Chapter 2: IF ONLY HE KNEW…

Another day in Briarwood. It seems to be a peaceful day for the teens. In Rock Porium, Madison is filming as usual. She films all the customers in the shop.

"Hey sis! Make sure you get my right side!" yelled the girl with short, black hair and white highlights.

Madison smiled, walked with her camera to the DJ table where the girl was standing and started to film her.

"That's DJ Vida. Great DJ and the best sister ever. Although we are family, we look nothing like each other. Vida is more open and daring. She likes to take challenges and is definitely not shy."

"Isn't this groovy or what?" shouted the black haired girl, while she danced.

"It sounds great sis. You are the best."

Suddenly Vida was looking between the records.

"You're looking for something sis?"

"Yeah, my new CD. I left it in here yesterday. Oh, no, it's stolen."

"You mean this one?" The girls turned around and saw a tall guy with brown hair coming up their way. He handed over the CD to Vida. Vida looked at him with angry eyes.

"Xander! I told you if you ever take something from me again, I would break your legs!"

He answers with his killer accent: "You said that last time as well, but I'm still alive." He noticed Madison with the camera in his direction. He smiled and winked to the camera. "How are you doin'?"

Xander's wink made Madison smile.

"Extreme Xander. Sport athlete and probably Briarwood's biggest charmer. I remember the first day he came in Briarwood. Everyone found him weird with the accent and they even laugh at him about it. But now, girls seem to fall for it. Well, any girl except for my sis. He sure knows how to irritate her."

"Hey Maddie, you're filming for your film class again?"

"Yeah, you wanna say something about yourself?"

"Sure. Hi, Xander Bly here. I live in Briarwood and I go to school in here. I love to skateboard and I do train a lot as you can see. And for the ladies there, I'm available. So, if you're interested, come by at the Rock Porium and I might give you my number."

Xander winks to the camera and Vida rolled with her eyes.

"Oh brother. It's for Maddie's film class, not a dating agency."

"Can't blame a guy for trying."

"Oh, is that why you're still single?"

"I'm too young to have something serious. I gotta live before I can make a commitment. Otherwise I have to turn down a lot of hot chicks and we can't let that happen."

"You are so unbelievable."

"I would almost think you're jealous V", Xander responded with a huge smile on his face.

"On you?" Vida started to burst in laughter. "Yeah, right."

"Anyone ever said you look adorable when you're denying?"

"Why you..."

The 2 friends continue their argue. Madison decided to get involved within this discussion. She turns the camera to herself.

"Question. Do they always fight? And the answer is… Always. Note to self. Don't put those 2 next to each other at the Christmas table."

Madison sneaked away from the DJ table to continue her filming. She walked around the store. Suddenly someone with red hair and a cape jumped in front of her. It shocked Madison.

"You scared me."

"Sorry. Are you filming again?"

"Yeah, so tell me what you're doing right now."

"I'm undercover in here. I protect the innocent and fight evil."

"In this store?"

"Evil is everywhere. But have no fear, because the Chipman is here."

The red haired guy continued playing with his rolled up magazine, pretending it's his sword, and ran through the store. It made Madison laugh.

"Nobody is like Chip Thorn. I've known him since Grammar school. He's a great friend and biggest goof I know. He's up to every action and you'll never get bored around him."

Suddenly Madison heard someone yelling from behind the counter. She walked to the guy who stood behind the counter.

"We don't sell that kind of junk, you moron! Only classic rock in here! What do you think we are? Virgin Records? Now, get your butt out of my store and look for that song somewhere else!"

The customer left.

"Still not eating?"

"I don't know how long I can pull this off."

"Well, you haven't eaten for a few days. You're doing a great job."

"As long nobody mention or shows me any food. Yesterday, when I walked home, I saw they opened that new restaurant. I could smell their burgers from miles away. I'm so hungry, I can eat almost everything in this store and I almost did."

"That's my boss Toby. He's a little bit weird sometimes, but he's a great friend to all of us."

"So, where's everyone?"

"Well, Vida is behind her DJ table, Xander is probably still standing there with her, and Chip...is doing something."

"Aren't we missing someone?"

"Toby is right. We do miss one person. And that would be..."

"Sorry Tobes, I got trouble with my bike."

Madison turned her camera to the black haired guy wearing a red sweater and a black leather jacket. She smiles when he entered the store and saw him talking to Toby.

"Glad you made it anyway."

"The new, mysterious and good-looking guy in town. He's been a great friend to the 4 of us. You could say that he completed our friendship circle. How could someone not notice Nick? That great smile, his good looks, those gorgeous eyes. Who wouldn't fall for that?"

Madison sighs and forgot that she was filming while she looks at him. Nick noticed Madison staring at him and smiled.

"You're alright Maddie?"

"Huh?"

"Your camera is still on."

Madison looked at her camera and saw it was still on record.

"Oh. Yeah, I guess it has been a long day."

"Long day? It's still morning." answered Toby.

Madison blushed when her 'long day' excuse was pushed into the ground by Toby's respond. Madison didn't know what to say, until she was saved by a big guy, entering the store with an ice cream in his hand.

"Hey! Polar Beer! No food inside!"

The guy ignored Toby and walked further inside the store. Toby walked behind him. Nick smiled and walked to the office. Madison followed him with her camera. Nick was about to take off his sweater and put on his working-blouse. Madison's mouth felt open and stared as Nick took off his red sweater. Suddenly, the sound of the door shutting behind her, disturb the moment. It also made Nick turn around and saw that he wasn't alone in the office.

"Hey! What are you doing here?"

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know..."

"You're also filming people without their clothes on as well?"

Madison shut down her camera and put her hands in front of her eyes.

"No! This was very unexpected, you gotta believe me. I didn't mean to embarrass you. I'm so sorry, I really am."

She suddenly heard laughing from Nick's side.

"I'm only kidding Maddie."

Madison removed her hands from her eyes.

"Oh...I knew that."

She saw that Nick still hasn't put on his working-blouse and tried to look at the floor, hoping he wouldn't see her blushing.

"But to let you know that I would never do something to embarrass you. I mean, I don't want you to be mad at me."

"Like your sister and Xander?" Nick smiled and put on his working-blouse. "I could never be mad at you."

Madison blushed and looked in his eyes. "Thanks."

"Anytime." Nick answered with a smile, grabs his comic book and tapped on her head. "Now, let's get back to work."

Nick exits the office as first, followed by Madison. She stopped at front of the door and kept staring at Nick, walking in the direction of the DJ table, where Vida and Xander are still arguing. A smile crossed on her face while she looked at him.

"Isn't he great? He's so different than any guy I've ever met in my life. So sweet and caring. He's always protective over me and he's never angry at me. He always makes me laugh and sometimes he makes fun of me when I'm blushing again. And while Vida is busy with her DJ stuff, or Xander is skateboarding, or Chip is at his chess club, Nick is always keeping me company and vice versa. You could say that we do hang out a lot together. Then how come he doesn't see it? He says that I'm one of his best friends, but is that what I really want? Just friends? Is that how he sees me? As just one of his best friends? Can't you see the way I look at you? Can't you see the smile I give you? Can't you see that I love to be with you? If only he knew...that I'm actually falling for him."

End Chapter 2.

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