*𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯'𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥.*
Nolan takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Madd. I shouldn't have walked away the other night. And I shouldn't have avoided you."
Nolan paused, but Madd didn't seem like she was ready to give input so he continued. "I behaved like a complete dick. I am so, so sorry."
"Why did you do it?" Maddison asked in a small, shaky voice Nolan had never heard from her before. It made his chest feel tight. 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵?
"Why did I walk away?"Nolan asked for clarification.
Nolan noticed Maddison's hand trembling. He covered it with his own, wanting to stop the shaking somehow. He could think about why he did that later.
"Are you feeling okay? Your hand's really cold."
"I'll feel better after I hear your explanation."
"Oh. Okay. Uh..." Nolan felt a surge of panic bubbling up inside him. He didn't want to say the wrong thing. "I walked away because I was shocked that I k... that I did that to you. I- I got confused and panicked."
"Y-Yeah. I didn't plan on doing it. I didn't even know I was going to do it."
"So you regret doing it?"
"No! I- I know it sounds incredibly stupid but I really just stopped functioning. I-It wasn't like I thought it was gross or anything!"
"NOT gross, Madd! In fact, I liked it. I liked k-kissing you!"
"Nolan, I'm so confused right now."
Nolan lets out of frustrated breath and gets up. "I'm not doing this explanation thing well."
"No, you certainly are not."
"Okay, let me start over."
Maddison got up too and stood before him.
"I like you, Madd. I was too stupid to know it at the time, but apparently every other part of me besides my brain knew. I like you, and I liked that I kissed you. I'm so sorry I hurt you because I was only thinking of myself."
"It really fucking sucked when you left me behind like that, Nolan. It was humiliating."
"I fucked up, Madd. I really did. I'm so so so sorry."
"You wouldn't even look at me in school. We were hanging out every day, then suddenly it was like I didn't exist-" Madd's voice cracked.
"Hey hey hey, don't cry. I really am very sorry. I was struggling with figuring things out, and I didn't know how to face you before. I'm here now. I won't leave you again, I promise."
"You promise?" Madd sobbed.
"Yeah, we can pinky promise or spit on it or I can swear to the heavens if you like."
"I don't need that, Nolan."
"Okay, but I really do promise."
"Okay," Maddison stilled herself. "Nolan, I like you too. In fact, I've liked you for a while but I wasn't sure if you felt the same. Then I thought I was sure, when you kissed me. Then I wasn't sure again. Do you understand?"
"Even though I'm a gross kid imp that annoys you all the time?"
"Unfortunately for me, yes."
Nolan pulls Maddison in close to lean his forehead against hers affectionately. "Fortunately for me, I caught the attention of one of the hottest girls at school."
"Who spends most of his time in the boys changing room?"
"Your wish is my command."
Nolan kissed Maddison deeply and intentionally this time. It's like his brain had finally caught up with his heart. Finally, everything made sense.
"You know I'm going to make you regret the last couple of days right?"
"I deserve whatever's coming, Madd. I was the worst."
"That you were. But thank you for making things right."
"For the record, I would've gone to see you without your sister dragging me over to you. Glad she did though."
"We'll never know the truth."
