The Wrong Woman

Louis handed me the letter but I made no attempt to take it. We watched as it fluttered to the floor.

“You might want to pick that up and read it.” Louis said casually. “And don’t even think about showing it to Campbell. I’ve talked myself out of worse situations than this one.”

I stared down at the letter and then at Louis’ retreating back. I started to walk away but curiosity got the better of me as I reached down to grab the letter. I waited until I was in my parking lot before I pulled it out and began to read.

Dear Louis,
I can’t believe I’m writing you a letter, I mean we see each other every day and chat every night, but I did this English assignment a while ago where we had to write letters and I have to admit I kind of liked it. I think it’s nice to give someone a letter… it’s something they can keep always. Not like an email you just delete and forget about.

Just make sure you hide it okay? (: From your girlfriend especially. Haha, I don’t think she’d like me sending you stuff. And as for Harry… oh my God… he would kill me. He’s so jealous of you, it’s not funny. Maybe he wouldn’t be so jealous if you weren’t so cute. But you are… (;

Everyone’s treats me a like a little kid half the time. So it’s nice to be with someone who treats me like an equal.

I guess why I’m writing this letter is I just wanted to say sorry for freaking out last week. I guess I didn’t expect it. But I wanted you to know that I liked it. Probably more than I should have.

Our secret, okay?

PS: I love what you have been showing me lately. Dad’s money is going to a good cause, hey? (;

Can’t wait to see you tonight!

Luv, Maddie

I read it two times before I scrunched it up and threw it out the window in a fit of anger. Then the confusion set in and I didn’t know what to think or what to feel. My first instinct was to storm over to Maddie’s house and confront her, and maybe even tell her Father. But what would I have to gain from dobbing in this fool? Maddie and Louis would deny it and where would that leave me?

No Maddie.

No job.

No Felicity.

And what about the drugs I had been delivering all this time?

For the thousandth time I asked myself what the fuck had I gotten myself into?

X

I did not hear from Maddie all weekend. But that did not mean I did not think about her. I did not know what was going on between her and Louis and to be honest I was not sure if I wanted to know. This situation was becoming a little too much and the only person I really wanted to see was Felicity.

Instead I found myself at Maddie’s school on Monday afternoon just as the last students trickled out and quickly made my way over to Louis’ classroom. The door was closed and I knew the tutoring session had begun. I had done this before so I knew exactly where to stand to get a good look without being seen. I positioned myself near the corner of the window only to see Louis standing by a large whiteboard. Maddie sat in her chair watching him intently as he spoke, her school uniform hitched high above her knees. She placed the tip of her pen in her mouth and nibbled on it. Louis did not seem to notice as he continued the lesson, occasionally writing on the board. Eventually his gaze focussed on her and the way her tongue poked out slightly. She flicked it against the tip of the pen, her blue eyes looking back at him all wide and innocent and totally at odds with what she was doing with her mouth.

Louis eventually stopped talking and regarded her with a small, knowing smile.

“Are you trying to distract me?” He finally asked.

“No Sir.” Maddie replied with a smile.

“Hmm.” Louis replied.

I could faintly hear the exchange thanks to the partially open window but even without hearing them, there was no mistaking the way they were looking at each other.

I watched this scene with a strange detachment, as though she was not my girlfriend and she was not coming on to another man. In the past I would have flown into a rage and stormed the place. But a lot had happened in the past few months and I could only stay rooted to the spot, waiting to see how the scene was going to play out.

Louis continued the lesson until it became clear that Maddie was more interested in suggestively licking her pen as she crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair. Without warning she stood up and I quickly retreated, just in case she came near the window. But instead Maddie sauntered over behind a partition at the back of the room. She disappeared from view, so I assumed she had sat down. Louis watched her with a thoughtful look.

“You win Maddie.” He said. “It’s time for your lesson to really begin.”

He walked to the partition and looked down at her before kneeling down and disappearing from sight. I watched and waited but I could not hear anything, except for a muffled giggle. I stood there for a moment, not knowing what to do. In the end I drove home and drank until I fell asleep on the couch.

X

“What do you mean you threw the letter away?” Felicity asked me.

“I just threw it away.” I shrugged. “I didn’t even think about it.”

“You could have shown Campbell that letter.” She added.

“No way.” I shook my head. “I’m already in way over my head.”

We were standing by the photocopier at work and speaking in hushed tones but I could not help but keep an eye on the main office door.

“What are you going to do?”

“Dunno.” I replied. “I’m just going to go on like nothing has happened…”

I said the words and yet I did not know why. The situation was fucked up on so many levels that I did not know what I was going to do. I still had feelings for Maddie, but I was not sure if we were meant to be together. I wanted Felicity in more ways than one but I was not sure how we could keep our thing going. I wanted my job because the thought of being unemployed scared me, but I was not sure being Campbell’s personal drug runner was the best career move.

I was so preoccupied with my thoughts that I did not even notice Campbell and Maddie walk into the office. Felicity almost dropped her papers and I automatically walked to my desk.

“You okay Harry?” Campbell asked. I looked past him to see Maddie regarding me with an uncertain smile.

“Fine.” I murmured. “I’m fine…”

Campbell glanced at Felicity who avoided his eyes, when I noticed Maddie appear at my side.

“Hi.” She said brightly.

“Hey.”

“Are you doing anything after work?”

“Nope.”

“Wanna come over?”

“I don’t know.”

I looked up at her puzzled face which suddenly hardened. I followed her gaze to see her glaring at Felicity who had been curiously watching our exchange.

“Okay. Fine.” Maddie said abruptly before walking out.

I noticed Campbell frown but all I could was nervously clear my throat as I returned to my work.

“Harry, can I see you outside for a moment?” Campbell said.

Fuck. He was not going to let me get away with it. I followed him out into the hall and tried to look him in the eye.

“Are you okay?” He asked concerned.

“Yes Sir.”

“Are you sure? You don’t seem yourself?”

I half shrugged, not knowing what to say. Campbell paused before digging into his pocket and pulling out a wad of cash.

“How about you take Maddie out on a little date? Go somewhere special.” He said.

“There’s no need…” I stammered.

“I think there is.” He said. “I don’t like to see my little girl upset.”

His tone had suddenly changed and I found myself accepting the cash.

“Oh and Harry,” Campbell added. “I need you to do a special delivery for me tomorrow.”

“Um, Sir?” I spoke up. “I’ve been meaning to speak to you about this… I-I don’t think I can keep making these uh deliveries. I’m not going to have my car for much longer… I’ve been borrowing it from a friend… so maybe you should find someone else.”

“That’s not good enough Harry.” Campbell said. “I’m relying on you. More than you know.”
He stepped closer and I tried my best to look him in the eye.

“I need you to make these deliveries. I don’t trust anyone else. And I don’t think you’d want to let me down… would you?”

I glanced down at the money in my hand and slowly shook my head.

“I won’t have this car for much longer. My mate Zayn said he-"

“I’ll get you a new car.” Campbell interrupted smoothly. “You just keep on doing what you’re doing… and I’ll take care of you.”

He walked away and I reluctantly returned to the office.

“Are you okay?” Felicity asked with genuine concern.

“Yeah.” I said holding up the cash. “Apparently I’m going on a date with Maddie.”

She raised her eyebrows and I found myself quietly laugh, with no entirely no humour.

“I’d rather spend this on you.” I told her.

We smiled warmly at each other and I dumped the cash on my desk before reaching for the phone.

“Maddie?” I said once she answered. “I’m free to meet up.”

Notes

Sorry for the short chapter... please let me know what you think though!