#madelynstrickler

Ricky: He’s actually one of the smartest people I know, he’s always lookin’ out for people and protecting ‘em - especially his sister -, he can make anyone laugh, he’s really loyal an’ really thoughtful, and he’s strong. Like, not just muscle strong, but he’s been through a lotta shit and he always gets back on his feet. Oh, and he can make real yummy peas. {Dot grinned}

Madelyn: She works really hard for what she wants and she deserves to get it so much. And she’s successful because of her own work and her own intelligence, y’know, like she did it all herself, and I really admire her for that. She’s honest - if you go to her for advice she won’t bullshit you, and she doesn’t pretend to like people that she doesn’t. I guess she just knows who she is. She’s nice, though, she gave me a chance when she didn’t have to and she’s someone that I trust. She’s… I dunno, she’s brave and strong and smart and kind, she’s just a really good person once you get to know her.

Brynn: She’s brave, too, especially when it comes to love. She’s been willing to sacrifice a lot for it. She’s beautiful, one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever seen. She makes the people around her light up with happiness. She’s strong in a dignified kinda way - even when she was bein’ beat up at Griffin’s party she took it with grace, y’know? She’s kind and thoughtful and even though she’s really smart, she doesn’t use that to hurt people.

Tyler: Probably the kindest person I’ve ever met. He always cleans up without being asked or anything, he’s just real considerate. He has this amazing knack for always knowing when someone is sad or unhappy and being there to cheer them up. He’s amazing at monopoly - to this day I’ve never beat him. He loves freely and he deserves to be loved back tenfold.

Seth: He’s an amazing father, he’s so loyal, and he’s really smart - like, he remembers everything about every single comic book and you can just kinda tell how smart he is. He’s enthusiastic all the time and it’s infectious - he’s not afraid to have fun or to enjoy himself even when other people might think it’s stupid. He’s forgiving and he does a lot for the people he cares about.

{Dot hovered hesitantly in the doorway of Madelyn's office, tapping the door gently to get her attention.} Hey, um... Are you busy, or d'you have time to talk?

Come on, Maddy, it won't be that torturous. It's a Seth Mann event, which means I need to go, I want to go. After Allister's birthday party, I'm not sure I'm ready to handle this gang by myself overnight. I think I heard Ricky Jacobs might show...

The smell of something cooking wafted through from the kitchen, but Odette barely registered it. She was sitting at the table, not moving a muscle, just watching the clock and waiting until she would have to make her way to Madelyn's. Since Penny Lane had published those flyers, everything had gone by in something of a daze for her. Thoughts plaguing her no matter how much she tried to avoid them.

Part of her wanted so badly just to tell everyone. Maybe she would lose everything, but the weight that she had carried since she was twelve would be finally lifted from her shoulders, and the choice thrust into everyone else's arms. Only she couldn't fuck Fletcher over like that. Couldn't give him up, either. But there was Ricky, too, and lying to him was a hard thing to rationalise. Rodney's voice sounded in her head.

Decide your loyalties.

He was right. She had to decide - except that she didn't. For now, at least, it was entirely possible to continue exactly as she had been: seeing Ricky while sneaking around with Fletcher without him knowing; telling herself she wasn't still in love with him; remaining with the greasers while chatting up socs and chasing her dream; the constant compartmentalisation, constant lies to herself and the people she loved.

It was this non-choice that made things so hard. To just remain still would be simultaneous loyalty to and betrayal of everyone - it was morally repugnant. And yet it was so, so, tempting. The more she thought about it the more she didn't know what else to do. Wasn't a heavy heart better than a broken one?

Loyal to everyone and you're loyal to no-one, she reminded herself, and maybe she wasn't, but that didn't mean she cared about them any less, didn't mean that she --

"Eat up, kiddo." A plate slid towards her, and Dot glanced up at her father's concerned face. Thinking about it, she couldn't remember eating anything for the past few days, although she still was not hungry. She glanced back down to see pancakes, with her name scrawled messily across like he'd done when she was a kid and, along with pasta and toast, pancakes were one of the only things he could make successfully. Her eyes pricked with tears and her mouth lifted into a smile; the clash of emotions standard to her by this point. "Go on," he urged her.

Breaking her statuesque posture, she leant forward and lifted a piece to her mouth. The first morsel of food hit her stomach, and she suddenly felt ravenous. Her father sat next to her and watched, and once she finished she set her fork down and leaned into him.

"I don't know what to do." she admitted softly, and his arm wrapped around her. He murmured something that was reassuring more in the way he said it than the what he said, and they stayed that way for a while longer, watching the seconds pass by together.

No matter how hard she tried, this much conflict just couldn't remain stable for long. She knew then,with all the certainty of a prophet, that something was going to give, and it was not going to be pretty. But no matter what, her loyalty lay here. With her father.

Dear Anonymous reader,

Do I got the juice? You know I do. Fletcher Blackwood himself may be keeping his secrets well-hidden, but with a little digging in the right places, there’s always dirt. From the spectacle at the Homecoming and the endless, flirtatious banter, everyone with half a brain knows of his chemistry with the lady of the night, Madelyn Strickler. Word has it that she like to get out after dark, where’s she going, hm? I think her sheets were getting  a bit cold. So does Odette Wilson. She was seen quizzing the Soc woman over her habits of the male variety. Concern for Tre’s well-being or Fletcher’s? That’s for you to figure out.

Brynn Turner. Besides her emotional jog into Greaser territory that lead to a most embarrassing tumble, news on the girl has been quiet. Rumor has it that Brett Kelly has asked her for permission to escort her to the carnival, and of course she accepted. I guess we can talk about that nasty little suspension from the hospital or that night out with the baby-bumped Jamie Hall then, kiddies? Word from fellow diners says that she was on the menu of conversation.

Angel-face with a sharp tongue, seems like life is biting back hard on this little one. AJ was seen wearing some crimson, and it was not a fashion statement. Retaliation for Mama AJ, also known as Lila, taking a few shots at Sherri Voxing, leaving the Greaser not-so-single mom with a nice shiner and a few rumble-style cuts? Hm, maybe? Peace and love, little Miss Gallager, might be a new motto to live by.

Sincerely yours,