See first chapter for disclaimer.
So I'm not really all that happy with this chapter, but I wanted to show Madison's relationship with Alan and Gerry a little more. But after this chapter, I think I'm going to follow the movie a little and add in some extra stuff like before. I already have ideas about stuff way in the future, I just kind of have fill in the stuff in the middle. Anyway, as always, feedback is greatly appreciated!
"I will," said Sunshine and she gave him a warm smile.
"Thanks," she said, still smiling.
After they had said their goodbyes and Madison had gotten hugs from everyone, they left. They were on the way to her house when Sunshine suddenly turned around heading back towards town.
"Ronnie, what are you doing?" she asked, looking at his smiling face.
"I want some ice cream," he stated as if it were a well-known fact.
Not one to ever turn down ice cream she replied, "Oh, well then, ice cream is great."
When he pulled up he asked, "So what do you want?"
She grinned, "Vanilla with Oreos and hot fudge."
"Yes ma'am," he replied, giving her a mock salute.
He pressed the button and the attendant came out on roller skates.
"What can I get you kids?" she asked.
"A hot fudge sundae, no nuts for me and a vanilla ice cream with Oreos and hot fudge for the lady," he said, pointing at Madison.
"Well aren't you two just the cutest couple ever?" she commented.
Madison was sure her face turned ten shades of red. She looked over at Sunshine and noticed he was blushing too. When they got their ice cream, the sat there eating it in comfortable silence with music playing softly from the car radio.
"So um…" Maddie started, but stopped when she heard Sunshine laugh. "What?" she asked puzzled.
"You have ice cream on you… here, let me get it." He brought his hand up to her face and used his thumb to brush some ice cream off of her bottom lip. Instead of returning his hand to his spoon, he just kept it on her face and started leaning in, when they were mere centimeters apart; the attendant came out.
"You two need anything else?" she asked, interrupting anything they had going on.
"No, we're good thanks," he replied, silently cursing her for interrupting their almost kiss.
Sunshine paid the attendant and when they had finished their ice cream, he drove Madison home. He was too bummed about being interrupted earlier to try anything again, and plus he didn't want her father to come out and catch them for fear of how he might react.
"So…" Madison started, fiddling her hands in her lap.
"So I'll see you at school Monday?" Sunshine supplied.
Madison let out a sigh, "Yeah, I'll see you Monday. Bye Ronnie," she said before getting out of the car and walking to her door.
Sunshine waited to pull away until he saw that she got safely inside her house, he didn't really know why he did it. It was the evening, sure, but it was still early, only after 6:00 or so. When he drove away and finally got to his driveway, he just sat in the car and rested his head against the steering wheel, frustrated.
The next day before church, Madison was getting ready and fussing with her sister over her hair as usual.
"Oh come on Cheryl, let me brush it so that you can wear it down. It looks so pretty when it's down." She pleaded.
"No, it'll hurt, I'll just wear it in pigtails," she replied with her hands placed firmly on her hips.
"Fine, but next Sunday, you have to wear it down, no fussing allowed," Madison finally conceded before going to finish getting ready.
Madison settled on a simple navy blue wrap skirt with a pale blue tank top and cap-sleeve cardigan to go with it. She fixed her hair and applied some light makeup before fixing Cheryl's hair and heading downstairs to make some toast and eggs to ensure that nobody's stomach would growl during service. After they had eaten, Madison, Cheryl, and their father all loaded up into the car and headed to church.
Once they got there, Madison saw that Alan was waiting next to her father's normal parking spot, undoubtedly for her.
She hopped out of the car, "Hey Alan," she grinned.
"Hey Maddie," he bent down and gave one of Cheryl's pigtails a tug, "How's my favorite girl?"
Cheryl grinned, "Good, how are you?"
He picked her up and swung her around in a circle, "Awesome."
"Hey Alan," Madison heard her father say.
"Hey coach."
After their friendly greetings, Alan linked his arm with Madison's and led the way to the chapel.
"So what happened when Sunshine took you home?" he asked, whispering.
"Alan Bosley, you are no better than a girl. We're at church, and the Lord does not approve of gossip," she joked.
"I just want to know, I am your best friend you know," he supplied.
She rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah… he took me for ice cream and nothing happened. Well something almost happened, but nothing actually did happen."
"Oh," he said.
"Yeah, but look, there's Gerry's mother, we should go say hello and thank her for the food from yesterday," she said.
They got up and walked over to the smiling woman. "Hello Mrs. Bertier, how are you?" Madison said politely, giving her a hug.
"Hey Mrs. B," Alan said.
"Why Maddie, you just get more beautiful every day," she said holding her out to look at her.
Madison grinned, "So do you Mrs. Bertier. Thank you so much for the food yesterday, especially for putting my special cheese in, you really didn't have to do that."
"Yeah Mrs. B, we really appreciate it," Alan added.
"Nonsense," Mrs. Bertier said, flicking her hand, "You two are like my children too, and I take care of my children. Now I've got to go find my seat, I'm sure Gerry is around here somewhere."
"Ok Mrs. B, and thanks again," Alan said.
"Will we see you at brunch?" Madison asked.
Mrs. Bertier smiled, "Maddie, I haven't missed a brunch in ages, and I don't plan to start now."
At brunch, Gerry came up to Madison, "So Maddie, how was the ride home with Sunshine, do I need to handle some things?"
Madison sighed, "Gerry, I think we've proven I can handle myself. Besides, there's nothing for you to handle. Now I know why I've never really had a boyfriend--- you scare them all off!"
Gerry gave one of his heart-melting smiles, knowing that seeing it, Madison would not be able to stay mad at him, "Oh now come on Maddie, you know it's only because I love you and want to protect you, you're like the little sister I never had."
She shot him a glare, "I'm only a few months younger than you, you know."
He grinned, "Ok, I get it. I promise to back off a little."
Knowing that's all she would ever get she raised her hands in defeat, "That's all I want."
He wrapped a joking arm around her neck as if he were going to mess up her hair, "Now come on sweet cheeks, let's get to the buffet before all of the good food gets taken."
She looked up at him and stuck out her tongue, "Oh it'll still be there because all of the football player hogs like you are still over here."
He put a hand over his heart, "That cut deep sweet cheeks, real deep."