A/NThanks for all the reviews, I really appreciate them. Krazypirategurl: No, not any time soon anyway!

"Madison! Hey, wait up!" Ephram called.

Madison turned round, and then sighed as she realised that she had to wait for him. She was babysitting Delia that night. Suddenly, she remembered the conversation she had had the day before.

Flashback

Madison held the phone to her ear, and the ringing continued. Come on, pick up, she thought.

"Yello!"

"Hi, is that Larissa?"

"Sure is."

"Larissa…it's Maddi."

"Maddi! Oh my gosh, how are you!"

"I-I'm great. You?"

"I'm fabulous. So what's up? How's Everwood?"

"Uh…it's good. But I need to talk to you about something."

"What's his name?"

"Huh?"

"The guy you like. What's his name?"

"How did you…"

Larissa laughed on the other end. "Come on Maddi. I live in New York."

Laughing, Madison said, "I guess you're right. Well…his name's Ephram. And I totally like him. But…"

"But you're not sure if what he wants because he's sending you mixed signals?"

"Right again."

"Well Maddi, what did you expect? We're practically sisters."

Madison sighed, and at the same time on the other end, Larissa brushed her hair out of her eyes. "What do you think I should do?"

"Well. Don't you think it's obvious?"

"Uh…not really."

"You like him. He must like you, because the Madison I knew wouldn't waste her time if he didn't. So you gotta forgive him. Who knows, he could say sorry first."

"You're sure?"

"I'm sure."

She exhaled again. "Thanks, Lariss. I'll call you again soon."

"You'd better! We miss you, dahlin."

Madison gave a weak laugh. "Bye Lariss."

"Bye Maddi."

Flashback

Ephram caught up with Madison, panting slightly. "Look. I just wanted to say – I'm sorry."

If Madison was surprised, she didn't show it. She cocked her head to one side and put her hand on her hip. "For what?"

"For – everything. I'm sorry about the whole deal with Amy. I'm sorry if I sent out the wrong signals – but Amy and I aren't dating."

"You're not?" Now Madison was surprised. For real.

"No, we're just friends. I know that what I did at the fundraiser was completely out of line. It's just that…"

"It doesn't matter," Madison said. Then she smiled. "Let's just forget about it, okay?"

"Great!" Ephram was relieved. And Madison was pleased. And pleased and relieved went pretty well together.

Madison stood in the kitchen, frying something over the cooker for diner. Ephram entered the kitchen and walked over to her.

"What's cooking, good-looking?"

Madison laughed. "Fried chicken and spicy rice," she said, and smiled.

"You're cooking that?" Ephram asked, gawping.

Worried, Madison replied, "You don't like it?" Her face fell. "Is someone allergic or something?"

"No, no! It's great…it's just that…the last time we had something interesting for dinner, it was when Dad mixed up Pizza Hut and Domino's." They both laughed.

"Well, hopefully everyone will enjoy my lil' surprise," she laughed, and turned to Delia who was sitting at the counter.

"What you doing?" she said, as she sat down.

"You wanna see a neat trick?"

"Sure. Hit me with it!"

"Okay." Delia fanned out the cards, just like any professional casino worker. Madison was impressed.

"Okay."

"You got the card in your head?"

"Yahuh," Madison replied, and smiled at Ephram, who had been observing the goings on amusedly.

Delia shuffled the cards, a look of intense concentration on her face. "Okay," she said, and exhaled. She shuffled the cards again, just for luck.

"Is this your card?"

"Geez! You are truly amazing Delia. How did you know?"

"I am? I mean, thanks!"

"I'd better check on the food," Madison said, and was followed by Ephram as she went into the kitchen.

"So!" he started. "Was that really your card?"

"I think that's a personal question, don't you?" Madison asked mischievously.

For a few seconds, they just smiled at each other. And as 10th graders, they didn't particularly enjoy Science. But they both definitely enjoyed the chemistry that existed between them then.

A/N Cheesy, I know. Apologies, my dear friends.