Chapter 9

Maddie hurried home and said hi to her mom and dad. Then, she ran upstairs and went into her room, closing the door behind her. She started to think. Why am I so excited? She asked herself. Shaking her head, she went to the bathroom and pulled a brush through her long dark colored hair. Next, she did her hair really nice, making it wavy with the curling iron.

Just then, Vida came in. Maddie knew her sister would make a big fuss over her doing her hair when she was only having ice cream with a friend, but what could she do? When Vida saw Maddie, she had a suspicious look on her face. "What are you doing?" Maddie's sister asked. Maddie stumbled for an answer. "Oh, you know… just, um, trying something new," she stammered. Vida shrugged and left.

Maddie was confused. Her sister never left without getting the real truth. Wait… what was the real truth. I don't even know what the real truth is, she thought to herself, puzzled. She cleared her thoughts and continued doing her hair. After her hair was done, she went to her closet and picked out her cutest jeans and a pretty dark blue halter top.

She sat down on her bed and thought real hard. "Why am I doing this?" she asked herself quietly. "You don't like him, Maddie. You're just his friend, and you don't feel anything more," she told herself. After convincing herself, she left for the ice cream parlor.

She arrived there and sat down at a table. After five minuets, a lady that looked like she was in her thirties asked Maddie, "You ready to order sweet-heart?" Maddie smiled politely, but shook her head. "Not yet," she said. The lady nodded with a smile. "Waiting for someone?" she asked. Maddie's cheeks flushed red, but she nodded.

(What Nick is Doing)

Nick got ready to leave school when he saw Kuinn walking home. He got on his motorcycle and rode up to her. "Need a ride?" he asked charmingly. She smiled when she saw him and nodded. "Sure," she said. Nick handed her the other helmet and she put it on, and then sat behind him and wrapped her arms around him.

The two drove to Kuinn's house. "You want to come in?" she asked Nick. "My parents aren't home," she added with a sweet smile. Nick thought for a moment and then nodded. "Sure," he said and took of his helmet. Kuinn took his hand and unlocked the front door and they went inside.

"You want something to drink?" she asked, taking off her sweater to reveal a tight white tank top. Nick shook his head. "N-no thanks," he stammered. She shrugged. "Okay," she said, and beckoned for him to follow her. The two walked up stairs and went into Kuinn's room. The walls were blue and she had pictures of her and many other girls and some pictures had a few boys in them. Nick stiffened, but relaxed when Kuinn put her hand on his arm.

Something about the blue walls reminded him of something. He felt like he was forgetting something important, but he ignored it. He turned to Kuinn who was sitting on her bed. "I was wondering if you could help me with my homework," asked Kuinn innocently. Nick smiled. "Sure," he replied, sitting down beside Kuinn.

Nick took of his backpack and Kuinn brought out her home work. They needed to learn how to create a source of electricity, so they were going to have to learn the correct parts of metal and the batteries and all that stuff.

Nick blind folded Kuinn and then she would reach around for something and she would have to name the part. Kuinn picked up something and named it easily. "Good," said Nick. Kuinn reached for something else and gave a puzzled look. "What's this?" she asked. "My cell phone," said Nick, laughing. Kuinn gave him the cell phone and giggled.

(What Maddie is Doing

Maddie looked at the clock that hung on the wall. She had been there for twenty minuets. Nick was supposed to be here already. "Are you sure you don't want to order?" asked the lady from behind the counter with a sympathetic expression. "Um, yeah I'm sure," she said, forcing a nice smile.

She breathed a sigh, worried. Taking out her cell phone, she called Vida. "Hello?" said Vida. "Hey, V. Have you heard from Nick lately? He's not here, and he's supposed to be," she said worriedly. "Hey sis! No, I haven't, but I'm sure he's fine. Don't worry," assured Vida, sounding a bit worried herself.

Maddie saw the lady give her a stare that told Maddie that she felt sorry for her. She avoided the lady's eyes and looked down. Should I call him? She asked herself in her head. She called Nick's phone number, and it rang… and rang… and rang, but no body answered. "Nick, where are you?" she whispered so quietly that no body could hear.

She looked out the window, hoping to see him, but she didn't. "He'll be here," she told herself quietly. For some reason she felt completely unconvinced, but she had hope… hope that wherever he was, he was okay….