Wasted [open? Tuesday?]

[d o l c e]

Another glass of whiskey,
But it still don't kill the pain

Madison Townsend rummaged through her parents' dresser drawers in the newly refurbished attic-made-into-bedroom. She knelt down and pulled open the second to last drawer, practically ripping it from its tracks. She was looking for the key to the liqour cabinent, desperately needing a drink... or two. Of course, the day she actually needed some booze, her parents decided to hide the key. Maddie could feel her brown eyes begin to sting and she bit the inside of her mouth, a painful lone-feeling settling in her stomach. She blinked hard, trying to keep the tears from falling down.

"Come on," Maddie whispered to no one in particular, the silence ringing in her ears. She searched through the drawer, practically ripping it apart at the edges. When Maddie was unsuccessful in her search of that drawer, she carefully put everything back together and then slid the drawer back into place. Reaching down, Maddie took a deep breath and closed her deep eyes for a moment, saying a quicky prayer even though she wasn't religious at all. Pulling open the drawer, Maddie looked down and saw a white shirt neatly folded up. She swallowed hard and lifted the shirt out of the drawer. Underneath was the key. Grinning, Maddie snatched it up, put the shirt back and went on her merry way.

There was no one home; they were all at brunch. Maddie had complained to her mother that she had cramps, though, she really didn't; she just wanted to stay home. Skipping down to the liqour cabinent in the living room, Maddie's spirits lifted and she felt glad that she was a snoop... a good one, too! When she reached the cabinent, the phone rang. Maddie ignored it and waited to grab the whiskey until the phone stopped ringing. Even though no one was home, she felt as though the phone somehow knew what she was up to. After a few minutes, Maddie felt her cell phone ring & vibrate in her pocket. She ignored that, too, not bothering to check to see who it was.

Maddie walked up to her room, skipping every other step. When Maddie reached her room, she stepped into the pale green room and closed the door behind her. She took a step toward the middle of the room and looked around. She had already popped the top downstairs and took a long swig of the drink, closing her eyes and letting the liquid run down her throat. Maddie moved toward her bed and sat down, staring down at the floor. She took another drink and the empty feeling in her stomach rose. It felt like crying in her stomach... she shook her head, trying to shake the feeling off. Maddie took yet another sip of whiskey and still time, her stomach sank more. Tears sprung to her eyes and Maddie fought the urge to cry. She took a deep, shakey breath and bit her lip.

"Why does it have to be like this?" she asked herself, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand that held the whiskey bottle. She wanted to scream, but didn't allow herself. Instead, she took a final sip of the alcohol and then whipped the bottle at her door. It shattered into pieces and the amber-colored liquid, imprinted itselfs on the white door, forever haunting Maddie. Staring hard at the broke pieces, Maddie got up and walked over to them. She bent down and grabbed a jagged-looking piece of glass. Breathing hard, Maddie stared at the glass in her hand, girpping it harder and harder until it cut through her palm and inside of ther fingers. She dropped the glass, blood sticking it to and then slowly dripping off of her hand.

Maddie didn't know or understand why anger & sadness had suddenly poisioned her body. Fat, salty tears still rolled down her face and Maddie felt her cell phone vibrating again in her pocket. She continued to ignore it and then finally reached into her pocket with her bloody palm, grasping the cell phone and then chucking it across the room in the opposite direction. Maddie collasped on the ground and took another piece of glass and expertly dragged it hard and roughly along her arm. The blood surfaced and spilled out slowly, as if Maddie's anger was pushing it out. Taking a deep breath, Maddie let it out finally: screaming and curling herself into a small ball, holding her head down with her arms, the blood mixing with her hair and staining her perfect-to-the-world life.

[SPOTLESS ™]

[So he stumbles to the sink,
and poors it down the drain]


Galen Hay was a slightly pathetic being on this afternoon. Of course, this was no difference than on any other afternoon. The only human being that seemed to have taken any interest in his persona was Maddison Townsend, whom at the moment was being daydreamed about, his head cocked slightly upward, eyes glazed over. For a moment, his mind was removed from the library which he sat at, hunched over college applications. He had been leafing through them for about an hour now, completely absentmindedly as the words swam before his eyes. What was the point? Nothing seemed to interest him, and as these negative thoughts continued to pop into his brain, one particular one seemed to stand out, and he voiced it aloud. "Nobody's going to accept me anyway." This comment earned him a sharp shushing noise, and dirty look from the librarian, and he ceased speaking, bending over the table. A sharp pain shot through his head. That's it, he thought, and gathered together the papers he had been staring at with glossy eyes.

Once outside of the painfully silent library, Galen found himself once more in a bit of a pickle about what there was to do. Karina was most likely sprawled out on her bed, or over at Jake's so there was no conceivable way that he could annoy her. So what to do, what to do. Immediately Maddie popped up into his head, and for a moment he let the thought dwell, untouched. As the thought grew into a plan of sorts, he took out his cellphone, silently thanking the lords of reception for the current four, yes four bars that currently were ingrained into his cellphone screen. He quickly dialed Maddie's number, actually, let me correct myself, it was on speed dial. Oh yes, it was. With a satisfied nod of his head, Galen prayed silently that Maddie would pick up, and not a sister or parent.

But nooope, no luck. A few more times, Galen tried, and each time the annoying lady came up, asking him to please leave a message after the beep. "No I will NOT leave a message after the beep," Galen said loudly after the machine had received his fourth call. Then a brilliant thought arrived in the head of Galen Hay. Something so brilliant, he was unable to contain himself, and burst out in an (undoubtedly horrid) chorus of, "I have her cellphone number! Yipeee!" For a moment, he celebrated, but then hunkered down to the task of calling.

After another four thousand times with no luck, Galen cursed and slammed his cellphone shut, getting none of the conviction and odd sort of pleasure one gets out of slamming the phone on a hook. But then he began to worry. It was Maddie. Maddie who drunk, Maddie who was a slut before the two had met. Had she fallen back on her own ways? With this cheery thought, Galen hastened to find his car, and drive to Maddie's. The lock gave way when he tried it, and he followed the sound of broken glass and screaming. "Oh no," he managed to whisper, and the sight he came upon was even more horrible than he could've imagined.

Galen rushed forward, taking Maddie's hands and cradling her head. "Let's get you out of here," he said, supporting her writhing body, and ignoring the red liquid that spilled from her palms.

[d o l c e]

An angel girl with an upturned face

Maddie's screaming subsided long before Galen reached her. All of the oxygen in her lungs had been pushed out of her body and she was now just lying on the floor, tears rolling down her face, trying to catch her breath again. She slowly sat up, her palms stinging as she touched the hardwood floor. Maddie looked at the mess around her, her curly hair hiding her face from the disaster and some of it sticking to her wet face.

The arm in which she had cut up - which was nothing new to Maddie - supported her body as she weakly stared into space, focusing in on the shattered glass that surrounded her, almost seeming to suffocate her. Sniffing, Maddie rubbed her runny nose with the back of her hand and continued to scan the floor in front of her with glazy eyes. She'd never done it before, but for some reason... Maddie felt like getting high. She knew that Bailey, her 12yo sister, probably had a stash somewhere in her own room. However, the thought of getting up and walking - still breathing, still living - paralyzed Maddie and she slowly laid back down on the floor, holding herself.

The hardwood stained floor was cool to her body, making this lonely-hot feeling in her body reduce. She closed her eyes, beginning to feel sleepy and weak at the same time. She just wanted to fall sleep for a long time... just pause life and not wake up for some time until she felt ready enough to handle everything. She knew it would never happen, so she allowed herself to drift off to a sleep. Perhaps... perhaps, by the time the family got back, she would be sleeping forever.

Just as Maddie almost fell asleep, a very bright light pierced through her eyelids and she groaned lowly. She heard footsteps approaching her and then heard a deep, soothing voice. She knew who it was even before they touched her, scooping up her body and carrying her from the room. It took a few moments, but when Maddie opened her eyes, she found herself staring up at Galen. She didn't like the expression on his face and instantly wanted to go back in time to change things. She wished that she had just drunk some whiskey and not tried to kill herself. But, she was a stupid slut and of course everything worked against them.

"You're not supposed to be here," Maddie told Galen in a low voice, hoping that he would hear her, but at the same time, wishing he wouldn't. "No one is...." And her heart jumped, pounding in her chest so hard that Maddie knew Galen could hear it.

Her parents. Would Galen tell them? Would she have to tell them? Where was Galen taking her? Were they going to find out? If they did... it would mean probably rehab and her telling them about her promiscuous life, her slightly addiction to booze and her cutting. Which would mean going back to That Night and reliving it. That is, if she could remember any of it.

Maddie closed her eyes and flashes of That Night seeped back into her memory and she shook her head, pushing at Galen's chest. The sound of water filled Maddie's ears and she wanted to scream - try to - but nothing would come out. She felt heavy hands gripping her, pushing into her arms so hard that she could feel them already bruising. Maddie managed to open her brown eyes and oxygen went flooding back into her chest, filling up her lungs. She stared at Galen, hoping that he would protect her still.

[SPOTLESS ™]

[He took the midnight train going anywhere]

Galen said nothing, the brutal efficiency of his actions almost frightening. For a moment he wrapped her in his arms, inhaling the deep scent of her hair. Then, with a grim smile, he scooped her up, cradling her baby-like. Beads of sweat ran down his forehead, more out of nervousness and the sudden heat of Maddie's home then the skinny frame whose weight he now completely supported. He stumbled over furniture, mopping sweaty hair out of his eyes, and whispering continuously to Maddie. She seemed to have given up her writhing struggle, and now stared up at him, eyes wide and livid. In those deep brown eyes, hidden away in the pockets of misery, were all of the horrors Maddie had suffered. The night with Alex... her parents cheating. Why, why hadn't he seen it before? She needed to be away. He let out a huge breath, smoothing her hair down as he hastened to find his way out of the house. "It's okay, I'm here, your safe,"[/color] Galen said, his voice low and soothing.

I have to get her out of this house, Galen said, breathing heavily and searching feverishly for the door he had arrived through. At last he spotted it, and he pushed roughly through, still clinging Maddie's continually lifeless body. Hospital? No. They would ask how she had sustained her injuries, and Galen wouldn't be the one to turn Maddie in. How though? Thoughts whirled through Galen's head as he plopped her into the seat next to him in the blue sedan, and fastened a seatbelt around her middle. He slid into the seat himself, and started the ignition, unsure of where exactly he was planning on taking her. Eyes glued to the road, Galen drove on, breathing heavily and glancing ever so often at Maddie, praying she could stay strong enough. Gazing down at her still form made some sort of beast in Galen's chest arise. No one, no one, should have to endure what Maddie had so far. He felt no one in this world was out to help her, so perhaps he had to be the only one. But this was a challenge he was ready for, and looked upon with determined relish, as if the task itself had wronged him.

Unknowingly, Galen had driven to his house. Again, he hoisted her up, and carried her, under the cloudy blue sky, toward the RV which stood open, and thankfully cool in the hot sun. With a glance at her white face, he laid her on the couch and dug a Gatorade bottle out of the fridge. "Your body is in shock... drink this, it'll make you feel better," Galen said, biting his lip, and moving quickly to the other side of the vehicle. He grabbed a first aid kit, and busied himself dabbing antiseptic on her wounds, speaking all the while. "Maddie you can't do this to yourself. It's solving nothing, and it just puts you in this horrid state. Come on, I know you can do better. Stay here for a couple of days. I'll protect you."[/b] He paused for a moment, gazing into her chocolate eyes. "I promise."
[/size]

[d o l c e]

It was easy to let herself go in Galen's arms, letting him carry all of her weight. She felt bad, but at the same time, greatful that someone else could carry her burden and take responsibility. Maddie closed her eyes and listened to Galen's rhythmic footfall as he walked down the white hallway and then decsended down the carpeted stairs.

Before Maddie even realized it, she was being carried from Galen's car to the RV that she had spent the night in what seemed like so long ago. Galen put her down on the comfortable couch and Maddie rested there, glancing down at her arms. The blood was drying up into a dark red crust. Her palm and wrists were beginning to sting a little, but Maddie was able to ignore it and concentrate on Galen.

He came over to her with some Gatorade and Maddie took it gently from his hand. She twisted open the cap and sat up a little bit, careful not mess up what Galen was doing to her arm, and took a small sip of the red liquid. She let the cold drink slide down her throat and settle into her stomach. A few seconds later, Maddie took another sip. She capped the drink again and looked down at Galen and his doctor-techniques. Galen expertly patched up her arm and Maddie felt a patch of her broken heart healing with it. She smiled and stared at Galen as he worked, her chest swelling with a feeling that she was certain was love. But, was it possible? Maddie had never loved someone like this before... and she was so young! But, was it possible?

When Galen was finished with her arm and palm, Maddie reached out to touch her cheek, dragging her fingers across his jawline. She then reached up to run her slim fingers through his hair. When Maddie reached the back of his neck, she pulled her own body close to his and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him close. Maddie buried her face into the nape of Galen's neck, smelling his sweetness and blessing herself for someone like him.

[SPOTLESS ™]

[my wish for you is that this life becomes all that you want it too]

Galen smiled, his neck hairs tingling slightly at her touch. He bent down and kissed her softly, holding her for a moment, then breaking away with a small smile. "And you know, you can't have me coming up all the time and needing to save you. I mean, come on Maddie, that's just not right." With an easy grin, he let her rest her head on his broad shoulders, his eyes dark and calculating. Right now, here with Maddie, something felt so right. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but there was a feeling of elation swelling inside of his chest that had nothing to do with the current nice temperature of the RV. He was sure this girl and him were meant to be together. Forever, not just for his high school years.

He broke away from Maddie for a moment, running a clammy hand through his hair which was black with sweat. Sighing audibly, he plopped down onto the couch next to her, taking her bandaged hand into his own sweaty fingers. He turned to face her, blue eyes intense and blazing with warm affection. How could he have only known this girl for a few weeks, but already feel so much connection, and need to protect her from the predicament he currently found himself in? Why was this all so confusing. So, Galen, his head tied in knots, turned back to Maddie, after the slight digression into his own head. When he spoke his tone was low and melodic, but had a guilty tinge to it, as if for some reason he felt sheepish for the way he felt. "Madison Elle Townsend: I've known you for three weeks, and I think I'm in love with you."[/color]

Just voicing those words made him feel foolish, but it was as if some huge weight had lifted off his heart, had enabled him to feel lighter again. Perhaps it was just the thrill of getting something so huge out of his head, and finally voicing it allowed. Perhaps not. But all Galen knew was that, if he had to spend the rest of his life protecting her from her own family, so be it. He was up for it. He needed to be up for it. [/size]

[d o l c e]

A few short days and night together
And it’s like they were meant to be
Lying there with her, he softly whispers,
"Just think what we were so recently"

When Galen broke away from Maddie, she leaned back and smiled, still feeling the taste of him on her lips. She ducked her head and tried to surpress her smile. When Galen spoke, Maddie forced herself to look up and stare him in the face, searching his beautiful eyes. A tingling sensation [of love] shot up her throat, crawling its way out and jumping onto Galen when Maddie released her breath.

Nodding, Maddie's heart ached and she bit her lip, hating what she had just put Galen through. She reached out to him and rested her shaky hand on his cheek. "I'm sorry," she whispered. She leaned close to him, the fire her in eyes burning endlessly. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to put you through that and hurt you like that."

Maddie let her pale hand fall and she dragged it back to her own lap. The Gatorade was in her lap, the outside sweating and the inside loosing its coolness. Maddie felt that way, too: her hard demeanor was shedding and melting with each second spent with Galen. And her insides were melting, too. She felt a heavy weight lift from her shoulders and suddenly, here with Galen where she was safe from herself and her family, the world didn't seem like such a bad place. Her dark eyes scanned Galen's face and Maddie knew that, with Galen by her side, she would make it through and that things would end up being okay. Together, they could fight whatever demons came their way and their happiness would exceed anything endured.

A warm, wide smile spread across Maddie's face as Galen told her that he loved her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her. Maddie leaned back until her back was on the couch and Galen was above her. She ran her fingers through Galen's hair and she kissed his cheek and then migrated to his lips. "I love you, too," she told him when she finally pulled away from his juicy lips. She stared into his eyes, spilling out all of her hatred and bad feelings for others and filling them with love for only Galen. Maddie smiled at him again and then kissed his eyes... his cheek... and then his lips again.

"Don't ever leave me," Maddie whispered, pulling him closer to her small body.






[[OOC: NO! She's not trying to turn him on and/or sleep with him. It's just how I pictured this part?]]

[SPOTLESS ™]

[I want to be inside your heaven;]

For a moment, the awkward teenager that dwelled on the inside of Galen pushed outward, and he stared at her with a slightly stricken look as she leaned up close against his shoulders. But with a brief smile, the look passed and Galen let his arm drape over her shoulders, happily grinning once more. He put his legs up, and watched her with a look of utter pleasure. Once again, the sheer amazingness of the situation hit him. Here he was, sitting with the girl he was absolutely sure he was in love with, and she had announced that she loved him back. How though? How was it that they were so young, and were already sure of this? But perhaps at the moment it didn't matter. Over and over again, the thought occurred. All that mattered was that he was here with Maddie. A sigh escaped Galen's curved lips, and he ran a heavy hand through his dark hair. The air conditioning of the RV was a quite a difference from the humid air of the outdoors.

He paused before answering, his smile blazing with affection. "Of course I'll never leave you. What happened today proves something. Even if nobody else on this planet will defend you, I will. Always. You can count on me."[/b] His tone had a ringing finality, that obviously put an end to the subject, yet it was not harsh. His adoration for her was still obvious in every expression he made. He smiled once more, unsure of what to say. He put his hand on hers, and sighed heavily. "How are your cuts feeling?" He asked, his tone light and cheery, but his eyes dark and serious. He was seriously worried about her, and the feeling was obviously portrayed in the expression he now gave her. "Maddie, hon, I can try to help. I can. But if you can't stop this. If you can't stop all of this crap that's going to ruin your life, I'm going to get you proffesional help. Don't follow the steps of your parents, we can do it." He paused, a look of quiet determination fixing itself on his face. "I know we can."[/size]

[d o l c e]

Where would you be,
if you weren't here with me?
Where would you go,
if you were single and free?
Who would you love;
would it be me?
Where would you be?

Maddie saw a look on Galen that she hadn't seen since they first met. She worried for a minute, her heart racing, that Galen was going to back out on her. But the look only lasted very briefly and then Galen smiled and Maddie could tell - and feel from his body language - that it wasn't forced. Maddie knew that Galen was questioning the moment, their announcement of love of one another and everything else. She was, too. It just seemed soo unreal; but it wasn't, right? Maddie wasn't schizophrenic, was she? Her heart fluttered in her chest, beating hard against her ribs and with her breath, escaping into Galen's body to be with him.

Maddie had never, never felt this way about a bo... man before. To her, relationships didn't exist. They were flings and numerous partners were allowed. All she had wanted from previous... company was the sex. But, with Galen - while she somewhat wanted the sex - she mainly wanted to just be with him. She wanted to spend time with him. She wanted him to see her true self... to love her for herself, not the slut she had presented her as.

"Thank you," Maddie whispered to Galen, cherishing the moments between them. She didn't dare speak loudly to disrupt this understanding and special moment. Maddie relaxed as Galen moved above her. It was a non-sexual way, but it reminded her sooo much of The Night with Alec. She was able to calm herself, though, when she looked into Galen's face and saw his trusting eyes... his charming smile... his beautiful face. However, when Galen mentioned her cuts and her family life, she shifted uncomfortably under him and looked away from his face.

"Everything is fine," Maddie told him, glancing at him briefly. She pasted her arms at her side, hiding them from Galen. She forced a smile. "I feel great. My cuts are fine...." But then tears welled up in Maddie's eyes and she looked straight at Galen, biting her lip and knowing that she should tell him everything. "They sting a little bit, but I'll be fine. My stomach looks worse." She cleared her throat and then truly smiled at him, her brown eyes sparkling. "I think we can figure things out ourselves. I trust us." Bending upward, Maddie kissed Galen again, lingering on his mouth, in hopes that a kiss would fix everything.