Sweet, Apologetic & Forgiving

Madison~~

My eyes wonder around Shelly's apartment, it's so much more brighter than mine even though the sky is gray.

She tells me to take a seat on her pink couch and I do politely. Her place is...aestheticly messy, there's two giant bookcases alongside the small box television and all sorts of flower pots all over the living room.

"Here you go." She hands the cup of tea with a smile.

I thank her before looking over at the bookcases once again. "Do you read?"

I ask.

"Oh no I don't. My daughter loves reading. She could read at the age of 3 already, and now at seven she loves writing poems as well." She laughs. "I don't know where she gets it from, neither her dad or I are great at... literature."

"Oh, that's great. You both must be really proud." I say. "Where is your husband?"

Shelly's laugh suddenly rings in my ears. "He's not around. We were never married. It's just Mabel and I."

"Oh."

"Do you and your ex have any kids together?" She asks.

I lightly shake my head. "No, we don't." And swallow the bob in my throat.

"Too sad, I think you would make a great mother. Kids are not easy but they're worth it."

I smile before taking a sip of my tea once again and say, "Kids are definitely not easy yeah." Shelly looks at me confused. "I'm a kindergarten teacher. I took two months off to deal with the divorce and the moving, but I have to admit I miss being at work. I need something to distract me from everything that's been happening. And obviously I miss my class too." I finish off.

Shelly is smiling. "That's amazing. You totally give off mother vibes. At which school?"

"St. John's Elementary School. It's small but I love it there."

Out of nowhere I feel a buzzing from inside my cardigan's pocket. Someone is calling me. I apologize to Shelly and take my phone out to see who it is but it's an unknown number.

I frown. Who could it be?

It better not be those tax or debt collectors. They just piss me off.

Of course I don't answer and wait till it's finish ringing.

"Who is it?" Shelly asks.

"An unknown number. I'm not going to answer it."

It finally stops ringing, and I take a sip of my tea once more.

"So, what made you move into this shitty place?"

"Can I ask you a question?" She nods. "When I moved in here, I kinda got the feeling that you didn't like me. Why was that?" I curiously ask.

"I just didn't know you and-" Before Shelly can finish my phone buzzes again.

"I'm so sorry. I think I need to take this." I apologize once more.

She smiles. "No, it's okay. Go ahead."

I get up from the couch and make my way to the front door. I want to take the call outside so that Shelly doesn't hear me, so as I take my buzzing phone out my pocket.

I open her front door and step outside, but before I can answer the call I immediately see Nathan standing in front of my apartment door looking at me with his phone connected to his ear.

Is he the one thats calling me?

I look down at my phone and then back up at him again. It is definitely him calling me.

Nathan takes his device away from his ear and cancels the call, and of course my phone stops ringing too.

"How did you get my number?"

"I have my ways?" He replies.

"What are you doing here?"

"To see you."

"I think you should go."

"Not happening."

The look he's giving me is annoying, but my intense stare can't help but take in his handsome face.

He is so not my type now that I think about it.

"Damnnn! You fine as hell."

I turn around at Shelly wide-eyed, she's standing in her doorframe with her cup in hand.

I hear Nathan greet her and then talks to me once more. "I really need to talk to you, Madison."

I look back at him, wondering what he wants to talk about.

...

"I see you got your door fixed." Nathan says, whilst being seated on my couch with a glass of water in his hands.

I take a seat opposite him. "Yeah, got it done a few hours ago."

We look at each other for a moment. "What do you want to talk about?"

Here it is, whatever he's going to say I know it won't be good from the look on his face.

"Let's just get straight into it then." He starts. "They know your name, they know where you live, and they know what your occupation is."

I look at him, my mouth slightly open. "I tried putting out a few flames with the publishers but-"

"But what? This is all your fault. I never should've met you!" I start pacing up and down. "Now my life is being turned upside down once again by a man! I really don't need this right now. You're just trouble and-"

"Madison, calm down."

"You're bringing chaos to my life, Nathan Lane."

"Madison!"

His loud yell brought my attention back to him.

"Don't yell at me." I strictly say.

"I'm sorry, Madison" He look at me softly. "I can fix this." Nathan stands up. "Just trust me."

"How? Huh?"

"By marrying me."

There's silence that surrounds us, and a few seconds goes by.

I lean my head to the side, squint my eyes at him and suddenly I burst out laughing.

"You think this is funny? Do you understand what this means?" Nathan asks furiously.

My laughter dies down. "Get out of my apartment."

He tries coming closer to me. "Madison, I don't make jokes. I'm being serious with you right now. So let me help protect you. I know you need it."

I frown up at him. "What do you mean by that? What do I need?"

"Money." He says. "I saw the hospital documents on the counter last night-"

I furiously push him away from me and make my way to the door. "Get out!"

Nathan follows me. "I can help your mother, Madison. I know this is really fucked up but we can help each other-"

I cut him off angrily. "Don't think for one second that I will be your fake house wife! I have my own life, it may not be perfect but so what? I'm not giving up everything I have for you... a complete stranger."

My raging eyes does not have the courage to look at him so I look down, not wanting to see the pain in his eyes.

"I thought we were friends, but I guess not."

He walks up to the door and I open it for him, my eyes still on the ground.

"I'm sorry, I won't bother you anymore. Forget we ever met." He says calmly, and starts walking down the stairs.

I look at him from behind, thinking, waiting for my decision. I had a question to ask but I don't know if I should...

"Nathan, wait!" I call out.

He turns around, facing me.

I bite my lip, waiting for my heartbeat to calm down, and then finally ask the question that has been on my mind since I met him. "Why me?"

He steps closer to me. "What's so special about me? You can marry any girl you want, so why ask me that question?"

Nathan says nothing. Not a single word as his gray eyes looks at me.

But then he leans down to my face and whispers, "I always get what I want, and what I want is you."

My heart beating so fast in my chest and my breathing becomes irregular at the view of his face. Our faces are so close.

"I know I come off as a sweet, apologetic, and forgiving person...but you will have to earn me. Don't objectify me. Want me for the right reasons."

"I won't ever objectify you." He calmly says. "I'm not good with women but I'll treat you fair, Madison."

"Why marriage? I need answers, Nathan. You can't just show up here asking me to marry you. This don't make any sense."

Nathan takes my hand in his and leads us back into my apartment. "Lock the door" he tells me and worriedly I do. "Take a seat."

I frown. "Are you ordering me in my own apartment?"

He takes a seat, and eventually I do too.

"I'll tell you everything. Get ready for the shitshow." Nathan declares.