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sat across from Reese as they ate lunch in the middle of the courtyard. He watched the cafeteria doors that led outside with a keen interest.

"She'll be here soon," Reese piped up with a roll of his eyes, "stop being so impatient."

Maddox shot him a look of irritation before a small smile curved his lips upwards as he noticed Evelyn walk out into the courtyard with Tiana trailing behind. Watching as Tiana and Evelyn stopped in their steps to speak for a minute or two, he silently groaned wondering when Evelyn would get to the table he was sitting at.

Eventually, Tiana waved at Evelyn as she walked back into the cafeteria. Evelyn scanned the courtyard before her eyes caught Maddox's. He chuckled noticing the deep red her cheeks had turned. She started making her way towards them, but a pair of high heels stopped her suddenly.

Maddox's expression immediately turned serious as he watched the exchange before Evelyn and Maya, the same girl who cornered Evelyn in the bathroom. He was too far to hear what she was saying to Evelyn, but noticing Evelyn's downcast eyes he knew it was nothing good. Soon enough, however, Evelyn hesitantly started walking again as Maya stepped aside. Watching as Evelyn fell to the ground due to a certain bitch's foot deliberately blocking her path, Maddox stood from his chair before making his way to the scene. The courtyard had quieted down as everyone watched him slowly involve himself in the drama before their eyes.

Once he got close enough, he quickly kneeled down before gently picking Evelyn up by her waist.

"Are you okay?" he mumbled quietly so only she would hear as he looked over her body for any injuries before his eyes settled on the bloody patch she sported on her temple.

She shook her head slightly, "I'm fine," she said with a shaky breath.

His jaw clenched in annoyance and anger knowing the kind girl in front of him was hurt, "No you're not. You're bleeding."

Scrunching her nose in slight confusion, she gently brought her hand up to her temple before wincing as she felt the blood against her skin.

"Oh."

He watched her with anger evident in his eyes. She bit her lip and offered him a smile to let him know she'd be fine. He turned away from her as his eyes settled on the perpetrator behind everything.

"Try and hurt her again, you'll experience worse things than your personality," he harshly spoke to Maya.

If it wasn't anyone else, she probably would've brushed off his threat, but it was Maddox Lohan speaking. Why wouldn't she take him seriously? She visibly gulped before realizing the fear shown on her face. She narrowed her eyes at him before huffing in annoyance and storming off.

"If she stomps any harder, she might just fall into the pits of hell," Evelyn whispered quietly watching Maya walk off in anger.

Maddox bit his lip to stop a smile from forming before placing his hand around Evelyn's torso and resting it on her hip. He couldn't help but notice how perfectly she fit beside him. As if this was meant to be.

He steered them in the direction of the table where Reese was currently sporting a full-blown smirk. Maddox narrowed his eyes at his best friend before whacking the back of his head once he was close enough.

"What the fuck!" Reese growled out while tending to the slight pain he felt.

Maddox shrugged, "You look annoying."

Reese grumbled under his breath whilst Evelyn laughed slightly as she got comfortable beside Maddox.

Maddox watched Evelyn with careful eyes as she picked up her sandwich and started to take a small bite. She looked at him with curious eyes before her expression softened slightly.

"I can barely feel the pain," she told him with a gentle voice placing her hand over his knee. "I promise."

He couldn't help himself as he brought his hand up to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. His hand lingered on her cheek and she blushed profusely as her eyes flickered towards Reese. Realizing they were in public, Maddox immediately dropped his hand before shifting a little away from Evelyn. No one needed to know about them.

Glancing towards Reese, Maddox felt like slapping him again. Reese had both his elbows propped up on the table while resting his chin on his folded hands as he looked at the two lovebirds with a dramatic smile.

"Quit it," Maddox snapped.

Holding his hands up in surrender, Reese looked at him with a challenging expression, "Hey don't blame me if I think you two are cute."

Before Maddox could respond with a snarky remark, Reese turned towards Evelyn before speaking, "So tell me, when did this finally happen?"

Evelyn flushed even more. She chose to drop the fact that Maddox had moved away from her all too soon once realizing that there were people around them.

"Uh i-it just did."

She looked down at her lap playing around with her fingers not wanting to spare a glance towards Maddox. All the sudden, his presence had become too much for her to bear. Noticing the change in her posture, Maddox wondered what was wrong with her.

Before the Reese could respond, Evelyn spoke once again, "I'm thinking that I might sit with Tiana today."

Reese and Maddox looked at her with a perplexed look and looking over at Maddox's darkened eyes, she knew she had to make up an excuse.

She shot him a flustered smile, "She invited me to sit with her today. I might as well accept her offer. She's really nice you know? Plus I spend so much time with you anyways so why not try branching out a little?"

She spoke fast with embarrassment tugging at her nerves. He knew there was something else bothering her at that moment, but Maddox didn't want to confront her in the middle of the courtyard. He simply nodded his head before turning back towards Reese.

He didn't look at her look enough to see her expression drop a little as he brushed her off so easily.

Watching Evelyn leave with curious eyes, Reese looked backed at Maddox with a blank expression. Maddox wasn't sure what Reese was trying to tell him so he raised an eyebrow in question.

"You're gonna have to treat her like your girlfriend eventually you know?" Reese announced.

Maddox's eyes widened a fraction at the world 'girlfriend' before his expression turned back to the angry stare it usually was. He cocked his head to the side wondering what Reese was talking about, "She's not my girlfriend," he grumbled before popping a fry in his mouth.

"She's not?"

He shook his head as to answer Reese's question. Evelyn and he kissed. It changed things between them for sure, but Maddox wouldn't ask Evelyn to be his girlfriend any time soon. Maybe not ever. He didn't do girlfriends and although he felt something for Evelyn, something more than what he's ever felt for anyone else, he wasn't planning on making it official with her. Making it official meant having to tread carefully, having to act like a boyfriend.

The whole world knew there wasn't a bone in Maddox's body that could take care of someone he loved. He may not exactly love Evelyn, but the feelings he had developed had stemmed from a while ago. He just managed to keep them at bay and bury them deep within for quite some time. He couldn't care for his mom. He could barely care for himself. How could he care for Evelyn? He couldn't do that.

Evelyn needed someone who'd fuss over her. Someone who would fuss over her injuries, her pain, her feelings. She needed someone who could read her like an open book and make sure she's okay. Maddox couldn't make sure she was okay. No matter how hard he tried, he would never be able to make her feel cared for. He wouldn't be able to hold her at night and make all her worries go away. He couldn't wrap his arms around her and make her feel safe.

The same arms that had beaten countless people.

His arms weren't a safe haven and they never would be. Evelyn had been beaten plenty and she needed someone who she could run to when she wanted comfort when she wanted to feel safe. She would never feel safe in his arms. She'd never feel loved in them.

Maddox wasn't capable of love.

Something his father had always reminded him. His father told him many times that no one would care for Maddox besides family. Along the way, Reese managed to wedge his way into Maddox's life and Maddox would always be grateful for his best friend. But there would never be anyone else who'd want to care for Maddox.

He was dead weight.

"Why not?" Reese's voice sounded from somewhere near yet distant. Shaking his head to clear his mind, he raised his head to look at Reese.

"It'll never work."

"You don't know that until you try."

"And I don't want to take the chance of hoping it'll work and then for it to not. I don't need that hope. Hope is ridiculous," he spoke, his tone getting increasingly more resentful.

Reese sighed at Maddox's words, but he couldn't say anything to prove Maddox wrong. The only one who could possibly get Maddox out of his strict mindset formed due to his father was none other than Evelyn. And how would she ever be able to crack Maddox if he never let her close enough to touch the walls surrounding him?

"You think that now Maddox, but I hope for your sake and Evelyn's that you realize you can be happy before it's too late. She may be the best thing that has ever stumbled into your life and she might walk out before you realize you want her completely."

At this, Maddox furrowed his eyebrows listening to Reese's words carefully. He heard Reese sigh before getting up.

"I'll see you later man."

Maddox nodded his head and mumbled a faint 'Yeah later' before groaning and pulling at his hair in frustration.

Sometimes he hated Reese for always being right.

He hated himself for not being able to grow out of his father's words. He hated himself for not being able to be the guy he knew Evelyn prayed for him to be. He didn't want to disappoint her for she had been disappointed by all who she had loved, but there was nothing he could do. He'd never be able to fully give himself to her. Giving himself away meant sharing part of his burden and even just a little of his burden carried a weight too much for Evelyn's tiny self.

He wasn't even sure if he should've kissed her the other night. If he should've been so suggestive the morning after. He gave her the impression that there could be more between them. But he knew the truth.

They were just for a while and although he was having fun with her now, that's all it was. It was just fun. It wouldn't last forever. It couldn't last forever.

A small hand placed itself on his shoulder with a cautious touch. He looked over his shoulder to see Evelyn smiling down at him slightly.

"Hey," she mumbled.

She took a seat beside him still cautious of her actions and movements.

"What are you doing here," he spoke but his voice came out annoyed and frustrated. He wanted to punch himself for not being able to act sane around her. She watched him with a careful expression before flinching at his striking tone.

"Re-Reese told me to go o—outside to you," she murmured very quietly looking down and playing with her fingers like before.

"What about Tiana?" he questioned in mock interest.

"Reese is inside with her right now," she answered him, her voice still soft and slightly scared.

He didn't answer her and instead looked away. He had to or else he wouldn't be able to control the urge to place her on his lap. Being around her did things to him that aggravated him to no end. He had to get away.

He abruptly got up and raked a hand through his hair. Looking down at Evelyn's eyes, he groaned before glancing away. He backed away slightly before speaking.

"I'd rather not be around you right now."

He disregarded the hurt expression that crossed her features but god was it hard. He watched as her expression slowly relaxed and she got up. He stared at her as she moved closer to him.

She laced her hands with his but had no grip on it. As if giving him permission to snatch his hand away from her own.

"Let's go inside Maddox," she spoke softly as understanding crossed her features. She knew what he was thinking and she wasn't planning on letting him push her away yet again. Last time she let him shove her aside they didn't speak for a week and some days.

She had learned that time was all there was to life and she didn't want to spend so much of it not around Maddox.

She bit her lip straining to look up at his hooded eyes. He felt something stir inside him as he watched her bite her lips like always. A tendency he had pointed out before. A tendency when she was nervous or embarrassed. His eyes darkened significantly and in that moment, Reese's words passed through his mind.

She may be the best thing that has ever stumbled into your life and she might walk out before you realize you want her completely.

It was as if there was nothing else in the moment. Just Evelyn, him, and some words that pushed him to grab Evelyn by the waist, tilt her head up, and entwine her lips with his own.

Something shifted within him and he knew that kissing her so openly was a bold move. A move that would make them as public as possible. Something he never wanted just a while ago.

Damn Reese and his philosophical ways.

Evelyn went stiff, but as she realized what was happening, she quickly brought her hands up to cup his cheeks before slowly running them through his hair. Soon her hands wrapped around his neck, bringing him to lean down more as she attempted to get to his height on her tippy toes.

His hands made their way around her waist as he deepened the kiss. His tongue pushed through her lips and he felt her smile against him. She tasted like strawberries and he almost felt like laughing.

She had an obsession with strawberries. When he had brought some to snack on during a boxing lesson, she left none for him. She basically inhaled the strawberries.

When the breath had left her, she unwillingly pulled away from him. As her eyes went from his lips to his own eyes, she flushed red. His lips tingled knowing that just a few seconds ago, he had kissed the hell out of the awkward girl in front of him. He leaned his forehead against her own as they both attempted to catch their breaths.

"Everyone saw that," she spoke up quietly as if he wasn't already aware of that fact.

"I know," he whispered back watching her confused expression.

"Then why'd you do it?" she mumbled, her eyes falling downwards so to not show him the pain she felt.

Not wanting her to stray away from him, his arm around her waist tightened more and he brought a hand up to tilt her chin upwards so she was looking at him again.

"Because I'm not scared anymore," he voiced before capturing her lips with his again.

Although the words left his mouth with ease, he wasn't sure how true they were. Because truth be told, he was terrified.

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