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Chapter Thirteen: Maggie

It's Thursday. Approximately two days since the meeting between me, my mother and the Williams happened, and it's been decided that it's time I finally show up to school.

"Come on, Maggie. You got this." I muttered to myself, buttoning up the blouse of my uniform, looking into the full-length body mirror, examining myself. White button-up blouse, my dark gray skirt that goes slightly below my thighs, and my black knee-high socks.

I put on my red checkered necktie before sliding on my vest that goes over my blouse, afterward putting on my dark blue blazer as I pull my chestnut brown hair that was tucked behind the collar of my uniform before letting it flow back onto my shoulders.

I stare back at the girl in my reflection. Average height, dark brown eyes with shoulder-length hair, and an oval-shaped face. My skin is naturally sun-kissed just like my mother's.

Not gonna lie, I like the way that I look. I wasn't breathtakingly good-looking, but I considered myself to be somewhat tolerable in terms of appearance, especially in the right angles.

Beth even said that if I had made the effort to be like the popular girls in my school, I'd instantly fit right in. With Levi being my boyfriend and him being undeniably attractive with his boyish good looks, she says we'd fit the depiction of a high school's It Couple.

But of course, I like to keep a low profile, and even though Levi is popular, keeping an average social status makes us a balanced couple, with opposites attract and all that.

And I was content with that, even agreeing to it because it did feel like a perfect match even though Levi was of a higher social status than I was. Pretty much combining an outgoing extrovert with a shy introvert, it was cute, I liked it and most people did as well.

Now trying to picture me with Evan, on the other hand.

Even though the descriptions weren't any different than how I described Levi and me, it just wasn't a match made in heaven nor did it seem right.

He was popular, yes, and I wasn't. But unlike Levi, he was popular for all the wrong reasons. That if we were to be in a relationship, it just seemed wrong, because you have this guy that with every step he makes, he causes trouble. That being with him would inevitably make people talk shit behind my back and ask why Evan picked me, out of all people?

Levi has a good reputation, and his friendly, sociable outlook balanced my tendency to always be closed off. It was cliche, but it was a good kind of cliche.

While Evan and I? Come on, it's the oldest story in the book. A boy with too many issues and a girl who's a complete know-it-all pinpointing all those said issues out for him? As if he didn't already know they existed.

I know people would say we would balance each other out because of our clear differences, but the differences that make us opposites are the same flaws that we can't help but always ridicule about one another. It was a cliche, but the messed up and repetitive kind.

Plus, it is without a doubt that Evan is an attractive boy, but it was the kind that overshadowed his partner's own appearance. So if it were to be him and me, it wouldn't be like Levi and me where the combination of Levi's good looks and even more attractive personality would be admirable to the point I would just gush about it, and people would agree with me. If it were to be with Evan, people would just constantly point out that I look like a shoe beside him.

We're not even actually together and he's already making me feel this insecure.

Imagine if it were to be us. I know the books say it would be a match made in heaven, but I know better than to be with a guy like Evan. Guys like Evan... are the devils.

They like corrupting girls as well as their innocence and everything about them. I wouldn't allow him to do that, and if he tried, I'd just fight him off.

And then he'd fight right back, and it'd be just a back and forth banter between us both.

Do the opposites attract stereotypes seem cute now?

I finished getting ready before I made my way out of my room, and down to the kitchen where my mother was already at the dining room table having breakfast.

"Hey." I greeted as I kissed her at the top of her head before taking a seat beside her "You feeling okay, now?"

"A bit." she answered, "I admit that the burden had been taken off my shoulders ever since our meeting with the Williams happened, and although it is stressful working back at Carpenter & Fields, it's also exhilarating that I finally get to be back at work like I used to."

"And where selfish, greedy men aren't an interference anymore." I joked, causing her to shake her head, amused.

"In a way, yes, unless you exclude your grandfather, that is."

"Grandpa isn't selfish."

"Greedy with his money, however."

"He isn't greedy with me."

"Because you're his granddaughter!"

We laughed as we chatted away whilst we ate breakfast and not gonna lie, it's been a long time ever since the divorce, and even before the divorce really, where we made conversation like this during breakfast or dinner and actually... had fun, enjoyed it even.

As soon as I finished my meal, I grabbed my bag and turned to her "I'll be taking the driver to school if that's okay?"

"Oh, about that..." before she could even get to finish, we heard a honk from outside, causing me to turn my head to look at her, and then back at the front door before peeking outside the window, and what I saw almost gave me a stroke.

"What the hell is Evan doing here?" I asked, confused more on the matter that she allowed this, and angry that I had to see his face so early in the morning.

Not waiting for her to answer, I head outside and make a beeline straight towards his car "Um, excuse me?" I asked as soon as I was a foot away from his vehicle.

I didn't even have to knock at the car's window to try and grab his attention, because the car was a freaking convertible. Without the roof, it's like he's trying to draw attention to himself.

"Good morning to you too, sunshine." he said, his eyes drinking me in "Don't you look lovely."

"Cut the crap, Williams. Why are you here? And why out of all the cars must you drive a convertible? What if Levi decided that he wanted to visit me today? How would that look if he saw you happily driving your stupid car to my neighborhood and stopping by to pick me up?"

"Chill, is this how you repay someone willing to pick you up and drive you to school?"

I scoffed "Willing? Don't even try to kid with me, Williams."

"Okay fine, my parents told me to pick you up, but the fact that I agreed and didn't bail is much more of a kind, voluntary gesture even if it was done due to a request."

"You could've just bailed because both you and I know, that despite not knowing each other that much, that you picking me up is the last thing that I want."

"But I couldn't tell them that because, for them, we're all buddy-buddy now."

I groaned, wanting to pull at my hair "This is ridiculous! I'm not coming with you!"

"You have to because as far as both of our parents are concerned, we're getting along just fine. If they suspect that a simple drive to school already manages to rile you up, what do you think they would make of that? Look, just do us both a favor and get in. I'll stop a block away from school so you can get out without anyone noticing. I planned this out, I'm not stupid."

"With the way you strolled your stupid black convertible into my neighborhood with sunglasses on," he was actually wearing sunglasses, almost as if this douchebag couldn't look anymore pretentious "Stupid is all I could make of you."

"Just get your bag if you wanna get to school early where no one would see you and me together," he ordered before looking ahead of the road, ignoring me.

I opened my mouth to protest, but no words came out, as if deep inside I knew arguing with him any further would lead us nowhere.

With that, I stump my way back inside to retrieve my bag as my mother walks in on me, looking awfully concerned "Is everything okay?"

"Um, yeah. I was just caught off guard with Evan here, you know him," I laughed in a strained tone, sounding anything but convincing "Always making a big entrance. That guy."

I grab my bag and make my way back outside, racing to the passenger seat beside him as I slam the door shut "Put the fucking roof on."

"Can you be careful with the car? This is brand new, for crying out loud."

"Put the damn roof on, Williams." I hissed as he sneered, putting the roof on.

As soon as the roof was on I felt myself calm down a bit, rubbing my forehead as Evan started the engine whilst I put on my seatbelt "Put your seatbelt on." I told him.

"Who are you? My mom?"

"Put your seatbelt on, Williams. Don't make me repeat myself!"

"Fine!" he puts it on "God, have you always been this prissy? I can't imagine how Levi managed to put up with you."

"My relationship with Levi is none of your damn business, just drive the car and keep your mouth shut."

"Why do you have to be this way? You always act like you have a stick wedged up your ass."

"Oh, I don't know, maybe because I didn't want to be in this situation?"

"Neither did I but you don't see me being a moody little twat about it."

"You just don't understand, okay? As long as I haven't resolved this whole thing with Levi, it's best to be cautious. Anything could happen and he might get the wrong idea."

"The wrong idea? Is he one of those people who jump right to conclusions without hearing the other person's side of the story first?"

"Ugh, no, it's just... you wouldn't understand."

"Can you please stop saying that? How would I do it if your explanations are so limited? Look, I know I may overreact whenever my exes do shit that violates the trust in our relationship, but I at least try to hear their side of the story first. If Levi isn't like that, then I think you should start re-evaluating your choices in men."

"He is perfectly fine, okay? I'm the one keeping secrets from him."

"And why is that? If your relationship is so perfect, why is it so hard for you to tell him things?"

"Oh, shut up. You're acting as if you're better than him but at least Levi doesn't make me feel like shit to the point I have to resort to infidelity in order to feel loved. You say I'm the one who has to reevaluate my choices in men, as if you have the right to talk about what being a proper boyfriend, much less a man, is like." I snapped.

"I'm trying to fucking help you here." he growled "I'm just saying if your relationship was all neat and dandy why be this way? Why do you have to be such a passive-aggressive cunt?"

"Ha! Says you of all people! You're the one who treats his girlfriends like crap, but then gets mad when they act in the same way that you treated them!" The car violently jerks to a stop, and I look ahead to see that we were a block away from school.

"We're here, now get out." he hissed as I visibly scoffed at him, grabbing my bag as I opened the passenger's door to step out.

"My pleasure," I bit back, but before I could even get out, he opened his mouth to speak once more, his voice low and daunting, like it usually is.

"You know, with the way you jump to conclusions, I could see why Levi would act the way that he does." he scorned "As a matter of fact, you two are just fucking perfect for each other."

I let his words sink in, feeling my heart grow heavy as I grip the handle of the car too tightly.

"You don't know anything, Williams."

With that, I slam the door shut.

* * *

Stupid Evan. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Thinking he knows everything. Thinking he knows my relationship better than I do, who does he think is? To try and say that my choices in men were bad? The audacity of someone who's the depiction of what every girl needs to stay away from.

I haven't had anyone criticize my relationship with Levi the way that he did. Him, of all people? I know Levi and I had our fair share of bumps in the road, but what relationship doesn't?

Levi isn't perfect and so am I. If there's someone who needs to take their relationships into a reconsideration of how ridiculously concerning they are, it's his. All of his relationships.

Just a few days into being engaged to him and I already feel like wanting to chop my damn head off. Stupid Evan and him trying to be a complete know-it-all.

I walked through the hallways, clutching the strap of my bag as I clenched and unclenched my jaw, feeling my temper simmer down for a bit. I haven't been this hot-headed in a long time, and for some reason, it always has to be because of men and their idiotic mouths rambling pointless nonsense.

I arrive at my locker, too occupied in my own head as I take out my books and notes that I didn't even notice the shrill, distant sound of voices calling out to me.

"Maggs!"

Before I knew it, I was violently embraced as Beth shut my locker to hug me tightly "Oh my God! You're here! We were so worried!" she shrieked.

Emily pops up behind her, her arms crossed over her chest, amused by the scene in front of her before our eyes locked and her face softened "We were, you just disappeared out of the blue."

"Understatement of the century." Beth said "You went total MIA. Tons of things have happened since you were gone and you didn't even text or call-"

"Yeah..." I trailed off, sheepish. "It's just been a crazy week lately."

"As Levi said, and how's your mom by the way? Is Miss V doing alright?" Beth asked, worried.

"Um yeah, yeah she is, it's just a lot of things regarding work and dad,"

"Oh no," Beth began, concerned "What happened? I thought after the divorce he was finally gonna leave you and your mom alone?"

"No, he did. It's just that they had some unfinished business and over the past few days they had no choice but to reconcile, I guess you could say. It got her a bit stressed out and she just needed a little bit of emotional support."

"Aw, sweetie. We understand." Beth cooed, caressing my hair "Just know if you need either me, Emily, or Levi to talk about this, we're here for you. Always."

"Thanks, guys. I appreciate that." I said just as my eyes drifted to an upcoming figure behind her.

I felt my breath hitch as Levi came into view, his eyes soft of worry, his jaw slacked and posture stiff as he walked towards our direction "Maggie?"

Beth and Emily glance at each other before Emily tugs at her sleeve "Hey Beth, don't we have that thing that we need to get back to because it's super urgent?"

"Yeah, like super urgent," Beth replied before they fled the scene, leaving me and Levi alone together here in the hallways.

It was silent for a moment, just us looking at each other, not knowing what to say before he took a step forward and engulfed me in a tight hug "I was so worried." he whispered.

I close my eyes, indulging in his scent, his warmth, his presence. Him.

I missed him. I missed him so much it actually pains me "Don't be. I'm right here."

He holds me for a while before letting me go, taking each side of my face in his hands as he examines me, sighing "I was so worried, we were so worried. Me, Beth, and Emily."

"Well, you don't have to be." I told him, smiling as he looked down at me, his face still filled with a certain look of sadness "I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere."

He lets out a breath, kissing my forehead before he gazes into my eyes once more.

"Tell me everything."

* * *

So I did.

I told him everything there is that he needs to know about and what I allowed myself to tell him.

Meaning I am still yet to tell him about the engagement.

It's been a week since we've last seen each other and I don't wanna drop everything on him just like that. Yeah, yeah, mom's alright, I am too and hey, did you know I'm engaged to Evan Williams now? The same guy you told me to stay away from before I went off the grid, which happened because I did no such thing as to stay away from him, and now we're practically attached to the hip because of some legalized contracts? And oh, also, we need to break up, like right now. Why? Well, funny story actually-

Hell to the fuck no.

I am not dropping everything onto him like that as if our relationship means absolutely nothing to me. I at least have to prepare myself and take my time before doing so.

Although, I don't technically know how I'm supposed to prepare him for such a thing. I mean, does anybody know? Does anyone know how to break it to their boyfriend that they're engaged to another man that they are in no way shape or form, romantically involved with?

"So yeah, that's what happened. Mom's just been stressing out over dad bothering her again and it hasn't been easy. For any of us." I said as Levi looked at me, listening intently.

We were back in the school's courtyard, sitting under a shady tree as Levi and I sat right across from one another, my legs draped onto his while his hands were intertwined with mine.

This is good. This feels good and this might be the first time in days since I've felt at ease "Oh baby, I'm so sorry you had to go through that. After everything that man did to you and your mom..." Levi cooed as soon as I told him half of what happened this past week.

I shook my head as I tightened my hold on his hand "Yeah, it's been tough and it's just... like you know how he is. He was never easy to deal with. Everywhere we go he's always there to ruin everything for us and he's just horrible, completely horrible, and the fact my mom has to deal with him even if they're not together any more just makes me so angry-"

"Shh, I know." Levi takes my shoulder in his hand as he pulls me forward for a hug "I know what it feels like and I know men like him are never easy to escape."

I sighed, placing my head on his shoulder whilst I squeezed my eyes shut "Why can't all men just be like you?"

Levi chuckled, peering down at me "Which is?"

I open my eyes, looking up at him "Easy to be with."

"Well, people are just like that. There are ones who make you feel completely suffocated and there are ones where you can find solace from."

I smiled at that "And I find that solace with you."

He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, grinning back at me "And I do so with you."

This is what I want. Him. This. All of this being so easy and being so peaceful and... fragile, but the kind of fragile that's worth protecting.

We may have our moments but I'd much rather have this than anything else, anything that makes me wanna tear my hair off, anything that makes me go insane. I'd much rather have peace than whatever the hell guys like Evan give.

And to hell with Evan. To hell with him because he doesn't know anything about me nor Levi.

"If your relationship is so perfect, why is it so hard for you to tell him things?"

I clutch Levi's hand as I snuggle deeper into his chest.

Screw him. This is what I want.

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