Fall for Me

by Alexis Noelle

  I order our food and hope Maddy will like what I picked out for her. The restaurant has a dance floor and a song comes on that I recognize. I grab her hand and she looks up at me. “Dance with me?”

  “I’d love to.”

  I walk her out to the dance floor. They are playing Carrie Underwood’s “Ever Ever After.” As I listen to it, I realize how much it relates to Maddy. She just needed to let me in and I’d give her a happily ever after. I kiss her once the song is over and we walk back to our table.

  The waitress brings our food and I ignore the fact that she lingers by me a little too long. Girls are always very obvious in their attempts, even when I am with Maddy. “I know it makes you uncomfortable when girls flirt with me and I get it. I just want you to know that I’ve been there and done all of that, but I’ve never been happier than I am with you.”

  After dinner, we walk to my car and when we get there, Maddy pulls me into a hug. She snuggles into me like she does when we are in bed. “Thank you for today, Carter. It was great.”

  I lift her chin with my finger and kiss her. “We still have one more stop.”

  “Really? Where?”

  “It’s a surprise, but I intend for it to also be another first, Miss Stevens.”

  We pull up to Midnight and I know right away she recognizes it. “You’ve taken me dancing before, babe.”

  I smile. “Yes, but tonight I’m going to get you drunk.”

  She laughs. “Is that so you can take advantage of me later?”

  “Maybe…if you’re lucky.”

  She grins at me and starts walking toward the door. “Oh…if I’m lucky, huh?”

  I walk her over to the bar and she starts looking over the drink list. I see the bartender, Paul. We went to high school together. I give him a nod to say hello. Maddy taps me on the shoulder and whispers in my ear, “Aren’t they going to ask for ID?”

  “It’s okay. I know the bartender, you’re fine.”

  She turns to Paul. “Can I get a Sex on the Beach?”

  I see her cheeks blush and have to take advantage. “Damn, baby, I could have given you that.” She elbows me in the stomach. I like it when she is feisty. Oh god, Anthony is rubbing off on me.

  “I’m going to go to the bathroom.”

  “Okay, babe, I’ll be here.” While I wait for her to come back, I start looking around and see the last person that I want to.

  Alyssa walks up to me and puts her hand on my arm. “Hey, Carter, you look good. Ditch your girlfriend already?”

  I hate her so much. She screwed me over in high school. Now, she is trying to screw up my relationship with Maddy. Alyssa is one of those girls who considers herself superior to everyone else. She wears the most expensive shit because she thinks it is impressive, but nothing could cover up how ugly she is inside. I snatch my arm away from her.

  “No, Alyssa, I didn’t. I’m with Madison so you need to take the hint and stay the hell away from both of us.” Paul taps me on the shoulder and hands me Maddy’s drink. Just then, Maddy walks up beside me and I know she isn’t happy that Alyssa is here. I lean in and give her a kiss, trying to reassure her. “Here’s your drink, babe.”

  “Thanks.” She smiles at me, but I can tell it is forced.

  “Do you want to dance?”

  “Sure!” There is the genuine smile I was looking for.

  I sidestep around Alyssa and lead Maddy onto the dance floor. Once we get away from Alyssa, I pull her close to me. “She came up to me, babe. I told her I was with you and to go away.”

  “Okay. I just want to forget about her and enjoy tonight.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” After three hours and about five drinks, Maddy is drunk and is having a blast. I decide it is time to go, because I know she is going to be feeling it in the morning. I settle my bill and start walking toward the door with Maddy. Alyssa steps in front of us. Damn, she can’t take a fucking hint.

  “You weren’t going to say goodbye, Carter?” She puts her hands on her hips and pushes out her chest, as if that will change my mind about her. She looks like she is going to hug me and I am just about to tell her where she can stick her hug.

  Just then, Maddy swats her hand away from me. “He didn’t say goodbye to you on purpose. He’s mine, not yours.” She grabs me and kisses me. “Remember that next time, you bitch whore.” Maddy grabs my hand and starts to lead me to the door. Drunk, angry Maddy is fucking hot!

  I drive us home and Maddy says she is feeling sick. Damn, I let her drink too much. Everyone else is in bed or out when we get home. I take Maddy to the bathroom because I have a feeling she will be using it soon.

  “Why did you bring me…me in here?”

  Just then, I feel her lurch and rush her to the toilet. She empties her dinner and, I have to say, I’ll never look at crab cakes the same way again. “Stay here, baby. I’m gonna get you a change of clothes.”

  “Okay, cutie Carter!”

  She is adorable, even now with her head resting on the toilet seat. Maddy got sick a couple more times. After about an hour, I could tell she was done. I help her change out of her clothes and put on pajamas.

  “Remember, cutie Carter, no boom-boom in your room-room.”

  I can’t help but laugh at that. I help her wash her face and brush her teeth, then hand her a glass of water and Tylenol, hoping it will ease her pain in the morning. We go into my room and lay down together. I wrap her in my arms.

  “Carter?”

  “Yeah, babe?”

  “Will you take me to the beach?”

  I thought she hated the beach. Was that just an excuse not to go? “I tried to before, but you said you hated it.”

  “I don’t hate it. I just said that.”

  “Why would you lie?”

  “Because the only time I’ve ever gone to the beach is with Chris. He got mad at me for wearing a bikini and looking like a whore. He took me home and beat me for the first time that day. I’d like to go there with you, though.”

  Fuck! I hated that motherfucker with every inch of me. My stomach turns thinking of the fact that he ever laid a hand on her. I still had unfinished business with him when he got back to town. “I’ll take you tomorrow, babe.”

  “Okay. I love you, cutie.”

  “I love you, too, Maddy.”

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  Madison

  The next week goes by really fast. Carter had taken me to Myrtle Beach that day, just like he said he would. He got us a hotel room that night, because he said he couldn’t wait to get me in a bed that wasn’t in his dad’s house.

  We went to the beach, but it was chilly so Carter didn’t get me in a bikini like he wanted to. We also went mini-golfing, had dinner, and did some shopping. It was a really great day and to thank Carter, I wore a bikini in the hotel room for him.

  After that, we went back home and fell into our normal routine. Carter loved giving me “firsts” on a daily basis, whether it was a movie, food, or anything else he could think of.

  Today is New Year’s Eve and I have to work at the coffee shop in the afternoon. Carter was already at the club helping with prep for tonight. I wish we could have been together, but it is one of their busiest nights and there was no way he could get off.

  Jason is hanging out at the coffee shop with me while I work. I really liked Jason. He puts up this façade of being an asshole, but he isn’t. The fact that he is willing to sit here with me is definitely an example of that. “Here is some more coffee for you, J. I really don’t understand how you can drink it black, though.” I scrunch up my face and he laughs at me.

  “Thanks, Mads. How are you?” I know Jason was worried about how I’ll handle seeing Chris again. School is starting in a week and I have a class with him this semester. Luckily, Carter is in that same class with me, but I am still anxious about it.

  It is an amazing feeling that Jason and Shawn have accepted me into their group. Shawn has renamed us the Fantastic Four and everyone, begrudgingly, accepted i
t. He is on vacation with his family until next week so I haven’t seen him in a while. Most times when Carter can’t be with me, Jason is here. I heard him before Christmas telling Carter he thought he could protect me better than Shawn.

  “I’m doing okay. Not looking forward to it but I’ll deal. I have to get back behind the counter, though. Enjoy!”

  I am cleaning up behind the counter when I hear the bell “ding,” letting me know someone has come in. I look up and my world comes to a stop. He looks so different, almost normal.

  “Madison?”

  No. This can’t be happening. “Why are you here?” I barely get that sentence out. I am having a hard time breathing at this point.

  “Your boyfriend found me. He said you missed me and really wanted to see me.”

  Carter called him? Why would he do that? The walls feel like they are closing in. I feel Jason run up beside me.

  “Mads, are you okay?” I can’t answer him. I can feel myself slipping away at this point. “Who are you? What did you do to her?”

  “I’m um…I’m her father.”

  “Shit! Why are you here?” I can feel Jason’s arms around me.

  “Her boyfriend called me and said she wanted to see me.”

  No, Carter wouldn’t do that without talking to me first. Would he?

  I can feel the memories flooding back as much as I want to stop them. I feel myself sinking down to the floor.

  “Daddy, I don’t want to leave!” The school called this lady and now she wants to take me away. “Tell them you want me, Daddy! I love you!” I lost Mommy already. I don’t want to lose my daddy too.

  “That’s just it, Madison. I don’t want you. Why would I want a child who killed her own mother?”

  Daddy always says that, but I didn’t kill Mommy. I loved my mommy; I still do. I wish she was here instead of Daddy.

  “I told her to take you when she called me. You can be someone else’s problem now. I can’t even stand the sight of you.”

  I don’t want to go away. I am scared of going to a stranger’s house.

  “You are not a good girl, Madison. No one will ever love you.”

  “But, Daddy, I love you.” He turns his back on me, and someone comes down the stairs with a bag full of my stuff.

  I don’t want to leave.

  I don’t want to be alone.

  I just wanted to be loved.

  Everything seems so blurry, and it is like I am watching what is happening instead of living it. I feel Jason lift me in his arms and take me to the car. I can hear him talking to someone, but everything sounds so muffled.

  Carter

  I hate that I am working tonight. I want to spend it with Maddy.

  “Hey, Carter!” John is calling my name from across the club. I look up at him as if to ask him what he wants. “Someone is on the phone for you. Says it’s an emergency.”

  An emergency? As I am walking over, I pull out my phone. I have five missed calls from Jason. I start running to the phone, imagining the worst. “Jason, what’s going on?”

  “Carter, what the fuck were you thinking man? You called her dad?” He is yelling at me, and I am pretty sure I hear Maddy crying in the background.

  “What are you talking about? What happened?”

  “Madison’s dad showed up at the coffee house today. He said her boyfriend called him and told him she really wanted to see him. I think she’s having an anxiety attack. I’m taking her back to the house now.”

  “I don’t know what the hell is going on but I didn’t call anyone.”

  “Yea, well I told him to go away and not come back. He asked if she’d be okay and I told him if she wanted to see him, she’d get in touch with him.”

  “I’m on my way.” It is a miracle that I get home in one piece and without any tickets. I run through the door and Jason is standing in the living room. “Where is she?”

  “I brought her into your room. She’s lying down now. So you didn’t call him?”

  “No, I didn’t, but I have a good idea who did.”

  “Carter, why haven’t we gone after that motherfucker yet?”

  “I don’t even think he’s back in town yet, J.” My cell phone rings and it is work, probably wondering why I ran out of there like a crazy person. “Hello? Yeah, I had an emergency…I can’t right now…you don’t understand-”

  Jason taps me on the shoulder. “Carter I’ll stay here if you need to go.” Jason cares about Maddy more than he’d admit. He had a sister, Sara, who died when he was twelve. Maddy is his new adopted sister. He’ll protect her just as well as I would.

  “All right, count this as my break then…yeah, I’ll see you in less than an hour.” I hang up, hating that I need to keep this job. “Listen, Jason, I just want you to know how much I appreciate everything.”

  “It’s no problem, Carter. I feel like she’s a part of my family.” I knew he meant that, and it is the only reason that I feel even a little okay with going back to work.

  “Alright, well, I need to be back soon. I’m gonna go see her.” I walk into the bedroom and Maddy is curled into a ball, crying. I crawl onto the bed and wrap her in my arms, but she stiffens.

  Then I remembered that Jason told me her dad said her boyfriend had called. She still thinks it was me. I don’t let her back away from me, but just hold her to my chest. I kiss her head. “I didn’t call him, baby. It wasn’t me. Please don’t pull away from me.”

  Madison

  He didn’t call him? Who did then? No one even knew my background except for Carter and…Chris. He was doing all of this to mess with me.

  I snuggle closer to Carter. If I could crawl inside of him I would. Seeing my dad today seemed unreal. He looked so normal, nothing like the miserable drunk that I remember.

  “Are you okay, babe?”

  That is a complex question and I don’t have a concrete answer. “I’m better, now that you’re here.” I look up and kiss him.

  “Listen, I ran out of work when Jason called me. If I want to keep my job, I need to leave in like a half-hour. All you have to do is say the word, though, and I’ll stay.”

  I know he is serious, but I wouldn’t make him do that. “It’s okay. I’ll be fine. It’s about time I put my big girl panties on and start dealing with my problems.”

  He smiles. “I prefer your panties off.” He kisses me. He always knows the right thing to say to me. No matter how upset I am, he always knows what I need to hear to make me feel better. “You sure you’ll be okay?”

  I nod my head. “I’m going to have to be.”

  “Are you still going to come tonight?”

  I completely forgot that Nicole and I had made plans to go to Rebellion tonight. I figured if Carter needed to work, at least I could be there too. “Yeah, I guess so. Nicole would kill me if I canceled on her.”

  “Nicole wouldn’t be the only one heartbroken.” I kiss him. I love him so much. “I hate this, babe, but I have to go.” He gives me one last hug. “I’ll see you tonight. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I will be. I’m going to go shower. Tell Jason I’ll be out in a few. I love you.”

  “I don’t know how I’m supposed to leave for work when all I can picture is you in the shower.” He positions himself on top of me. I can feel his erection rubbing against me. I wish he could just stay here. I lean up and kiss him, but it isn’t sweet like before. It is full of need and passion. Carter has this ability to make me get lost in him and when we are together, everything else fades away. “I could always find another job, you know.”

  No, I’m not going to let him do that. “As much as I want you here, Carter, you have to go.”

  He jumps up off the bed. “Well, I need to go now then, or I won’t be able to. I love you. I’ll see you tonight.”

  After I shower, I go and hang out with Jason. I plop down next to him on the couch. “So, do you have a hot date tonight?”

  He shakes his head and laughs. “No, Mads, I don’t date.”

>   This confuses me. Jason is definitely a catch. He is hot by any girl’s standards and he is a great person.

  “Why not, J?”

  “Truth?”

  “Truth.”

  He seems uncomfortable and apprehensive about whatever he is about to tell me. “My sister died when I was twelve. It crushed our whole family. My mom left us right before I started high school. She didn’t even say anything to us about it. Dad and I had been visiting my uncle and, when we came back, she was gone. No note or anything, just gone. I don’t let anyone in because I don’t want to have to deal with it when they walk away. Carter and Shawn are the only people I’ve let in for a really long time, and now you. I don’t bother with dating. I’d rather just have fun and keep my inner circle small.”

  That is horrible. If anyone knows how it feels to be abandoned, it is me. I can relate to how Jason is. It is hard feeling like you aren’t wanted. “I understand, J. Trust me, I do, but let me tell you something that I realized recently. You can’t let your past dictate how you live your present and your future.”

  “Thanks, Mads, I just don’t want to open myself up to that right now.”

  I hoped he could get past this one day. Jason is great and he has such a big heart. “Okay, but if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here.”

  “I’m fine, Mads. You don’t need to worry about me. How are you, though?”

  “Um…I’m dealing with it. He looked so different. I can’t get it out of my head. He looked like my dad, not the monster I was taken away from. He seemed like he was doing well, but I hate that he had that effect on me. I hate that Chris found another way to get to me. I just want this to be over.”

  “So you think it’s him too?”

  I know it is Chris. I just don’t understand why he can’t let me go. I feel like he’s been more interested in me since we broke up, than he was when we were actually together. I’m sure it’s because he lost his control over me. I’m no longer his possession and he can’t stand it. “Yeah, I do. Well, I really need to get ready.”

  “Okay. I told Carter I’d pick up Nicole and we’ll all go together. If that’s okay with you.”