***Hey kiddos, I hope you are enjoying the story so far. What do you think is going to happen? You have no idea I promise. Anyways I use a couple of lines from "At Last" by Etta James (which is one of the best all time songs in my personal opinion. Have fun!***

Three days later

"Ah," Madison sighed to herself as she stretched out on a lounge chair. "Sunny California."

It was seven in the morning Pacific Time. Madison had already performed her daily workout and had finished of with a swim. She was now lying in a chair by the hotel pool, soaking in the sun. She found it ridiculous that it was February and it was warm and sunny in California.

Madison closed her eyes, listening to the music playing softly on her radio.

At last, my love has come along,
My lonely days are over,
And life is but a song.

Madison wished she knew what it felt like to truly be in love. To know you would be with one person for the rest of your life. She loved the old song. She knew she had things she needed to do. But she wanted to finish the song. She felt a little drowsy as she imagined the perfect lover.

I found a dream to rest my cheek to,
A dream that I could my own,
A thrill that I have never known.
At last, my love has come along.

Madison woke up to hands rubbing over her body. Was she really dreaming? The hands felt like magic. She stretched like a cat. Her eyes fluttered open and she gasped in shock. "Jeff! What the hell are you doing?"

Jeff held up a bright blue bottle. "Sunblock dear."

"Oh," Madison said lamely. "Thanks I guess."

Jeff handed her the bottle. "How was your swim?"

"Refreshing," Madison said. "What are you doing up so early?"

"Meredith and Matt get up at horrible hours and they tend to be loud," Jeff said. "I end up waking up pretty early most days. I just couldn't get back to sleep this time."

"I see," Madison said. She rubbed a smudge of sunblock on Jeff's nose.

"Thanks sweetheart," Jeff said, rubbing the lotion in.

"You need to stop calling me things like that," Madison said, grabbing her towel.

"Why?" Jeff asked.

"Because people will think we are seeing each other," Madison said.

"And the problem is?" Jeff asked.

"Jeff, you know I will not go out with you," Madison exclaimed. "Can't you settle for being my friend? My best friend?"

"No," Jeff said honestly. "Give me a chance. I think about you all the time. The way your hair curls when it gets wet, the way you smell, your green eyes, and that magical laugh of yours."

"Flattery will get you nowhere with me," Madison said.

"Why the hell won't you give me one chance?" Jeff asked. "One freaking chance."

"Why do you need a chance?" Madison asked. "You see what happens to the guys I give chances to. They don't get me in the end. We end up friends. Why go out? We already have the end result."

"I might be different," Jeff said.

"And I might be Madonna," Madison said. She got up from the chair. Jeff got up with her. He pulled the towel away from her. He picked her up. He ran into the pool with her in his arms. Madison sputtered as she resurfaced. "You crazy bastard!"

"That's me," Jeff grinned, grabbing her wrist. "You aren't walking away from me Madison."

"How about I swim away from you?" Madison asked.

"One date is all I ask," Jeff said.

"So one date is all I say no to," Madison said.

"Dammit," Jeff said. "Tell me what it is then."

"What?" Madison asked, struggling to get away from Jeff. She choked on the tears in her throat. "Let go of me!"

"Not until you tell me," Jeff said.

"Why is it so important?" Madison asked.

"Because I want to know why you hide behind lies and excuses," Jeff said. "You forget that I know you Madison. You say your sister likes me and we'll just end up ruining our friendship. I want to know the real reason."

"My sister does like you," Madison insisted. "And we would end up broken up."

"How so you know?" Jeff asked.

"Because I would break up with you before you could break my heart," Madison exclaimed. "Now let go of me Jeff!"

"Sweetie, I wouldn't break your heart," Jeff said, trying to pull Madison into a hug.

"You say that now," Madison said, tears coursing down her cheeks.

"I'm your best friend," Jeff said soothingly.

"Mike was my best friend too," Madison said, her voice broken with tears. "And he broke my heart. You know what that taught me Jeff?"

"That love doesn't exist?" Jeff asked.

"It exists alright," Madison said. "And it hurts."

"Most good things do at some point," Jeff said.

"With me it hurts a lot and it's disappointing," Madison said. "I won't lose another friend because I'm attracted to him. I can't do it again."

"So you are attracted to me?" Jeff asked.

"I'm attracted to a lot of guys slick," Madison said.

"Touche," Jeff said.

"That's right," Madison said. "So can you just let me be Jeff?"

"No," Jeff said. "Because I'm not like this Mike guy. And you turning your back on love because you got hurt once is stupid."

"You're never going to just let me be are you?" Madison said.

"Not unless you give me one measly chance," Jeff said.

Madison sighed. "Will you give up?"

"If you can look me in the eye and tell me a relationship is not worth it afterwards," Jeff said. "I will stop bothering you. Promise."

"And you won't tell anyone?" Madison asked.

"If by anyone you mean Dallas," Jeff said, "I won't tell anyone."

"Thank you," Madison said.

"Is that a yes?" Jeff asked.

"Yes," Madison said. "But don't expect me to fall madly in love with you or anything."

"I wouldn't want to do anything silly like that," Jeff said, helping Madison out of the pool. "Can I give you a kiss?"

"No," Madison said, pushing him back into the pool. "I'll see you tonight."

"Tonight?" Jeff asked. "But I have to plan!"

"It's your one chance Jeff," Madison said. "You better not blow it."

Jeff smiled at Madison's backside as she walked away. He told himself she had a very nice backside. Where in the hell was he going to take her?

Madison got back in her room and found her sister still asleep. She felt guilty for telling Jeff she would go out with him, but it was the only way to get him off of her back. "Dallas," Madison said. "Get out of bed you lazy girl."

"Five more minutes," Dallas grumbled.

"Give it up," Madison said. "It's time to get up. I've lifted, had a run, and a swim. Now I'm hungry."

"Alright," Dallas said, pushing herself out of her bed. "I'm up."

"Get changed and we'll find a Denny's or something," Madison said.

"Yes captain," Dallas said. "Can we ask Jeff?"

"I've already talked to Jeff," Madison said. "He has a busy day ahead of him."

"Okay," Dallas said. "I'm ready."