.N: It has been so long since I last updated and im so sorry about that! I've been very busy and I didn't have time to update. i'm really sorry for making you guys wait but I don't think my updates in the future will be frequent.

Madison's POV

I was walking out of school, thankful to be going home, when I felt someone's presence beside me. Turning me head, I saw Alex a few feet away. His eyes were clouded with thought; he barely even looked in my direction, let alone spoke.

I didn't understand him at all.

But we're decided to be friends, so I decided to try.

"Hey," I greeted.

" Oh – hi…" he mumbled.

He pulled his phone from his pocket, and suddenly I was pissed off.

"What is up with you today?" I stopped and turned to stand in front of him, blocking him from moving."I don't know if you remember, but you wanted to be friends first, and you were very persistent about that." My voice had already risen an octave, but I couldn't stop the words from flooding out. "And when I give you a chance, you suddenly start ignoring me!"

By now there was a crowd staring at us with interest. I heard snatches of cruel whispers as Alex turned red.

New boy.

Lonely loser.

"Madison, can we please talk somewhere else?" His eyes looked hopeful and a little desperate. I didn't want to give in, but how could I resist those eyes?

I chewed my lip and nodded. "Okay, fine. Where do you plan on going?"

"Just follow me," he said, and I did just that.

Alex's POV

I don't know what happened today. Why I couldn't talk to her. I just… I just couldn't, and then after school she exploded.

I haven't felt this guilty in a long time. I glance at her quickly while we walk, but she's looking down, deep in thought, as we arrive at the Rainforest Café.

"We're here," I announce.

She looks and nods once in approval before leading us in. The waiter seats us at an empty table near the back, and she sits down a little shyly even after her earlier outburst. We both stare firmly at our menus until the waiter takes them away with our orders, and we have nothing to look at but each other.

The awkward silence returns. I know I have to be the one to break it.

"Look," I begin. "I know you're mad. But I… I'm really sorry. I don't even know what happened today. I just felt… I didn't mean to ignore you. I swear."

I trail off, not knowing what else to say.

"I accept your apology, then, since you seem sincere about it. But I do want to hear why you didn't want to talk to me."

I look at her and then stare into my lap, fidgeting with my hands. By the time waiter comes back with our orders, she senses that I'm not going to reply.

"Fine. I won't force you to tell me."

She looks disappointed, but I smile, glad she ended the awkward conversation. We finish the rest of our food, get our things, and I leave the money on the table.

"Where to?" she asks when we exit the café.

I smile. An idea is forming in my mind.

"It's a secret."

By the time we reach the boardwalk, it's getting dark. The sun hasn't quite set yet, but that was why I brought her here in the first was quite. A few days ago, Wolf and Eagle had taken me around the city and this was one of the places we'd stumbled across. About three metres away, a man is standing at a stall.

"Come on!" I grab her hand and run towards it. When we reach it, we're laughing.

"You make me run for cotton candy? You're such a kid!"

I grin sheepishly but buy two bags of cotton candy anyway, and hand one to her.

"Thanks," she says, becoming shy again.

"Now for the best part."

I wink, take her hand and start walking. We laugh and eat our cotton candy as we go, and when I point out the pink remnants on her cheeks they instantly flame up while she unsuccessfully tries to wipe it off. She looks so embarrassed that I reach over.

"Here," I say, as I wipe her chin with my sleeve (I know, I know; stupid move).

She blushes and moves away an inch, turning to face the rippling water.

"It's beautiful," she breathes.

I just smile.

Neither of us says anything as we watch the sun set. But I can feel her beside me. The urge itches to put my arm around her; I don't know how long we sit here in the dark, but I'm sad when she gets up.

"I think we should go now," she said softly, and she sounds sad too.

When we reach the bus stop, I realized I don't know one crucial piece of information.

"Ummm, Madison?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't know where you live…"

I suddenly feel stupid.

She laughs.

"Don't worry. I know my way home from here."

"I can't just… I can't just, you know, leave you here."

"You're not. I'm leaving you." She smiles. "Besides, I like to be all anonymous."

"Oh…"

The bus arrived before I could think of a good response. She got up, swinging her bag onto her hip.

"Well that's my bus. Um… thank you, Alex. You know. For today. I had a lot of fun."

"Oh…"

I feel blood rush to my face. Am I supposed to kiss her now?

I think I am.

Oh, God.

"Have a… a good night then. I'll see you tomorrow."

This is definitely the part in movies when the guy kisses the girl. But instead, she wraps her arms around me, gives me a quick hug and then literally runs to the bus. From inside, she waves, and I replay that wave and that hug in my head all the way home.

A lyric fades up from the back of my memory. Enchanted by Taylor Swift.

"This night is sparkling, don't you let it go. I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home. I'll spend forever wondering if you knew.

This night is flawless, don't you let it go. I'm wonder-struck, dancing around all alone. I'll spend forever wondering if you knew. I was enchanted to meet you…"

I was blushing, yes. In the dark, alone, I was blushing about a girl.

I feel like… I don't even know how to explain it, but I have never felt this way before.

Madison had hugged me!

Correction: I was blushing and smiling stupidly, in the dark, alone.

A.N: I think I messed up the ending a bit but umm guys can relate to girly songs too right? I think I made Alex too much of a softy but it's a fanfic so tell me what you think!