Disclaimer: Power Rangers does not belong to me.
Chapter Four: Gift Givers
Madison at Rock Porium found herself constantly checking her watch every five seconds. Chip, Nick and Vida were supposed to have been back over a half hour ago to relieve her and Xander of their shifts so the pair could go get lunch. Tapping her foot anxiously, Madison felt her stomach churning not just from hunger, but from nerves as well.
For when Nick last left the store, Madison had made a promise to herself that when he came from break, she WOULD get up the courage somehow to ask him to the Spring Fling Carnival. Madison had come to figure that if she spent all her days fighting the world's worst evils, she should at least be able to conquer her own self-consciousness.
Picking up a bright, babbly voice and a familiar carrot-top coif, Madison smiled upon seeing Chip step back into the store. At least if he couldn't at this moment go get Nick, at least she could go get lunch. The corners of Madison's mouth titled downward though when she saw Chip was with Leelee.
"Leelee my love," spouted Chip dreamily. "I'd give you my heart, my soul, my body, my right rib, my left eyeball. Oh and a lock of my hair!" he added, plucking a strand of his red hair and waving it in front of her face.
"That's nice," yawned Leelee with boredom. "But do you have anything really meaningful to give me?"
"I forgot!" exclaimed Chip, smacking his forehead. "I bought you this gift!"
"Boy, Chip's really got it bad for Leelee," noticed Xander, coming over to Madison. "He's acting even-more girl crazy than I normally do."
"And that's saying something," remarked Madison dryly. "But," she began confused. "Since when has Chip ever been interested in going out with Leelee?"
Seeing Xander shrug nonchalantly, Madison turned to watch where Leelee was happily tearing open Chip's gift with a greedy grin on her face. Leelee's eyebrows furrowed though when she pulled out a skimpy, star-spangled spandex suit. Immediately recognizing the particular female, superhero costume after years of putting up with the comic-obsessed Chip, Xander and Madison burst into laughter as their redhead friend puffed out his chest with pride at the present he'd picked.
"Uhhh, what is THIS?" asked Leelee slowly as held up the outfit like a dirty tissue.
"It's a Wonder Woman suit!" said Chip excitedly. "Complete with her silver-star crown and invisible lasso. Well, not a real invisible lasso. I mean her lasso in the comic really is invisible, but it's not invisible in the comic costume…"
"Ok, ok," whined Leelee, cutting him off. "But why would you EVER get me this ridiculous costume?"
"Because Wonder Woman is the sexiest superhero ever," gushed Chip as he reached for Leelee's hand. "And I thought her outfit would look incredible on the sexiest woman in the world."
"Wow, that is the cheesiest line I've ever heard," whispered Xander to Madison as he tried to hold back his laughter.
"I've heard you use worse though," chuckled Madison, which proceeded in response from Xander a reproachful yet playful punch.
Madison watched with amusement as Chip continued to follow Leelee's every move around the store, spouting her praises as if they were delicate rose petals to cushion her step. However surprised she was by Chip's sudden attentions to Leelee, Madison was happy that her friend had finally found a special crush. Although she did feel Chip's over-the-top adulations and ridiculous gifts were a little excessive. Madison knew she would never want to see Nick act that way.
Then almost as if on cue, Madison saw Nick return to the store and immediately walk over to her. Bending down behind the counter, Nick busied himself with searching for something on the lower shelves. Madison took a deep breath, figuring it was now or never.
"Hey Nick," began Madison in shaky voice. "I was wondering if I could talk you about Nick about Spring Fling Carnival."
Not getting a response from Nick, Madison shifted uneasily. After a moment, she decided she would push ahead. Who knew when she would get up the confidence to ask him again? Besides, Madison figured it might make it easier for her to ask Nick out if he wasn't looking directly at her with his sexy, chocolate eyes.
"So like I was telling you earlier, I really need a date this year for the carnival 'cause on the school social committee," rushed Madison nervously. "And I mean since you'd be going and I'd be going too, I was thinking maybe we could go together."
"Why?" groaned Nick as he continued to rummage even further into the shelves.
"Well," continued Madison, feeling a little discouraged. "Chip throws up on roller coasters and Xander would just be doing his cheesy, macho-man act all night. Plus, I really like hanging out with you. We seem to always have a good time. You definitely make me laugh and have always been there for me. I guess that's why…"
Maddie took a deep breath and shut her eyes tightly as she prepared herself to say it.
"That's why I like you!" Madison blurted out, squeezing her eyelids tightly. "So will you be my date for the carnival?"
"NO, no no!" shouted Nick as he swiped stuff off the lower shelves in frustration and hurried away from the counter area where she was.
Madison's eyes sprung open as tear drops fluttered off her eyelids. As devastated as she was that Nick had turned her down, it was the frigid way he'd rejected her that had really made her heart go cold. Madison had always known Nick to be kind and patience with his friends, even when they did annoy him at points, which made his current, cruel behavior toward her even more of a shock.
Trying to hold back her tears, Madison watched Nick hurry over to the DJ table and continue searching frantically. She observed Nick give a shout of excitement and pump his fist when he finally found what he was looking for. Madison's jaw dropped when she saw Nick produce a shiny, new biker helmet, but her astonishment immediately doubled as Nick walked over and gave the gift to Leelee.
"I was hoping I might have the honor of taking you for a ride on my motorcycle sometime," Nick asked Leelee gallantly as he presented her with the expensive helmet.
"What took you so long to ask?" said Leelee eagerly, grabbing the helmet. "Let's go!"
Madison felt like she was going to throw up. Nick had earlier asked her on his bike with him. Granted, it was only to get to Rootcore since they both got out of work at the same time. Still, Madison was definitely beginning to realize for the first time who Nick clearly desired as his main squeeze.
"Wait, Leelee!" Chip meanwhile was wailing. "My uncle owns a limo company! We could go out in his 24-seat, white, hummer limousine, complete with TVs, a DJ booth, full bar and two aquariums!"
"Hmmm, tough choices here," mused Leelee gleefully. "Whoever I choose, I'm going to need a new outfit."
"Oh Leelee, you have the best fashion sense in the world," gushed Chip. "I love your polyester vests and nylon, snake-skin boots!"
"It doesn't matter what you wear, Leelee, because you will always look beautiful!" boasted Nick as he and Chip chased after the blonde as she skipped brightly out of the store.
Madison meanwhile settled into a stormy yet sad state of mind, crossing her arms gloomily as she saw the love triangle trio leave the store. Her heart felt heavy that all her long-held hopes of being with Nick were now left to be drowned in the tears of her broken heart. As she wiped her moist eyes, Madison felt someone tap her arm briefly and looked up to see Xander flying out of the store as well.
"Wh-wh-where are you going?" sniffled Madison, hurt that he was also going to leave her.
"Didn't you think anything was strange about the way Nick and Chip were acting?" Xander spun around to ask her.
But the only word Madison heard in Xander's sentence was the name that started with 'N.'
"Nick," she whispered sadly. "He said no. He actually said no, Xander."
Xander had a hunch what Madison might have been referring to based on their conversation earlier that day, but right now he didn't have time to listen to his friend's sob stories. He had his own concerns on his mind.
"I've gotta go," begged Xander. "I'll be right back."
"Can't I leave?" begged Madison. "I really don't want to be here if Nick, I mean, if they both come back with Leelee."
"But Maddie," coaxed Xander. "Nobody is more responsible than you. If anyone can manage the store alone, it's you. Hang tight now, and I'll be back in a few."
Xander skirted out the door before Madison had a chance to protest. He realized that Madison probably needed a shoulder to cry on right now, but Xander wasn't in the mood to be that guy. He was on a mission to find out why his title as the biggest romancer in Briarwood was suddenly being challenged by his two best friends.
Plus something about the boys' behavior did not feel right to Xander, and the curiosity was killing him. Nick's most cherished possession was his motorcycle, which he had never previously let Leelee near. And Xander knew that Chip would rather take a cardboard cutout of Storm from "X-Men" to the carnival than ever go out on a date with Leelee.
Yes, Xander knew something was up with his friends. And right now, there was only one person in the world he wanted to talk to about it. Reaching for his MagiPhone, Xander quickly dialed a familiar number.
"Hello Vida?" Xander asked.
Next Chapter Title: Marriage to Phineas
A/N: While Madison and Nick are obviously the main couple focus of this story, there obviously so far have been hints of Vida/Xander. However, I'm beginning to realize that there is a huge Chida fan base out there as well.SO just a tiny little plug, but for those of you who prefer Vida/Chip pairings, I just wrote a one-shot called "Being With You." Check it out!