Last Time: Madison went out to Penguin Park to get a day by herself, but it wouldn't happen, because Eriol and Tori were right behind her. In frustration, she went out to the coffee shop, hoping to be by herself. Of course…that's when Eriol gets an idea. (An idea I hope you'll all find very kawaii)


Making A Choice: Part 7


It was too obvious that Eriol and Tori were out there somewhere. Those flowers and those poems didn't just fly out of nowhere. They were both around and that made Madison sad. Couldn't they see that they were tearing her apart. She couldn't be forced to choose.

So she hoped to lose them at the coffee shop. If she's noticed anything, it was that they didn't want to be seen. They were trying to stay hidden from sight, so hopefully this would work. Madison needed to reflect on all this…over a mocha latte.

It was a nice coffee shop that had been here for many years. It was here since…before Eriol left. Since he left, Madison often found herself here with Sakura, but today she just wanted to be alone. Madison couldn't take much more of this. All she wanted was time to think. Was that too much to ask?

Just then, the coffee shop owner took the small stage. He looked around at the less-than-packed coffee house and took the mic. "Ladies and gentlemen…I know our karaoke night is tonight, but…today I wanted to make a special exception. There's someone here today who has a special song for his special lady. And…I'll let him take the stage."

Amidst the light applause, Madison could only wonder. Somewhere inside, she could feel what was coming. He wouldn't do this…would he?


~--------------------~


Tori couldn't believe it. He saw who was behind the curtain. He couldn't believe that he was going to stoop to this. But unfortunately, there was nothing Tori could do about it. …Or was there?

Behind the counter, Tori found his best friend, Julian. Hopefully, Julian could pull a string for him. So Tori rushed over to the counter.

"Tori?"

"Shh! I don't want Madison to know I'm here," Tori said. "Julian…I need a favor."

Julian blinked. "Tori…I don't think I'd be able to get your job back."

Tori shook his head. "That's not what I mean. I need you to set something up for me."

Tori calmly explained the situation, while ducking behind the counter. This was it. Tori would go all out this time. He only hoped that this would win Madison over.


~--------------------~


"Karaoke? Now?"

Sakura had a feeling that they would find Madison at the coffee shop, especially since she was nowhere to be found in Penguin Park. Sure enough, her best friend was sitting at a lone table by the stage.

Nakuru sweatdropped. "Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"

"I don't know. Is your hair out of place?" Suppi teased.

"No…I mean something else," Nakuru replied. Then she shook her head. "No…it couldn't be."

Sakura gasped. She could see a very familiar someone behind the curtain. "It IS!" She couldn't believe it. He was actually going to do it.

Li smirked. "Let's get a table. I can't wait to see this."


~--------------------~


Madison just kept drowning her sorrows in a second latte. The karaoke was about to begin and when it did…a very familiar voice sounded.

"This song is dedicated…to the love of my life. Please be mine."

Madison raised her head. A wonderful song started to sound through the speakers. It was "I Still Love You" by Next. And from behind the curtains…came Eriol.


Eriol:

I still love you, babe

I'm still for you, girl

I'll never leave you, baby

'Cause I realize I need you in my life


Girl it just ain't right

What we said last night

'Cause I know we didn't mean it

You feel the love is gone

'Cause we don't get along

But I can prove you wrong

Girl, I swear…


'Cause every time I close my eyes I see you

And how I wanna live my life with you

There is no one

You're all I need and all I want

The only one I'll ever love


Madison smiled warmly at the beautiful song Eriol was singing her…but just then…someone else came from behind the curtain. It was…


Eriol:

I still love you, babe

Tori:

'Cause without you there's no me

Eriol (looking shocked):

I'm still for you, girl

Tori (looking lovingly at Madison):

Even though we disagree sometimes

Eriol (looking back at Madison):

I'll never leave you baby

Tori:

I'll never leave you, baby

Eriol (glaring at Tori out of the corner of his eye):

'Cause I realize I need you in my life


Tori (moving in front of Eriol):

In this relationship we spend a lot of time

Now it would be wrong if everything was always fine

Girl, I know we've had our share of ups and downs

But it doesn't mean that we can't work this out

Oh baby girl, I care, yeah

You know I do


Eriol (moving in front of Tori):

'Cause every time I close my eyes I see you

And how I wanna live my life with you

There is no one else

You're all I need and all I want

The only one I'll ever love


This was what made Madison feel so sad. The song was beautiful and it was so sweet that they were singing to her. The problem was just that. They were BOTH singing to her. They weren't making her decision any easier. What made everything worse, though…was that things were starting to get UGLY.


Eriol (shoving Tori back):

I still love you, babe

Tori (trying to move forward):

'Cause without you there's no me

Eriol (holding Tori back):

I'm still for you, girl

Tori (finally moving in front of Eriol):

Even though we disagree sometimes

Eriol (moving in front of Tori again):

I'll never leave you, baby

Tori (pulling Eriol down by his collar):

I'll never leave you, baby

Eriol and Tori (both trying to push each other aside):

'Cause I realize I need you in my life


Tori (tripping Eriol):

No, oh girl, I know I need you baby!

Eriol (raising his head and smiling at Madison):

'Cause every time I close my eyes I see you

Tori (trying to get in front of Eriol):

You know I see you girl!

Eriol and Tori (trying to push each other aside):

And I wanna live my life with you

Eriol (shoving Tori off stage):

There is no one else

You're all I need and all I want

The only one I'll ever love


Madison couldn't take it anymore. This was getting out of hand. She had to do something.


Eriol (looking at Madison again):

I still love you, babe

Tori (shoving Eriol hard from the side):

'Cause without you there's no me

Eriol (stomping on Tori's foot):

I'm still for you, girl

Tori (tripping Eriol again):

Even though we disagree sometimes

Eriol (tripping Tori by his ankle):

I'll never leave you, baby

Tori (struggling to get up):

I'll never leave you, baby

Eriol and Tori (staring each other down):

'Cause I realize I need you in my life


By this time, everything had gotten out of control. Eriol and Tori were in a shoving match and then they knocked each other down to the ground. They were trying to throttle each other as the rest of the song played in the background.

I still love you, girl

"Stop it!" Madison shouted.

I'm still for you, girl

"Please, stop! Just stop it!"

I'll never leave you, baby

"She's mine!" Eriol shouted.

"No she's not!" Tori shouted back. "She's mine!"

'Cause I realize I need you in my life

"STOP IT!!!!!"

The music stopped and with it…so did the fight. With their hands inches from each others throats, Eriol and Tori looked up at the now tear-filled eyes of Madison.

"I can't take this anymore!" Madison sobbed. "Just LEAVE ME ALONE!!"

Madison couldn't stand to look at either of them. Her heart was completely torn in half and she couldn't decide between either of them. She had to get away from there.

So she ran out of the coffee shop and didn't look back.


~--------------------~


From their table in the middle of the coffee shop, Sakura watched her best friend run out in tears. She knew she had to do something, because despite Madison running out, Eriol and Tori were still at each others throats.

"Look what you did!" Eriol shouted, reaching for Tori's neck.

"I didn't do it!" Tori shot back, also reaching for Eriol's throat. "It's your fault!"

"My fault? You stole my idea! It's YOUR fault!"

"You stole MY idea! I'm the one who was going to sing to her!"

"Too bad! I got here first! This was MY stage for MY girl!"

"She's not your girl!"

"Yes, she is!"

"No, she's mine!"

"Mine!"

"Mine!"

"MINE!!"

"MINE!!"

Sakura got up and rushed to the battling duo. "STOP IT!!"

Eriol and Tori immediately stopped going for the jugular when they saw the angered Sakura standing by the stage. All they could do…was let out a sheepish smile.

"Um…hey, squirt," Tori said a little uneasily. "Uh…how much of this did you see?"

"I saw EVERYTHING!"

Tori sighed. "Then I guess you know."

"Yeah…thanks for telling me," Sakura said sarcastically. "But I'm not important right now. Did you even notice Madison run out right now?"

"Yeah!" Eriol snapped. "And it was his fault!"

"No it wasn't! It was your fault!"

Li calmly walked up to the scene. "It doesn't matter whose fault it is! Did you two forget what I told you? I said Madison wanted to be alone! Why couldn't you two just listen?"

"Because I can't lose her!" both Eriol and Tori shouted.

Sakura slapped her forehead. They both were both smitten. This wouldn't be easy, but they had to see that Madison would need time.

"Tori…can I talk to you…?" Sakura was about to ask…but someone cut her off.

It was a smiling Nakuru. "Um…can I talk to Tori, Sakura?"

Tori's eyes dotted. "Squirt…don't leave me alone with her."

"Sakura?"

Sakura turned around to see another concerned person had joined them. It was Julian.

"I overheard everything," he sighed. "Can I do anything to help?"

Sakura nodded. "Can you help Nakuru talk to Tori?"

Nakuru frowned. "No…that's really not…"

"Sure," Julian smiled. He took Tori's arm and walked him to another part of the coffee shop, with Nakuru reluctantly following along. It was no secret that Nakuru was jealous of Julian's friendship with Tori.

That left Sakura and Li alone with Eriol, who just stayed down on the stage. Before anything…Sakura grinned. "I didn't know you could sing like that."

"Me neither," Eriol confessed. "It's strange what people do for love. I just wish there was some way that Madison could love me back."

"She needs time," Sakura told him. "Give her time and she'll make her choice."

Eriol frowned. "What if she makes the wrong choice?"

Sakura shook her head. "I…don't know. I support everything Madison does, but I have to admit, Eriol. If she had to end up with someone else, I'm…kinda glad that someone else is Tori."

"What?!" both Eriol and Li asked.

Sakura knew exactly what she was saying. "Well…yeah. Don't get me wrong…you two make a great couple. But I can't tell Madison what to feel. And if she loves Tori…then I know I'll accept it. It's kinda funny, actually. We've always been like sisters. If she got with Tori…then maybe someday it would be official."

Eriol was in shock. "So you're on his side, huh?"

Sakura backtracked. "Eriol, I didn't say that!"

"You don't have to say anymore," Eriol spat indignantly. "I'm in love with Madison and I won't let her go! I have to find her!"

Eriol stormed out of the coffee shop. Sakura tried to stop him, but he was gone. She couldn't believe it. She messed up. Instead of getting him to give Madison some space, it seemed that he became even more persistent.

Li groaned. "Why'd you say that?"

"I don't know," Sakura breathed softly. "But…the thing is…I meant every word."


~--------------------~


Tori hung his head down. He couldn't believe he messed this up. He could feel that Madison was slipping away from him. He didn't want that to happen.

"This is even bigger I thought," Julian said. "You really feel something for her, don't you?"

Tori nodded. "I can't lose her, Julian. Especially not to him."

Nakuru pulled up a chair and sat right next to Tori…emphatically moving Julian aside. "Tori…how long have I known you? It seems like so long and…frankly, I don't know how anyone could resist you. I didn't think anyone could. But I've known Eriol even longer. And believe me when I say that he's not going to give up. He really loves Madison."

Tori was persistent. "I do, too."

"But I also heard about the night Eriol and Madison shared together in England," Nakuru continued. "It was…special…unlike anything I could imagine. And…I can't picture Madison just forgetting about that. I can't picture Madison just pushing Eriol aside."

"So what are you saying?" Tori asked indignantly. "That I should just give up on her?"

"I didn't say that, Tori."

"You don't have to say anything else," Tori growled.

Tori got up and stormed out of the coffee shop. He had to go find Madison. The sun was just setting and the night was just beginning. He had to find her.


~--------------------~


Madison didn't even reach the street corner when she saw him. Eriol came walking down the sidewalk and Tori was a few feet behind him. She couldn't stand this. Why couldn't they get the message and leave her alone?

Knowing she wouldn't get far on foot, Madison called for a taxi. Before Eriol could reach her, Madison got into the cab.

"Where to?"

"Anywhere! Just drive!"

The driver obliged and drove off. Madison saw the despondent look on Eriol's face as he gradually faded from her sight. She couldn't bear to hurt him…or Tori. She just couldn't make this choice. She didn't want to hurt either one of them.

Time passed and the taxi continued driving. Every time the driver asked for a destination, Madison just told him to keep driving. She had the money. She could afford a few hours of having a cab drive her around. All she needed was time to think…to reflect upon what was in her heart.

She thought about who could be that one special person in her life. Then there were memories that started to come into her head. Memories that she thought she would never remember again. It was these memories that were helping her to think a little clearer.

Then…a scenario popped into Madison's head. She wondered about what would happen if a certain scenario presented itself. Somehow…she placed both guys in that situation. And when it was through…there was only one remaining. It wasn't easy, but Madison was coming closer to making a decision. Though it didn't say much, Madison was far closer to making a choice than she ever was.

She would mull on this a little more once she got home, so she called to the driver. "Driver, please take me…AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

Madison couldn't even see it coming. It all happened so suddenly. It happened in the blink of an eye and in the blink of an eye…it was all over.

A truck had swerved right in front the taxicab. The cab collided into the truck…knocking everyone in the cab out…

…including Madison.


Next Time: Wow…I promised a shakeup, didn't I? Come back tomorrow to see what other impact this latest occurrence has on the story. You won't want to miss it!


Like I said, I put 110% into this chapter, so please let me know what you thought by reviewing below. Tell me what you thought!