Chapter 18
Maddie walked home with Vida and helped explain the lesson in History that Vida hadn't paid attention to. "So, how's it been going between you and Nick?" asked Vida. Madison looked at her sister. "Good, why?" she asked. "Oh, I don't know. You two have been spending a lot of time together," said Vida. 'We're just friends. You know that right?" she said to Vida. Vida gave her sister an unbelieving look. "Maddie, I know you like him," she said. Maddie glared at her sister. "I am not in love with Nick…" she trailed off when she saw her sister give her a look of disbelief. "Is it that obvious?" asked Maddie. "So you admit it!" exclaimed Vida. Maddie nodded slowly, her cheeks turning a pinkish reddish color. Vida smiled brightly. "Vida, please don't tell anyone, please…" begged Maddie. "Don't worry, Maddie, your secret is safe with me," said Vida. "Does anyone else know?" asked Vida. "Only Clare," said Madison. "You told Clare of all people… and before your own sister!" said Vida. "I'm sorry, V. I just didn't know what to say after she found out that I…" she trailed off as she almost told Vida her biggest secret.
"She found out you did what?" asked Vida. "Nothing," said Maddie. "I'm not stupid, Madison. What happened?" she asked, both excited and suspicious at the exact same time. "I… um," she stammered. "Come on, sis, you can tell me," encouraged Vida. "I… I kissed him," she said. "You kissed who?" asked Vida. Maddie knew that Vida knew who she was talking about, but she just wanted to hear it again. "I kissed… Nick," she said. Vida grew an excited expression on her face. "You did! When?" she asked. "Three days after you were taken," said Maddie.
Vida smiled. "Did he kiss you back?" asked Vida. Maddie couldn't hide the smile that appeared on her face. She nodded slowly. "He did? That's great!" exclaimed Vida. Maddie winced. "Wait, if he kissed you back, then why aren't you two together?" asked Vida. "He was still with Kuinn and he still liked her, and I think he still likes her now," she said. Vida sighed. "Sis, why don't you just ask him to go out with you or something?" suggested Vida. "You're giving the wrong advice to the wrong person. You know how shy I am," she said. "Well, how about I help?" offered Vida. "No, Vida! I don't want you to do anything. We're just friends, and I think we're better off as friends," she said to her sister. Vida looked disappointed. "Alright, fine," said Vida.
Maddie walked up to Nick who was working on his motorcycle by the tree by the Rock Porium the next day. "Hey, Nick," she said with a friendly smile. He smiled and said, "Hey, Maddie. What's up?" Maddie shrugged her shoulders, but Nick knew that something was going on with her. "What's wrong?" he asked, standing up. She shook her head, but didn't say anything. "Maddie, come on, something's wrong. You can tell me," he said. She looked at him with her shy and pretty brown eyes. "Well… I-I, um," she stammered. "I don't know what's wrong, actually. I just… well, I've been having these mixed emotions and I just haven't been feeling myself lately," she admitted, looking away. Nick wondered what her mixed emotions were. There was a long pause. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything," she said, but then Nick said, "No, it's okay, really. It feels good to know a friend can come to you when they need you," he said. She smiled sweetly, her cheeks turning slightly pink. She looked down, trying to not let Nick see that she was blushing, but Nick saw it. In her mind, Madison thought, I wish I could tell him how I feel.
"What are you having mixed emotions about?" he asked. She was afraid he'd ask her that. She hesitated, but then spoke. "I just don't know what to feel anymore. And I also don't know if what I feel is real," she said. "Are you saying that you… like someone?" he asked her, looking hesitant. She became silent. "I don't know," she finally said, not looking at him. She then looked at him with eyes that showed him that she didn't know what was going on and that she was scared and sad. He stepped forward and put his hand on her shoulder. She gently wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. He hugged her back and he felt her relax in his arms. It felt good… to hold Madison. Wait a second, stop thinking like that. Maddie's just a friend, he thought to himself.
Madison jerked back suddenly. Nick was startled. She had pulled back so quickly and roughly. "What's wrong?" he asked her. "I'm sorry, Nick… I got to go," she said and turned around and ran away. Nick wondered what had gotten into her. He thought about going after her, but he decided to stay put. She obviously needed to be alone for now. For the rest of day, he couldn't stop thinking about Madison. What if she was in trouble? What if she needed someone to comfort her? She probably had Vida there with her, though. He tried to feel better after he thought about Madison being with Vida, but he still felt uneasy.