Pinky Swear

Earlier That Day...

Madison~~

I look down at my mother as she stares at the television against the wall.

I don't want to yell at her or make her feel bad for what happened, but I need answers. Specifically from her.

I lean back as I cross my arms. "You scared me, mom."

She doesn't look my way. "Where's your necklace?"

"What you mean?" I frown looking down to feel it dangling, but to my surprise the gold necklace she gave me is gone. "It's at my apartment, I just forgot to put it back on."

I lost my key, and now my necklace too. Just great!

Maybe Nathan has it, or-

"I didn't take them because they make me feel worse, the weight loss, the pale skin. I can't with those medications anymore." My mom looks at me dearly. "I'm sorry, Maddie. I didn't mean to scare you. Maybe it's time, maybe he's waiting for me."

I lean in closer and reach for her hand. "Please, don't say that. You just need to take care of your health and get better. You can do it, mom. I'll do everything to help you as well."

"We don't have the fees for it anyway."

"The medical aid should be enough. Stop worrying. Next week I'm going back to work." I tell her. "This can be controlled."

There's a moment of silence before she speaks again.

"Do you know why we moved here?" She asks and I tell her that we moved here for more opportunities.

She nods. "But also because I wanted you to be happy, but I can't help but think I made a mistake. I should've never let go of the memories we shared there. I know this place never felt like home to you, so do you hate me? Do you hate me that I made such a drastic choice after your father died?"

I take a deep breath in. "I know that what you did was on the best interest for the both of us, so how can I hate you for doing that?" I don't want to cry, not now.

My mother and I moved here when I was eighteen years old. I stated college and my mom got a job as a newspaper editor for some newspaper article company here in New York, but soon she fell ill, I offered her a place with Christian and I but she insisted.

"Things was just hard with Chris. Rushing into marriage and loosing a baby is what made me like this." I shrug my shoulders. "It's my own fault. I tried using him as an escape but it backfired."

A sudden realization came down on me.

It's true. I used him, just as he used me. Our love was based on selfishness.

I thought he could fix the hole in my heart, but I was wrong.

"After this, you're going to come stay with me, alright?"

My mother looks up frowning. "Huh uh, holy moly no! That's my home and besides, I'll miss Larry too much."

I laugh, taking her hand in mine. "I'm starting to think he stole you from me, mom." A short pause follows. "Are you going to miss me?"

Her brown eyes focuses on the TV once more. "Eh."

"Wow!" I smile squinting my eyes at her as she smiles in satisfaction.

A doctor enters the room. He smiles at me. "Madison, may I have a word with you outside?"

I nod, letting go of my mother's hand, but she pulls me back, leaning in towards my ear. "I'll miss you with every breath in my body. Heaven knows how much I love you, my Maddie." She whispers with a loving grace in her eyes.

Leaning down, I kiss the top of her head gently. "Good. Then promise me you'll get out of here soon so that I can take you home. With me."

I hear her subtle laugh. "You remind me so much of him. What's a promise without the pinky swear part right?"

I just smile down at her.

I'm not twelve anymore. He doesn't need to pinky promise me that he'd make it home for Christmas.

Those days are long gone.

I let go and follow the doctor out into the hallway.

"Your mother's recovery from her seizure is very good. Her high blood pressure is steady for now and I'll do everything I can to keep it that way. This, or anything else won't happen again." He says.

I nod. "When do you think she can be released? I'm hoping soon right?"

"We just need to go over some nutritional diet plans that will not interfere with her health. I know she said that the pills makes her loose weight, so I need to combat that." He lifts up and hands me the papers. "These are a rough estimate of the medical costs, which most of the medical aid took care of. Please look through them and we'll go from there."

My breathing stops when I look at the large amount.

$8,150

Nice.

I gulp looking back up at him. "Right. Will do."

...

I enter my apartment building. The yellow tone concrete walls in the hallway makes this place look dirty, especially when there's graffiti on it.

Some of the block of stairs is chipped, proving that this building is pretty old and in some need of refurbishing.

I'll have to talk to Carl about this, see what I can do, if I can help.

Going up the stairs, I approach my apartment door, but I see something.

The lock and doorknob is completely broken off. A piece of the wood next to the doorknob is punched all the way through.

Someone tried to get inside. But who?

I hear footsteps from behind, I turn seeing Shelly and her daughter who looks about the age of eight and that I don't know the name of.

"What happened to your door?" She asks taking out her key of her white Louis Vuitton leather handbag.

Her jet black hair is up in a sleek ponytail showing off her giant hoop earrings that is hanging on for dear life on her ears. She has on a black halter top, paired with a denim skinny and fashionable black heels. She looks so good.

"I-I have no idea. I just arrived and saw this." I say, still shocked.

The sound of slippers I hear from the upper stairs, and it's Mrs Wilson, my upstairs neighbor.

She lifts up her glasses she's wearing as she looks down at me from above the stairs.

"It was a white fella. He had such blonde hair. He was here this afternoon, around 1pm, dear." She stops to think. "I think it was the one from last time if I'm not mistaken."

Well, news spreads fast.

Of course it had to be Christian.

"Thank you, Mrs Wilson." I look down.

"Mommy, can I watch cartoons now?"

Shelly's daughter asks tugging onto her mother's hand.

She opens the door and her daughter runs in chirply. "What is that guy from you anyway?" Shelly asks leaning on her doorframe.

She frowns, waiting for me to answer.

I hesitate.

"My ex."

I watch her eyes go slightly big. She stares up at the brown skinned elderly lady, then back at me, concerningly. "Did he ever...you know- try to hurt you before?"

I feel a sudden rage of anger.

Why is she asking me this?

It's none of her business

I turn back to my door, trying to move it open. "I should call Carl."

"A man that does that is capable of doing much more damage, and it may be you next time. Be careful, dear. You don't want to be caught in the strings of a deceitful man." Mrs Wilson says and turns walking away.

I'm afraid it's too late for that.

...

After receiving a long speech from Carl about the broken door, and all the costs for it, he left saying I need to pay up first.

So for now, the door is still sad and broken.

I plop down on the couch, closing my eyes as I lay back.

It's been a rough two days.

I take a deep breath in, trying to relax my busy mind and to stop it from getting a headache.

"..Maybe it's time, maybe he's waiting for me."

I flutter my eyes open when I feel them getting heavy, and suddenly sit up trying to breathe.

The slight pain in my chest makes it harder and harder to concentrate on my breathing, so I squeeze my hands into fists and try counting till 10.

Relief fills my body as I become calmer.

What was that? Probably just stress.

Heading to my bedroom, I hear a knock on my front door.

The little scaredy cat in me stays still in one spot.

The door is basically open for anyone to enter, but I guess knocking is still appropriate.

"Who is it?" I ask, loud enough for that person to hear.

"It's me, Nathan."

I frown.

Okay, now this man is really starting to freak me out.

How the hell did he find out where I live?

I walk up to the broken door, open it up and see Nathan standing there with his hands in his dark brown coat.

The slight beard that's growing on his face is shaved perfectly, highlighting his cheekbones. His brown hair flows back, showing is forehead that has a couple freckles on it. I didn't notice that before.

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

His icy blue eyes meets my brown ones.

"Well, hello to you too."

"How do you know where I stay?"

Nathan frowns looking back at my door. "What happened to your door? Someone broke in? Or did you not get your keys at all?" He rather asks.

I look at him wide-eyed, feeling slightly annoyed at his attitude, so I step back and shut the door in his handsome face.

I hear him knock again just as I walked towards my room.

I open the door again, this time making sure I look annoyed. "What?" I ask him.

Nathan looks down at me with a smirk, takes out his hand from his pocket and opens it revealing my necklace. "I believe this belongs to a very beautiful woman." He says, surprising me.

He's never said that to me before.

The gold necklace looks smaller in his large hands, and when he let's it slip till his fingers, he urges me to take it.

"Thank you." I try smiling up at him.

"Sorry for slamming the door in your face, you just creeped me out."

I motion him to come inside and kick the door close with my foot.

"But you still didn't answer my question. I'm pretty sure I didn't tell you where I live."

He takes a look around my apartment, secretly judging it. "I have my ways." He says eyeing the hospital statements on my kitchen counter.

I rush forward, hiding them. "I thought this morning would be the last time I saw you."

"Yeah, which makes me think you left behind treasure for me to find and bring back to you. That was a smart move." Nathan smiles facing me.

That gorgeous smile of his.

I playfully roll my eyes at him. "Oh please, I don't recall leaving behind a treasure map. Or did you stalk me on your own?"

He rather let's out a small laugh.

I open the fridge, cringing when I see a couple rotten apples, basically a empty fridge. "Would you like some water?" I offer looking back at him.

He shakes his head. "No thanks. I just wanted to give your necklace back. It seems priceless."

Did he take a look inside?

I nod. "Yeah, it is."

Nathan stares at me in silence before asking. "Are you going to tell me what happened?"

"Huh?"

"Your door?" He points to it.

"Oh, yeah uhm- my landlord couldn't get me another key, so I just...forced my way in." I say, thinking quick.

Nathan raises a brow, silently reading me.

And once I figured out what he's doing I walk to my bedroom, before I make a fool out of myself.

After putting my necklace away in my drawer, I grab a red hoodie I find hanging in my cupboard putting in on, and I pair of comfy sneakers, and walk back in the living room, only to see Nathan still standing there.

"I'm heading out." I say, grabbing my bag from the counter and walk over to the front door. "You're coming?" I ask smiling back at him.