A/N: I know, AmianNatan4ever, I know- but seriously, I've only got four days to finish this story. I swear I'll update a Very Cahill Reunion TOMORROW. A'ight? :)

Thanks to my five awesome reviewers! *hugs* Hope you enjoy this chapter :D

Disclaimer: I don't own the 39 Clues. :D

Opposites Attract- Chapter 2

Hey. It's Ned again. It's been a month and a half since I wrote, hasn't it? Ted and Sinead came back from Vegas two weeks ago, and Ted went on his first date with Reagan a couple of days later.

I love my brother and all, but he's not really the reason I'm writing today. No, I've got things of my own to report. Yes, it's Madison again.

We had a Cahill reunion four days ago- one of those get-together things Amy and Dan's uncle Fiske organizes occasionally. There was the usual going to Boston, greeting the other Clue-hunters civilly (yeah, we've all learned to be more... normal with our former enemies now), Truth or Dare, seperate activities, and so on. Ted and Reagan, the happy couple, got teased quite a lot during Truth or Dare, but they didn't really mind.

After Truth or Dare, Madison, Dan, and Natalie went off by themselves for a bit. I could only assume they were trying to prank Sinead and Hamilton or Amy and Ian, because I couldn't think of any other reason Natalie would go with those two. And I was right, because I saw Amy and Ian running out of the house, yelling their heads off, and the tip of Madison's pigtail as she and her accomplices disappeared behind the house.

I was chilling with Jonah and Phoenix on the porch, because I didn't want to intrude upon my brother and his girlfriend.

Presently, Madison came up to us, unsmiling, looking kinda serious for a Holt. Dan and Natalie were nowhere in sight. I wondered what was up. She dropped down on a porch chair. "Hey, Ned, Jonah, Phoenix."

"Hi, Madison," we said together. The four of us stayed silent for a while. Jonah had his earphones in and his iPod in his pocket, and Phoenix was doing something on his phone. I was just remembering the day we- Sinead, Ted and I- had broken into the theater in England during the clue hunt, taking the other hunters by surprise.

Presently, I got up. "I need something to drink, I'll be right back."

"'Kay," Jonah and Phoenix chorused.

Madison hopped up. "I'll come with you."

"Sure," I said, puzzled. We walked to the kitchen, and I poured myself some orange juice. "Do you want some?"

"Um, no, I like apple juice better," she said, going to the refrigerator.

I stopped her. "Wait, I'll get you some," I offered chivalrously.

She smiled. "Okay."

I got her her apple juice, and we both walked to the living room, plopping down on the couches. We drank in silence for a while.

Finally, I couldn't hold the question in any longer. "Where's Dan?"

She frowned. "With Natalie, I think."

"Oh." I didn't say any more. I wondered what that brat was doing with that stuck-up British kid when his girlfriend was practically moping for him over here.

Surprisingly, she spoke. "We're almost at the break-up stage."

"What? Why?"

"I don't know... He's been spending a lot of time with Natalie since she and her brother flew here three days ago for the reunion.

I didn't know what to say at first. Then I decided to come straight to the point. "Jealous?" I asked, only half-teasing.

She looked up at me. "Kinda."

"I thought you were just really great friends. That's what you told me when I came to your house that day."

"Yeah, well, I guess I did actually like him. You can't help liking him, even if it's just as a friend. But I think he's going to break up with me, because, well, Natalie..." She trailed off.

"Wait. First off, I don't understand why you're telling me all this."

She bit her lip. "I don't know. I guess Reagan, well, she's just too wrapped up in your brother to really listen to me." She snorted. "Who else am I supposed to talk to? Not Dan, obviously. You- you just seemed okay, like you would understand."

I accepted that. "Um, okay. Now, tell me what you'd say if Dan breaks up with you."

She smiled nervously. "Um... I'd probably just stare at him for a minute, even though I'd know it was going to happen someday. Then I'd ask why."

"Let's say he says something like it's not working out anymore... let's just be friends..." I suggested. Wow. Ned Starling, the relationship advisor.

"I'd say okay, and go away," she said, no doubt in her voice.

"That's good, then..."

"Oh. Well, then, we'll see how it works."

I gave her a thumbs-up. "Don't worry. It'll be alright."

She smiled- genuinely this time. "Thanks, Ned. You helped."

"No problem. Anytime." I winked at her.

We talked loosely about daily life, our siblings' relationship and how we felt about that, Cahill business, and so on. I enjoyed watching her talk, the way she tucked loose strands of hair behind her ear, the way she pursed her lips and thought about something before she said it (unlike the rest of the Holts, who I knew usually did things impulsively),... just in general, her.

Then our cousins burst in upon us in full force, led by none other than Dan and Natalie. "Hey, Ned, Madison! C'mon, we're going to the mall," Natalie said, smiling widely.

"All of us?" Madison asked, her voice cracking. I looked at her and saw that she was staring at Dan, who was watching Natalie talk, grinning.

"Yep. All of us," said Nellie, squeezing into the living room. "Last one to the car is a two-eyed giraffe!"

There was a rush for the door before we comprehended what she'd actually said. "Wait... don't giraffes have two eyes anyway?" said Hamilton.

Nellie glared at him. "Your point?"

Ham looked confused for a moment. "Um, wouldn't it be enough if you said 'a giraffe' instead of 'a two-legged giraffe'?"

Nellie thought for a moment. "Alright. Last one to the car is an orange giraffe!"

Ian slapped his forehead. The rest of us streaked for the van, Madison and her twin in the lead.

That was about the last time we talked at the reunion, which ended pretty quickly. It was just two days, but the Kabras stayed on at the mansion because Ian and Amy needed to work on some branch-cooperation business.

Yesterday, Madison and Reagan came to our house. Reagan went to Ted's room immediately, and Madison stayed to talk to me instead of leaving quickly.

"Hiya, Ned." We were seated at the dining room table again, eating more chips.

"Hey, Madison. You look happy," I observed.

She smiled. "I guess I am... well, not happy, but relieved, at least. Dan broke up with me yesterday." She stared at the floor. "Funny, he said almost exactly the same things you predicted he would say, so I was prepared. It all went pretty much like we'd rehearsed.

I laughed. "Wow, you must've thanked your stars I helped you rehearse," I said teasingly.

She grinned. "Yeah. Thanks, Ned."

"Anytime." I winked. Dèjâ vû moment, I thought.

That's all I've got to report for now. I think maybe- just maybe, I have a chance with her... At least I'm not jealous of Dan anymore. I wonder what's going to happen between Madi and moi... for now, I'm just content to be by her side when she needs me, and interact with her as a friend. But just for now.

Done. :) This is the first time I've actually finished a chapter story, even if it's just two chapters. xD

Paris, do I get extra cred for the double-jealousy?! ;) So first Ned was jealous of Dan, and then Madison was jealous of Natalie. And then they got wrapped up in each other and the jealousy ended. xD

I love you guys :D Peace! ;) I remain,

~Sri