Maddie Hofstadter's POV

I was laying on my stomach at my bed as the TV was on and it's my favorite show. I was barely watching it because I was busy texting my friends.

Then I heard a knock on my door. How lovely.

"Who is it?" I asked.

Something you should know about me: my door is always closed. I like to have my privacy, thank you very much.

"It's me." It was my mother.

"Come in." I allowed.

Of course my parents were able to come into my room. Even if they do get on my nerves. As for my siblings...they sometimes can come in. As much as I love Becca, she annoys me sometimes so she doesn't get the permission to always come into my room.

Mom walked in and closed the door behind her. My Mom is gorgeous and I just don't say that because she's my mother. I really mean it that she's beautiful. Dad says that's where I get my good looks from. Good looks from my Mom and the brains from my Dad. It's a pretty good and evenly balanced mix.

I know people always tell me I'm stunningly beautiful, (and I know I am) but I'm nowhere near as pretty like my Mom. She still rocks the short hair look and I really like her hair that way. The guys don't really get the hairstyle and prefer to have her hair long. Except for Dad because he always needs to be one hundred percent supportive of her because he's her husband and all.

"What's up?" I asked. I was still hooked onto my phone replying text after text.

"Can we talk?" She turned the TV off with the remote.

This must be serious.

"Sure, I guess," I sit up straight and let her sit next to me on the bed.

"So, I heard that you're going out with a boy named Chris." Mom started the conversation.

"How do you know about that?" I asked, getting defensive and having my guards up.

Has she been snooping around my journals and diaries again? I know her and Dad do that sometimes. It's so annoying and rude and invasive of my privacy!

"I ran into his Dad at the grocery store and he told me about it." Mom answered and she seems truthful.

But I'm confused and weirded out...

"How do you know his Dad?"

"I dated him when I was younger." She confessed.

I covered my face with my hands and groaned. "Oh my god. Is there any fathers that you haven't dated?"

First, it was Ethan Johnson, and now, him...

"Madison..." Mom glared at me, but I don't care. I rolled my eyes anyway. "When I dated Kurt, he really was a jerk. To me and to your father-"

"How did they know each other?" I asked.

Kurt doesn't seem like the type Dad would be friends with. I mean, I don't mind the guy, but I can say that Chris is nicer than him.

"Around the time I moved into my apartment, that was when I wasn't with him. We just broke up. Your Dad was helping me to get something from Kurt and it really didn't go well, but I got it back. Since then, I don't think they really liked each other. But I still I don't think Kurt is a good guy. I just want you to be careful with Chris."

"I will, Mom. Chris is different from what you told me about Kurt."

"That's what you said about Nick who you thought was a nice guy. He didn't turn out to be so nice after all, was he?" Mom crossed her arms on her lap.

I rolled my eyes in anger. "I know Nick and Chris, Mom. You don't."

She sighed. I hope she was about to give up on me then, but she continues. "I know, too, but I just want to warn you. I don't want you to get hurt in relationships like I was. And again when you were with Nick. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think Ethan was a really good boyfriend for you."

I reminisce about my ex boyfriend. "Yeah, he was, but you know I broke up with him," It's obvious that you can see I am smarter than him. It's...one of the reasons why I broke up with him. "I really like Chris, Mom."

"How did you two get together anyway?" She wondered so I have to explain her the details.

"I was on a double date with my friends. I was going to go out with Vanessa's brother, Mitchell. We were at the mall and that's when we saw Chris and his friends and we hung out. I guess Mitchell must've known one of his friends. Chris and I got talking and now we're dating. He was the one who asked me out. He doesn't go to the same school I go to."

"Oh, that's good..." I thought I heard Mom mutter with relief under her breath.

"What?" I asked. Maybe I heard her wrong.

"Oh, that's good for you and Chris," She said acting like she's perky.

"Have you ever been in a movie before?" I aske randomly. "You used to love acting, right?"

"Yes, I loved acting. And I was in a movie," She answered and said suspiciously. "Why do you ask?"

"Have you been in a movie called...what was it again? Serial Apeist?"

"Oh my god," She was mortified. "Please, tell me you haven't seen that movie."

"Yes, I did," I answered sheepishly because she was embarrassed. And for good reasons. That movie was awful. "I was at Chris' house and saw it with him when his Dad wasn't home. He heard about it from his friends. If it makes you feel any better, Chris thought you were pretty hot."

"I can't believe you've seen that movie."

I shrugged with innocence. "I was curious. What were you thinking when you made that movie?"

"I thought I could get my name out there and I didn't. People thought my acting was terrible."

"You're acting wasn't terrible, Mom." I encouraged her, but I'm also lying. I just didn't want to her hurt her feelings.

She smiled warmly at me. "Thanks, sweetie," Then she has on her serious face. "I still want you to be careful about Chris though."

"I will, Mom. I can take care of myself." I said hoping that'll comfort her and I really can take care of myself.

"I know you can," She ran her hands through my dirty blonde hair. "You remind me so much of myself when I was your age. That's a good and scary thing," She strictly pointed her finger at me. Something she does to me and my siblings a lot. She does it to Dad, too. "I better not see you taking any pregnancy tests."

"I won't, Mom. I..." This was the first time I said it to anyone. I don't know why, but I'm ashamed of it. "I haven't even had sex yet." Maybe that's what my friends expect of me.

"Really?" She looks very relieved. "That's so great! There's nothing to be ashamed of being a virgin. It's better to have your first time being shared with someone special. I wish my first time was with your father."

"Really?" Now I'm surprised.

"Yeah," She nodded. "But enough of dwelling on the past."

"I wish you can meet Chris sometime to see how great of a guy he is." I said to her.

"Hm. Maybe he got that from his mother's side." Mom contemplated.

Later on, Mom was making dinner. I was chilling out in the living room with my Dad, Wyatt, Elliott, and Becca. My siblings were playing some kart racing game on the play station. Dad was watching them and I'm too busy to care because I'm changing my nail polish. It was once a bubblegum pink color and now I'm thinking about to change it into orange. My favorite color.

Then I heard Elliott complaining because he crashed into a tree. His character got into sixth place. Becca was laughing at him.

"Looks like it's Dad's turn now." Wyatt said. I think his character is that weird creature named Yoshi.

Elliott unwillingly handed the controller to him.

"Better luck next time." Dad smirked at him.

Elliott was sulking in his seat at the sofa. As they were playing the next round, Elliott looked at me to ask. "Can you give me advice?"

"Be more specific for the advice." I said as I was painting my nails on my right hand.

"Advice about girls."

Everybody and everything went silent. The game was even on pause. They're shocked (just like I am) that someone like Elliott has girl problems. I never knew he liked girls. I always thought he could be either asexual or even gay. Which I won't care for any side that he could've been on.

"You want advice about...girls?" I asked.

"Yes, please."

"Why didn't you ask me?" Dad asked. I can tell that he's hurt by how his voice sounded.

"Well, it's just that Maddie is a girl so I thought she's the most suitable choice to have advice from." Elliott answered.

I felt so honored and delighted. I had to hug him and be careful that I won't ruin my nails. "Thank you, sweetie! I never thought this day would come!" I still hug him not caring that he's cringing.

I let him go and he relaxed a bit.

"What's going on with you and this girl?" Wyatt asked.

"Just play your game, will you?" Elliott told him off.

So, they did despite that they want to know. But I'm sure they're still listening in anyway.

"First of all, what's her name?" I asked. "I might know her or heard of her before."

"Her name is Layla Koothrapali." He answered.

"Wait a minute," Dad said, stopping the game once again. "Layla Koothrapali as in Raj's daughter?"

"Yes. Why does that surprise you?"

"It's just that Raj was my best friend and to hear that you have a crush on-"

"I never said anything about a crush!" Elliott interrupted rather defensively.

"Okay," He rolled his eyes. "Well, it's just...unexpected from you."

"What happened with you and Layla?"

"She...kissed me." Elliott revealed which shocked all of us.

"What?!" I exclaimed. "She kissed you?" I'm working on my left hand now to paint the nails the orange color.

"Yes. I don't know why-"

"She likes you! Duh!" I was frustrated with him how dense and clueless he can be. He's so smart, but he can act so dumb sometimes.

"I know that! But what was I supposed to do about it? It happened out of nowhere. And she expected me to tell her how I feel."

"How did you feel?" I asked.

"I told her that I needed to think about it." He answered simply.

"Never a good answer." Wyatt shook his head and Dad agreed.

"That explains why she got mad." Elliott said.

"Just be completely honest with her. If you like her or not then tell her." I advised.

"Do you like her?" Dad asked curiously.

"I don't know. I need to think about it," He said again with a bit of an edge to his voice. He sometimes gets annoyed that he would have to repeat himself. "And she kissed me. That was my first kiss..."

"What did that taste like?" Becca asked and Dad gave her an odd look as if she shouldn't ask that question at her age. But hey, girls like her do curious. Dad should know that by now.

"Like...strawberries. Because of her chapstick." Elliott said fondly.

I want to be so happy for my little brother, but I know how feelings can be and you need to understand them yourself before you can do anything.

"All you can do is tell her how you honestly feel and she'll like that. Whether it's something she may or may not want to hear."

Elliott nodded in understanding. "What was your first kiss like?"

I looked back on that moment. I don't want to go into too much detail because my Dad was right there with us.

"It was fine except I had braces when I was ten."

"You had your first kiss when you were ten?!" Dad freaked out. Oops. I forgot only Mom knows and he doesn't.

"Yeah. But we were playing Truth or Dare so I had to kiss him. Mouths closed." I added that part quickly to make him feel somewhat better.

The kids thought it'd be funny for me to kiss Erik Jetson because of cooties or whatever, but I wasn't gullible or stupid to believe in something like that; I wasn't afraid. In my revenge, I said that Santa Clause wasn't real for Truth.

"So...I'm going to tell Layla how I really feel..." Elliott concluded.

"Yes." I nodded.

Then he groans. "I should've never befriend females..."