Unwelcome Company

[Madeline Walden]

The situation that Maddie had found herself in had gone from bad to worse as a result of the revelation that she had spilled to Ezra a few weeks ago. The oldest Cade had decided to make Maddie pay for the secret that she had accidentally confided in him. It had all finally culminated in Ezra making Maddie go to the Yule Ball with him even though there was someone else that she really wanted to go with. Not to mention they would be making their, whatever it was they used to have with each other, public and she dreaded what people would think.

She fixed her hair and tried her hardest to ignore the sickening feeling in her stomach. With any luck she would only have to stay for a couple of dances then she would take the chance to sneak away as soon as she could. Maddie slowly made her way down to the Great Hall and looked around for the Slytherin boy, hoping that she wouldn't see anyone she knew in the meantime.

 

[Ezra Cade]

Ezra wasn't an idiot. He knew Maddie was no longer a willing participant in whatever they were, but he didn't care, he had something on her that he could use against her. It was quite amusing really, if he shared Maddie's secret it would probably end well for her, but she wasn't privy to know James's feelings as he was, and of course Ezra would never do anything that would actively make his brother happy, so really Maddie was being blackmailed by a piece of information he'd never share. Once Ezra was ready he made his way up from the dungeons where he was expecting to see his date. "Madeline," He called as he made his way across the entrance hall to her. He took her hands in his and kissed her cheek, "You look lovely," He smiled at her, a look she didn't return. "Now now Madeline, anyone would think you didn't want to be here with me, smile, we wouldn't want to spill your deep dark secret now would we?" He grinned devilishly at her.

 

[Madeline Walden]

Maddie's heart sank when she saw Ezra make his way towards her. She only hoped the night ahead wouldn't last too long. With any luck, Ezra would find another girl to set his sights on. She wasn't foolish enough to think that she was ever the only one Ezra was interested in at one time and it would be no different now. Maddie's faced screwed up as Ezra placed a kiss on her cheek she automatically took her hands out of his and wiped his kiss off of her cheek. "Thanks" she replied shortly to Ezra's compliment on her outfit. Ezra once again threatened her with her secret that she so desperately wanted to keep between them that she returned the smile that Ezra flashed her. It was a sickly sweet smile, almost a grimace. She wasn't going to make this easy for Ezra but at the same time she knew that she had to play her cards right. The last thing she wanted was for Charlotte to find out about Maddie's true feelings. James and Charlotte were so happy together and Maddie coming in between the two of them was the last thing that she wanted to happen, which was why she kept her distance from the young couple during their first semester. "Lets just get this over with" she said, rolling her eyes and she dragged Ezra into the Great Hall.

 

[Ezra Cade]

Ezra could tell that Madeline was less than pleased to be attending the Yule ball with him, perhaps there was someone else she wanted to attend the ball with. No doubt she would prefer to be there with James, but could there be someone else? Her replies were short and snappy, her disinterest obvious, she took his hand and dragged him into the great hall saying they should get it over with. "Oh Madeline, most girls in this hall would be happy to trade places with you, unlucky for them, I don't want them," He laughed, reveling in Maddie's discomfort. He looked around the hall hoping to spot his brother, he wanted James to see them together, he knew he would hate it, which would make the night all that better. "We should dance," He mentioned casually, not phrasing it as a question.

 

[Madeline Walden]

Maddie rolled her eyes at Ezra's comment "if you're that desirable then how come you're here with me and not here with them and annoying them?" she fired back while also smiling sweetly at the older Slytherin boy. She was very aware of Ezra's statement to dance and how he didn't even give her the option. She shrugged her shoulders and said "fine" and made her way onto the dancefloor with Ezra. She reluctantly put her arms around his neck, a little too tightly, and swayed to the slow music, praying it was a short song.

 

[Ezra Cade]

Ezra smirked at Madeline as she asked why he was with her when he could have anyone. He nodded at her, "You're right, I could have anyone, but I want you, so I have you," Ezra shrugged his shoulders and followed her out onto the dance floor. As she put her arms around his neck, perhaps a little too tight but he wasn't complaining, he put his arms on her waist. "I like this song, its nice and long too, perfect for dancing," He laughed as they moved along to the song. Somehow the fact that Maddie didn't want to be there made the whole thing more enjoyable.

 

[Professor James Cade]

James had been enjoying the Yule ball, he was having a good night with his girlfriend but he had stepped away to grab a couple of drinks. While he was looking out on the dance floor he spotted something that made his stomach drop. Maddie, with her arms around his brothers neck. His hand clenched into a fist and any, there was no way he could ignore what he had seen. James had to go over. "What the hell is this?" He demanded as he approached the two of them. James knew he needed to be careful, his outrage could reveal his feelings. As jealous as he was to see someone else with Maddie, James knew his brother, and he was the last person he wanted around her. "Ezra, get the hell away from her!"

 

[Madeline Walden]

The only thing that could have Maddie's night worse would have been seeing James Cade and that is exactly what had happened. She wouldn't have been surprised if somehow Ezra had planned this whole thing just so they would all have to meet just at the right moment when Maddie appeared to be embracing him. Maddie instantly felt sick when she heard James' voice and broke away from Ezra. "J-James, hi" she stammered. The last thing she wanted was for James to have found out about Ezra, she foolishly hoped that she could keep him secret aswell. "Look, it's not what you think" she said holding her hands up in an attempt to keep James calm. Although, she knew this was fruitless, the brother's would never get on and there was no way this would end without some kind of fight.

 

[Ezra Cade]

Ezra couldn't possibly have planned for James to turn up when he did, but the fact he came across them while Madeline's arms were firmly around his neck was amazing, and the look on his face was truly priceless. "James, buddy, I'm sorry you had to find out like this," He began, his voice dripping in sarcasm. "Madeline and I, have been seeing each other, for some time now, she's quite the kisser isn't she?" He asked with a huge grin on his face. No doubt his brother wanted to hit him in that moment, and mentioning their kiss, which neither of them knew he knew about, would no doubt make things awkward for the both of them. He really was enjoying himself.

 

[Professor James Cade]

James looked from Ezra to Maddie and back to Ezra. He couldn't look at her in that moment, his face would give away too much that he couldn't let her see. Maddie protested and tried to explain that it wasn't what it looked like, he remembered Misha saying the same thing when he caught her kissing Ezra. It was always Ezra. When Ezra began talking, it all began to make sense, he was lying. About everything no doubt. "Nice try, you might be able to fool most of the unsuspecting girls in this school, but she has more sense, I don't know how you got her to come here with you, but you must have something on her, otherwise she wouldn't look twice at you," James scowled at his brother pushing him away and standing between them with his back to Maddie, protecting her, but not looking at her. "Back the f**k off, whatever this is, it is over, go find a girl with poor judgement," James said staring at brother. He looked in the corner of his eye to see if Charlotte was around, he wasn't sure he wanted his girlfriend to see him acting protective over Maddie.

 

[Madeline Walden]

Maddie scowled at Ezra's explanation to James "Stop! That's not what this is! James, you have to believe me!" she said, almost pleading to her fellow Gryffindor even though she knew it was pointless. Maddie knew Ezra's influence, she had experienced it first hand and it was hard to see past it, she jut hoped that James wouldn't believe his brother. It pained Maddie to see James so distraught, all she wanted was to talk to him alone and to comfort him and make him see the truth but she knew that she couldn't and the odds of him believing her were very slim anyway. She sighed and ran her hands through her hair, things were spiralling out of control and she couldn't find the words to explain things properly without spilling her secret that Ezra had continually threatened to expose. Maddie was so close to grabbing James and holding him close to her after all he said about her, defending her to Ezra, but she knew that she couldn't and she decided to keep quiet. The fact that James had his back to her and wouldn't look at her was devastating, she hated the idea of James not wanting to see or speak to her. But she prayed that Charlotte was far away, the last thing Maddie wanted was for her best friend, who was so infatuated with James, to hear and see this argument.

 

[Professor James Cade]

The fact that Charlotte was in the room and could possibly see and hear what James was saying no longer mattered to him. As usually, when it came to Maddie nothing else did, right now, physically standing in the way of his brother and her was the most important thing. "I do Maddie, I believe you," He said without looking at her, he couldn't, his face would betray him, instead he reached out with his hand behind him and took her, giving it a reassuring squeeze. For all anyone knew, he was a friend giving her comfort. "Ezra, you and me, outside, now," He said firmly, motioning with his eyes to the door. There were things he needed to say to his brother and he couldn't have Maddie or Charlotte over hearing them.

 

[Ezra Cade]

Ezra was quite entertained, though he had to admit the whole thing was dragging on a little. He knew now that his thing with Maddie was over, she would now have the bravery to say no to him after James's display, and the way she was looking at him behind his back was enough to make him want to throw up. James's words made Ezra laugh, "Yeah ok bro, lets go outside," Without the spectical it would be less fun, but if James finally admitted to his face that he had feelings for Madeline, the whole thing would have been worth it. Ezra began backing towards the doors of the Great hall. "Come on James, give me a talking to,"

 

[Madeline Walden]

The squeeze of her hand by James was very unexpected but Maddie was so pleased and grateful for the comfort and reassurance that her fellow Gryffindor had just given her that she couldn't help but feel a bit more positive about the situation. Well, that was until the two had decided to take the argument outside and Maddie feared for the both of them. She wished the two brothers would just end it now and Maddie could leave the ball and go to bed but they had to continue the fight and she hoped that it wouldn't turn physical. The last thing she wanted was for James to get hurt. Ezra was relentless and he would stop at nothing to hurt James. She really wanted to follow the two of them and to beg them not to do anything stupid but it wasn't her fight to have and instead she let the two boys leave the hall and just prayed that nothing too severe would come out of their argument.