Maddy's POV
"Knock knock!" A sing-song voice floats through my front door. I jump up from my couch and rush to the door. Grinning, I open it and hop out with feet that have had shoes on them since 30 minutes prior.
"Mom, Francis is here!" My mom comes down, and with a small smile, watches me, her nineteen year old daughter bounce with excitement.
"Be back by dark, ok?" I barely hear her as I smile up at him.
"Hey. Oh, huh? Yeah, I'll be back mom." The way the corners of his mouth twist up everything about him, now that I know what I know, I have never been happier. I shut the door, and chivalrously he offers his hand. I giggle and slip my hand into his, starting to walk down the path. Instead of joining me, he stays where he is and gently kisses the back of it. I can feel my throat tighten and a shiver go up my spine. The way he faintly exhaled before pressing his lips to my hand makes me grateful that he's holding me so tightly. He laughs at my reaction.
"I had no idea I had such an effect on you." Taking my free hand, I place it on his chest and lean my head in when I find his heart. The methodical thumps comfort me. But is it bad that I want it to go faster, just to make him feel the same way I am?
I take my middle and pointer fingers and place them briefly just above my chest. Then I slowly reach out to his heart and in a slow but fluid motion, trace an outline of a heart. Then I hold my fingers up.
"I love you?" His breath catches on the last word, and I nod. I am rewarded with the quickening of his heart beat. This time, I'm the one laughing. "I love you too ma amore."
Francis's POV
We walk hand in hand down the street. At one point we see a girl up ahead. I can feel Maddy's hand grip mine just a bit tighter. The other girl, sure she's pretty, but I don't feel anything when we pass her. Before, even if I was in a relationship, I was always trying to get with girls. Whenever I walked by another girl, it was as if I fell in love with somebody else. But with all the love that I have for Maddy, I realize how much stronger it was than the windy love I felt before. It's more permanent, like a rock.
"Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are?" She looks at me a little surprised.
"No, but we just started dating." She looks apprehensive and unable to respond.
"Well, now's as good as it will ever get." Shyly she smiles at me. I can't get enough of it. Breaking away, I look at her feet. "You have the cutest little toes." She giggles. "What? They're so tiny! And girl, I haven't seen ankles like those in 100 years. Your legs, my sweet, well,, any man would appreciate those."
Maddy's POV
I smack him at this, although I'm blushing so bad.
"I didn't finish." We had left the neighborhood and were now on a trail. He holds out his hand like he's about to twirl me, and I accept. Spinning around and around, I laugh like a maniac. But when I get to dizzy he traps me by his body, so I'm facing toward him. While I'm still trying to recover, he reaches down and squeezes my butt. "Oh my gosh. Your butt…"
"Stop! You just groped me! You practically molested me!"
"It's not molestation if you like it." I feel my cheeks return to what will eventually become their natural color-red.
"Francis!" He chuckles slightly, holding out his hand again.
"Will you forgive me?" Grudgingly, I put my hand in his again.
"Of course." He wickedly grins, and I hope he isn't going to say what I hope he will say.
"You know, you have a really nice butt."
"GAHH." He laughs again, but I don't let go of his hand just as he doesn't let go of mine.
Ok guys, next chapter will be the last. Will Maddy Reject or choose to keep France? Will she go mad? Find the answers to this and whether or not america has a stutter or not on the super duper epic conclusion of loved all along!
Yeah, I know. I had to be chesey.
