Posy ran away from my brother the give Madge a hug.

Madge kneeled down. "Posy, me and your brother…" She looked up at me. There was a twinkle in her eye. A twinkle of hope that was soon destroyed. "We're not dating, sweetheart."

Posy sighed. "But he likes you…"

"Alright, Posy." I say. I pick her up by the waist and flip her upside down.

"Madge." I hear my mother said. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Hazelle."

"It's lovely to meet you."

"What's in the basket?"

"Just some bread. Gale taught me a lot today and I figured I should thank him."

My mother beamed.

"Sweetie, you didn't have to do that."

Madge nodded.

Somehow, we managed dinner without the 'girlfriend' rumor resurfacing. Madge stayed longer than I thought she would. She put Posy to sleep. She helped my mother with the dishes. She started to yawn as her and my mother were drinking tea.

"Wanna go home, Undersee?"

She nods. "Thank you so much for having me over."

"Thank you for the bread."

"Anytime." Madge smiles.

"Goodbye, Gale." She started to open the door. I slammed my hand on it.

"No way in hell am I letting a pretty thing like you walk home alone at night."

She starts to blush and smile at the same time.

"Then walk me home, kind sir."

I laugh. "I'll be home soon, Ma."

"Okay. Goodbye Madge!"

"Goodbye, Hazelle."

We leave my house. It was very cold outside.

"Damn weather." She mutters.

"Did you just cuss?" I say. I acted surprised.

"Yes, yes I did Gale." She smiled.

I took my jacket off and draped it around her shoulders.

"You didn't have to, Gale."

I nod. "I didn't want to hear you complain, Undersee."

Sometime in the long walk from my house to hers, our fingers intertwined with each other. I doubt she noticed. But I did. And I loved the feeling of her hand in mine. And God dammit. I think Undersee is starting to grow on me.

We were on her porch when she finally talked again.

"I had a lovely time, Gale. We should do this again." She smiled. Her nose was red from the cold.

"Yeah, we should. Goodnight, Undersee."

She takes off my jacket and hands it to me.

"Goodnight, Gale."

I turn around to start walking back to my house.

"Gale!" I hear her call.

I turn around. "Hmm?"

She runs off of her porch and hugs me. I stood there, perplexed in what was going on. Finally I wrap my arms around her.

"Thanks." She breathes. I can see the cloud of air as she speaks.

"Anytime, Madge."

She gasped. "You just called me by my first name."

I smile. "So?"

She gets on her tip toes and kisses my cheek.

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes."

I turn to walk away but she grabs my hand.

"Undersee, I really need to go home."

She sighs. "I know." She looked down at the ground.

"And it's freezing out. Go inside before you get sick."

She nods. And I stand outside until I see her open the door.

"I wanted to kiss you." She whispered.

The door closed and I started my way back home.

"And I wanted to kiss you, Undersee."