Chapter 4: COLLIDE

A brand new day for the 5 teens in Briarwood and they had school. Nick grabbed some books from his locker and yawned. He didn't sleep all night. The whole night he was thinking about what Xander told him previous evening at the Rock Porium. Did Madison really have a crush on him? How come she didn't tell him? Sure he knows that Madison isn't exactly the most open person of his friendship circle, but all those times they spend together. How come he never told him that she likes Xander? No, he has to hear this from herself. Why is he worried so much about this anyway? He should be glad that one of his best friends likes someone. Someone who respects her, someone on who she can count on, someone she knows. Then how come he feels so miserable?

"Hey mate."

Nick turned around and saw Xander standing behind him.

"Hey."

"You look awful"

"I couldn't sleep."

"Why?"

"Look Xander, are you really sure that it's you Madison's in love with."

"Well, who else could it be? Chip? I mean, why would she ask me out to the movies yesterday anyway?"

Nick looked disappointed when Xander made a good point.

"I guess you're right."

"Aw man, what will I say if I bump up to Madison?"

"Well, what do you wanna say to her?"

"I don't know. I mean, what would you say if you knew that Madison's in love with you?"

Nick was quiet for a moment and sighs. He always had an answer for everything, but for this question, he seems speechless.

"I…uhm…I guess I'll never know, since she's obviously in love with you."

"Hey guys."

The 2 boys jumped in shock when they heard that familiar female voice.

"Madison!" The boys yelled united.

"Is everything alright?"

Nick looked at Xander, who was getting nervous when he saw Madison.

"Great, I'm fine. Everything goes perfect. Never been better."

"Are you feeling alright Xander?"

"I feel perfect. Why wouldn't I be? Oh gosh, look at the time, I really gotta go now, but it was great seeing you again." Xander turned around and bumped up to a trashcan. He felt on the floor.

"Xander!" Yelled the blue ranger after she saw Xander stumbling against the trashcan, but Xander quickly jumped up on his feet and put the trashcan on his right place.

"I'm fine. Nothing broken. No worries. I'm still alive. Bye now." Xander quickly walked away as he could, leaving Madison confused alone with Nick.

"Is there something wrong with him?"

Nick didn't know what to say. 'Madison is in love with Xander' is all he could think of. "I guess it's all a part of his Plan Xander."

Nick's joke made the 2 teens laugh. When their laughter stopped, they looked in each other's eyes. All these time, worrying about his past and where he belongs, he never noticed how beautiful Madison actually was. She was the one who convinced him to stay, she was the one who helped him to get the job at the Rock Porium, so he wouldn't be left out of the group. She even said that that he's something special. No, Xander must be wrong about this one.

"Why is he so quiet? What is he thinking right now? Why am I quiet? I have to say something before he leaves. I have to say something now."

"So, did you study for that Math test?"

"Math? I'm standing here in front of one of the cutest guys of Briarwood and I'm talking about Math? Oh, this is not going well."

"Yeah, but that test wasn't an easy one."

"Tell me about it."

"Thank god. He didn't run away. Yet. I gotta think of something else. Ask him out. Maybe tomorrow. What are you doing? It's just one question. If he says no, you won't die. However, if he says no, I probably won't be able to look at him ever again."

"I actually gotta go now."

"Ask him, ask him, ask him now!"

Nick was about to leave, but Madison jumped in front of him before he could leave. "Wait."

"What's up?"

Madison hesitated: "I was wondering if…you know only if you want to, I mean I understand if you have no time, so only if you no plans and have time…"

"Maddie. What are you trying to ask me?"

"I was wondering if…you'd like to…help me with my film project." Madison could slap herself for making an excuse again.

"A film project?"

"Yeah, it's for my film class. My assignment is to interview someone and film all everything that's dear to that person and couldn't be missed in his or her life. It could be family, or friends. And I was thinking maybe you'd like to that person. Because we still don't know much about you."

Nick's heart started to beat faster when Madison asked him to work on her project. He would love to spend time with the girl, who he seems to develop feelings for. But once he started to think about what Xander said, his heart instantly dropped.

"I can't. I got a lot of work to do."

"Oh, I see." Answered Madison disappointed. "I understand."

"Maybe you should ask Xander. I think he'd be more suitable for the job."

"Xander! I don't want Xander, I want you! Oh my god, maybe he knows it. Maybe he knows that I like him and now he tries to avoid me, because he doesn't wanna tell me that he's not interested in me. No, just act normal. You are his friend Madison. If you can't be more than just that, then just be his friend. Act cool Maddie."

"Good idea. I mean it's too bad you don't have time, but I completely understand. So, I'll ask Xander. That was a good idea of you. Thanks Nick."

"That was too close. Did he buy it?"

Nick couldn't believe what he just heard and hesitated a little when he answered. "You're welcome. I think." Maybe he should just ask her if she really has a crush on Xander. No wait, he can't. He gave his word to Xander not to tell her. Plus Nick knows how Maddie will react. Panicked and ashamed, no he can't do that to her.

"I have to go. Vida's waiting for me."

"Alright, see you later at the store Mad Maddie." Nick tried to smile and joke to forget his previous conversation, but it doesn't seem to help.

"Mad Maddie! From Madison, he called me Maddie and now Mad Maddie. It's so obvious that he's not interested in me. What was you're thinking Maddie? Dozens of girls are standing in line to catch the interest of Nick Russell. How could I be so stupid to think that there might have been a chance that he's interested in me?"

"Yeah, I'll see there. Bye." Madison tried to leave with her smile on her face. Once she turned around to walk to the door, that smile disappeared instantly. Nick watched her leaving. There she goes. The girl he wants is in love with someone else and there's nothing he can do about it.

Outside the school building, Vida's sitting on a bench reading a magazine, while she waits on her sister.

"Hello." A face with red hair suddenly appeared in front of her. Vida screamed and started to hit him with her magazine. "Hey, it's me! It's me!"

"Chip! Don't you ever sneak up like that ever again. You know I hate that. I already hate it when Xander does that."

A smile appeared on Chip's face. "Ah, is it that the reason why you like him?"

"Excuse me, I do not like Xander Bly."

Chip took a seat next to Vida. "Oh that's right. The hour has already passed, meaning the potion's effect has expired."

"Chip, the potion just doesn't work."

"Then how come you said that pink's your favorite color?"

"It was obvious that the potion confused my mind."

"Yeah, you weren't able to lie anymore."

"Can it. I don't need a potion to tell someone the truth."

"Yeah right V. You were shaking when I asked you a simple question."

"It was a stupid question. Why in the world would I fall for Xander Bly? I mean the guy is annoying and is the only one who get the blood from under my nails."

"But you like that, don't you?" Chip asked while he pinched Vida's cheeks.

"Don't you have some cleaning to do or something? Like your superman costume for example?"

Chip quickly covered Vida's mouth and looked around, hoping that no one heard Vida. "Would you keep that to yourself? Not everyone needs to know what I have hanging in my closet."

"What's in your closet?"

The 2 teens jumped off the bench when they heard Madison's voice.

"Nothing, nothing at all." Chip quickly answered before Vida would respond.

"Wow, was there a full man last night or something sis?

Madison looked confused to her sister and asked: "What?"

"Maddie, your camera is off. You're always filming at school all the time and now it's off for the first time since...ever."

"I don't feel like filming right now."

"Oh-uh. Sounds like we're gonna have our girl talk again."

The 2 sisters looked at Chip, hoping he would get the hint. "Oh, yeah, send me away just because I'm a guy."

"It's oke Chip. You can stay, I don't really feel like talking about it."

"Oh yes, you are. Bye Chip."

"You girls are so unfair." Chip whined, but eventually left them alone. He walked to the other side of the school building where he finds Xander on his skateboard. He saw that Xander didn't have so much luck on his board today. He keeps on falling off the board everytime he tries to do a new trick.

"The board doesn't wanna work with you today?"

Xander turned around and smiled at Chip. "I guess it's not really my day."

"You got rejected by a girl or something?"

"Very funny."

"No serious. Tell me what's playing in Xanderland?"

Xander put his board against the wall and the 2 friends took a seat on a bench.

"It's about a friend of mine and it involves girls."

"A friend of yours?" Yeah, right. Chip thought. He knew Xander was a very open person, but when it comes about opening up about himself, he always uses 'a friend of mine' excuse. But Chip just played along, pretending that he doesn't know that he's talking about himself.

"Yeah, a friend of mine. There is this girl."

"What about her?"

"Well, this girl is in love with my friend."

Chip suddenly paid attention when he heard that. "Ofcourse she is." Xander gave Chip a confused look. Darn, Chip knew that he couldn't say anything if he wanted to stay alive. "I mean, she is?"

"Yeah. She's smart, sweet and stunning."

"So? What's the problem? Scared he'll find out that she's smarter than him?"

"Very funny. He likes her...as a friend."

"Then you...I mean, your friend should tell her then."

"There's more. She has a sister."

"What about her?"

"My friend actually likes this girl's sister."

Chip's eyes grew large. He couldn't believe what he just heard. "Oh wow."

"I know. What would you do in a situation like this?"

Aw man, did he really have to ask him? He didn't want to get stuck into this triangle.

"Tell your friend to ask another friend for advice. Love between 2 people is already complicated, don't get me start about 3."

Chip didn't know what to think now. If only he didn't ask what was on Xander's mind. Now he knows more info than he wanted to know.

That evening, Madison and Chip had their shift at the Rock Porium. Xander also had a shift, but he called in sick. So Toby asked Nick to take over his shift. Nick was standing behind the counter, Madison is checking the stock of records and Chip is marking records. Toby just stepped out of his office wearing his coat. He noticed the silence between the 3 friends and walked over to Nick.

"Hey, did someone recently passed away or something?"

"What?"

"Something wrong with you guys?"

Nick looked at Madison for a moment and then back to Toby. "No, everything is fine with us."

"Alright then. Look, I'm off now. Don't forget to lock the door when you close up this place?"

"Yeah, we know."

"Alright, then I'll see you tomorrow. Madison! Chip!" Madison and Chip looked up and waved to Toby, who was leaving the store. Nick tried to count the cash, but couldn't concentrate on his work. He couldn't keep his eyes of Madison. He decided to put a record on to kill the silence.

The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you
Yeah

I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide

Madison looked at Nick and smiled at him. She couldn't keep her eyes from him anymore.

"God, I love this song. There's nothing I want more than in the arms of Nick Russell right now. Perfect song, perfect guy, perfect moment. No wake up Maddie. You're working right now. Stop dreaming and start working."

Madison looked back to the records and blushed. Nick could see that she loves the song. Maybe he should tell her the truth about his feelings for her. It's now or never. He needs to hear it from Madison herself if she likes Xander. He walked over to Madison.

"Hey Maddie."

"Hey, you need some help with the cash counting?"

"Oh no, that's already done."

"That was pretty fast. We should you put in charge of the money more often so we can leave earlier."

The 2 teens smiled at each other. Nick was lost in her smile and knew he just need to tell her the truth.

"Maddie, there's something I want to talk about. And then I need to ask you something."

Maddie held some papers in her hands. "Alright, but could you give me a second? I need to take care of something in the office before I forget."

"No problem at all." Nick answered with a smile. That smile gave Madison hope as she walked to the office.

"He wants to talk to me? But what about? Oh gosh, what if he knows? Maybe that's why he want to talk about. Stay calm Madison. If you can fight soulless mutants, than facing Nick Russell won't be that hard as well."

I'm quiet you know
You make a first impression
I've found I'm scared to know I'm always on your mind

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I somehow find
You and I collide

Nick sighs when he saw Madison disappearing inside the office. Suddenly Chip tapped him on the shoulder.

"Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, you?"

"I'm not sure. I have this problem, which involves my friends."

"Who's involved?"

"Promise not to tell anyone? My life kinda depends on it."

"I'm full of secrets. So shoot."

"Did you know that Vida has a crush on Xander?"

A huge smile appeared on Nick's face. "I knew it. Did she admit that she likes him?"

"Well, not really. But we did some potion experiencing."

"You did? You know Udonna is not going to be happy when she finds out."

"She won't find out. Anyway, we took this truth potion and you could not lie for the next hour."

"No way. That's cool."

"So, I asked her if she likes Xander. She didn't say anything."

"Because she couldn't lie. Chip, you're a genius."

Chip smiled when he heard that, but his smile dropped when something else came up in his mind. "And I think Xander knows it as well."

"He does?" It gave Nick hope when he heard that. Maybe he had a chance with Madison after all. "So, does he like her as well?"

"He does...as a friend."

"Just as a friend? Oh come on. Maybe he's in the stage of denial. I mean the 2 of them are always together. It's so obvious.

"You don't understand. Xander can't be with her."

"Why can't Xander be with Vida?

Chip moved closer making sure no one else could hear it. "Because Xander is in love with Madison."

End Chapter 4.

That was the chapter...please don't kill me! LOL. It's getting very complicated, dontcha think? At least if keeps you in exitement! The next chapter will take posted a little bit later. I have a pile of homework to do these 2 days!

Thanks to following people for their reviews: lil Cwick, aquarius12285, Ocean Kitten, Mars Cutie, Sango A.R, lunafan & Jnr Cpl Scarlett.

Sango A.R - If Nick & Vida are going to be jealous? There's only one way to find out! And the truth potion...Yes, it will come back, but also for that you gotta wait!

lunafan - Well, it's Xander! It's so him!LOL

BTW, the song that has been used in this chapter is from Howie Day "Collide"