#cardeline

Madeline felt a bit stupid for calling Carson so late at night but she really needed someone to talk to and her mind instantly went to the dear friend. She sat on her bed, her fingers tapping away at the phone in her hand as it rang and rang. Just as she feared that he wasn’t going to answer she heard the familiar voice — a bit sleepy, but familiar nonetheless.

"—Mads, what’s up?" She smiled weakly at the hint of worry in Carson’s voice. She held the phone closer to her ear.

"H-Hey, I know it’s really late and I’m so sorry for calling but I just," She sighed, biting her lower lip nervously as she looked over to her bedroom door, making sure to keep her voice down. Her father had a really rough day and she didn’t want to wake him. "I just really need someone to talk to and before I knew it I was dialing your number… Can I come see you?"

The hint of worry now turned into a thick tone, “Y-Yeah, do you want me to come to your house or —?”

"No, um, I’ll meet you in the park by my house, off of Maple street… Do you know the one?" She asked, feeling relieved that he was willing to come see her. She was half expecting him to tell her she was stupid for calling so late and hang up the phone.

"Yeah, I know the one. I’ll be there shortly. Be careful walking," He warned and Madeline agreed. After the two hung up she got up from her bed and headed downstairs silently. She grabbed her jacket from the hook on the wall and exited the home quietly, making sure she had her keys and phone before walking down the steps and into the dark of the night. She walked briskly, taking the extra precaution to stay under the street lights overhead.

She made it to the park in record time and sat on the bench by the big tree in the middle of the park, her hands in her pockets as she waited for Carson. She didn’t have to wait long before the sleepy faced male made his way through the park to her. They were both still in their pajamas and she couldn’t help but smile weakly at how ridiculous the two must look. Especially her, with her yellow duck pajama bottoms and pink pig slippers.

"Hey — what’s up?" Carson’s face was filled with worry and Madeline felt bad for making him worry and come see her in the middle of the night. 

"I’m really sorry for this," Madeline immediately started off, looking down at her fuzzy pink pig slippers. "I didn’t mean to bother you, I just —"

"Don’t worry about that, what’s wrong?"

Madeline went silent for a few moments, tears welling up in her eyes before she quickly wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, burying her face into his shoulder.

It was clear that Carson was a bit shocked by the other’s reaction but wrapped his arms around the shaking girl protectively. “What’s wrong, my Saint Sweet Mads?”

"I miss my mom," She whimpered, knowing that it would probably confuse the other but she found it hard to find the words to further explain herself. He had known it was just her and her dad and it’s been that way for a long time but she hadn’t told him everything. Hadn’t told him she was a orphan up until she was seven or that when she was adopted by a nice family her new mother died four years later from a brain tumor. Those were all things that would have to come in due time but the anxiety and sadness she felt was becoming too much for her to deal with alone and tonight was the breaking point.

Nothing came from the other as she cried into his shoulder and she was okay with the silence. She felt his hand rubbing her back softly and they stayed like that for a little while until Madeline had decided to pull back. She quickly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, keeping her head low. She was afraid to see his expression, afraid that he would be angry with her for making him walk all the way here for her just to cry in his arms.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked softly after a moment, a comforting hand was placed on her shoulder, the look on his face was sincere. She peeked up at him and shook her head no, deciding that the conversation was meant to be delved into at a time where she wasn’t going to cry every few minutes. 

"I just don’t want to be alone right now," She mustered up softly, almost immediately being greeted by Carson wrapping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her close.

"I won’t leave until you want me to," He said firmly with a nod. Madeline had never felt so relieved, so blessed to have such a good friend. She couldn’t remember the last time she had someone to lean on. She was always the one who tried to help others, put their needs before her own but there were times like these that she needed someone, anyone, to be there. And Carson was that person.

"Okay…" She sniffled, nodding her head.

"Hey, look up, you see those stars? That’s the uh… Triton’s pitchfork staff thing," He pointed with his other hand up to the sky and at a cluster of stars, Madeline drawing her gaze upwards.

"Really?"

"Nah, I don’t know. But they look pretty cool."

The brunette laughed through her tears, shaking her head at her friend.