Sixteen?

The number kept repeating in my head. Why hadn’t I figured it out earlier? How could I have thought she was eighteen? I had met her through Zayn’s sister. How old was she? I hadn't even given it a second thought.

But now all the puzzle pieces began to fit into place.
Maddie’s girlishness had been cute but I had always thought she must have led a sheltered life. Her hesitancy when I tried to get physically close to her bordered on fear, but I had always thought she was just sexually inexperienced. And then there was her cluelessness when it came to life; she had seemed so innocent about everything.

All these signs had been like a red flag waving in front of me and I had ignored every single of them.

Sweet, innocent Madeline.

Yeah right.

I could only stare at my empty plate whilst everyone finished eating. I not only felt trapped, but now I was feeling sick to the stomach. Dinner lasted for another fifteen minutes but it felt more like fifteen hours. And my anger did not dissipate. Not even a little. Maddie had not uttered another word, instead keeping her head down and I caught Felicity shooting me a questioning look which I ignored. All this time, she had kept telling me that Maddie was too young for me. What she had neglected to tell me was how fucking young Maddie was.
I saw Maddie cower when Campbell rose to leave.

“Felicity and I have some things to take care of.
I’ll be home soon.” He told Maddie.

As soon as we heard the front door close, Maddie was up and walking away.

“Sixteen?” I yelled after her. I caught up to her quickly and grabbed her by the arm. She looked up at me fearfully. “Sixteen?”

“Harry-“

“What am I saying? You’re not even sixteen yet… you’re still fifteen!”

“Harry hear me out.” Maddie cried.

I roughly let go of her arm and kicked at the wall in frustration.

“How could I be so stupid?”

“Harry listen to me.” Maddie exclaimed. “I didn’t know we were going to end up together! When I met you that night… I never thought I’d see you again. We were talking… and I wanted to impress you… so I started talking about wanting a tattoo and then I said I was eighteen. I didn’t want you to think I was just a little kid.”

“You fucking lied to me.” I seethed.

“Would you have spoken to me if you knew I was fifteen?” Maddie suddenly asked.

“No.” I replied honestly. “No, I wouldn’t have. And I definitely wouldn’t have dated you either.”

Maddie paused for a moment and I could see her eyes filling with tears.

“When we started going out… I didn’t know how to tell you.” Maddie continued. “And then I started to really like you…”

I sank into the nearest couch and buried my head in my hands.

“Fifteen.” I groaned. “Fifteen. You’re just a baby.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m dating a fifteen year old.” I said to nobody in particular.

“Harry I love you. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“How did you think you were going to get away with this?” I snapped, ignoring her. “Did you really think I wasn’t going to find out?”

“I don’t know.” She said, sitting next to me. I shook my head and couldn’t even look at her.

“Do you know how much trouble I could get into?” I asked. The ramifications of our relationship were starting to sink in for real now. “I could get into serious trouble for this.”

“But you haven’t so far. Why would that change now?”

“Are you serious?” I asked angrily. “I mean it was bad enough that you were still in school… I didn’t think… Jesus, I didn’t think you were fifteen.”

“I’m almost sixteen.” Maddie said softly.

We sat there quietly for what seemed like ages. My mind raced with different thoughts. I hadn’t been kidding when I said I could get into trouble for this. Wasn’t it called statutory rape? We hadn’t had sex, but we had done stuff. Would that be enough to get me into trouble?

“What now?” Maddie asked, breaking the silence.

I let out a huge sigh and then bit my lip.

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean?” Maddie asked.

“When do you turn sixteen?”

“In two weeks.” She said quietly.

“Right.” I replied. “Maybe we should take a break… until you turn sixteen. Then we’ll talk.”

“But-“ Maddie began.

“Two weeks.” I said firmly. I stood up and stuffed my hand in my pocket, trying to find my keys.

“Two weeks is forever.” Maddie moaned. I headed for the front door and felt her hands reach for me.

“Harry, I’m sorry.” She said and I couldn’t help but frown back. She snaked her arms around me and looked up at me with her pale blue eyes. “I love you.”

I gazed down at her for a moment and saw my sweet, innocent Maddie again. I wanted to kiss her, but instead I pushed her hands away.

“Two weeks.” I said. And then I left.

I got home, cracked open a beer, sat on the couch and stared into space. I recalled all the moments we had been intimate and cringed at the times I had told her how much I wanted her, pushing her to go further. If I had known how young she was… I never would have done it. My previous girlfriends had only ever been my age or older. There was maybe one girl I dated who was a year younger. I had never dated a girl five years younger than me.

Well, four years younger once she turned sixteen.

Sixteen wasn’t so young… was it?

I tried to reason with myself… tried to figure it out in my head. Did I still want to be with her? I could think of a million reasons to say no, but a part of me disagreed.

Maddie said two weeks would be forever and she was right. The days dragged on and although I had a feeling she’d drop by the office during the afternoons I worked, she never did.

In a weird way, I missed her. I tried to keep busy, but my thoughts would drift to her and I’d wonder where she was or what she was doing.

I couldn’t help but bring it up with Felicity one afternoon. She stared at me horrified for a moment before asking.

“So you’re saying you had no idea how young she was?”

"Yes.” I said impatiently. “I had no idea. Thanks for telling me by the way.”

I watched surprised as she laughed.

“I thought you knew.” She said.

“No, I didn’t.”

“I thought it was strange that someone like you would be with someone so young.” She confessed. “I couldn’t figure it out.”

“Mhm.” I grumbled, trying not to show how embarrassed I was.

“So… what now?” Felicity asked, echoing Maddie’s question.

“Dunno.” I shrugged. “I still like her a lot… so I might give it a go.”

“Oh.” Felicity said.

“Well I like you too.” I said, trying to lighten the mood. “But you’re taken, so there’s no hope there.”

Felicity laughed in response, and I noticed a definite shift in our relationship from that moment. We went from tense and awkward to easy going and relaxed. Working with her was fun. We had a routine we stuck to, working for an hour before stopping for tea and a chat. We spoke more about my concerns about being with Maddie and I think she realised that rather than being a creeper who dated schoolgirls, I was actually a little confused about the whole thing and only wanted to do the right thing.

We worked so well together that there were times we’d be in the office way past 6pm. Her co-worker Carrie would have to come in and tell us to get out before she locked up for the night.

I was kind of confused about how things were going with Felicity but it made me happy to know we were making the best of the odd situation were in. I even had started to think of her as my friend.

One afternoon I checked my mailbox to find a big envelope addressed to me. I opened it to find an invitation for Maddie’s upcoming Sweet Sixteen party. It was so pink, glossy and girly that I had to smile. Typical Maddie. It must have been organised in a hurry because the RSVP date was looming, so I grabbed my phone and quickly typed a message.

Got your invite. I’ll see you at the party.

Two minutes later I received a message back.

That’s great. I miss you

I wrote my response immediately but took my time sending
it back.

I miss you too I wrote

My phone beeped almost instantly.

Can I see you? Now? Do we really have to wait?

I couldn’t help but smile and shake my head.

Nope. I’ll see you at the party

Maybe I was being harsh, but I had to keep my cool.

On the night of the party I picked out my midnight blue suit and a crisp white button down shirt. It actually wasn’t a proper suit. More like a pair of random trousers that went with a jacket I had, but the important part was that they matched. The invite had said formal dress, and I guess that was as formal I got. My hair was as tame as it was going to get. I unbuttoned the top few buttons of my shirt, after I realised I had no tie. I looked in the mirror for a moment and shrugged. Not so bad.

I tucked Maddie’s present in my pocket. I had bought her a silver ankle bracelet. I once saw a girl wearing one on the street and thought it was hot. I hoped Maddie would like it. It had been a last minute purchase and to be honest I was skint, so I didn’t have much money to play around with in the first place.

I drove to the Gable Hotel and skipped the valet service, preferring to park down the street. As I walked up to the main entrance I spotted Zayn having a smoke under a lamp post.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I said with a light hearted punch to the arm.

“Smoking.” He said.

“Very funny smart ass. I mean at the party.”

“She invited me and my sister.” Zayn said with a shrug. I nodded and nudged his pocket, where I knew he kept his cigarettes. He handed me one and I instantly lit up.

“Check this out.” I told him. I lifted my jacket to show a flask of vodka in my pocket. I didn’t know what the provisions were going to be like at a Sweet Sixteen party but I didn’t want to risk it. Zayn snickered and I opened my mouth to say more when my attention was diverted to the main staircase.

He was dressed in an expensive looking suit, with a beautiful brunette hanging off his arm. I openly stared at him and it wasn’t long before he caught my eye. He appraised me with his cool blue eyes, taking in everything, from my cheap suit, to the cigarette in my hand and my other hand resting on the flask that peeked out of my pocket. Louis’ lips curled into a small smile as he and his girlfriend entered the function room.
I couldn’t believe Maddie had invited the sonofabitch.

“This is gonna be an interesting night.” I told Zayn. And I took a big swig of my vodka for good measure.

Notes

Any predictions for what will happen at the party?