Tell Me Your Truths

Chapter 5: Ayla

"I'm just saying. CJ could have made it on that boat. He's well earned his redemption arc when he shot Tucker in the head down in the sewers to spare him the pain of being devoured."

I've watched Dawn of the Dead almost a million times now but that one minor plot in the story does not sit well with me. I mean, CJ was already deserving of his spot with the group right after that parking lot scene erasing the whole dictatorship era he had at the beginning of the movie.

Cole's eyes were steady on the road, nodding his head as if he actually gave a s**t about what I'm talking about. I know he doesn't because he lacks the creative thinking my head employs after every horror movie we watch during their reruns. It don't bother me though.

Mostly, I just like talk about s**t to annoy him.

"Don't overthink it. It's just a movie." He sighs.

I roll my eyes. Elio would agree with me. He'd also sprinkle a little bit of "he deserved to live 'till the end of the movie because his moustache rocks" like he always does. He's not much of a movie buff but he could get on board with whatever and whenever he wants to.

I shouldn't even be thinking of Elio right now especially while I'm still on my date with Cole. My boyfriend doesn't exactly approve of him since they had their own issues. Some rivalry s**t they had going on long before I started attending Ridgewood High. Basically in a pamphlet, Mayfield people can't press a foot at Ridgewood Bay. Which was kind of fuckin' stupid considering Mayfield was once an extension of Ridgewood Bay. Kind of like the downtown bad town of every city.

Most people don't mind the rules anymore, though. Just don't get caught.

Stuck up snobs in RH don't clamor since their preppy sandals wouldn't dare keep one toe on Mayfield's soiled ground.

The rules prevents the other side from pulling s**t like last year's fire at Cole's warehouse where he lost most of his supplies. Of course, it was obvious who burned it, a little hint: his name rhymes with Picasso. However, Cole underestimated the Pavlov brothers enough not to suspect them of breaking the rules because, quote, the little pansy they are.

I wasn't in the mood to attend a funeral so I went with his assumption that the amateur fourteen-year-old gang enthusiasts were responsible for it, and the little shitheads went with it. Good for me. That's one less mess I had to clean up.

I give him a sweet smile. "Now you know how I feel when all you talk about is your Bumblebee car." Let's say, I haven't exactly warmed up to his Camaro's color since yellow kind of irked me.

I look out of the window feeling the gentle hum of the vehicle lulling me to peace. Ironic how such a messy vibration brings a sense of calmness.

From the corner of my eye, Cole chances a glance at me and smiles. "You changed your hair?" Something crinkles in his eyes. "I don't like the curls."

It was my natural hair but I usually straighten it when I go out. This time I decided to change it up a bit by letting my hair dry off naturally. Clearly, Cole doesn't like it. That's like saying your boobs are too big, get a boob job.

"What's wrong with my hair?"

He surveys my flowing waves. "It's just not my type."

I give a sarcastic chuckle. "Honey, you liked blondes way before you met me. We're just adjusting to the things we thought we liked."

"Yeah, but you look better with straight hair." I shake my head. That won't make me change my preference but I take a mental note to use an iron when I'm hanging out with Cole.

I look out the window again, the main square lights growing thinner as we drive home.

Something—no, someone—catches my attention from the distance on the side of the road. Her hair was short but her ponytail stood high on her head almost like a crown. There was only one person I knew who copyrighted the look from the entire student body like she didn't just mimic a tall version of an Ariana Grande.

"Slow down."

Cole knits his eyebrows in confusion. "What?"

"Just do it. I know that girl."

We pull up next to the sidewalk and Cole's bright headlights catches her attention making her spin around squinting. She narrowed her eyes instantly as I roll down the window, her arms folding across her chest.

What the hell was she doing out here alone in the middle of the night? Sometimes, Mayfield stragglers like to wander and even I never want to wish them finding my worst enemy alone at night.

"What's a maiden like you doing out here under the evening twilight alone?"

Maddie mockingly shakes her head. "Dramatic as ever, huh, Morales?"

"What's life without a little drama?" I utter a spite. I know how much it bugs the little head cheerleader when she couldn't get on my nerves. "No, but, seriously. What are you doing out here?"

She contemplates for a moment. Anything that could resemble vulnerability was always a show of ammunition in her eyes. I know, because we've been through this tango a million times before.

Yeah, she's a b***h to think I'd use her vulnerability against her. Like I'd ever stoop that low to get back at someone. I might have pushed her car into the beach once at Quarter's Peak when we had that class outing, but that's not emotionally damaging.

At least, I don't think so.

Maddie and I never really see eye to eye on anything considering we were too much of polar opposites to even stand in the same room. While I kept myself in the down low, she was flamboyant.

Us being antithetical might be a blessing in disguise because then I wouldn't hide my deep distaste on Elio's girlfriend long before they started dating. But then, I could do a day without her snide remarks my way.

Seconds went by and I can tell she was still thinking about it. "I'm not asking the codes for a nuclear football, Maddie."

Her eyes snaps back to me. "How can I be so sure you won't use it against me?"

I bite the nail of my thumb. "Oh, gee. Please, your highness. Tell me what you're doing out here alone so I can tell the entire school how you can perfectly walk with two legs."

She blows out a breath and waves me off. "Forget it." Maddie walks away, her clad heels the only prominent sound that didn't blend with the flowing air and rustling trees.

I nudge Cole. "Go after her."

The car doesn't move. "Jesus, f**k. I have somewhere else to be."

"You're not going anywhere until I say you do," I threaten, trying to sound so sure of myself. I was always a standing ground person but with Cole, sometimes it falters.

His eyes flare. "Excuse me?" He slams his palms against the steering wheel. I was silently glad he didn't set his sights on my arm again. "The hell do you think you are?"

"You're fuckin' girlfriend, that's who." My answer didn't seem to resolve anything because the car still wasn't moving and Maddie was already twenty feet ahead of us.

"Fine then. I'm getting out." I twist my body to open my car door, the soft click of the handle making him jolt and capture my wrist just as my foot hit the pavement.

"The hell you are. Get the f**k back in here."

His tone wasn't the typical annoyance whenever we had these little fights, which to say was as frequent as the sun gracing the world with its presence. I was used to it enough that he doesn't scare me. He never scares me. I'm scared of what he does to other people. But never to me.

I get back inside the car, annoyance filling my whole being. Truth was, I didn't actually want to walk, I just needed to make a point. Remind him I was also in charge in our relationship and not just him. Lately, he tends to forget about that.

He blows out a heavy sigh and rubs the side of his temple with two fingers. "I don't know why you even care about her. Isn't this the same b***h who painted s**t on your car last year?"

Yes. "I don't care about that right now. I'm more concerned of how she's going to get home at this hour." God knows I would have wanted someone to show the same kindness to my mother if she was stuck in a situation like this.

"f**k her. Since when were you all buddy with the cheer b***h?"

"Since it's barely eleven at night and she's walking around a shitty neighborhood alone." This wasn't a matter of who's friends with who. It's a show of common decency.

Though, I'm not sure Maddie would extend the same to me.

"Screw her. Let Pavlov deal with it." Yeah, that would've been an idea if he was here right now.

How can I make my boyfriend realize that not all of us are dickheads? "What if it was me?"

He scoffed. "I wouldn't worry too much. You can handle yourself."

I roll my eyes. I don't know if he was speaking logical or just gaining my favor. "What if I was Maddie? Would you be okay for me to walk home alone at this hour?"

He doesn't say a word. I give him a look that suggest I wasn't going to let this go. The sooner he surrenders, the earlier we get home.

And he heeds my warning look because he starts the car. I hide a smug grin that threatens to come out. It's the little achievements in life.

With Maddie parallel to the car, I try again to win her trust. "I'm sorry I was mocking you."

I couldn't see it, but I could feel her narrowed eyes. "Your mommy ain't here, Ayla, nor is the principal. Stop with the nice act."

I let my eyes roll up the sky at her stubbornness. God help me, I might kill this woman before a drunk himbo does.

Ignoring the indignant stare Cole shot in my direction, I don't let up. "Get in the car Maddie, we're dropping you home." She halts her stride.

And abruptly so does the car almost making my body hit the dashboard. Cole protests again but I tune him out, my focus solely on the heavy mascara wearing imp who up until yesterday I wanted to smash her head on a car's windshield just to shut her nosy mouth. Trust me, I still do. My grudge just took a vacation.

Maddie peeks past my head to Cole's who I know for a fact was staring daggers into my back. "Seems like your little boyfriend don't agree with you. Trouble in paradise?"

That's rich coming from her. "Considering Elio isn't with you right now and you're trudging the sidewalk with a four-inch too high heels alone, I should be the one to ask you that."

Elio always spent his weekends with his girlfriend so it wasn't hard to assume that Elio left her ass on the curb after a fight. What an ass. He didn't even have the decency to leave her at a nearest bus stop.

Her shoulder eased, her eye still filled with wariness. "Why are you being nice?"

That's the million dollar question, isn't it? It would be easier to let this go and leave her alone. Five minutes of bitching and convincing wasn't nearly worth my head falling on my pillow right about now. But, like I said, I would want someone to do this for my mom when the same fate befalls her. Do unto others and all that s**t.

I shrug. "Trust me, I hate doing it as much as the next geek you pissed off but, no jokes. No pranks. No motives. Just a genuine gesture." That's partly true. "It's not safe out here and I really don't want it to sink into my consciousness if you turn up dead the next day." That's wholly true.

That still didn't convince her. She folds her arms again, her mini purse up to her elbows. "How do I know you're not out to get me? That this isn't some kind of ruse?" Suspicion was thick on her tone.

I snort. "Please. I'm not that good of an actor. Come on, Maddie. I'm the one calling the truce despite you and your fuckin' airhead squad spray painting my car with names like I don't know it's you."

She rolls her eyes. "Sure, make it all about yourself."

Wha—

I throw my hands up in the air. "You're fuckin' unbelievable." I narrow my eyes at her. "Fine, if a dirty old man force his way with you, don't come crying to mommy telling her there was no way you could have avoided it."

Don't say I didn't try. Hear that conscience? This isn't my problem anymore.

Cole's hands positions back to the steering wheel, feeling much obliged to do so.

"Wait," Maddie calls out just before Cole could drive far. I grip his thigh and he groans, pressing on the breaks.

I don't look back at Maddie as she opens the back door and hops in.

Remember what I said about the whole vulnerability is an ammunition? Yup, I might have something to use against her now. I let the corner of my lip tug upward at the tiny victory.

So what, maybe I am a little bit like Maddie. I go to her school for heaven's sake. I was bound to adapt some of the scheming mannerisms the rich pricks had.

"I live in—"

"I know where you live," Cole grumbles, sulking at the added task I burdened him with. He'll get over it.

"You know, that's deeply unsettling, right?"

Cole glares at her through the rearview mirror. "Why don't you do us all a favor and shut the f**k up back there."

Most times Cole was known to put the fear into people. However, much to my surprise, Maddie doesn't falter. Her eyes pierced through mine. "Control your mutt, Ayla."

This angers Cole even more. "Control your motherfuckin' mouth, or else I'll make you, bitch."

Sometimes it baffles me how Cole thinks b***h was an insult to women. Whatever makes him feel like a man, I guess.

Maddie opens her mouth again but I don't want to see Cole's temper reach past his limit. "You never told us what you were doing out here alone," I cut in before she could say anything. This will shut her up.

I don't need to hear her answer though, because Elio's truck zooms past us confirming my suspicions. Fifty bucks says he went back to get Maddie. But he's not going to find her.

The two make quite a pair.