Chapter 15 she is protective to me

Chapter 15 she is protective to me
Madelyn’s P.O.V.

I never had a dinner so awkward and filled with tension as the one I was having right now with Stella, Easton, and Fred.
Stella came back with some groceries that I needed. She had some work to do; that’s why she went out to buy soup for me, and also, she bought a few pre-prepared soup powders for me so that I can cook if I feel hungry later in the night.
She told me that she almost came back running when she got my message telling her that both Easton and Fred are here.
Easton didn’t go back to his unit because he wanted to eat what Fred cooked. Fred not only prepared egg soup for me but also prepared pasta and salads as he was also feeling hungry at that time.
Fred….
Well, of course, he also refused to go back because he was the one who cooked everything.
So, now we were having a very tense dinner together.
Easton and Fred were exchanging glances from time to time, but most of the time, Easton seemed to be enjoying the dinner.
While Stella continued glaring hard at them, stabbing the food on her plate a few times.
Fred was cautious but still looked happy with the whole situation.
I was feeling much better. The ointment really did a miracle on my throat. I don’t know about the color of the bruises, but it was less painful now.
Bearable enough that I can drink the soup.
“Let me brew the medicine for you. You will have a peaceful sleep after drinking the medicine.” Fred proposed after finishing the dinner.
Stella also brought food and soup. So, we had plenty of food to finish as dinner.
“I didn’t know that you are that good at cooking, Fred. You really surprised me.” Stella remarked sarcastically, but Fred grinned widely.
“There are so many things that you don’t know about me, baby. Want to know?” I rolled my eyes at his audacity to provoke Stella.
Everyone in the school knows that Fred has feelings for Stella, but Stella never even spares a glance at him because of Galvin and also his bullying nature.
“Are you that fed up of living?” she asked him angrily.
I held her hand, shaking my head lightly in the process.
She pouted angrily but puffed her cheeks while pressing her lips.
“I am get going now.” Easton spoke to us while seeing something on his phone.
His face was expressionless. So, it was hard to say what made him leave like this.
“Where are you going? Back to the mansion?” Fred asked him in a concerned tone while walking towards the kitchen.
He had already cleaned the table and had a stack of utensils in his hands.
“Nah. I am staying in my unit tonight.” Easton replied to him nonchalantly while walking towards the door.
“Hey, Easton.” Fred stopped him when Easton was about to open the door.
“I am also very interested in having a unit here. Talk to your dealer.” Fred told him with a grin.
I stiffened, though. Having Easton here was already an alarm for me, and now Fred was thinking about having a unit here too.
“Are you guys thinking about ganging up on Madelyn here by living around her?” Stella asked Fred accusingly.
Her protectiveness made me smile.
“Oh come on, love! Don’t paint us badly every time.” Fred whined, looking at Stella aggrievedly. Stella sneered in disdain and looked in the other direction. Easton didn’t stop. He opened the door and walked out. He closed the door after exiting the unit.
“Easton is right. It feels more like home than our mansions. I can talk to anyone sitting in the living room without yelling. Even if no one is there, the space is too small to make you feel lonely. I actually like this space.” Fred explained nonchalantly while brewing the medicine.
Stella was about to yell at him again when I held her hand and pulled her down.
“Can you help me with applying medicine later? If you are not getting late?” I asked her politely.
“Of course. If you say, I can stay with you tonight. I have already informed Mom that you are sick and you need me with you.” She replied to me cheerfully, holding my hand firmly.
“Thanks, Stella.” I thanked her and stopped speaking, as I still can’t speak for long.
“Do you need something to keep you busy for the time being?” she asked me, and I nodded in response.
“Can you pass me the laptop? It’s in my backpack.” I asked her while pointing towards the backpack lying on the shelf near the TV cabinet.
She immediately stood up and went there.
“Here is your medicine. Drink it sip by sip as you need to take it hot. Drink it like a hot tea.” Fred instructed me while putting the glass of a dark and hot liquid at the side stand on my side.
“It’s a bit bitter. So, here is candy for you.” He took a candy out of his pocket and put it beside the glass.
“Thanks, Fred, for all the help. What’s the cost of the medicine?” I asked him in a hoarse voice.
“Don’t fret.” He dismissed it while waving his hand casually.
“Consider it my apology for leaving you alone there when I could have stayed until Stella came there.” He added it with a tight smile.
“You did what was right for you, Fred. You don’t need to feel guilty for that.” I comforted him and hissed in pain, closing my eyes.
“Drink the medicine. A few sips will make you feel the difference.” He urged, and I nodded in response before opening my eyes.
“Here.” Stella gave me the laptop and sat down on the single couch this time. I took the couch and put it beside me.
Fred had taken up the medicine glass by now. He handed the glass to me. I blew the steam away and took a sip.
I almost vomited everything that I had in my stomach when its taste hit my taste buds.
“I know that it tastes worse, but trust my grandmother, Maddie. A few sips will be bitter, but then you will like it.” Fred urged me in a convincing tone.
I glared hard at him, and he smiled sheepishly.
Of course, herbal medicines taste worse, but they have magical healing powers that I know very well.
I looked back at the glass and grimaced.
“Stella, make sure that she finishes the whole glass. Trust me. She will heal in no time.” He instructed her while going towards the door.
I took a deep breath and decided not to waste his kind gesture.
I held my breath and took another sip. I once again felt nauseated, but not as strongly as it did for the first sip.
"If you want to complain about them to the principal, I can help." Stella offered me again in a low voice.
I smiled and looked at her after gulping down the content of my mouth before speaking calmly.