"Oh, my god... and the way he handled those kids." Madison's voice, I had decided, was the most annoying noise in the universe. She hadn't shut up about Portman since we left the arena two days before. I rubbed my forehead and tried to concentrate on getting us to the arena that night without reaching over and strangling her, which would then cause a car accident.

"He is just soooo cute."

"Maddie, can you give it a rest, please?" I asked, a little short with her. She sulked down in her seat,

"Why are you so grumpy today?" She asked as I shook my head a little,

"Nothing..." I lied. In reality I had gotten into a disagreement with Scott that morning about why I was spending so much time with Madison, going shopping lately. He was acting really weird lately.

Flashback

"Tammy, you're going out again?" He asked, looking around as if there was nothing for him to do at my parents' house. I sighed,

"Yeah, Madison is looking for a certain clip for her hair at the wedding and I don't want it not to match so I need to go with her."

"What about me?" He asked with a face that could rival a 12-year-old girl. I had to stop myself from laughing, Scott had always gotten things his way and I had a feeling he had never been told no. I moved down the stairs feeling the guilt in my stomach.

"Scott, I promise, this is just me until the wedding. After that, I'm all yours." I said trying to smile. Scott smiled,

"What am I supposed to do in the mean time?" He asked. I shrugged,

"Guy stuff?" I asked walking away.

"Guy stuff?" He questioned. "Like what?"

"I don't know. Watch some sports with Dad." I said retreating into the other room.

"I don't watch sports..." He said walking the opposite way.

End Flashback

"Hello? Earth to Tammy?" Madison yelled bring me back to reality.

"What?" I asked almost missing the entrance to the arena. I took the sharp turn and Madison yelled, grabbing the door.

"What are you crazy?" She asked breathing heavy. I didn't even respond and parked, heading into the arena. I can only guess what Fulton had in mind to 'put us to work.'

Fulton and Portman were waiting as we entered the arena,

"Oh, right on time." Fulton said acting like he was having fun. I sighed, placing my hand on my hip to listen to him. He smiled,

"Already getting an attitude?" He questioned. I dropped my hand,

"Look, I can just leave."

"No, we agreed." Madison groaned, giving me the evil eye. I tightened my lips,

"Fine." I looked back at Fulton, who was still smiling,

"Here's your list of things to get done." He handed me a piece of paper and my lips pursed,

"No, Maddie, we're not doing this." She looked over the list and looked at me,

"It doesn't look that hard."

"Madison, my nails, the wedding is in three weeks, I can't ruin them now." I groaned. She took the list, looking it over,

Things to do:

1) Tape all replacement sticks and sand.

2) Mop all steps

3) Clean all benches

4) Clean out storage closet

"Don't you have cleaning staff to do this stuff?" Madison asked, looking at Fulton.

"No, they were cut out of the budget to get new uniforms for the teams. Of course you two wouldn't know what it's like to have to make sacrifices." Fulton said looking more at me than her. I looked away.

"Of course you two can just leave if it's not your thing."

"No, we want to help." Madison piped in as I groaned. Fulton knew he had me backed into a corner because I had to do what Madison wanted.

"Good. Portman, show them where the cleaning stuff is." He said walking away. I stomped off,

"I know where it is!" I said pushing them out of my way.

"What's her deal?" Portman asked Madison as they walked in the direction I went.

"Oh, just some pent up frustration." She said linking arms with him.

"So how do you know Tammy?" He asked as they walked away.

An hour and half later, I was still not happy with the situation. I had gotten a splinter from one of the sticks, got attacked by every piece of sporting equipment item know to man when I opened the storage closet, and found at least 20 pieces of gum stuck under the benches. I decided to give them up and mop the stairs. I sighed, holding the mop with one hand and wiping my head with the other,

"I smell like mothballs." I commented to Madison, who was on the ground, scrubbing the step in front of me before I mopped it.

"It could be worse. They could have asked us to clean the bathrooms." She joked,

"Next time." Fulton chimed in from the ice. I sighed, turning my back to the ice. Who did he think he was to make us do this, so what if he could get us kicked out? Then Madison would be pissed at me and this whole thing would blow up. I kinda felt like I was juggling eggs and couldn't drop any. Each egg was another secret I was keeping from Scott and if they fell, I was out of the game. I sighed deeply,

"Just make it all go away." I groaned, Madison laughed a little,

"Are you always so self-pitying?" She asked.

"What?" I said turning around fast.

"You act like the world owes you something. God, has my brother really rubbed off on you that much? Is everything always about you?" She asked. I tightened my lips,

"I just don't think this whole situation is fair." I said turning again.

"Well, it's not fair to my brother...or Fulton." She said as I sulked, was I hurting Fulton? Was that why he was making us do this, because he was hurting? I asked myself, glancing in his direction, he glanced at me. His eyes stayed on me for a few seconds and then went back to the ice.

"Keep it moving." He yelled as the kids were doing skating drills. I looked down, going back to work on the stairs.

"I think you're full of it." I said moving past her and heading to another staircase.

"Suit yourself. You'll regret it later." Madison said, continuing to scrub.

I stood at the storage closet later that night and put away all the cleaning supplies before shutting the door and heading back to find Madison so we could get out of here. The hall was cleared and I walked slowly towards the arena. Maybe I was hurting Fulton but what was I supposed to do about it? I can't just dump Scott and go running back to Fulton. I could, but think of all the people that I'd hurt. No, it wasn't an option; I need to go through with this. I need to fulfill my obligations. Was that what Scott was now? An obligation? I took a deep breath, feeling the cold ice air hit my face again. I loved the ice, I loved to skate and Scott and I can do that together. Of course I can't skate forever, we'll have a family and a home and that will be my life. I have it all set out, so why doesn't it seem so perfect? I shrugged off the feeling and headed towards Madison, her hair could be seen from across the arena. As I got closer I saw she was kissing Dean Portman. I sighed, great another 4 hours here, I thought, sitting down to wait until she saw me and we could leave. I hugged myself a little as the ice chilled my skin.

"Hey." He said from behind me as I turned a little. The corner of my lips turned a little into a smile and he sat down.

"Look, I'm sorry. I know it was a cruel thing to do to make you do all that." He said as I didn't say anything, just stared at the ice.

"I must seem like such an ass right now but I just came over to tell you that you and Madison are welcome here anytime. I acted like a jerk and I'm sorry." He said walking away quick before I could say anything to him. I stood to follow him and Madison was at my side,

"Guess what?" She jumped up and down next to me. I turned, still distracted by Fulton's sudden change in heart towards me.

"What?" I asked.

"I have a date next Friday with Dean!" She yelled, grabbing me in a hug. I laughed a little and then backed up.

"That's a good thing?" I joked a little.

"Yes, it's a great thing and guess what?" She yelled.

"What? Don't you want to go?" I asked starting up the stairs.

"This means that we don't have to do this stuff anymore." She said heading passed me up the stairs.

"What you mean I don't have to bring you here for practices?" I asked a little let down. I was still wondering what was up with Fulton.

"Yeah, but you still owe me that shopping trip and I think we should go on Friday so I can find something to wear on this date!" She yelled exiting the arena. I laughed a little and followed her out.

It was a nice day, the following Friday as I tried to help Madison find something to wear on her date with Portman but my head was still trying to figure out that conversation with Fulton. What did that all mean? Was he admitting he did it to hurt me? Was he finally ready to accept my engagement? These questions were flying through my head as I drove towards the edge of town.

"What's that?" She asked, stopping at a sign hanging outside an old gate. 'Timeless Beauty Crafts' was the sign name as we pulled over and decided to walk in. There was a fair amount of cars in the driveway to a beautiful house. It was two stories high with two beautiful picture windows in the front and a wrap around porch leading to the lake out back. The porch was lined with chairs for sale, and that's when it hit me.

"This is my house." I said silently.

"Tammy? What's wrong?" She asked. Those chairs on the front porch were the same one's in Fulton's living room. The color left my face as I looked at the lake behind the house and everything just clicked, he built the house.

"I need to get out of here." I said turning to run.

"Tammy?" His voice was like the final nail in my coffin and I broke into a run.

"Tammy?" He yelled again, chasing after me. Madison just stood there not sure what to do. He caught me just before the gate and turned me to him,

"What is this Fulton, a joke? Are you trying to make this into some kind of love story?" I asked feeling the anger boiling in my veins.

"What? No, I made you a promise and I fulfilled it!" He yelled back. "I could never move in, so I made it my store." The tears were coming down my face.

"Why? Why did you do this? You should have just let the past die!" I yelled back at him.

"Because I love you!" He yelled grabbing my face. "I love you, Tammy." He whispered again. My tears filled my eyes again and I pushed past him,

"I have to go." I said walking quickly to my car. Madison ran after me and we drove home in silence.