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“What are you doing here, Fatty Maddie?” Dave had asked her, using his own personal nickname for her. She wasn't overweight, but she was a little chunky and he liked to tease her about it. His stupid nickname caused some of the guys to laugh. It wasn't funny and hasn't ever been funny, especially not when I found out how much it bothered Maddie.
“Same thing you are.” She took the cup of beer from my hand and took a swallow before handing it back to me. When we were alone, she was always doing that. Taking a sip of my drinks, eating from my plate, taking my phone from my pocket if hers was dead.
“This is for seniors. You don't need to be here. And it's a beach party. People wear bathing suits to these things,” he told her as a girl walked by in a skimpy bikini. He was right. Everyone was in a bathing suit except Maddie. She wore shorts and a tank top instead. There wasn't even a bathing suit beneath her clothes. She was probably too self-conscious because of Dave's fucking comments. “Maybe if you lose some weight, you can go to your own senior party. Go home, Fatty Maddie.”
My free hand balled into a fist by my side. Since Dave picked on his sister, one of the other guys made fun of her too.
“Yeah, no one wants a fat girl here.”
Dave didn't say anything. Not even an 'I'm the only one who can pick on my sister'. Maddie glanced up at me with glassy eyes. She waited for me to defend her, to stand up to them, to put her and her feelings first.
I hated myself before I shrugged like I didn't even care and added, “They're right. You should go.”
That's when things ended between us. Until tonight, Maddie hasn't spoken to me since. I tried to apologize to her later, tried to call her, text her, talk to her through every method except the one that mattered the most. I wouldn't go to her house and make her talk to me. I couldn't risk letting Dave know about something that no longer existed. Now, Maddie's going to the same college as me and she's skinny. I can't help but wonder if there's a reason why she lost weight.
“I'm heading out. I have an early start tomorrow,” Grant says, bringing my attention back to the table.
“Yeah, I think I'm going to go too,” I add, wondering if Dave knows about Maddie's boyfriend. She's on my mind the entire way back to where I live off-campus with Grant, Neil, and Bo, another teammate of ours and a senior as well. After I've changed, I power up my laptop and start a FaceTime call with Dave.
His face pops up almost immediately. “How'd the game go?” he asks.
“Good. They were a tough team, and I'll probably be sore tomorrow, but good.” After a pause, I blurt out, “I saw Maddie.”
“Really? Where? I forgot to tell you that that's where she decided to go.”
“Yeah, I was surpr
ised when she came up to me...in a bar.”
Dave's eyes widen. “Seriously?” I nod. “She probably saw you go in and wanted to come say hi. Hey, you need to send your schedule to me again, so I can pick a weekend to come up. I accidentally deleted the first one, and I don't feel like searching for the schedule online.”
I laugh. “Lazy much?”
“Lil bit.” Dave's eyes flick to something behind his computer as I hear a door open and close. He grins, looks down at me, and says, “Gotta go.” I would bet five bucks that his girlfriend just walked in. The call ends, and I close my laptop.
A glance at the clock shows that it's almost one. The game wore me out, so I start to change into pajama pants and get ready for bed. As I pull back the covers, there's a knock on my bedroom door.
“Winston! I have a present for you,” Neil yells from the other side. What the hell is he up to? With a sigh, I walk over, open the door, and look down to find Maddie standing next to Neil. What is she doing here? Neil gives me a grin before walking away.
“Hey, Winston.” Her eyes survey my bare torso before coming back to my face. “This is sort of a long story. Can I come in?” She gives me a hopeful smile as she rocks on her heels.
“Of course,” I answer, moving aside for her. It's not like I can say no to Dave's sister, especially if she needs something. Hell, it's not like I can say no to Maddie. Period.
“You still wear something on your head all the time?” she asks, glancing around my room before taking a seat on the edge of my bed.
I reach up and feel the fabric of a beanie on my head. I'd forgotten I was even wearing it. “Why? Does it bother you?” Sitting down next to her and feeling slightly awkward having her in my bedroom, I take off my beanie and drop it in her lap.
Maddie reaches over and ruffles my hair, laughing softly. “No, it doesn't. It was only an observation. I'd almost forgotten that you have perfect, dark brown hair underneath it.” Her hand falls back into her lap. “Ready for my long story?”
I scoot back on my bed to lean my back against the headboard and spread my legs out behind her. Once I clasp my hands behind my head, I say, “Okay, I'm ready.”
She takes a deep breath, but ends up mumbling, “Boys are stupid.”
Laughing, I tell her, “That's the best you got? Stupid? Wouldn't idiotic jerks sound better? Or what about insensitive jackasses? Or should we go with something like, boys are mindless morons who don't know how to keep a girl happy? I thought you were more imaginative than that, Maddie.”
That makes her smile. “Are there any guys who actually know how to keep a girl happy?” She cuts her eyes over at me, probably remembering that I failed her too.
“Only a few.” I pause, wondering if I should ask, but then decide I should. “Are you okay? I mean, you're not going to burst into tears, are you?”
