Chaptee Eighteen

*Madison's POV*

I had been back living with Austin for about 3 weeks now. While he was in school I worked and did my online classes and helped Mrs Carlile around the house. When Austin was home we practiced baseball, went to the beach, and spent all our time together.

Right now I sat with Mrs Carlile in the living room. She read a book and I drew her portrait. She was really beautiful.

"Madison, are done with your school stuff?" She asked, glancing at me.

I nodded without looking up from my drawing. "Yeah."

She smiled. "What are you doing?"

I smiled and glanced at her. "Drawing you."

"Drawing me?" She said, blushing. "Why?"

I shrugged. "I like to draw beautiful things."

She waved me away. "Oh stop." She turned all the way to face me. "Do you have self portraits in there?"

I scoffed and shook my head. "No."

She smiled. "Well you're beautiful. Inside and out. I wish you seen that."

I didn't look at he. I just continued drawing. I hated when people complimented me because I knew they were lying. I wasn't beautiful. I was average.

"Madison? Look at me." She said.

I looked up.

She smiled really big. "Sweetie, you're amazing. To be able to go through the things you did, and still be able to laugh and smile. That's incredible."

I shrugged. "I guess."

Austin walked in the room and frowned. "Ma? Where's my Metallica shirt?"

I looked at him. "I folded it and put it in your second drawer."

He smiled. "Thanks, Mads." He went upstairs, taking two at a time.

I looked back at Mrs Carlile. "Are you hungry? I can make dinner tonight."

She shook her head. "It's okay. I can do it." She stood up and walked past me, kissing my head. "Go hang out with Austin."

I closed my sketch book and went upstairs to Austin's room, going in without knocking. He dug through his dresser, shirtless. I blushed and smiled.

"Damn, Mads." He said, smiling and looking at me. "I know you wanna see me naked but, jeez. With my parents in the house?"

I smiled and shut the door behind me. "Shut up." I went and sat on his bed.

He put a shirt on and looked at me. "You okay? You look a little down?"

I shrugged. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, of course." He said, picking up his back pack and digging through it.

"Do you think I'm beautiful?" I asked.

He smiled at me and nodded. "Yeah. I think you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen in my life."

I blushed and tried to hide my smile. "Really?"

He came and sat next to me, dropping his bag on the floor. "Yeah. Really. You're gorgeous, Mads." He put his arm around me.

I leaned against him. "Would you still think I was beautiful even if something terribly ugly happened to me?"

He nodded. "Yes."

I sighed. "So if I tell you something, you promise you won't judge me?"

He nodded again. "I promise."

I sighed. I was glad he couldn't see my face. I was ashamed. "Obviously you know how shitty my parents are. But, they were so much worse than you know." I sighed.

He patted my back. "Is this about your father?"

I nodded. "I was twelve the first time he snuck into my room." My stomach twisted. "He told me that he was proud of the woman I was becoming, and then he started touching me." Tears stung my eyes. "He told me that if I told anyone he would hurt me and Mikey. So I kept quiet about it." I put my hand on my belly. "When I was fifteen, he raped me." I felt Austin's body tense up and he held my hand. "I got pregnant. And Mikey found the test. He freaked out and thought I got knocked up by some kid from school that I was seeing. He said he was gonna kill him. So I panicked and I told him everything. When he told my mother, she told him to mind his own business."

"I am so sorry, Madison." Austin whispered.

I wiped my eyes. "I had to walk to the clinic alone, and terminate the pregnancy. Mikey was to busy with Jane. It seemed like within a day he forgot what happened to me." I squeezed my eyes shut to try and stop the tears. "I was alone."

Austin wrapped his arms around me. "Mads, you'll never be alone again. I promise you I will always be by your side. No matter what."

I hugged him. "You're the first person to make me feel like I belong somewhere."

He squeezed me. "You belong with me."

I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him. I never wanted to let go. I never wanted to lose him.