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Chapter Text

Oh, shit. My fucking feet hurt!

Maddy Perez roamed the busy streets of California, slightly staggering as her manicured feet ached in the confines of tall Steve Madden heels that a wealthy older French Sugar Daddy had bought for her just six months prior. The loud whistle of the wind traveled through the humid air, the Sunset painting the sky an orange peachy shade that made her think of makeup palettes and lipgloss.

"What it do, Mami? Where ya' going to?"

A strong Spanish accent called out to the young girl, making Maddy nearly trip over a small crack in the pavement. Stray long black tresses got caught in her mouth for a split second, making her splutter in disgust. Maddy's eyes veered over to the homely looking Mexican man who was staring at her like fresh meat from the Butchery. Ew. The gap between them was closing faster than she would like it to, making her sigh in defeat.

"Why?"

"You've got a nice head of hair right there."

"I know that, but thanks."

Maddy's nostrils twitched as she was met with the smell of canned Beer which reeked from his breath. Upon closer inspection - I can sadly determine that this man clearly doesn't know what toothpaste and soap are for. The older man was dressed in a white muscle t-shirt, ill fitting jeans and worn out Adidas sneakers. Maddy giggled internally at the idea of him ending up on the TV Show Fashion Police for daring to walk around looking like that.

"How much?"

"I'm not-"

"I'll give you $20, that's all I've got on me!"

In the blink of an eye - my head banged against a hard Brick wall, making my neck tense up in shock from the sudden blunt force.

I felt every beat inside my chest, and swore I could feel each individual liter of Blood pumping through my infamously skinny veins.

My exposed body collided with a pile of empty boxes beside a Dumpster, scratching against my sensitive shaking legs.

Rue Bennett wasn't too far away, maybe she was some kind of Angel destined to find Maddy and protect her...

Chapter Text

"Hey! What 'e fuck is going on, man?"

Rue hollered, approaching Maddy and the older man that was clearly harassing her, signaled from his tight grip on her wrist and neck. Maddy's wide eyes flickered to the lanky caramel skinned brunette who wore a grey cardigan that was far too long, ripped denim jeans with traces of mud on her knees and dark combat boots that showed Rue meant Business.

"Who the fuck are you, bit-"

Maddy let out a gasp of shock as Rue punched the Mexican man in the jaw, her hand reaching out for hers to guide her to safety. They broke out into a sprint with no true destination in mind, only worried about making sure the homeless man wouldn't follow them afterwards. Stopping outside of Fez and Ashtray's compound, Rue knocked on the side door profusely, breathing a sigh of relief once Fezco answered.

"Yo, Rue."

"Fez, we need to come in here."

"Woah, shit, man. What happened? Who is this?"

"She's-"

"I'm Maddy..."

Maddy answered, shy under the burning gaze of Fez's light colored orbs. He raised his eyebrows, taking notice of the scratches on her legs and the marks on her neck. Awkwardly looking off to the side: Rue went over to the dark room where Ashtray spent most of his lifetime, finding him drawing back a blunt as he organized containers of pills by color and size.

"Ah, Bennett. Whatchu trynna dabble in today?"

"Nothing. Look, all I need is some plain Advil and some Dettol. Do you have any?"

"Uh, I can check around."

"Thanks."

Rue slipped out of Ashtray's Room, smiling a small smile when she saw Maddy smile at her. Taking a seat on the leather couch next to the mysterious beauty, who is Maddy Perez really? A lot of people ask that very question, but only few can answer. Well...Maddy can't really figure out who she is her damn self. Her parents pampered her like Paris Hilton, men worshipped her (sometimes too much for her own good.) She ran away from Home because her heart was definitely not with her toxic family. Resorting to stealing from shops, sleeping in Brothels and crashing at random Bikers'  Basements - Maddy was far from pampered now.

"Th...thank you, Rue."

"For saving your ass? You're welcome, Maddy."

"I really don't know how to like thank you enough."

"You don't have to do anything but stay here. Stay safe. I mean, do you have anywhere to stay?"

"Not exactly..."

"You're homeless?"

"I kind of just make it work or whatever."

"Come on, I'm gonna bring you to my House."

"Your Parents won't mind?"

"Oh, my Mom minds a lot of shit I do. I just don't give a fuck."

Chapter Text

Rue led Maddy to her apartment, carefully watching her every step. Maddy was still shaken from the assault, but she tried to put on a brave face. As they entered the apartment, Rue introduced Maddy to her friend Fez, a scruffy but kindhearted drug dealer who was always willing to help out a friend in need.

Fez offered Maddy a seat on the couch while Rue went to the kitchen to get her some water. Maddy looked around the small but cozy apartment, taking in the family pictures on the walls and the scattered magazines on the coffee table. She couldn’t help but feel a sense of comfort in this space, despite the chaos of the night.

"Soooo, you one of Rue's new plugs or something?"

"A plug?"

"Yeah."

"Uh....no,"

"Fez! Why are you interrogating this poor girl? Sorry, this is my guy Fez. He's kind of a dumbass. Dumbass, meet Maddy."

Rue returned to hand her a glass of water, noticing that Maddy’s sleeve had torn and her bloody cheek was slowly starting to swell. Maddy thanked her softly, wincing. Without a second thought, she gently took Maddy’s hand and led her to the bathroom to help her clean up.

As Rue dabbed at Maddy’s wounded ankle with a damp cloth, she couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she was. She felt a strange sense of protectiveness over this homeless girl she had just met, and she wanted nothing more than to keep her safe.

Maddy, for her part, was grateful for Rue’s kindness. She had been alone for so long, and she had forgotten what it was like to have someone care for her. As she looked into Rue’s eyes, she saw a glimmer of understanding that made her feel less alone.

After Maddy had cleaned up, Rue offered her a place to crash for the night. Maddy hesitated for a moment, not wanting to impose, but Rue insisted. “You’re not going back out there alone,” she said firmly.

Maddy nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude wash over her. She knew that she had stumbled upon something special in Rue, even if she didn’t quite understand it yet. Quickly changing into the pajamas that the taller girl had tossed her way, Rue let Maddy inside her Bedroom.

"Oh shit, are you sure you want me in here? You know, I can just sleep on the couch-"

"You're staying."

Rue stated with crossed arms, soon breaking out into a toothy grin. As Maddy settled into the warm sheets, she felt a sense of peace wash over her. An arm slid around her, not in the rough and forceful manner that she had become immune to, but in a way that made her feel at peace with the World.

For the first time in a long time, she felt like she had found a safe haven. The safe haven just happened to come in the form of Rue.

Chapter Text

The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow on the room. Rue stirred in bed, her mind slowly awakening to the reality of Maddy's presence.

"Hey. You sleep okay?" Rue asked, noticing Maddy was already awake. Slightly taken aback by her natural beauty, she somehow still managed to look Vogue ready with messy bedhead curls and no makeup.

"Yeah, thank you so much for...last night. Really." Maddy blushed, the usually confident and assertive girl appeared uncharacteristically shy in this moment.

Rue reached over and grabbed a toothbrush and some spare toiletries, handing them to Maddy. Maddy couldn't help but feel a mix of disbelief and gratitude.

Putting trust in a complete stranger was a new experience for her whereas Rue's impulsive nature didn't surprise her anymore, considering her past drug use.

The two girls stood side by side at the bathroom sink, their toothbrushes moving in sync. Suddenly, Rue broke into a spontaneous rendition of '24/7' by The Neighbourhood, her favorite band. Maddy couldn't help but laugh, the sound filling the room with joy.

After freshening up, they ventured into the kitchen together. Maddy felt a sense of appreciation for the opportunity to contribute, and she eagerly helped Rue prepare breakfast.

They whipped up a batch of pancakes and scrambled eggs, the aroma of cooking food enveloping the kitchen.

"Look, I got this. Just watch!" Rue exclaimed, catching Maddy's attention.

She attempted to impress her newfound friend by flipping a pancake into the air, hoping for a perfect landing. But things didn't go as planned.

"Oh, shit!" Rue scrambled to rescue the pancake with a spatula, managing to salvage it just in time.

"Rue, you're crazy," Maddy teased, unable to contain her laughter.

As they sat down to eat, Rue's mom and little sister, Gia, entered the kitchen. An awkward silence settled over the room, and Maddy looked to Rue, expecting her to take the lead.

"Rue, who's your friend?" Rue's mom inquired, her gaze fixed on Maddy.

Rue smiled warmly at Maddy before addressing her mom. "This is Maddy. She needed a place to stay, so I offered to help her out. Please don't be mad?"

Rue's mom nodded, her eyes shifting back to Maddy. "Nice to meet you, Maddy. I'm Leslie, and this is my daughter Gia."

"Hi," Gia chimed in, her grin reaching from ear to ear.

Maddy returned the smile, a wave of relief washing over her. She had worried about their reaction to her sudden presence in their home, but they seemed surprisingly at ease.

"Hey, Gia. Ms. Bennett," Maddy greeted them politely, taking a sip from her cup of warm tea. She exchanged a knowing look with Rue, silently communicating, 'Don't panic.'

Leslie shot a questioning look at her daughter, who was now dividing a stack of pancakes between herself and the doe-eyed Latina who had appeared overnight.

"So, Maddy, I assume you go to East Highland with Rue?" Leslie inquired, her hands deftly slicing a bowl of fresh fruit.

"I'm homeschooled," Maddy lied, keeping her response brief to avoid unnecessary probing. Gia, however, was curious.

"How did you guys meet, then?" Gia asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Rue's fork clinked against her plate repeatedly, a nervous habit that surfaced when she felt agitated.

"Jules, sort of," Rue replied, shrugging nonchalantly as she busied herself with another mouthful of homemade pancakes. Maddy simply nodded in agreement.

"Rue, can we talk for a second?" Leslie suddenly interjected, her tone indicating suspicion, despite the warm look she aimed at Maddy. 

"Okay, Mom." 

Chapter Text

"Rue, can I talk to you for a moment?" Leslie asked, her eyes darting between her daughter and the unfamiliar girl in their Kitchen.

Rue nodded, following her mother into the living room. Maddy remained at the kitchen table, picking at her pancakes as Gia chattered excitedly beside her.

Once in the living room, Leslie turned to face Rue, her expression a mix of concern and exasperation.

"Sweetheart, I know you want to help, but we can't just take in every stray you find. Who even is this girl?"

Rue sighed, running a hand through her messy curls. "Her name's Maddy, Mom. She was in trouble, and I couldn't just leave her out there. She needs somewhere safe to stay so I tried to help."

"Is she mixed up in drugs too?" Leslie asked, her voice low.

"No, Mom! She's just... lost." Rue's eyes pleaded with her mother. "Please, can she stay? Just for a little while until she gets back on her feet at least?"

"And how long is that gonna take? Does she plan to get a job? Take some classes?" Leslie pressed Rue further, giving her a side eye.

"Jesus, Mom. Just trust me for once. Please?" Rue begged, a sense of protectiveness washing over her.

Maddy needs me.

Leslie studied her daughter's face for a long moment before relenting with a sigh. "Fine. She can stay for now. But I'm keeping a very closs eye on things, Rue. This is your responsibility."

Rue's face broke out into a wide grin. She hugged her mom tightly. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I promise you won't regret this."

Returning to the kitchen, Rue found Maddy and Gia giggling over some shared joke. "Hey," she said, catching Maddy's eye. "Looks like you're  staying with us for a while."

Maddy's face lit up with genuine happiness and relief. "Really? Thank you, Rue. Holy shit." She laughed in disbelief, scurrying over to give the taller girl a bear hug. 

Later that afternoon, Rue decided it was time to help Maddy get some essentials. "Want to go shopping? You probably need some clothes and stuff."

Maddy hesitated. "I don't have a card, Rue. I don't know if I can show up with a huge wad of cash without people asking...questions."

Rue waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. I've got some saved up. Consider it a 'welcome to the Bennett household' gift."

At the local mall, Maddy's eyes widened at the array of stores. It had been a long time since she'd been able to shop freely (without having to shoplift that is.)

As they browsed through racks of clothes, Maddy's natural fashion sense came alive. She picked out a mix of comfortable basics and a few statement pieces

Rue noticed Maddy eyeing a tight pink miniskirt. "You don't have to dress like that anymore, you know," Rue said gently.

Maddy paused, then smiled confidently. "Actually, I think I'll get this. It's about taking back my power, you know? I'm reclaiming my body and my choices. That's feminism too."

Rue nodded, impressed. "You're right. I'm sorry if I came across like I'm, uh, judging you or something. I'm not good at this whole......girl power thing."

"It's okay," Maddy replied. "I totally understand why you felt the need to bring it up - thank you looking out for me."

By the end of their shopping trip, Maddy had a small but versatile wardrobe. As they walked out of the mall, bags in hand, Maddy suddenly stopped and hugged Rue tightly.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Not just for the clothes, but for everything."

Rue hugged her back, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "Anytime, Maddy. That's what friends are for."

Maddy's heart fluttered at the word 'friends'. It'd been a long time since she'd had someone to count on. The other girls at the brothel had been backstabbers, it was all about survival of the fittest.

That night, as they got ready for bed, Rue noticed Maddy staring at herself in the mirror, her eyes widened as she noticed just how many faded bruises were littered all over the Latina's petite frame.

As they settled into Rue's bed, there was a moment of awkwardness before they found a comfortable position, facing each other.

"Rue?" Maddy whispered in the darkness.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for saving me."

There was a pause, then Rue's reply: "Maybe we saved each other."

As Maddy drifted off to sleep, she realized that for the first time in a long time, she wasn't afraid of what tomorrow might bring.

With Rue by her side, she felt like she could face anything. The warmth of Rue's presence next to her was a comfort she hadn't known she needed, and as sleep claimed her, Maddy felt truly safe for the first time in years.