Games 012

Games 012
Maddie POV

I sat on the edge of my bed, a sigh left my lips, I've been sighing since I got back to.... Maddox house. My hands gripped the comforter.

My heart hadn’t stopped pounding since I got back from the club. The memory of Maddox’s eyes on me, the way it looked like he had something in store for me still kept replaying in my head.

I could still feel the heat of the stage lights, the beats of the music and the way I had moved to provoke him. It had felt good at first, like I was taking some control but now, alone in this quiet room, I knew I wasn't safe from Maddox grasps.

The house was too still. Eva was probably not back or maybe she was. I didn’t know, and I didn’t care enough to check. My phone sat on the nightstand with the screen dark. I kept glancing at it, expecting a text from Maddox or worse, a call.

But nothing came. That should’ve calmed me, but it didn’t. Maddox silence was worse than words. It felt like he was waiting, planning and letting me stew in my own head.

I stood and paced to the window, pushing the curtain aside. I let the curtain fall and turned back to the room. My bag from the club was still on the floor, heels spilling out.

I had worn that outfit to maybe please the unknown customer but after finding out it was him, instead I messed with him, to show him I wasn't some kid he could intimidate. But he did.

The way he had watched me, not moving and not speaking, it wasn’t the reaction I had wanted.

I paced back to my bed and sat back down, my hands shaking. “Get it together, Madison,” I muttered. I pressed my palms together, trying to steady them. My heart was still racing, like it was trying to outrun my thoughts.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, then another. It didn’t help much. Every creak of the house made me jump, thinking it was him coming up the stairs. I didn’t know what he’ll do when he saw me next. Yell? Ignore me? Or do something worse? Maddox didn’t strike me as the yelling type. He was too controlled, too teasing and that scared me more. Gosh, I swear when I was teasing him, I wasn't in my right mind. Sighs.

I grabbed my phone, needing a distraction. The screen lit up, showing no notifications. I opened my texts, scrolling through my old messages with Eva. We had been so excited about this summer, late nights, beach trips, no responsibilities.

Now, every conversation with her felt off, like she was hiding something. I thought about texting her, asking where she was, but I didn’t.

I tossed the phone onto the bed and leaned back against the headboard. I stood again, walking to the bathroom, my reflection caught my eye in the mirror across the room.

My hair was still a little messy from the club, my makeup was smudged. I looked like someone who had been running, even though I hadn’t moved far. I walked over and wiped the smudged eyeliner with my thumb, staring at myself. “You’re fine,” I said to the mirror. “He’s just a guy, Eva’s brother, it's nothing to freak out about right?” God I hated how I didn't believe that.

But even as I said it, I didn’t believe it. There was something about Maddox that didn’t add up, he wasn't like any dad I had ever met. He was too young, too… something. Oh my God, Maddie, you are so stupid to fall for that trick, honestly I know I'm stupid but this was a very high classed stupidity.

The house creaked again, and I froze. My eyes darted to the door. It was still closed, the lock untouched. I let out a shaky breath and sat on the floor, leaning against the bed. I needed to calm down, I needed to think. Maddox wasn’t here, he was probably still at the club, doing whatever he did at this hour.

I pulled my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them. My heart was still going too fast. I tried to focus on my breathing, like I’d seen in some meditation app. In, out. In, out. It wasn’t working.

What was he going to do? That was the question that kept circling. Would he confront me, call me out for the performance? Would he ignore it, act like nothing happened? Or would he do something else, something I couldn’t predict? I didn’t know him well enough to guess, but I knew he wasn’t the type to let things slide. He’d been too quiet at the club, too still. That kind of calm wasn’t normal. "I really need to name myself Maddie the thinkabel."

I stood and walked to the door, checking the lock again. It was secure, but it didn’t make me feel better. I pressed my ear to the iron, listening. Nothing but silence. I stepped back and ran a hand through my hair, trying to shake the paranoia. “He’s not here,” I said out loud. “You’re fine, just go to bed.” but what if he comes back and I'm asleep and he pays me back?

I groaned and sat on the bed again, grabbing my phone. I opened my x, scrolling mindlessly, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Maddox. I set the phone down and lay back, staring at the ceiling. The club performance had been a mistake and I knew that now.

I sat up, my breath catching. Was my mind playing games agai? I swear I heard footsteps. My eyes snapped to the door. I waited, holding my breath, but no footsteps followed.

I needed to do something, anything, to stop thinking about him. I grabbed my bag and started unpacking, tossing clothes onto the bed. It was pointless, but it kept my hands busy. I folded a shirt, then another, trying to focus on the task. But every few seconds, I glanced at the door, expecting it to open, expecting him to be there.

I stopped, my hands frozen on a pair of jeans. What was wrong with me? Why was I letting him get under my skin like this? I’d dealt with plenty of intense people before—professors, bosses, even creepy guys at parties. But Maddox ..... "Ahhhhh, leave my head you fool.."

I sat back on the bed, the jeans still in my hands. My phone buzzed, and I jumped, grabbing it.

Damn it.

It was just a low battery.....