Chapter 16
The next day, after training, they all met back at the Rock Porium. Kuinn was there too… and she was flirting with Nick, which wasn't a big surprise. Maddie knew that he really did like her. She was pretty, funny, and she was nice too, well… at least to all the popular kids. She was never nice to Maddie, but she was only mean to Maddie when Nick wasn't around. Maddie just watched the two talk, flirt and smile. She tried to feel happy for Nick, but she just didn't like Kuinn, but to him, she was an angel.
She saw Nick and Kuinn lean in to kiss. When their lips met, she remembered when she herself had kissed Nick. What had she been thinking? Nick had a girlfriend, and besides, she didn't even like Nick, or so she trying to keep convincing herself she didn't, but the truth was, she didn't really know of she felt for Nick as a friend or something more. But she kept convincing herself he was just her friend. She watched Nick and Kuinn kiss, and finally she grabbed some CDs and walked over to them. She stepped in between them, making the break apart. She gave the CDs to Nick. "We have to get back to work," she said seriously. Kuinn put her hands on her hips and gave Nick a sad look. Then she looked and Madison. "It's no wonder why you don't have a boyfriend," said Kuinn. Maddie opened her mouth to object, but she didn't know what to say. She looked at Nick, who was looking uneasily at the floor. Maddie knew he probably didn't want to get involved, for if he did, he'd either lose his girlfriend or his friend. She just shook her head and stalked away.
Vida came up to her. "How can Nick like such a snob?" snapped Vida angrily. Maddie shrugged her shoulders. "Well, can you really blame him? She's…" Maddie stumbled for the right words. "Perfect," she said. "She's beautiful, smart, and what not," said Maddie. Vida shook her head. "I can't believe you're saying this," spat Vida. "You're pretty and smart too," said Vida. "If you ask me, Nick would be better of with someone like you," said Vida. Maddie smiled. But she shook her head. "Look at them, though. They look so content with one another. They belong together," sighed Maddie. Vida looked at Maddie. She was looking at Nick and Kuinn with sadness in her eyes. Nick caught Madison's eyes and she quickly looked away. Vida smiled softly and put a hand on her sister's shoulder for comfort and then after a few moments, she left.
Later that day, still at the Rock Porium, Nick came up to Maddie. "Hey," he said brightly. She smiled. "Hi," she said. "Do you think you could cover for me while I take Kuinn home?" he asked. Maddie's smile disappeared. "We're supposed to be working," she said. "I-I know, but…" he trailed off. "I'm going to take her out tonight," he admitted. She looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Nick, we're supposed to be working tonight, not flirting away," she said with irritation, and pushed past him to go put some CDs away. He followed her. "Are you… jealous?" he asked teasingly. "Jealous? No!" she said angrily. "Why would I be jealous?" she snapped. Nick looked at her. "Maddie, please," he pleaded. She sighed and turned around to face him. She crossed her arms over her chest and forced a smile. "Sure," she said. "But on one condition," she added before he could walk away. He glared at Maddie playfully and she smiled. "You have to cover for me when I need you to," she said. He sighed. "Deal," he said and they shook hands.
Kuinn then came up and kissed Nick on the lips. "Are we going to go, or is Madison here going to not let you," she said, glaring at Madison. "For your information, I said I'd cover for Nick," she snapped. Kuinn smiled. "Good," she said and they left. "God I hate her," Maddie muttered. Neither of them even said thank you, she thought. She shook her head and continued to work.
That night, Maddie walked through the park. Few people were there, but the people who were there, were playing with their dogs. One dog came running up to Maddie. She knelt down and petted he dog. "Hi, there," she said softly, and began stroking the dog's golden colored fur. She could tell the dog was a golden retriever. "Hey, what are you doing here?" asked a familiar voice. Maddie looked up to see Kuinn standing there. "Is this your dog?" she asked Kuinn with a smile. "Yeah," she said. "He's so cute. What's his name?" asked Maddie. "Why are you here?" asked Kuinn. Maddie's smiled vanished. "I was just out for a walk," she said, trying to keep her voice level. "Yeah, right," muttered Kuinn. "Where's Nick?" asked Maddie. "Oh, he's over there waiting for me, so I'd better go. Oh, but before I leave, Nick wanted me to tell you something," she said. Maddie listened to what Kuinn was about to say. "He says that he knows you have a crush on him, and that he doesn't like being around you because you're such a shy know it all and you embarrass him. He says he wants to forget about you… oh, and that you're not important to him, so just stop trying to be friends with him, because you never will," Kuinn said. Kuinn didn't say this in her snobby tone, but in a serious and dark tone.
Maddie felt tears swell inside her eyes. "You want to me to continue?" asked Kuinn. Maddie shook her head. "Well, I'm really sorry about all this, but… it's true," said Kuinn and then shrugged her shoulders with a smile. "So, bye," she said, but just then, Nick came up to them. He saw Maddie crying and he said, "Maddie, what are you doing here? What's wrong?" She just shook her head. "Don't worry, I'm leaving," she said. She turned to walk away, but he grabbed her arm. "Maddie, tell me what's wrong," he said. "I'm fine; just enjoy your night with Kuinn. I-I'm happy for two," she said and walked away. "Maddie, wait!" he called after her, but she kept on walking.
He turned back to Kuinn. "What did you say to her?" he asked. "Nothing," she said. "I just told her the truth," explained Kuinn. "And what is the truth?" asked Nick. "Oh, that she's just an embarrassment and that you're too good for her and that… she just needs to stay away from you. Also, that we think she's too shy and that she's a know it all and that you know she has a crush on you," Kuinn said. Nick froze. Maddie had a crush on him? He shook his head. "Why did you tell her that?" asked Nick angrily. "Because it's the truth," Kuinn said. "No it's not. Maddie's my friend," he said. "Yeah, well you have me, now, so forget about her," she said, taking Nick's hand. He pulled his hand back. "No, I won't forget about her. She's one of my best friends, and I'm not going to let someone hurt her like that. We're over," he said to Kuinn. Kuinn's mouth opened in surprise. "Are you breaking up with me?" she asked. Nick looked down at Kuinn. "Yeah," he said. "That's not fair! No one breaks up with me," she spat angrily. "Sorry, Kuinn. I just did," he said and left her standing there.
Maddie walked back to Rootcore and sat down on the stair steps. No one else was there except Clare and Chip, who were talking in a different room. She was alone. She heard her cell phone ring and she looked to see who it was. It was Nick. She was just about to answer, but then didn't. Chip left and then Clare came out. "Madison, are you okay?" she asked. Maddie nodded. "Yeah, I… um, yes, I'm… good," she stammered. Clare sat down beside Maddie. "Is this about Nick?" she asked. Maddie looked at Clare, surprised. "How did you-" she broke off as Clare said, "Back in the forest, I kind of heard what you were saying right before Vida came out of the bushes," she admitted. Maddie's cheeks turned red. "You did?" she asked. Clare nodded. Maddie moaned inwardly. "So… you kissed Nick?" asked Clare. "Yes," said Maddie. "I only did it because Vida was missing, Xander was hurt, and I was in a feud with Nick… and everything was going wrong, and when he came into the forest, he comforted me and I just… kissed him," she said, a smile spreading across her face. "You like him, don't you?" asked Clare. Maddie thought about everything they had been through together and how they both had reacted to everything that had happened. She nodded. "I do," she said quietly, looking down at her hands.
"But he's in love with Kuinn, and according to her, I'm an embarrassment to him," she told Clare. "And you believe her?" asked Clare. "Come on, Maddie, you're smarted than that," said Clare. "I don't know what to believe anymore," she admitted, breathing a sigh. "And I don't know what to feel either," she said sadly. "Just feel what your heart tells you to feel," said Clare. With that, the sorceress apprentice stood and began to walk away. "Hey, Clare," called Maddie. Clare turned around. "Thanks," said Maddie. Clare smiled and walked away.