Driveway
Chapter One: The Return (Madison’s POV)
“Bye Mr. Matthews!” Julia and I yelled as we walked toward my car. “Oh, my god, thank god school’s finally over.” She stopped mid-sentence, books tumbling from her arms. “Help! Help!—Nevermind,” she huffed, dropping the rest to the pavement.
Let me catch you up. West Campus High in Sacramento, and today was the last day before summer break. We were carrying all our textbooks home—study material we’d inexplicably decided to bring along *after* finals. Hence, the book avalanche and our near-constant tripping.
I’m Madison, though everyone calls me Mads or Maddie, whichever feels right. “Give me a minute,” I laughed, balancing books on my arm and knee while fishing my car keys from my back pocket. I drive on a permit, but I’m a pretty good driver.
My birthday’s June sixteenth, and I’m almost seventeen, though technically still sixteen. It’s whatever. I live with my brother, Nick, and my best friend, Julia. Our parents work together—business travel keeps them in New York—so we kids live together here in Sacramento. We like it.
She has a twin brother, too, but no one’s heard from him since he went to boarding school. We don’t talk about him. No one wants to.
“Here, open the door and put your books in first,” I said, quickly opening the backseat. I tossed my books in, sighed, shook my numb arm, and then tossed my backpack in and slid into the driver's seat.
She did the same, huffing as she leaned back. “Buckle up, please,” I said, starting the car and clicking my seatbelt. Backing out of the parking spot, we headed home. Ten or fifteen minutes—easy to come and go. We all live in my house since it’s closer, and Julia's isn't too far but it's now a dead place. We all live together and we all take full responsibility. Or well, I end up taking most since Nick is just…Nick.
I drove, Julia and I talking the entire time, and pulled into my driveway before braking.
“Ow!” Julia screeched. “Whose car is that?”
I looked carefully at the license plate.
“Hold on,” I took my seatbelt off and stepped out of the car. The car looked awfully familiar, and I couldn't place it.
“Looks familiar,” Julia said as she stepped out beside me.
It *did*.
“Julia, is there something you need to tell me?” I asked nervously.
“What?” she looked at me dumbfounded.
“Is someone coming over?” I questioned.
“No?” she said, but it came out as a question.
“Then please tell me why your brother’s car is in our driveway?!” I exclaimed.
“That’s not his—oh, my god it is!” she gasped. “He’s in—” A different voice cut her off.
“New York? Nope, not anymore.”
I closed my eyes, took a breath, and slowly turned to face him.
Jacob Dallas. The devil himself. An absolute asshole—I can’t even begin to describe how much of an asshole he is. Is that even a word? I don’t know.
“What’re you doing here?” Julia stepped forward. I’d let the twins handle this.
“Hi, Julia,” he nodded at her. “Madison,” he smirked at me as he walked closer.
I don’t know what it is, but he always seemed to enjoy flirting—and it was always directed at me. I glared at him, staring straight into his eyes while he towered over me.
“What’re you doing here, Jacob?” I asked, voice low.
He sighed, and I tried to step back, but he grabbed my wrist and pulled me closer. I huffed, cursing under my breath but standing there. It’s best to just listen to him. Otherwise, he never gives it up.
“I’m back,” he smirked. “The school couldn’t keep me there so they requested I pull my name out and I gladly did. After that mom and dad talked to John and Rose,”—That’s my parents—"and I was told to come here. To live with you guys.”
So his parents and mine decided he'd live here? Lewis and Elizabeth—his parents—decided that? We all use first names here. Can he stop staring into my eyes like that? It’s creepy.
“Why don’t you move back to *your* place?” Julia huffed.
“Why not? It’s her place, let her decide,” he nodded at me. “You’ve got two spare rooms, Mads. It’s a big ass mansion.”
It *is* an old mansion. It’s been in our family since my great-grandparents built it, and we’ve renovated only once. It’s huge because the entire family used to live here—parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Now, obviously, they don’t. It’s in great condition—all white and polished. I don’t like it. It feels too perfect for the chaos we create inside. It doesn't justify it.
“Which bedroom do you want?” I sighed in defeat.
“Maddie, what are you doing?” Julia looked at me, bewildered.
“He needs to live somewhere, Julia. If our parents said here, then here it is. Which room?” I turned back to him.
“The one upstairs,” he smirked.
Maybe I shouldn’t have given him that choice. Three bedrooms upstairs—mine, Nick’s, and one guest room. Julia stays in the one downstairs. Of course, he remembers where my room is. He used to barge in like he owned it. Before boarding school, he lived in his own place by himself, which is why I don’t understand why he can’t do that now. But bottom line is, he can’t. And we’re all going to have to deal with it.
“Now if you will,” I sighed, “can you move your car out of the driveway?” I arched an eyebrow at him while folding my arms across my chest.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, looking me up and down. “Missed ya,” he mumbled before getting in his car.
I got into mine and backed up so he could too. I parked in my driveway, and he drove up, parking his car directly behind mine. Great. I can’t get out without him. I should have parked behind him. I got out of the car and slammed the door shut, grabbed my books from the backseat. He caught them in time.
“I’ll get them,” he smirked. I rolled my eyes and locked the car before leading everyone into the house.
“What about your stuff?” I asked while grabbing a bottle of water before heading up to my room with Jacob following.
“It’ll come tomorrow morning,” he replied, placing my books on my desk.
“Okay,” I sighed, placing my car keys on my desk.
He grabbed my arm and spun me around to face him. “What’re you doing?” he asked, his voice low.
“What am I doing?” I questioned in confusion, my voice softening. Dammit! Why does it do that?
“You can’t avoid me anymore. Why are you still trying?” he arched an eyebrow at me. My breathing got a little heavier as he leaned in next to my ear. “You’re stuck with me now,” he whispered.
I shoved him back and rolled my eyes. “Get out of here, Jacob,” I huffed.
“Why?” he plopped down on my bed.
“Or don’t, I will,” I shrugged before heading to Nick’s room. I knocked before opening the door and he was sitting there with his girlfriend, Riley. “Hey,” I sighed.
“You met him, huh?” Nick questioned, putting his phone down.
“He is such a pain in the ass,” I groaned.
“What happened?” Riley questioned.
“Jacob’s back,” I huffed.
“Dallas?” she questioned and I nodded. “Don’t tell me he’s living here,” she sighed.
“Sorry,” I shrugged. “I’m sorry to myself,” I shook my head before going downstairs to grab water. I grabbed a bottle from the fridge and closed it to see Jacob leaning beside it, making me jump when he appeared out of nowhere. “What?” I said through gritted teeth.
“Needed water,” he shrugged before taking my bottle and drinking from it. He handed it back to me but I shoved it back to him before heading to Julia’s room.
“You’re making a huge mistake. He’s going to drive us all crazy,” Julia scoffed.
“You don’t think I know that? Parents’ orders, Julia. We’ll figure it out,” I shrugged.
I mean how long can someone keep their bullshit going? It’s not going to be that bad. He had to have matured a little.
Right?