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Maddie inhaled deeply, reveling in the crisp outside filling her lungs. She needed to clear the fog that had settled around her. She felt a little guilty, making an excuse to Trevor about having to use the washroom; what she had really needed was simply to get away for a few minutes. A few blessed moments alone. The main entrance to the hotel was thankfully barren, giving her leave to muck about in her thoughts. She started to lean her back against the wall when she felt her heel give. She looked down and raised her foot to assess the damage.
"Oh, just great," she muttered, the broken chunk of heel slipping off, turning her once glittering left high heel into a depressed flat. She threw head back, closing her eyes tiredly.
"Are you alright?"
Her lids flew open and she jolted in surprise.
"I am sorry – I did not mean to scare you, Miss Maddie."
"It's alright. I guess I'm just a little jumpy is all. What are you doing out here?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing..."
She sighed. "I just needed to get away for a minute."
Esteban nodded in acknowledgment. He gazed at her intently. "I am sorry."
Maddie looked up at him wide eyed. "For what?"
"For..." he looked heavenward, as though he were trying to pluck words from the stars, "...for causing confusion between us."
She shirked it off, trying to play it casual. "It's ok. We're friends, that's all; right?"
"Right – good friends. We were just confusing our friendship..." he said, subconsciously taking a small step closer.
"Of course. Cuz we really wouldn't want to do anything to jeopardize our friendship..." she matched his step without thinking, bringing them almost face to face, leaving only a foot of space between them.
"Our friendship –" he echoed again.
She nodded haphazardly. "Right. Our friendship..."
"Because that is all we are – friends..."
"Exactly –" she licked her lips and all coherent thought left Esteban after that small gesture.
He leaned in without thinking, lightly feathering his lips against hers. Her eyes fluttered closed and she felt her heart jerking erratically. She stepped into him more as she felt his arms snake around her waist. Blood pumped forcefully through her veins and her skin felt like it was buzzing. She wrapped her arms around his neck as the kiss continued. A few voices started to break the haze, sounding like underwater gurgling, but only the feel of his arms around her soon replaced all other thoughts; everything else flitted away.
"Wow – I guess she's ok..."
London's voice was a douse of cold water. Esteban pulled away slightly, turning his head and popping his eyes open. Zack soon joined them outside, a confused expression crossing his face.
Maddie kept her eyes tightly shut, not wanting to lose the moment that she knew had already slipped away. She felt Esteban's arms leaving her bare again and she forced herself to crash back to reality.
"Hey guys. I'm fine. Thanks for checking, though," she replied flatly, feeling embarrassed at everyone's stare.
Zack remained uncommonly quiet and London stayed still another few seconds before clapping her hands together.
"So! You guys –"
"Maddie? There you are! I've been looking all over for you," Trevor joined the blossoming group, relief pouring out of him. "Hey, you guys moved the party out here and didn't invite me?" he joked, but stopped short when the tension that was radiating out of everyone started to seep to him.
Zack narrowed his eyes at Esteban. When he came out following London Esteban had his arms loosely around Maddie. It could almost pass off for a hug except for Maddies' eyes being screwed tensely shut and Esteban standing so stiffly. He knew something was going on and a dreaded feeling burrowed deep in his stomach – did he actually kiss her? London looked quite pleased with herself and they were acting very suspicious.
"Yeah, Maddie – why didn't you invite your date out here with you and Esteban?" Zack accused.
Maddie blanched slightly and Esteban looked at her tentatively. She returned his gaze, willing him to say something first – wondering what he would even say anyway.
"Maddie just needed some air...and so did I – I mean, after Maddie came out I came out – what I mean to say is that it is just a coincidence that we are both out here..." he tugged on his black bow tie, trying to relieve the claustrophobia that had suddenly seized him.
London's mouth hung open like a codfish. "But you two were ki–"
"Kidding?" Esteban kicked in quickly, trying to cover. "Ah, yes, we were only telling jokes when Miss London and young Zack came out, weren't we?" he turned to Maddie for back up.
Maddie looked at him disappointed. Her belly did bleak flip flops and the sweetness left her taste buds leaving an acidic flavour in it's wake. She was so sure that finally they were going to be honest with each other and face whatever it was that had been lingering around them. But alas, she was wrong. Apparently she had conjured up this honey dewed vision of what things would be like now only to be assaulted with a sad truth – nothing was going to happen between them because he obviously didn't really want anything to. She realized the four faces were still looking at her expectantly.
"Oh, right. We were only kidding each other out here," she said with a double meaning. She spared another glance at Esteban, ignoring the hurt look that flitted across his face as she took Trevor by the hand. "Let's go back inside." She strode past them, towing a discombobulated Trevor behind her.
London glared at Esteban after the couple left. "I don't know why everyone always calls me the dumb one. You're being pretty dumb yourself right now." She whirled around on her heel and left.
A pained expression wore on him and he looked at Zack. "You were right. I really am not good enough for Miss Maddie." He hung his head, looking lower than Zack had ever seen him.
Different emotions passed through him as he looked upon the tall man that he had come to call a friend. Esteban had helped he and his brother out various times, not to mention he was always fun to talk to and laugh with. Self reproach encompassed him as he thought about how much he was to blame for this huge misunderstanding. There wouldn't have been so much confusion between his two friends if he hadn't been feeding little negative thoughts to the bellhop insinuating his inadequateness for the candy girl. He knew what he had to do. If he really cared about Maddie like he claimed to, then he would have to put his petty jealousies aside to do what he knew Maddie really wanted.
"Esteban?" He pushed down a giant gulp. "I was w-w-w..." Zack stammered, attempting to spit out the big 'w' word that was difficult for him to say. His mouth formed into a comical circle, stuck on that one letter. "W-w-" he took in a massive breath and then rushed out "wrong!"
Esteban tilted his head, trying not to laugh at his friend's scrunched up face. "What?"
"I was w-wr-wrong. Please don't make me say it again!" Zack said with humourously.
"Wrong about what?"
"You. You and Maddie. I shouldn't have said the things that I did to you. I was only being my usual jealous self."
Esteban's face softened. "Ah, thank you little Zack. I know that it was hard for you to say that. But you were not wrong – you were right. I am wrong for Miss Maddie. She is better off without me."
"You kissed her, didn't you?" Zack asked, bracing himself for the answer that he knew was coming.
"Yes...and now she wants nothing to do with me," was his flat response.
"Look, man, you have to ask yourself – do you really want her?"
"Of course," he blinked, without consideration.
"Then, what are you doing talking to me out here? You should be in there talking to her!"
Esteban scoffed. "Yes, talk to her in front of her date – does not sound like fun to me."
"Are you going to let that stop you? I mean, come on. Trevor seems like an okay guy, I guess. But he's got nothing on you. Of course, I am the best choice, but there's no accounting for some girls' tastes..." he jabbed, but Esteban didn't notice; determination was etched all over him.
"You know what we would do in this situation in my country?" he asked ferociously.
Zack only shook his head, growing a mite uneasy with his friend's serious look.
"We challenge our opposition – and we challenge them good," his face was still wearing a biting characteristic and Zack was almost too nervous to inquire about the specifics. He didn't need to, however, since Esteban carried on. "Oh, yes, my little blond friend – I will challenge him and win Miss Maddie back." His long legs began to carry him decisively to the glass doors.
Zack entered The Tipton with him and asked what the challenge was as they continued their stride back to the dance.
Esteban halted, puffing up in all of his tuxedo clad splendor. He jutted his chin out and firmly set his jaw. "I will challenge him to – " he paused for dramatic effect, raising his eyebrows, "– the LIMBO!"
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