;I hope karma slaps you before I do

How could I be so fucking stupid?!

To think I high tailed my ass all the way over the gym, hanging out my ass to give that Baller bastard a chance to prove my rule didn't apply to him, that despite all my beliefs, he was the one that changed my mind.

At least now I have my answer; a big, fat, disappointing NO.

No, he can't change my mind.

No, he can't have a chance to prove that the rule doesn't apply to him.

Because, shocker-

It does.

And to every other baller, jockstrap and goddamn caveman just like Maddox fucking Hunter.

"Aren't you supposed to be at the baller house cooking their weekly meals? Why are you here?"

Oh Hannah, sweet sweet Hannah.

I flick my wrist, whisking the batter. "Because I want to cook here?" I flatly replied, raising a brow afterwards. "That okay?"

Pretending she doesn't care doesn't come easy to Hannah. She has to know everything and has no qualms in letting people know it.

"No. Not if you're not going to tell me why."

I shrug. "I just don't wanna be there right now."

A loud puff of air blows through her lips. "What's going on? You've been completely off your game for the past two days. Did something happen?"

Did something happen?

As a matter of fact it did Hannah.

Maddox Hunter is a fucking ass.

"I don't wanna talk about it, so can you drop it? Please." I don't even sound like myself. Nothing but a defeated tone echoing from my mouth.

Hannah twists in the bar stool across from me, forearms resting on the counter, a serious look in her dark eyes. "Tee," she sighs, "whatever is getting you down, don't you think you'd feel better getting it off your bouncy chest and actually talk?"

I drop the whisk on the counter, creamy batter dripping aimlessly against the white marble top, slowly. "I just realised how much of an idiot I am, and all it took was almost breaking my rule for baller cap. Stupid, right?"

She looks positively flabbergasted. "You were going to break your rule for him!?" jaw literally hanging. "Don't you like live and breathe that fucking rule!?"

I throw her a tell-me-about-it look while snorting.

Yup.

Apart of me wished I never considered changing my mind, never walked into that gym, never heard those words leave Maddox's mouth.

In fact, I wish I stayed strong and never gave into him, never befriended him, never went on that date, never kissed him; that way I wouldn't feel as shitty as I do now.

"What happened? Why didn't you end up breaking it for him?" she asked, fingering the fresh salad I had prepared.

Picking the whisk back up and distracting myself. "I heard him telling Cammy he doesn't care about me or my rule." I answer as coldly as I could muster up, despite the sinking feeling in my stomach [and heart.] "It's whatever. I just wish I didn't feel so stupid for believing him, y'know?"

Hanna hopped off the stool and raced around towards me, wrapping her toned arms around my shoulders and pulling me into a massive - well needed - hug.

"Aw babe. I'm so sorry." she cooed into my hair.

I push myself away, giving her a slopping shrug. "Doesn't even matter. At least I found out sooner rather than later."

Hannah leans against the counter beside me, elbow propped up and chin resting on her palm. "Have you spoken to him about it? I mean, not to rub salt in the wound or anything, but it doesn't sound like Mads.. We all saw how he was with you, the way he'd look at you, it just doesn't make sense."

I scoff. "Trust me, I thought the same but after two days to mulling it over and dissect everything bit by bit, it kinda does. He's a proud, egotistical baller and I was the one girl who could actually resist him. Makes perfect sense, right?"

Hannah contemplates on what she's going to say next, her mouth opening but nothing coming out. Nothing until she says, "It's just not Maddox, Tee. Talk to him. I strongly suggest it."

Dipping the fish into the batter piece by piece. The creamy mixture coating my fingers, "Thanks, Han, but I really don't want to. I think it's better if I just stay away from now on."

"And the boys?"

"What about them?"

She quirks up a brow. "They love you, Tori. They're gonna miss not having you around, you're not going to cut them off too.. Are you?"

"No, course not. I love them all in their own way. But it certainly won't be like it used to be, so maybe coffee dates with 'em?"

A small, coy smile appears on Hannah's nude lips. "Good. I'd hate to see you lose a good group of guys because you're mad at their captain."

I nod solemnly, anything to exit this conversation and fast.

Once I was ten minutes from finishing the food, I dialled Eli - he was the only one I could deal with coming to grab the dishes tonight - not Jason asking me why I wasn't eating with them, not Cammy trying to defend Maddox's stupid word vomit, and certainly not Miles who's only going to try and swoop in and make everything better - at least with Eli I could tell him to fuck off and not feel bad afterwards.

"Hey, what's up? Why aren't you here yet? The guys and I are starving!" is how my brother greets me.

I clear my throat, fiddling with the tupperware. "I've cooked here today, can you come grab it? It'll be dished out and fresh by time you get here."

I can hear a various male voices in the background, laughing, joking, cussing each other out - fuck, I didn't realise I'd miss them as much as I do.

"You're not eating with us? Why?"

I can hear Jason in the background, "Tori isn't coming!? Why the fuck not!?" Then he comes on the speaker, "Tee, get your sexy little ass down here and feed us! We're dying here without you! I'm physically wasting away!!"

I can't help but giggle at him, always so dramatic. "I've cooked for you guys, I just need Eli to come grab it." I explain, still smiling to myself at this guy.

"Uh, I wanna know why you're not coming. It's not the same without you, Tee -- please!" he whines.

"We'll do something soon, okay? Just not tonight. Besides, I cooked something you're gonna love."

I hear the voices in the background go quiet.

Eli must take the phone back, "I'll be there in ten. And I want answers."

With that he hangs up, no goodbye, nothing.

Well, brother dearest, you'll be getting no answers from me. Ask your idiotic captain.

Finally, my brother arrives, pounding on the door excessively until I throw it open, obviously annoyed.

Leading him through to the kitchen, his interrogation came immediately; why aren't you eating with us? What happened? Is something going on? The boys won't shut up.

"Eli, I love you, I do, but I really don't wanna talk right now. I made your food, and I'll continue to do so, but I won't be eating with you guys anymore." I say, firm and calm.

I can see the wheels turning, he's got a million come backs on the tip of his tongue, thankfully he bites them back and shrugs it off.

"You know you can talk to me if you need too, right, Tee?"

I nod. "I do, and when I need someone I'll come to you, but right now, I just wanna forget it all and get on with shit, y'know?" I smile softly at my brother, bless him. "But I won't stop cooking for you guys, promise."

He pretends to wipe sweat from his forehead. "Phew. I was scared I was going to have to go back to eating Ed's shit." he grimaced afterwards.

I chuckle a little. "I'd never let that happen to you guys." I teased.

"So whatcha got for us today?" he rubs his hands together, looking over the containers of food.

I throw him a smug smile. "Well, we have battered cod, fried. New potatoes, salad and a side of parsley sauce." I say, packing them in a bag as I say them out.

He hums in approval. "Real English meal. You're a killer, sis."

"I know. Now, get outta here before it all goes cold and soggy."

"Yes, boss." he salutes me, picking up the bag.

After I walk him to the door, he lingers for a moment.

"Is this anything to do with Maddox?"

I sigh. "It doesn't matter, Eli. Honestly."

"That's a yeah then." He rolls his eyes.

"Goodbye, and enjoy." I smile, shooing him down the hall.

Closing the door, I drop against it and slide down.

I feel defeated.

Maddox's words on repeat in my mind. "I don't give a fuck anymore, about Tori or her goddamn rule!"

I don't give a fuck anymore.

Don't give a fuck.

A chime from my phone brings me out my trance like state.

Is this guy serious right now!? Of course I missed dinner because of him. Why would I sit across from him humiliated and exhausted from going over the words constantly?

Oh, he's so fucking serious. That's it. No one tells me what to do! Certainly not Maddox fucking Hunter.

Don't tell me what to do, k, thnx.

It is. Text me again and I'm blocking you.

No.

No.

Then leave.

GO AWAY!

I go to the living room window and lone behold, I see Maddox leaning against the hood of his black G wagon - looking up at me.

Maddox. Go away. I don't wanna talk.

I have nothing to say.

I don't know what possessed me to actually listen to him, honestly, I just want him to go away, and maybe going down I can get into his thick skull that I don't want anything to do with him -- failing that, I can slap him.

That's fun to think about.

I laugh at the thought of his cheeks rippling as I make my way down the stairs, and maybe if I do it hard enough I could draw blood.

Still giggling to myself as I exit the apartment lobby doors.

"Something funny?" Maddox raises a brow, smirk on his full lips.

"Just thinking about how your cheeks would ripple if I was to slap you."

"That so?" he deadpans.

I nod. Looking smug and feeling smugger.

A few beats past by and Maddox still hasn't said a word, instead he fiddles with the silver ring on his index finger.

"If you're not saying anything, I'm going. I've wasted enough time on you as it is."

Maddox rolls his neck, looking heavenwards and furrowing his brows, almost like he's in physical pain.

"I'm sorry,"

"Okay. Bye." I cut him off and turn.

Quickly reaching out, he catches my elbow and stops me. "Okay, okay. Please."

I glare him down as I cross my arms over my chest.

Bitch mode is in full force.

"Can you not.. Stare at me like that?" he says, looking slightly uncomfortable.

"No. I didn't wanna be here in the first place so you can deal with my death glare. Thanks."

I watch him blow out a breath, rubbing his hands together then cracking his knuckles.

"I should stay away from you but I can't," he blurts out.

I remain silent. Mostly because he's rendered me speechless.

"And I can't deal with pretending anymore, Bella."