Generation 1-Chapter 5

"Hey, Sweetheart, how's it going?" Mark asked, planting a gentle kiss on me before returning to his breakfast.

I yawned groggily, and let my eyes adjust to the bright light pouring in from the windows. "Pancakes, this early?"

"Maddy, it's past noon," Mark said abruptly.

"Oh," I mumbled. Suddenly my hands rushed to my temples, hoping a stinging pain would subside. I let out a groan, causing Mark to turn around.

"Maddy?" I couldn't answer. The pain.. "Maddy, are you okay?" He turned off the stove and rushed to my side.

I fell onto the floor, still vigorously caressing my temples.

"MADELINE?"

Then, as quickly as it had come, it was gone. I opened my eyes, and took a few deep breaths. There was a faint throbbing still there, and for that I took a Tylenol.

Mark stood in the doorway with a concerned look on his face. "What was it?"

"I'm not sure, some sort of migraine or something."

Mark scoffed.

"What do you want with me?" I hissed.

"You need help, Maddy!"

"I do not, leave me alone."

"Maddy, I can help you. We can do this together. I don't want to see this stuff ruin your life, or our relationship.."

"What relationship?" I boiled.

"Don't be like that!" he shot back. He held me in his arms, concern written all over his face. "I worry about you, Maddy. I can't help it. I want you to be better."

"W-why?"

"I.. I love you."

My eyes widened with disbelief. And for once in my life, I knew I loved him back. I wanted to fall into his arms, sob with him, and pledge my sobriety to-be. But instead, I shrugged away from him. "You love me? You love me!" I screamed. "You're only saying that to get me to quit drinking!"

"No, Maddy!" he reached for me. "That's not true!"

"Ugh.." I couldn't take it anymore. I had to leave.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Ms. Trish? I think Madeline needs help.."

Generation 1-Chapter 4

It was sad to say, but after the encounter with Mark, my drinking got worse. Just about any where that I went, I had alcohol in my hand. I could make just about anything too. My boss loved it, as I brought in more money, but what he didn't know was what it was doing to me on the inside.

I used several ways to try and conceal my vicious drinking habit, but it was always there, no matter how faintly. Eventually it began to completely take over my life. The house was a wreck, and most of the furniture smelled like alcohol. Why? I don't remember.

I found myself unable to remember days, weeks, months before, but there was one thing I would never forget. . . .

That night.

Everyday was a constant cycle of drinking, dancing, moonlighting, and trying to remember what I had done the day before.

Plus the free drinks from the bar didn't help my situation any.

Sometimes it got a little out of hand.
But it was all in good fun.
Right?

Or maybe a little more than out of hand.

~~~

He walked into the bar a few weeks later.

"What do you want, Mark?" I asked him casually.

"I want to talk."

"So talk," I said.

"Madeline, I never meant for that night to happen. I was drunk, and didn't mean what I said. I like you, not whoever that girl was. You of all people should know that."

"Why should I believe you?" I slurred.

"Because . . . You just have to. I'm telling you the truth. That girl meant nothing to me. You're the only girl that means something. You mean the world. No, you are the world."

"Well aren't you sweet. Wanna come to my place?" I asked and I stumbled over to him in my drunken state. "It'll be fun. I promise." I planted my lips on his cheek. "Come onnnn, Marrkkk," I rambled.

"Have you been drinking?" he asked.

"No, why would you t-t-hink t-that?"

"Because you normally don't act this way."

"Let me take you home."

"No! I don't wanna go home. I want to stay with my friends!" I exclaimed.

"Madeline . . "

"You're not my mom!" I shouted and shoved him, but fell to the ground in the process. I started giggling uncontrollably. "You're so strong." He seemed to ignore that.

"I may not be your mother, but I do know she wouldn't allow you to act like this." He reached down and pulled me up by my arms, draping them around his neck.

~~~

When I opened my eyes, I was lying on the couch. A throbbing pain in my head caused me to sit up. I grunted.

"So, do you remember any of last night?" Mark asked, causing me to look across the room to him.

"N-No. What happened?"

"Well, besides dancing on tables, drinking a ton of alcohol, trying to seduce me, nothing-"

"WHAT? That's ridiculous. I would nev-"

"Well you did."

"... Did we?"

"No. I wasn't about to take advantage of a drunk girl," he said. I scoffed.

"Could have fooled me."

He stood up and came over to me. "I would never do that. And like I told you last night, if you had remembered, I was drunk. That girl meant nothing to me, and you're the only one that does." I swallowed hard. He looked so serious. But could I really trust what he was saying?

His lips crushed against mine, causing me to forget that he had even kissed that other girl a few months ago.

Man. What did I get myself into?

Generation 1-Chapter 3

"So what should I do, Alistare?" I asked my Mixologist friend.

"About what?" he asked.

"Have you not been listening to the past thousand things I've said?"

"Of course I have, Maddy," he said.

"Ugh," I said as I sipped my drink. One of the benefits of working here was the free drinks. "I said, 'What should I do about Mark?'"

"Be honest," he said.

"Psh. As if. I can't tell him that I'm pretty much homeless." 

"You know, honestly is the best quality," he grinned. "Oh, it's opening time!" What that really meant was, "go away from me and do your job." I sighed, getting up from my chair and going to my post.

Okay, so this wasn't exactly a job, but I got paid for it. It was only temporary, though, until I could get a real job at the hospital.

"Can I help you?" I asked a man that was waving me over.

"Yeah, I need a Double STAT," he ushered me off.

"Got it," I said.

Then the next customer walked in.

Soon the bar started filling up, and I could tell that it was going to be a busy night.

And indeed it was.

When I finally got a chance to look up, I was surprised at what I saw. Mark was here! But he was talking to some woman. I continued to watch them, feeling an odd vibe between them.

They soon moved it to the dance floor . .

Then eventually things led to one another, and they were kissing!

"Ashley," I called out to one of the mixologists, "hold my spot for a second." 

It was time for this nonsense to end.

"What do you think you're doing?" I shouted at him.

"What does it look like?!"

"You're my boyfriend!"

 

He laughed. "Your boyfriend? Was your boyfriend. We were kids, what did you expect?" he shouted right back.

"O-Oh," I mumbled.

What did I think? I thought we were in love, were going to get married, have kids, watch our kids have kids, and their kids have kids . . But all I see now in our future is a broken heart, I thought.

As I turned to leave, he pulled me back. "Madeline, wait, that came out wrong. Just hear me out."

"No. Just, no. Leave me alone, Mark," I said.

Generation 1-Chapter 2

"Okay, Madeline, where do we go now?" she asked herself as she ran across the bridge. "It's a month after your birthday, you're a young adult now, you don't have anyone to look after you. On your own. The money Mom gave you is gone, and you can't live like a hobo all your life."

"Besides, you don't want her to think you can't make it. And she has her other children to look after . . You're not the only one. You were only number 26-nothing more."

I can do this. Of course I can do this.

But why do I feel so scared?

Relax, Madeline, this is the real world. What you have always wanted . .

I took a deep breath. Time to make the plunge. I walked inside Twinbrook's hospital. I had come to Twinbrook to get away from the busy life of Sunset Valley. Sunset Valley wasn't a very big place, but it was bigger than what I liked. A small town . . now that was my kind of place. I'm not very good around a bunch of people. A woman at a desk flashed me a bright smile. "Hi and welcome to Twinbrook Foundation Hospital. What can I do for you?" she asked.

"Uh, well, actually I was hoping to apply for a job."

"Oh, sorry hun. We're not hiring. You can still apply and we'll keep your application in case we ever need it."

"Thanks," I said, taking the application. I sat down in one of the waiting chairs, finished it, and gave it back to her.

"Alright, dear. You have a good day," she said.

"You too," I mumbled. So much for that idea.

So what would I do now? I had no money, and no house. To top it off, my stomach growled. How was I supposed to find some where to eat?

It seemed like someone was looking after me, as I came across the community garden. I glanced around warily. Would this even be allowed?

Who knows, I have no choice.

I ran to the nearest plant I could find, and hunkered down below the fence. Hopefully nobody could see me. Hunger driven, I plucked every grape vine from the plant.

"You know that probably isn't a good idea," someone said. I jumped, turning to look at them.

"Mark?" I asked, crawling to my feet.

"What are you doing here?" I rushed over to him and wrapped him in a hug.

"I should ask you the same," he said. I pulled back. I probably looked like a bum out here in the garden, stealing grapes.

"Well, I, uh. . ." I couldn't tell him I was out here stealing food. "I work here!" I exclaimed quickly.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, just started today."

"Well that's weird," he said suspiciously.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because if someone had been hired, I would have been the first to know."

Oh crap.

"Well, I'm sure this is just a paperwork screw-up," I said too quickly.

"You don't really work here, do you?" he asked. Caught.

"No," I mumbled.

"So then why are you here?"

"It's a long story," I said. Not really.

"So, begin," he said.

"I'd rather not . ." He sighed, obviously seeing that I wasn't going to explain my actions.

"Do you want a drive home?" That's better than calling the cops. 

"Nah, that's alright. I need my exercise anyways. I'm sure you're busy," I lied.

Actually, how could I tell him that I didn't have a home?

"No, no, I insist." 

Persistent little thing isn't he.

"Besides, what kind of guy would I be to leave a lady to the streets?"

"Uh. Sure. A ride home sounds nice." But now I had to worry about where 'home' was.

I was sure nobody lived here. No cars, no lights. "There," I said, pointing to the house.

He got out, coming around to the passenger door and letting me out. "So this is where you live?"

"Yup."

"It's nice. Can I see the inside?"

Uh-oh. "No, I just moved in a few days ago and I'm pretty worn out."

"Oh, alright. Well, see you later."

I waited until I couldn't see his car anymore before running away from the lot.

Mark may have stopped me from stealing from the garden, but he didn't get all of it. All I had now was the clothes on my back, and these grapes.

This wasn't a 5-star hotel room, but it was somewhere to sleep. 

It seemed that I was getting nowhere in this town, but I wouldn't give up. I couldn't.