"Dee I've got to get to class," Maddy said, his shoulders perking up with the prospect of leaving this uncomfortable situation. Not forgetting his manners, he turned to Abercrombie, "Abercrombie, I'm Maddy, Maddy Hastings, and I'm guessing you're the reason Dee didn't show up for her shift last night."

"Well, I'm not sure about that, but if it's any consolation I did get her to her first class," Abercrombie replied, his expression thoughtful.

Maddy paused his escape. He feigned surprise as he spoke, "Oh? How'd you manage that?"

He side-glanced at his friend and saw an unnatural smile plastered on her face. Besides school and lack of sleep, Dee also hated looking bad and Maddy knew it. He continued ratting her out, a cheeky smile forming on his lips, "If there's one thing Dee hates more than school, it's getting up early."

"She seemed fine when we met for coffee this morning." The model defended.

Maddy's brows popped in actual surprise. "You got her to drink real coffee, too? Dee, where did you find this guy? He might actually make your life better."

"I drink coffee!" Dee chimed in, finally joining the conversation. She added quietly, "Sometimes."

"Sure," Maddy deadpanned his eyes wandered back to the clock and he shoved his good hand in his pocket, the spikey ends of the medicine tablets pricked at his skin. He said to Dee and then Abercrombie, "I really do have to get going, but it was nice to meet you…"

"Greyson," Abercrombie clarified, the silver koi in his eyes swirling around his irises with playful energy.

Maddy hummed. He figured Greyson’s parents took all of two seconds to come up with the name after seeing their son’s eyes for the first time. Then again, his name origin was no better. His foster parents picked his name out of a U.S. President's book.

A fuzzy memory slipped into his thoughts like a draft through a crack in a door. Little Maddy stood in his kitchen. He scratched his arm over his pajama sleeve, finding the fabric uncomfortable against his sweaty skin. The sunlight filtered through the curtains of the living room and highlighted the bald spot on Darren's head, his body slouched into his recliner as if the man and the chair were one being.

Maddy wasn't deceived by Darren's seemingly lifeless body. Any second the man could wake up. Any second he would notice Maddy, his face would mimic the look Maddy gave when he had to eat eggplant- only much, much worse.

Little Maddy snapped his eyes to the coffee table, fearing if he stared too long, Darren would actually wake up. His eyes rested on a navy blue, hard-cover book filled with pictures and names of U.S. Presidents.

Black and white dots blurred his vision. The book quickly faded out of existence, then, Darren and his bald spot, and finally little Maddy himself.