(Kalston't POV)

I'm finishing up a report when a knock echoes through my house. Wondering if it could be Madison, I find myself smiling at that fact. The more we get to know each other, the more I find myself falling for her. There have only ever been a few others in my life that have had this kind of effect on me. One being a toxic relationship I got tangled up in that ended even worse than it started, soon becoming one of the many nightmares to still haunt me and make me realize how crappy of a person I am.

Another was a little more complicated. Things weren’t bad, and sometimes I wonder if that made it worse. We were there for each other for a time when we needed it. She came into my life when I was struggling hardest about my dad leaving, and I came right before her life began spiraling.

The last, or more so first, was Iris. She showed me what it's like to smile every day and bring light into even the darkest of places. I could easily see the bond we had one day leading us down the aisle if things didn’t end the way they did.

Smiling again, the thought reminds me of a day we did indeed play wedding. She begged me to be her groom. Iris wanted to reenact a story she loved, something we tended to do a lot. She loved to play out scenes for our parents and their friends in the big ballroom her father had. The ones that weren't dragged into the performance itself would watch us from below the platform that was intended for whatever entertainment went alongside the events that normally took place in the large open room.

Another knock reaching my bedroom, it brings me out of my thoughts, and I get up to see who it is.

The door open, I'm taken back a bit as it's not Madison, but Bailey instead.

She looks at me a bit impatient, and I'm confused about what brings her by.

"Hey, what is it?" I ask leaning against the door frame.

"Uh, hey, do you mind keeping an eye on Maddy tonight? I'm going to be out for the night, and she says she'll be fine and drag you over later tonight if things get too bad for her, but I know her, and she's not going to unless things get extra bad. So, please at some point will you make an excuse to stop by and maybe not be so obvious that I sent you? She might be mad and kick you out if she finds out you're there to 'baby' her."

Taking in a breath after all her words are out, I'm surprised how she even got all that out in one go.

Raising an eyebrow at her, "Baby her?" I question where this is coming from as I'm sure there's a story behind it.

Bailey rolls her eyes before, I assume about her own comment and not my question of it, she gives an explanation.

"Her words not mine. I call it caring, yet she feels it's babying even though many times she does the same to others, but doesn't think she deserves similar treatment. She has to be 'strong'." Using air quotes, she continues. "Again her words not mine. Girl has been through a lot, and let's just leave it at that. But will you? Just make up an excuse, something that isn't entirely a lie maybe."

She gives me a half-smirk, before giving me pleading eyes.

Giving her the same grin I've given Madison a few times, I try to be charming.

"You know, you could have at least bought me dinner first before using me."

Rolling her eyes again, this time I know for sure it's directed at me. I don’t even crack a smile on her face.

"Stop that."

Raising my brows, I play dumb.

"Stop what?"

Squinting her eyes at me, her tone is firm.

"The whole flirting bit. I can see right through it, and though I understand it's your 'thing',"

She uses air quotes again.

"I can see right through it. How about we make a deal, you don't have to tell me about yourself and keep whatever secrets you don't want to share, but you stay real with me. Got it?"

She raises her brows back at me.

Crap!

Feeling a bit of relief at the thought that I can drop the act with someone, I am also afraid that I might not even know who the real me is anymore. Though it seems I might know who I am at times, usually when I'm alone, when I'm around others, it doesn't come so easily. But the flirting does.

Easing my posture, I look over at my wrist and spot some of the tattoo residing under the cuff of my shirt peek through.

‘Free set captive’, that's not me.

Striving so hard to cling to my freedom, I refuse to be chained to anything. With the opportunity to be open with someone, I take it.

"Okay."

Her eyes narrowing at me for a moment, she speaks with some threat behind her words.

"And you better quit it with Maddy too unless you mean it. Whether she realizes it or not, she's becoming attached to you. And with her, she wears her heart on her sleeve even when she tries hard not to. She puts up walls and tries hard to keep people out, but it doesn't work. So, if you hurt her, I'll hurt you. Okay? Either let the flirting bit fall with her too or keep it to her alone. That, or I'll keep you out of her life. Maddy can handle a lot, but that doesn't mean she needs to."

Her face is steady as she tries to read me, and I realize she's right. Though I don't have intentions to let my wall completely down around Madison, I can keep my affection genuine towards her and drop the mirrored, yet ungenuine version with all others. I can keep people out without using the same barrier as before. Right?

"Okay."

A full grin spreading across her face now, the threat she gives, though more severe this time doesn't hold the same energy as before.

"Good, because I know ways to kill you and get away with it."

Laughing at her warning, she turns to head off the porch before stating one last reminder to behave.

"I'm serious! Be good to her. I'm trusting you for some odd reason. I'm unsure why, but I have the sense that you could be good for her."

I watch her get in her car and drive off before heading back inside to finish up my report.

My tattoo still peaking through, I pull my sleeve back over it to hide the taunting ink I many times regret getting. I got it in honor of my Dad and as a reminder of why I don't do the whole Christian thing.

Unable to claim myself as an atheist, though many others have tried to put the label on me, it's not that I don't believe in God, I do, I'm simply on the outs with Him. I've been on the outs with Him for several years now. I'm mad at him, He's mad at me, and both of us know I'm going to hell, so there's no point in trying to pretend I'm not, like so many others do.

Many hypocrites in this world try to act like they're good when they're not, and I at least know I'm not. Sure, there are good people out there that deserve to go to heaven, I just know I'm not one of them. So why try?

'You don't deserve anything good with the blood that's on your hands.'

The thought arises in my head but doesn't make me depressed like usual, just angry.

I get it, so how about you leave me alone! At least I'm not a captive. At least I'm free to live my life and not be shackled to your stupid rules!

Not understanding how so many live a life that requires so much from them and claim they’re happy, I can't do it.

I won't play your game, not when I've seen it fail so many others.

Standing outside Madison's door, I knock and wait for a response.

Taking a moment, I knock again when not receiving one. Spirit's barks can be heard on the other side and the door opens not long after.

Madison gives me a warm smile followed by a sweet tone that makes me return hers with a grin of my own.

"Hey, gorgeous. I was wondering if you would like to be my company for the evening? You can protect me from all those masked monsters, and I'll be your eye candy for the evening. Unless you have other plans, that is."

Watching her roll her eyes reminds me of Bailey's earlier reaction toward my behavior, but Madison's reaction is followed by a faint pink rising into her cheeks.

She scolds me playfully before moving to the side and inviting me in. "I don't mind company for the evening, but don't think it's because of your looks, mister not so humble."

I walk with her into the kitchen and lean against the counter as my eyes stay stuck on her. Thinking things that I shouldn't.

She faces me and offers tea before turning back to see what options there are to choose from. I give her an answer and it's not long before she brings me a mug. She pulls out her phone, questioning if I'm hungry. I offer to pay, but she declines and brings up a better option that guarantees future time spent with each other.

Taking the opportunity to ask her out, "That sounds good. I'll pay you back by taking you out on a fancy date then." I watch as she processes my words before rejecting them.

"Uh, wait a minute. No, no date."

Ouch!

Madison clarifies what she means, and I'm a bit hurt by her words. Not at her for saying what she does, but at myself for knowing there is truth behind what she says.

"I'm flattered, but I didn't know you liked me. Honestly, I thought your flirting was only the way you were with everyone."

‘You did this to yourself.’

Being honest with her, I keep some of my guard up as well.

"It's part of my charm, yeah, but that doesn't mean it's not genuine with you. How could I not be? Even not knowing you long, what time I spent with you makes me want more."

 "You do find me charming don't you?"

Playing with her by giving sad eyes, I smirk to make it obvious I'm trying to flirt and that I’m not actually sad.

She scrunches her face in a cute way before trying to make her words more clear.

"That's not the point. We barely know each other Kalston. I just don't want you to think that I have feelings for you that aren't there."

Realizing that she's making sense with her argument, it doesn't prevent me from having these growing feelings for her. It's like I've known her for longer than I have. The question I ask her is one that I'm wanting to know, but I keep it in a tone that seems playful.

"So what you're saying is you don't like me?"

Avoiding my question and eyes, it's all the answer I need.

"What do you want to eat?"

I give her a brief response before drawing closer. My words a whisper.

"Changing the topic doesn't stop me from wondering, love."

She continues to avoid it which only makes me grin more. Her obvious anxiousness about my flirting with her drives me nuts, but I try not to poke at her too much. I don't want to overwhelm her and cause her to push me away. I'm hoping giving her space will help let her process her feelings. And I sure as heck don't want to take advantage of them only to get what I want.

'But, that's what you've already been doing, isn't it?'

Shut up!

Oliver jumps on the couch to snuggle in my arms, he helps distract my mind before a grey cat with green eyes comes up to see as well.

Madison comes to settle on the couch not much later, and she puts obvious space between us. I take the opportunity to tease her about it hoping it lightens the mood.

"You know love, I don't bite."

She speaks up, and her anxiousness this time isn't the same cute kind it was moments ago, so I cut her struggling explanation off before shifting our attention to a movie instead.

We settle on a decision and begin to open up conversations both based on the theme of the unknown and of other random topics here and there. We stick to our own blankets even when I'd very much rather be sharing one, I understand her reasoning. Especially the knowledge of my tendencies, it was probably for the best.

"So, you really believe in aliens?"

She asks and I turn the question back at her. Smiling as I do.

"And you really believe in fairies?"

Laughing, her face gets serious for a quick moment with her next statement before she laughs again.

"Hey, if angles fell and fornicated with other species, it's very logical to think that those lead to fae-like creatures. I totally believe that is where mermaids came from, I mean, there was an angel that fell into the sea."

Raising my eyebrows at her, "And where did you get that information?" her beliefs remind me of Iris's but Madison's stance on them seems to be darker in theory than hers ever were. Iris believed there was good in all things.

"The book of Enoch. It's not in the bible, yet the mention of Enoch is. So, I find it fun to think about how many of his writing could be true, or that of what I assume are his writings."

Her face lights up as she speaks on the topic, she's cute when she talks about things she's passionate about.

Food comes, and we enjoy it while going back and forth between talking and watching the television.

Madison gradually closes the distance between us, and her being next to me makes it hard to keep my mind clear. I still try my best to behave. Uncertain of what she wants between us, I try to let her lead things and keep open about my stance on what I want. In my logic, she seems to want something, yet isn't certain of what it is yet. So, going at it slow is probably the best approach.

The night growing late, Madison begins to get more comfortable and lays her head on my shoulder. Looking over at her, I notice her eyes fluttering open and closed as they struggle to stay on the new movie we put on.

My heart melts as she snuggles closer and her head falls into my lap. Her dirty blond hair falls into her face as she does, and I brush it aside. Continuously stoking my fingers through it as my eyes stay on her instead of the screen.

Bailey comes home not long after, and we have a small conversation with another one of her friendly threats is being handed my way as she tries hard to protect her friend from harm. Something that makes me wonder what Madison has gone through in the past to make Bailey so consistent with her reminding me of not needing to play around with Madison's feelings. And even more so wonder if I should pull away.

'You're only going to cause her pain. You're not good for anyone, and if you don't hurt her, she'll just leave you as most everyone else in your life has.'

Trying to shove the thought away, it doesn't stop me from letting the pain it brought linger behind.

Madison's breath growing irregular, it's obvious she is beginning to have a nightmare of some kind. Trying to figure out if I should wake her from it, I decide to once tears begin to slip down her face.

Shaking her softly, my tone stays soft to not startle her.

"Madison. Wake up, Love. You're safe."

Waking, her panic is still there as she tries to steady the air in her lungs. There is something of horror in her eyes.

"Hey, are okay?"

She gives me a nonverbal no and I pull her close to help console her. More tears come from her as her body shakes and I repeat soothing words into her ear.

I've done the same with Iris when her nightmares got bad and the monsters at night would scare her.

Madison continues to cry, and I let her for some time before eventually trying to lighten the mood. We talk about the most random stuff as I try hard to keep a smile on her face the rest of the night.