Chapter 13...

"Follow Through"

Gavin DeGraw

With every word you say
And I, all I really want is you
You to stick around
I'll see you everyday
But you have to follow through

As I stood in the kitchen of the Carter's house, I looked out their large French doors and into their enormous backyard. The sun was a buttery yellow and hit the grass a way that made it look almost lime green. The Carter family was definitely well off, having a pool, hot tub, and basketball court all in their back yard. I picked my hat off the kitchen table; under it lay a letter that I hadn't even noticed was there.

Trying not to be nosy, I picked up the envelope and laid it on the island in the middle of the kitchen. The letter was addressed to Madison. I made myself stop looking at the note because of how curious I was getting.

Looking into the backyard, I realized Nathan and Hailey were already here. Nathan was on the basketball court shooting around while Hailey looked on. She spoke and casually turned to me, laughing. I couldn't hear their conversations because of the giggles coming from Hailey. The fact that she was now the happiest I had ever seen her made me feel good. I loved knowing that she was happy and that I was happy. That made it even better.

I heard footsteps behind me. Madison's reflection was in the glass. I pretended to not see her and began to walk out the door. She jumped onto my back. Her long legs wrapped around my waist and her tanned arms around my neck. I felt her wet lips on my cheek, "Bet'cha didn't know I was there." She said, eyebrows raised.

She hopped off my back and ran over to Hailey, engulfing her in a big hug. "Some one is in the best mood I have seen in a while." I overheard Hailey say. Madison shrugged her shoulders, looking at me. She took Hailey by the hand and led her into the pool house.

Nathan walked in my direction with the ball in his hands. He threw it at me. I caught it with one hand. In my other hand was a grill cleaner. I tossed it too him and said, "You're the married man, you do the house work."

I took off to the court with the ball in tow. He chased after me yelling, "Isn't my house! I am the guest." I went up for a lay-up and Nathan smacked the ball away from me. The ball continued rolling until it landed at the feet of Madison and Hailey, both dressed in bathing suits. The bathing suit Hailey had on was obviously Madison's. It was multicolored striped halter top with a blue ring in the middle. The bottoms were the same design, but had two blue rings on the sides.

Madison stood nonchalantly behind her. Something about her stance made me wonder if she was one of those pageant girls. The ones whose parents make them do it because they think it looks good, even though it doesn't. Madison wore a white bathing suit with multicolored polka-dots. In the middle was a pink ring, just like Hailey's. The bottoms were the same as Hailey's. Her hair was pulled into a loose bun on the top of her hair. She looked perfect.

She walked toward me, took the ball out of my arms, and shot it from about three point range. "Nothin' but net." She called out, arms in the air. "So, are we just going to stand around or are we gonna do something?" I put my hands on her waist, preparing to pick her up. She knew what was going on and grabbed my shirt. "Don't even think about it Scott."

"Nathan, no, please..." I heard Hailey say from behind me. Nathan had Hailey in his arms like a baby. He casually held her over the pool. He started the count, "One... two..."

"Three!" Madison called out pushing me into the pool. Nathan and Hailey followed into the pool after me. Madison stood outside the pool edge. She dipped her hand into the pool, "Oh. It feels good." She looked at me, "Just not good enough to get it."

I took her by the hand and pulled her in. When she emerged from under the water she looked like a mermaid. She wiped her eyes as I wrapped my arms around her waist. I swam toward the shallow end with her in my arms. She laid on her back, floating in the water. Her eyes slowly opened and looked at me, "Remind you of anything?" She asked, referring to our trip to the beach.

"Yeah, but this time I won't break your jaw."

She laughed, "Jee, thanks." She climbed onto my back and then onto my shoulders. "Lets chicken fight." She called out.

"Oh no you didn't." Nathan said in his best ghetto girl impression, "You do not mess with Nathan Scott in a game of chicken."

"You don't mess with Nathan Scott in a game of anything." I said pointing in the direction of the basketball court, "Trust me."

"I can take you." Madison said. "I can take you by myself." Her confidence oozed out of her. I was so crazy about her I could barely stand it.

After we battled it out for nine rounds, Madison and I came out the winners. 6-3. "I told you. I told you." Madison chanted pointing her finger in Nathan's face. "You think you can mess with me and get away with it." She was now in Nathan's face. "No. You. Can't."

Nathan turned to Hailey and me. "Get her away from me before I explode." He said jokingly.

I pulled her away from him as she laughed like crazy. "Nathan you are so ridiculous." She jumped out of the pool and headed into the kitchen. "I am gonna go get a drink. Anyone want anything?" She opened the door and started to go inside.

"I'm fine, thanks." Hailey said.

"Beer." Nathan called out. Hailey hit him on the shoulder.

"He'll have some water." She said.

Madison laughed and looked at me, "Anything for you my dear?" I got out of the pool, wrapped myself in a towel, and followed her inside.

"I can get it." I said. Once inside I picked the envelope off of the table and handed it to her. "What is this?"

"Oh," She said. She immediately changed the subject. "What did you want to drink? Lemonade, Coke, Water?" She pulled a glass out of the cabinet.

"Coke, but good try. What is this, Mad."

She pushed the letter out of the way and filled the glass with ice. I opened the Coke can and took the glass from her. "Nothing." She said turning away from me.

She started to go outside. I took her by the arm and pulled her back toward me. Her face was serious. "Madison, please. What is it?"

Her eyes began to swell with tears. "Please, Lucas, it will be easier if you don't know." She pulled her arm away from me. "I didn't even want you to find out." She opened the door to go outside. "Lucas," She smiled, "Don't worry about it. I try not to so you shouldn't."