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“Maddie!” I give her a look, as she vibrates with energy whilst trying, and failing to contain herself, before dropping back into her chair and leaning halfway across the table.
“Okay… tell me everything. From the beginning. Leave nothing out.”
“I’m leaving some things out.”
“You are leaving nothing out.”
I leave some things out.
“You’ll be the only real thing in that entire room.”
I don’t tell her about the way his calloused hands felt beneath my hoodie, gripping my hips on that leather bench. Some things are mine, and I am keeping them locked safely away.
Maddie listens to all wide eyed, her coffee going cold as she leans in and listens.
When I finish, she is quiet for a moment.
“He composed a piece for his dead mother?”
“Yes.”
“And you walked in and heard it.”
“Yes.”
“And then… you kissed?”
“Technically he—” I cut myself off, feeling my cheeks burn. “Yes.”
She exhales slowly through her nose. “Ellise, girl. You are absolutely screwed.”
“I know.”
“Like fully. No half measures.”
“I know, Maddie. But we agreed to not overcomplicate things. We're going to see what happens.”
“That was his idea wasn’t it?”
“Well, yes. It's all still very new,”
“Of course it was his idea.” She rolls her eyes. “Julian Thorne tells you not to overthink it and you just agreed?”
“He made a reasonable point.”
“He has completely derailed you, and he knows it.” She points at me. “That’s not a criticism, purely an observation. But, you’ve been holding yourself together since first year, probably longer. And honestly? Good, I’m glad he is seeing your naughty side. It’s time you had some fun.”
“I don’t know how to do this,” I admit, quietly, the truth hitting me with a sudden clarity as I say it out loud. “I don’t know how to do whatever this is with him. I don’t know the rules.”
“There aren’t rules for a guy like Julian Thorne, Ellise. That’s the whole point.” She picks up her coffee and winces, realising its cold and puts it back down. “Okay. So when is this black-tie fiasco?”
“A week from tomorrow.”
“Jesus. Nothing like timing. Do you have something to wear?”
I raise my eyebrow—the silence that follows is its own answer.
Maddie stands up, grabs her flute case, and looks at me with a fierce expression. She is officially on a mission.
