Page 124 of Habits

“She’s annoying,” she snaps. “Acting all goody-goody, when in reality she’s just like everybody else.”

“And how is that?” Patrick challenges.

“Breakable.”

“You hate her because she’s … whole?!”

“No, I hate her because sheactslike she is. Like she doesn’t hate her brother for stealing the spotlight and leaving her in the dark. Like her screwed-up family doesn’t matter and she’s fine being alone.”

“Maybe she is.”

“Nobody is fine being alone,” she protests, her voice rising.

Her words hit the bull’s eye. And the irony of this situation isn’t lost on me. Because for the first time I see who Maddaline really is. How lonely and jaded she is.

“Coming from somebody who knows it first-hand, Maddy?”

“Don’t you dare turn this on me! We’re not talking about me here.”

“Aren’t we?”

“What about you? Playing with the little princess’s heart, deceiving her,fuckingher so you can come back to my bed? Don’t you think that is a little fucked up?”

What? Maddy and … Patrick? Didn’t she want Max?

My brain starts going through weeks upon weeks of time spent with her. Getting to know her. And in part, being her friend. But it comes up empty. Maddaline never mentioned Patrick. Not even once. But I guess that doesn’t mean shit. Because Maddaline does what Maddaline wants, and that is everything.

My eyes fall closed as that realization washes over me.

Maddaline wants everything.

The best, cutest, most popular guys. Good-looking girlfriends. Popularity. People to love her. People to envy her. People tofearher.

Everything.

Including my brother, and the boy I was starting to fall for.

The boy who was hers to begin with.

A sob parts my lips, and I press my hand over my mouth to hold it in as the tears start falling down my face.

Stupid, stupid girl.

“Screw you, Maddaline,” Patrick whisper-yells.

Because he’s afraid of being found out? Because he doesn’t want to riskmefinding out?

I shake my head. I can’t take this anymore. I need to go. I need to …

I don’t get to finish my thought. Stumbling, I lean forward to try to balance my weight, but what I do is push the slightly ajar door wide open.

The silence filling the hallway is deafening. Patrick turns around, his eyes wide when he sees me. But when I turn around to look at the person I was actually feeling sorry for just mere moments ago, I find her with a knowing look in her eyes. Maddy knew I was there, listening. She knew it all along. Reading the realization in my eyes, her lips tilt if only slightly upward.

“Jeanette …” Patrick steps toward me, his hand outstretched.

I take a step back, wrapping my arms around myself. Why is it so cold suddenly?

Ignoring him, I concentrate on her.

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