[chapter nine]
Disclaimer: If you've heard of them, I don't own them. Everything else is mine, so no stealing, pretty please. ;-)
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~Madelyn's POV~
He's gonna burn the house down. I just know it.
I better go supervise.
Balancing a plate piled high with sandwiches and two bottles of water along with our feeble candle, I walk slowly towards the family room, where I hear the promising sounds of a crackling fire.
Be still my heart.
Jeff Gordon. Creator of Fire.
"Hey." I say so as not to startle him and he turns, deftly grabbing the plate and gesturing to the floor right in front of the fireplace.
"It's warmest right here. Why don't you sit here?" He says quietly and I nod gratefully and sink to the floor, hoping to warm up my shivering body. Damn, this house got cold in a hurry with the heat off.
"Thanks." I murmur, suddenly at a loss for what to say. If we aren't arguing or interviewing, I really don't know what to say to Jeff.
Weird.
"So…um…" He tries, and I laugh as he searches for something to say.
"If my laptop was working, I would launch into an interview right now." I joke and he smiles tightly.
"Can't you…can't you stand to talk to me without it being an interview?" He asks shyly, sincerely.
I cock my head to one side, regarding him carefully. He's serious. Jeff Gordon wants me to talk to him, to like him.
Never would have guessed that one.
"Sure I can. I just didn't think you'd want me to." I say honestly, biting into my sandwich.
"Why?"
"Why?"
"Yes, why?"
"Jeff, do you remember the last time I saw you?"
"Yes."
"That's why."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"I think…I think I'm profoundly fucked up, Madelyn."
He looks so sad and scared and alone, I just want to …
Well, I don't know right now, but something.
"You're not."
"Thanks."
"I wasn't done. I was gonna say, not completely."
"Thanks again."