Lulu slowly started to feel better, her body was now responding less painfully whenever she had to move. She was still covered in bruises, especially on her torso, her arms and her neck, but the black eye was fading and her lip had actually healed quickly.

But Fezco had made it clear she needed to rest —making sure she didn't need to move around too much and taking care of everything. She had even caught Ashtray death glaring at her when he saw her trying to reach something from the cupboard in the kitchen, jumping up from the couch and getting it for her.

"Thanks, Ash," Lulu said with a smile, "Hey, no need to look at me with guns in your eyes."

"You aren't supposed to move," Ashtray replied.

The girl frowned but let out a small chuckle and poured some juice in the glass before sitting down on the couch, smirking as she felt she had interrupted Zahia and Ashtray's moment, making sure she would question her sister about it later.

She had dozed off in a light slumber, unable to focus on the movie that was currently playing on the tv screen, when she was awakened by the buzzing of her phone.

💗

babe

can i come over?

some crazy shit happened

imma lose my brain

what is it?????

im staying at fez

💗

something with nate

damn you're moving in already?!?

Lulu rolled her eyes when she read Nate's name, of course it would be about him. She looked up to see Fezco opening the front door with groceries in a bag.

She smiled at him, "Mmh, is it okay if Maddy comes over for a bit?"

Fezco shrugged nonchalantly, "Yeah, sure."

that fuckin bitch!

you can come over

💗

tysm!!!!!!

i'll be here in 20

"She can stay for dinner if ya want," Fezco offered, opening the fridge.

Lulu gave him an affectionate smile, "Thanks... I'll ask her."

And, twenty minutes later, Ashtray was opening the door for Maddy to barge in. Lulu was in the bathroom when she heard her having a small talk with Fezco and her sister.

She made her way into the living room, trying to act as casual as possible but it was no use when she heard Maddy gasping on the other side of the room. She was indeed wearing an outfit that was revealing the many bruises covering her body —which wasn't necessarily a sight that Fezco appreciated, constantly reminding him that the person he loved had been assaulted a house away from him.

"W—What happened?" Maddy quavered.

Lulu sighed and the whole room fell in silence as they all recalled Lulu's state just a couple of days ago. Everybody knew the neighborhood could be sketchy, and anybody who knew the Jenson sisters was well aware that their personal situation wasn't so great at the moment.

But nobody had ever thought it could get this dangerous for them.

Lulu gestured for the girl to follow her into Fezco's bedroom, knowing all too well she wouldn't be able to cope with her sister's pain if she ever explained what had happened in front of her.

The two girls sat on the bed as Maddy instinctively grabbed her hand, her eyes traveling down her body with growing concern, "Are you okay?"

Lulu nodded, "Yeah... hm, it happened after your birthday."

Maddy stared at her, feeling her heart pumping faster and faster in her chest. Never in a million years had she thought she would ever see Lulu like this. Out of all of her friends, Lulu was clearly the one who could put up a good fight and get out of it with ease. Not that her other friends couldn't but Lulu had carried a reputation of breaking a few noses here and there in the past.

And seeing her like this made her recall that night where she had been assaulted by Nate —her who had carried a similar reputation since they used to be dealing with people's problems together.

"Has something to do with my mom," Lulu explained, "And the police snooping around that... that guy's business."

"Why didn't you call me?" Maddy asked in a whisper.

Lulu's face fell, remembering the moment she was thrown against a wall. In that moment, Lulu thought she was going to die. It had only lasted a second but it had been strong enough to make her shiver.

"I... couldn't really do much... after that."

A shaky breath left Maddy's throat and she lunged herself into Lulu's arms, as the girl repressed a pained whimper, and they hugged onto each other tightly.

It was the trust Lulu was talking about. It felt just like that embrace. It was warm and simple, it flowed effortlessly —as if they were exchanging some energy, and it came naturally. Whenever Lulu was with Maddy, it felt like she could truly be herself at all times.

So Lulu hugged her even tighter because there weren't many people with whom she felt that way. And she didn't want to let that go.

They pulled away and Maddy quickly wiped away a tear as Lulu lit a cigarette, "Okay, okay, now... what the fuck did Nate do?"

"Actually... it's not just Nate," Maddy corrected, "Cassie's been fucking him... since, like, New Years."

Lulu choked, coughing the smoke with her eyes popping out of their sockets, "Wait, what did you just say?"

Maddy closed her eyes, Lulu rising on her feet in anger, suddenly remembering the way Cassie had been acting in the hot tub during Maddy's birthday, "I swear to God, imma fuck this bitch up! What a fuckin' cunt, I can't believe she did this to you!"

Maddy sighed, somehow in relief, realizing she should have never trusted anyone but Lulu when it came to her feelings. They looked alike a lot and Maddy would never find the right words to tell how good it felt to see someone else react with so much anger, as if it truly meant something to Lulu.

As if she knew Lulu would always have her back and support her no matter what.

"Let's destroy that bitch," Lulu cursed, earning a chuckle from her best friend, "I fuckin' mean it Maddy. Let's fuckin' destroy her," she repeated, pausing dramatically between each word.

Lulu and Maddy stared at each other with growing smirks hanging on their lips and Maddy knew Lulu was dead serious.

"I fuckin' love you," Maddy breathed out.

Lulu dragged on her cigarette, staring at her intensely, "I fuckin' love you too."

"Yo, girls, dinner's ready!" Fezco shouted from the living room.

Lulu dropped the cigarette in an ashtray hanging near the bed, "Wanna stay? I'm sure they could help us plot somethin'."

Maddy chuckled, "Yeah, sure."

And Maddy stayed for dinner, enjoying the company of people who couldn't care less about hurting her or trying to make her feel worthless. It was actually quite the opposite as she found herself being listened to, surprised even more when Ashtray offered to help her deal with Nate and Cassie.

Maddy realized she was surrounded by an actual family, people who really loved each other deeply, and she was glad that Lulu and Zahia had these people to lean on.

... ... ...

, okayyyy so i feel like i haven't updated in forever and i'm very sorry about this, i've had soooo much work lately, plus i'm trying to develop certain friendships and relationships as much as i can because i don't like where the show is going and i'm freaking out

anyways!!!! i hope you liked this chapter, it was very long but its always so nice when i can write for maddy and lulu cause i really love their dynamic

what are you guys expecting next? what do you want me to write about???

tysmmmm for the support it's unbelievable