Chapter 3 - Mixed Signals
"Maddie, wait!" London called after her.
Maddie replied, with a cracked voice and teary eyes, "Oh, forget it!" She then turned around, stopping London right in her tracks. "Why do you always make fun of me for being poor?"
London instantly felt bad... what had she done? "Look, Maddie... I'm s--"
"You know what, just... shut up! I have had it up to HERE with you!" she exclaimed, making a cutting motion on her neck. "Just because you're rich you think that you're all that and you're better than everybody else. But you know what, you're not!"
Little did they know that Aly and AJ had been watching this whole fight ever since it started. They were behind one of the plants, hiding.
"You know, if everyone knew what you were REALLY like, everyone would HATE you!"
London's eyes became teary. "Maddie... I--"
"And now I'm one of the few that do."
London's face fell as Maddie turned and began walking away. London called after her again.
"But Maddie! Wait! I thought we were friends!"
Maddie stopped and turned around once more. "So did I, London."
London knew what she was saying. She wasn't THAT stupid. She let a tear fall as Maddie walked out of the hotel. Then she saw Aly and AJ walk out from behind the plant, walking towards the door. She smiled and waved as if nothing had happened between her and Maddie. They looked at her disappointedly with a sad, I-can't-believe-you-did-that look, and they followed Maddie out the door and they caught up with her.
"Hey, Madd! Wait up!"
Maddie's eyes grew wide and she wiped her eyes, trying to make it look like nothing had happened. "Oh, hey guys! What's up?" she said, acting chipper.
"Maddie, we know what happened. We saw it all. You don't have to pretend," AJ said, sadly smiling. Aly nodded her head sympathetically.
Maddie bursted right back into tears. Aly grabbed her for a huge hug, and Maddie gratefully gave in. She cried all over Alyson, but she didn't seem to mind. AJ smiled and rubbed Maddie's shoulder comfortably.
"Aw, it's okay," Aly said, trying to comfort Maddie. "We've known her forever... sometimes she can get a little out of hand."
Maddie nodded her head. Then AJ said, "Yeah, she can be pretty mean most of the time. What kind of stuff does she say about you to hurt your feelings?"
"Well..." she said, her voice cracking through her tears, "Since I'm poor, she always says she hates my clothes and all that kind of stuff! I mean, come on, not EVERYBODY has money like her! Only the lucky ones... like you and all the other celebrities in the world!"
"Oh, Maddie..." AJ said, giving her a huge hug, "We're not that lucky! We're always busy, we can't go to public schools, we don't get to see our friends... it's fun being famous, but it's also a drag sometimes!"
"Yeah, Madd, it's true. You really have the better life."
Maddie smiled. "Thanks, you guys. You're the best. But still...
Alyson and Amanda smiled and all three of the girls put their arms around each other's shoulders for a group hug. Then Aly said, "Hey, Maddie? Do you wanna sleep over at our suite tonight? We'll have tons of fun... we'll watch movies and give each other new looks and stuff. And we'll try to stay up all night."
"Are you kidding me? Of course I do!" Maddie exclaimed. Alyson and Amanda smiled and they began walking back to the Tipton. "I just can't believe that I of all people got to meet you two! AND I get to sleep over! I feel like the luckiest person on earth!"
"Well we're glad you feel that way. We think you're great!" Aly said. AJ nodded her head in agreement.
"Thank you! I think you're great, too!" Maddie exclaimed.
"So, do you wanna come over now?" AJ asked.
"You bet!" Maddie said excitedly.
"Alright, that's cool. Do you live in the hotel?" Aly asked.
"Actually, no. I live across the street from Fenway Park. It's an apartment building."
"Oh, okay, cool! I've always wanted to go to Fenway Park," Aly said.
"Yeah, me too," AJ said.
"Well, I can get you free tickets! I always get in for free because my grandpa works there."
"Wow, thanks, Madd! You're awesome!" AJ said, giving Maddie another hug. Aly agreed and joined in.
"Anything for you guys!"
"Well, let's go get your stuff and we'll head back to our suite!" Alyson said. Maddie and AJ nodded and they followed Maddie to her house.
When they walked in, Alyson and AJ were quite impressed. "Wow, Madd, this is nice! It's comfy and roomy," Aly said.
"Yeah, I love it!" AJ agreed.
"Thanks, but are you just saying that to make me feel better?" Maddie asked.
"Madd, do you honestly think we would do that? We just had a conversation about it," AJ said.
"Well, I guess you're right. Thanks!"
"You're welcome."
"Yeah," Aly agreed.
"Well, come see my room now!" Maddie exclaimed. Aly and Amanda followed closel behind.
"So, Maddie, where are your parents?" AJ asked.
"Oh, they work from 4 in the morning to like 11 at night. The only days they're at home are Saturdays and Sundays. It gets pretty lonely here once in awhile... but luckily, I have school and my job to keep me company."
Alyson and Amanda looked at each other sadly. "Wow, I can't believe she's at home all that time by herself," Aly whispered as Maddie walked to the bathroom to get some of her overnight stuff.
"Yeah, I know!" AJ whispered. "That's sad... I mean, it can't be fun!"
"Well, that's probably one of the reasons that she works at the Tipton," Aly said. "So she can talk to the others that are there."
AJ nodded her head and sat down on Maddie's bed. Then Maddie walked in.
"Hey, Madd? Why do you have two beds?" AJ asked.
"Oh, that. I used to share a room with my sister, but she got married and they got their own place."
"Oh, okay," AJ said.
After about 30 minutes, Maddie had her things together and they were ready to go. "Okay, let's go!" Maddie said. Maddie made sure everything in her room was tidy before walking out the door.
"Oh, Maddie, I almost forgot!" Aly said. "Today we have to go down to the laundry room to practice our new song. You can come with us if you want to."
"Oh my God, are you kidding me? I'd love to come with you! That would be awesome!" Maddie exclaimed. "You guys are SO cool!"
"Thank you!" Aly and AJ said in unison. They looked at each other and laughed.
They walked side by side back into the Tipton and to their suite.
"So, do you guys need any help unpacking your stuff?" Maddie asked politely.
"Oh, no Madd. But thanks!" AJ said. Aly nodded as if to say the same thing.
After about 10 minutes, they were ready to go down to practice. They grabbed their guitars and Maddie grabbed their songbook, just incase they might forget the words.
They set up their stuff, and then their band came in and they introduced themselves to Maddie. Then they got their equipment ready and they waited on Alyson and Amanda.
"Okay, ready, Maddie? You need to tell us if there's anything we need to work on, and PLEASE be honest. We want to improve," AJ said.
"Okay, gotcha. I'm ready! Show me your magic!"
"Okay, we will. 1, 2, 123!" Then they began their song.
When we first met
You seemed a little shy
But then I got to know you
Now I never wanna say goodbye
You used to make me laugh
Whenever I needed it most
But lately I've gotten mixed signals from you
You trade from coast to coast
(Chorus)
All of these mixed signals
Are driving me insane
I really honestly think
That your best friend is to blame
He wards you off from me
He wards you off from them
All he wants for you
Is to change you to make you just like him
One day you're up
One day you're down
This day you smile
That day you frown
I always wanna ask what's wrong
But then I always choke
I don't want you to grow angry
Or act like it's a joke
I don't know if you love me
I don't know if you hate me
When I'm ready to say something to you
I fall and I can't be
(Chorus)
All of these mixed signals
Are driving me insane
I really honestly think
That your best friend is to blame
He wards you off from me
He wards you off from them
All he wants for you
Is to change you to make you just like him
On my knees I'll ask
Just one chance for a dance
All I want is you
But I don't have a chance
I want to tell you how I feel
I tell myself I can't
But when I'm at home by myself
I talk and rave and rant
My very words are this
To this, I'll always stay true
No matter where you are, no matter how far
I know I will always love you
When they were done, Maddie started jumping up and down and screaming. "You were great! No flaws whatsoever!"
"Are you sure?" Aly asked, with a worried look on her face.
"Totally! You guys were great! You'll kill the crowd!"
"Good. Thank you!"
"Oh, you are SO welcome," Maddie said with a huge grin on her face.
After about 2 hours, they were done rehearsing their songs and they headed back to the suite.
"Ready to have mucho fun?" AJ asked.
"You bet!" Maddie and Aly said in unison. They looked at each other and all three of them laughed.
"Alright, well..." Aly said, keying her way into their suite and taking their stuff to their bedroom, "Let's party!"
AJ turned up the Black Eyed Peas and they started to dance.
End of Chapter 3
Sorry I had to type the lyrics like that... I'm using Notepad, and it sucks serious monkey butt. I hope you liked it! Review, please!