Chasing Maddie

Madeline Fitzpatrick sat at her window sill staring at the stars.

Tonight was the night that everything would change

She sighed and jumped down from her spot and peaked out of her empty bedroom door at the movers hauling the boxes to and fro from the small apartment condo that she lived in.

Nothing would ever be the same

Her mother glanced at her from the kitchen and waved. Her Father was…well, he was busy of course. Probably holding a meeting or something at the town hall. Madeline ducked behind her door hiding from the reporters running around her home. Well, what was left of it anyways.

Why did he have to win the election?

Maddie covered her eyes as the flashes began. Reporters started to throw out questions randomly in her direction while catching her off guard with photos flashing twice a second.

"So how does it feel to move?"

"Is it true that you dye your hair?"

"So Maddie…ever had a boyfriend?"

"Are you excited about your father?"

Why did my father win?

Maddie tried to run away from the chaos, but it followed her. Everywhere. Ever since that stupid race in the primaries. At first it had been just a joke, she remembered her father telling her…but soon…soon it turned into something more.

"No questions please!" Maddie hollered as she ran down the stairs, trying to get away from everyone. But she couldn't get away. Never. She was stuck with it; her parents had already found their new home. Much fancier than the place she was in now. But Maddie didn't care…she didn't want to leave.

Why do things have to change?

Maddie ran out into the front yard. Bad mistake. More reporters followed. Flashes began once again. She tried to run far away but she couldn't get very far. Some guards grabbed her and pulled her safely inside the limo outside her apartment.

"Why now?!" Maddie cringed as she threw herself against the soft black leather of the cushions in the limo. She glanced to the side as her right hand man Chad sat beside her and handed her the jacket she forgot. Maddie grabbed it quickly and scurried to the other side of the Limo. Chad peered at Maddie questionably through his tinted glasses while opening a peanut butter crinkle, munching on the edge of it slightly.

"You know" Chad said, with a mouthful of nuts on his tongue "With as many pictures as they took of you why…if you put those together on a stand still timer there would be enough to make an old fashioned pictograph meter show."

Maddie raised an eyebrow and turned to Chad with a wry smile on her face. Leave it to Chad to say something completely pointless but still make her laugh.

Ever since the Primaries election, it had been Chad D. Fanon on call when ever Madeline was around…which meant that he was her shadow. He was a slim yet strong man with a muscular build around his waist. Standing at 6'1" weighing at about 180 pounds and age 22, Chad was one of the most handsome, eligible and youngest agents on the field. Which brings up an amazing and honest question:

Had Maddie ever liked Chad more than a friend?

No. Maddie had always thought of Chad as an older brother. Someone to look up to. All of her older siblings had moved away and he was the closest thing to family…besides her parents and Liam. But it had only been a few months and Chad had quickly become one of Maddie's closest and most personal guards. She couldn't remember a time at which he wasn't at her side…they were insuperable. They shared everything.

Maddie looked down at Chad's health bar and smiled wider.

"Why Chad" Maddie began while pointing to his peanut butter crinkle "On a diet again, I see?". Chad defensively hid his bar behind his leather jacket and swallowed tightly.

"Well" Chad began slightly off key "If you must know I…I don't know what you are talking about…I'm eating a bar Maddie, nothing to be ashamed of…"

Maddie laughed. That was Chad…always trying to impress the girls and keeping healthy…

"So…" Maddie smiled while brushing her hair back with her hand "Where to? Another Press conference…one of Daddy's interviews? Do I have to do another show on Jay Leno, I swear I can't take that mans attitude…" Chad coughed on his health bar and slid it into his inside coat pocket and folded his hands.

"Maddie" He began softly "I…I don't want to say something that will…well…anger you but…we're…we're going to the Tipton tonight."

Maddie's eyes shot up and her smile beamed brightly "Anger me?!" Maddie said exasperatingly "How would that anger me? After all of this and I finally get to see my friends again? That's wonderful! I'm leaving in a week and I now have more time to spend with my friends at the Tipton. Chad, why would I be angry? Aren't you happy for me?" Maddie stared at Chad eagerly.

"Erm" Chad spat out nervously "Sure…this is…uh…good."

Maddie could see right through him

"Chuck…what's wrong…we are leaving in a week…right?" Maddie questioned while leaning in to Chuck.

Chuck leaned away from Maddie "Umm…umm…"

Maddie quivered

"Is it…" She began slowly "To...tomorrow?

"Your Father changed the moving date just yesterday Madds…I'm sorry…I"

Maddie's heart sunk. Tonight would be the last night in Boston that she'd ever spend. This was the last time that she would ever see her old friends again…ever.

Maddie hadn't realized before what would happen…and now she knew. Things would change forever…and things will never be the same…never.

A tear fell from Madeline's cheek.

A frown formed on her face, an imaginary scar crossed in her heart.

"Okay…" Maddie replied uncomfortably while straightening up in her seat "I guess we can go tonight then."

Maddie turned over and Chad patted Maddie's shoulder sadly. He felt sympathy for her, he truly did.

He also felt bad because he was only telling Maddie half of the secret he'd been holding from her since yesterday. The fact was…there wasn't much of a welcome party left at the Tipton…in fact…he didn't know what was waiting there for her. Probably no one.

But it wasn't up to him. The orders were clear from Maddie's father. Go to the Tipton tonight and then they'd leave in the morning. That's the order in which he was told. He had to do it that way. Even if it did hurt Maddie's feelings to realize the truth.

But it was an order. And Agent Fanon never disobeyed Maddie's Father. I mean, after all, he was just elected the president of the United States of America.

How could he be wrong?