Chapter Twenty -- What Does This Say To You?
Has anyone felt an earthquake during the last twenty-four hours? Please report to us immediately. Maddox Kingsley was spotted early this morning walking to class all by his lonely -- and lovely -- self. What could have caused the chasm between him and the rest of the Amazing Four? Can we even talk about the Amazing Four anymore? Stay tuned. You'll learn it here first.
Jonathan stared at Ray, completely nonplussed for a few moments. "Wait, what are they saying?" Not that he couldn't understand it by himself, especially since he knew the details of what had happened in the lives of the Amazing Four to cause the so-called 'chasm'.
Ray sighed and scrolled through the rest of the post. "In essence, that Maddox must have had a falling out with his close friends, for reasons that Xpress has yet to find out."
"If there's divinity of any kind or shape, they won't," Jonathan said, hoping that the anxiety in his voice wasn't too transparent.
"They also say," Ray continued, "that Maddox was in such a foul mood that he didn't stop to talk to anyone and sat by himself, and I'm quoting at this point, wrapped in a dark veil of despair and forlornness."
Jonathan let out a small groan as he rubbed his forehead. "So Wuthering Heights of them to notice such an unimaginable thing. They must be joking. There is no way Maddox--"
The words were blasted from his lips like leaves by a sudden gust of wind. Maddox was walking through the quad, yes, indeed, very much alone, none of his buddies in sight. His shoulders were hunched, he walked looking down, and the romanticism of the image painted of him by Xpress no longer appeared so far-fetched. The proverbial sunshine that seemed to trail after him, all the time, in love with the most popular boy on campus as much as everyone else, must have found a different person to crush on. The only thing missing was a tiny dark cloud raining over him.
"Ray, I need to leave you," he said and touched his roommate's shoulder in passing as he walked decidedly toward Maddox.
"Sure," Ray called after him. "Fingers crossed!"
Jonathan nodded quickly, too occupied with not letting his mark out of sight to reply. He had to sprint to catch up with Maddox, as the guy appeared to pay no mind to his surroundings at all. "Hey," he said as soon as he reached him.
Instead of a proper greeting, he got a growl instead. If that was supposed to impress him, Maddox needed to think again.
"Why didn't you and Rusty make up already? And what about Dex and Kane?"
Another growl, this time more pointed, something along the lines of 'leave me alone'.
"I have no intention of leaving you alone," Jonathan said promptly.
Only then did Maddox stop and turn toward him. The look in the pretty grey eyes was enough to melt a heart and break it in two at the same time. Without thinking twice, Jonathan brought his hand up and caressed Maddox's cheek. "You don't need to stay mad at your friends for my sake."
To his surprise, Maddox snorted. "Not everything is about you, Hamilton."
Jonathan let his hand drop. "Did something happen to you? Something truly bad?"
Maddox huffed, grabbed Jonathan's hand and put it back on his cheek on which short stubble could be felt. Jonathan flexed his fingers slightly to take in the contour of that handsome face.
"No." The answer was accompanied by a scowl. "Only that a certain someone whose entire month as a slave to me I won fair and square decided to call it quits like a jerk. Oh, and I have no more buddies. Only the ceiling."
Maddox pointed upward and Jonathan looked for inexplicable reasons. He quickly got a hold of himself and withdrew his hand with a scoff. "Do Dex, Kane, and Rusty know that you're pulling everyone's leg with this act? Xpress already turned you into the most tragic hero of the twenty-first century."
Maddox threw his head back and sighed dramatically. "No one understands me."
Their little exchange was already garnering a few curious looks. Jonathan grabbed Maddox's hand and pulled him along. Whatever shenanigans that pretty boy was up to, others weren't supposed to witness them. Since it was for his sake that Maddox was putting on that act, Jonathan very much intended to be the sole audience.
They were behind the building under renovation once more. Jonathan pressed Maddox until his back was against the wall and then rested both palms on his chest. Maddox did nothing to stop him and just watched him with curious eyes.
Jonathan sighed and looked down. The lack of a plan became painfully obvious as the wrong choice now that he had Maddox here. "Look, Maddox, I'm--"
"You're what?" Maddox asked, and he didn't sound mad. Just eager to hear him out.
Jonathan risked one look up and locked eyes with the other. "Why do you have to be so pretty, even when you're a bit of an asshole?"
The grey eyes twinkled. "How am I the asshole? You're the asshole."
"Is that a pun about how I was the bottom?" Jonathan bit his lips hard.
Maddox pulled him close suddenly by grabbing him by the front of his shirt. "You don't get to ask that kind of question. You're the asshole because you didn't punch Rusty for being an idiot, but you punched me because I tried to kiss you."
Was that eating Maddox? "I don't punch just anyone," Jonathan protested. "Only special people."
"Special how?" Maddox asked.
"Ah, dammit," Jonathan murmured and surprised even himself by grabbing Maddox's face, holding it in his palms and kissing him. "Special like this," he said quickly and let go.
He was about to take a step back but Maddox pulled him hard toward him, crushing their bodies together. Their lips found purchase in another kiss, and this time it was longer and sweeter.
"What are you afraid of, Jonathan?"
The question had been asked in all seriousness, none of the playfulness or antics from before in it.
"What do you mean?" Jonathan mumbled.
Maddox's fingers were rough, yet gentle, as they moved along his jawline. "You don't want to be seen with me. You're afraid of doing more than just hooking up."
To steady himself, Jonathan wrapped his hands around Maddox's wrists. "Maybe I'm afraid of falling for you. Ever thought of that?" He kept his eyes low so he was staring at the plump lips he had just kissed. Even that sight was enough to cause him to tremble slightly.
"That's not the whole truth," Maddox said stubbornly. "You're afraid for me, not because of me only, isn't that it?"
Jonathan nodded. "It feels like fun right now. And it is, don't get me wrong. But are you sure you want to be labeled as gay or bisexual? People might start thinking differently about you. No, not might. They will."
"And? That's my problem," Maddox said. The playful insolence was back in his voice. "And I don't care about people."
"You don't? You're popular. It's not like you're invisible. Whatever they start saying, it will get to you. You don't realize it now, but maybe your friends--"
"My friends are totally okay with it."
Jonathan had more to argue about with that. "Or your family--" he tried to continue.
"My family is uber cool. They're the coolest people on earth."
"Do you really want to test that?" Jonathan snapped and stared at Maddox to convince him that it wasn't some child's game they were playing.
Maddox's eyebrows shot up. "You don't get along with your folks. The work-study thing, it's because of them, right?"
Jonathan couldn't deny it. "Yes," he said shortly.
"Well, I'm sure sorry to hear that. But with all due respect, Jonathan, not all families are like yours."
"I'm well aware," Jonathan said. "Still, there's no way of telling--"
"Hush," Maddox interrupting. "You're afraid of some kind of scandal? It's not the Middle Ages, for fuck's sake."
