine. How are you right now? Are you okay? I was worried about you. I am sorry I could not act sooner.
Chloe: It's not your fault. I am feeling better now. Brooke called Tyler after taking me to my car and she called Ethan afterwards. How are you? I have been calling you for hours, but your phone is dead. I was so worried and when I called Ethan; he said that you left hours ago. What happened?
Me: I just needed time. I am sorry to have you worried. I was confused, hurt and mad with what happened.
Chloe: Ethan told me you left him at the parking lot. Is everything alright?
Me: He knew all along about this stupid bet. He said he was not a part of it, but I don't even know what to believe.
Chloe: Maddie, listen to me. Tyler told me earlier about the bet. Ethan called him last week asking for his help. Ethan knew about the bet the jocks were making but knew that he could not stop it on his own, so he asked Tyler and Logan to keep an eye on the jocks while Ethan keeps an eye on you. He was trying to protect you, Maddie.
I was dumbfounded with what Chloe said. I was blaming Ethan when all along he was just trying to protect me. I was lost in my own thoughts when I heard Chloe calling my name.
Chloe: Maddie! Maddie! What happened to you? Earth to Maddie, you fucking bitch answer me!
Me: I'm sorry. I got lost in my own thoughts.
Chloe: I figured.
Me: I am sorry, Chloe. I need to talk to Ethan and apologize. I lashed out at him when I should have been thanking him.
Chloe: It is never too late to apologize, Maddie. Just don't beat yourself up over it.
After the call with Chloe, I was about to call Ethan when I heard Mom calling my name. I looked at my phone to check the time and saw that it is 6 pm. I ran downstairs to see why Mom was calling me,
"There you are. Go change your clothes. My best friend invited us over for dinner at their house. Your dad is arriving in 5 minutes." Mom said as soon as she saw me. "Do I have to go?" I asked Mom.
"Yes.We were all invited and besides, it is Friday. You don't have classes tomorrow." Mom replied.
"Okay." I said, going back to my room to change.
I made a mental note to call Ethan when we get back from dinner. I opened my wardrobe and took the first set of clothes my eyes landed on. It was a blue shirt and black jeans. I wore my favorite Nike shoes and tied my hair back. I grabbed my phone and my earphones and went downstairs. We left as soon as Dad arrived. It was half an hour drive to their house. Their house is at the exclusive village on the other side of town. Only the richest among the whole town lives there. All the houses were big and beautiful.
We were greeted by the husband of mom's best friend.
"Hi guys. I am so glad you made it. Please come on in." he said.
We all entered the house and were led to the living room. Their house is 4 times bigger than our house, so I feel like I would get lost.
Mrs. Walker arrived in the living room.
"I am so glad you were able to come. It has been years since we last saw each other.." Mrs. Walker said, smiling at me.
"Sharon, this is already little Madison." Mom said, introducing me to Mrs. Walker.
"Hi Mrs. Walker." I greeted her with a smile.
"Oh, don't be silly, dear. Don't you remember me? You have grown so much. Your Mom tells me you want to study Medicine as well." Mrs. Walker said.
"Yes, ma'am." I replied, slightly confused.
"My son also wants to take Medicine. Hold on, let me have one of the maids call him. He is studying in Eastbrook High." she said before telling one maid to call her son.
"Madison is studying there as well." Mom said.
"Really? Maybe you guys have met already. Don't you remember my son?." Mrs. Walker asked.
Mom and Mrs. Walker were just looking at me. I guess they were waiting for me to remember something, or I guess someone. I was just lost and before one of them could even bring me out of my confusion, someone entered the living room.
"There you are, Ethan. Say hi to our visitors. Madison said she goes to Eastbrook High as well." Mrs. Walker said.
I came face to face with none other than Ethan Walker.
"Maddie."Ethan said.
"You two know each other?" his Mom asked.
"He is Ethan?" Mom asked Mrs. Walker
"Yea why?" Mrs. Walker asked, confusion is visibly clear on her face.
"Ethan was in the house once. They are partners in one project. You have grown so much, Ethan. The last time I saw you, you were so young." Mom said.
"Well, isn't this amazing? Our kids are friends, and they go to the same school together. It sure feels like us all over again when we were in high school." Mrs. Walker said.
I was left stunned by everything. I was brought out of my own thoughts when Mrs. Walker mentioned my name.
"Ethan, why don't you show Madison around?" Mrs. Walker suggested.
"Sure." Ethan replied. "Let's go?" he then said to me.
I simply nodded and followed him.
How could I have been so dumb not to realize that Mom's best friend Mrs. Walker would be none other than Ethan's mom?!
I was once again lost in my own thoughts when I hit a wall. I looked up and noticed that it was Ethan who I actually hit.
"Uhm sorry." I apologized.
I am pretty sure that both of us can feel the tension in the air. We are currently by the pool and he is standing by the grass.
"I'm sorry. I should have not gotten mad at you earlier when you were just trying to help me." I blurted out, not wanting to face him.
He was quiet for some time. It made me nervous thinking that maybe he is mad at me or something. We were never really close friends. We became friends ever since the first day of Senior High, but not really that close. I was relieved when he actually spoke.
"I understand. I made you doubt my intentions and my actions, and for that I am also sorry. I am also sorry for not trying hard enough in stopping Zach and the boys with their bet." he explained.
"It's not your fault to begin with, and it's not your job to protect me. I appreciate you trying to protect me, but you don't have to blame yourself for what happened." I replied.
"Even so, I should have...
I wanted him to just stop blaming himself for what happened, and I did the first thing that came into my stupid brain.
I kissed him.
What was I thinking? I had absolutely no idea.
When it finally sank in my brain that I just kissed Ethan Walker, I was ready to run for my life when Ethan pulled me and kissed me.
'Holy Macaroni!! Ethan Walker kissed me !!!'
This has been my fantasy ever since I saw him in Junior High. Come to think of it, Ethan is my first kiss. I don't know how long the kiss lasted, but I am pretty sure that I was breathless afterwards. I was too shocked and shy at the same time to say something, let alone look at him.
"I'm sorry about that. I just got caught in the moment." he said, flashing me his handsome smile.
"I... I.. uhmm.. I am so sorry for what I just did. I did not know what I was even thinking." I managed to blurt out.
He gave me a hearty laugh and said," Madison Carter, you are adorably cute, especially when you are nervous."
Before I can even manage to reply, one maid called us for dinner. I was still under a state of shock when he took my hand, leading me back inside the house.