Hearts At The Fountain (Chapter 3)

"Ooh, Miss Sunstreet!" Skye called as she ran backwards after walking pass the teacher in the clear hallway.
"Oh, hello, Miss Carter," Sunstreet greeted. "How are you?"
"I'm doing well," Skye answered, stopping. "Just came out of the bathroom." She held up her orange bathroom pass. "Here's my pass."
"Well, good. Are you ready to play piano for the play in a couple of days."
"Yep. Super excited."
"Good, good."
"I just have a recommendation."
"Recommendation?"
"Just one. Just one."
"Okay. What do you suggest?"
"Okay, how can I put this together? Okay, I love playing the piano. The main reason for that is that I'm good at it."
"You are."
"I know. And there are ways you can play music on the piano. Other than Mozart and Beethoven."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Oh, how can I put this together?"
"Don't put it together. Just spit it out."
"I think we should choose some rock songs for the Hearts play."
"And what do you mean by 'rock'?"
"You know, rock. Alternative rock. Punk rock. Pop rock. Piano rock. Which is perfect because I'm playing the piano."
"And you're only going to play the songs on the piano?"
"Well, I also wanted to suggest some other instrumentation for the play. I have a friend who can shred on the guitar. And by 'shred', I mean 'play well'."
"Why are you suggesting so many things?"
"Why are you asking so many questions?"
"'Hearts at the Fountain' is about two young persons who fall head over heels in love with each other and it is all because of a famous fountain."
"Please, what is a fountain going to do?"
"Anything can make people fall in love."
"I think it's the people who make themselves fall in love."
"Miss Carter, I am not going to include rock music to our play. Show tunes are just fine."
"Uh, show tunes, show tunes, show tunes. Well, can you at least think about?"
"No."
"Why?" Skye uttered in a whiny voice.
"We're not going to deface 'Hearts at the Fountain' with your rock n' roll."
"Not rock n' roll. Rock! Like U2, Queen, Bon Jovi--"
"Bon Jovi?"
"Yes."
"No."
"Come on. Rock can really liven up the play."
"The play doesn't need 'liven up'. It is fine the way it is."
"It may be fine but it can be great!"
"Skye, for the last time, no."
"But Bon Jovi is awesome."
"No." Sunstreet started to walk away.
Skye walked quickly after her. "Can you say any word other than 'no'?"
"No."
"Was that your first word as a kid? No?"

Hearts At The Fountain (Chapter 2)

The week after, Andrea found herself walking idly backstage in the auditorium's stage with a basket of chocolate chip muffins wrapped in a baby blue bow. She rushed past the traveling students looking for her friend, Nicky, until someone surprised her by touching both her shoulders.
"Looking for me?" asked Nicky, smiling.
Andrea turned around as soon as she heard him. "Hey, Nicky-Nicky!"
Nicky bent over and kissed Andrea on the cheek. "These muffins for me?" he pointed to the basket.
"Oh, yeah. I wanted to congratulate you on getting the part in the Hearts play. So I bought a package of chocolate chip muffins and put them in this basket. I wrapped the bow by myself."
She handed Nicky the basket.
"Oh, thank you, Andy!" he said. "You are out of this world."
"Well, I'm thoughtful, so..."
"Hey, can you stick around? We're all going over our lines."
"Sure. I don't have anything better to do. Well, I have homework, but it's not like I got to put out a fire."
"Andrea!" shouted a girl.
Andrea looked beside herself, seeing Madeline running towards her.
"Hey, girl!" Andrea greeted.
Madeline jumped in front of Andrea and grabbed her arms. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see me my caramelo."
"It's great that you're here. I have good news."
"Spill it."
"I got the lead role!"
The girls jumped up and down while squealing.
Then Andrea stopped. "Wait, I thought Nicky got the lead role."
"He did. As Lee Hamilton."
"And Madeline got the role of Ashley Dawson," Nicky added.
"The play revolves around a couple."
"Oh, yeah, Skye told us that," said Andrea. "So you two--"
"We play the couple," Nicky responded.
"And we get ninety-five percent of the attention," said Madeline.
"Oh, okay," Andrea said. "So what do you two got to do in the play? Hold hands? Sing songs?"
"We can't sing songs," said Nicky, "because 'Hearts at the Fountain' is not a musical. But I think Madeline and I do have to hold hands. And I think... kiss a little."
Andrea slowly lost her smile and stared at Nicky. "Kiss?"
"A little," he added.
"So you guys... have to kiss?" Andrea said, holding her stare.
"Are you mad?" asked Madeline.
Andrea scoffed while starting to finally blink. "No, I'm not mad. It's a play. You guys are playing. It's all pretend. Make-believe."
Madeline giggled. "I thought you would get mad. Just know that nothing will change. It is only a play."
"Yes, a play," Andrea nodded. "I know. I know nothing will change."
"And Andy," Nicky started, "if you do start to feel a bit anger, just know that when I'm kissing Madeline, I'll be thinking of you."
Andy smiled her little-kid-smile.
"Aw, that's sweet," mumbled Madeline. "Come on, Nicky. Let's rehearse."
She pulled Nicky away onto the center of the stage as Nicky looked back at Andrea and smiled sweetly at her. Andrea sighed and lost her smile.
"Andrea!" another girl called.
Andrea's eyes followed the familiar voice.
"Can you come over here?" Skye waved from the grand piano.
Andrea walked onto the stage and down the steps. She walked quickly over to Skye and rested her hands on top of the piano.
"Can you help me rehearse?" asked Skye. "I got a lot of songs to do."
"What kind of songs do you have to do?" Andrea asked.
"Show tunes. Classical music. A bunch of songs that make me want to die. But, hey, if I play the piano to the school's most famous play, I'll get my picture in the yearbook."
"You care about that?"
"No. But I'm trying to convince Miss Sunstreet, the music director, to add more rock music to the programs. You know, to get teens listening."
"What about some Latin music?"
"It's not a Latin play. But I do know some songs by Enrique Iglesias and Shakira. Ooh! And Ricky Martin."
"Ricky Martin!"
"Yeah! Oh, you know the words to 'Jolene'?"
"Girl, I live for those words."
"Let's practice with that song together, shall we?"
"Sure, Skye."
Skye cracked her knuckles and position her hands onto the piano keys. She started to play the rhythm of the song "Jolene" by Dolly Parton; her fingers dancing lightly on the white and black keys.
Then the girls started singing on-key in their various yet sweet voices:
Jolene, Jolene
Jolene, Jolene
I'm begging of you, please, don't take my man
Jolene, Jolene
Jolene, Jolene
Please don't take him just because you can
Skye continued to sing the song as Andrea stopped singing to look back at the stage. She frowned deeply as she stared coldly at Madeline and Nicky, who were laughing together while they went over the lines from their scripts.  

Hearts At The Fountain (Chapter 1)

"Oh, you're usually early," Madeline said to Andrea, who was just entering the cafeteria.
"You're going to give me a tardy slip?" she joked.
"Why are you late anyway?" Madeline asked.
"I was meeting up with my new 'boy-toy'," Andrea answered, sitting down in her usual spot at the lunch table, which is next to Skye in front of  Lizzie, Madeline, and Debra.
"Boy-toy?" Lizzie repeated.
"You never told us you had a boy," said Debra.
"Yes, I did," Andrea responded. "I said, 'Mamá consiguió un poco de caramelo!'."
"We can't understand that," said Skye.
"I can," Madeline admitted. "She said, 'Mama got some candy!'"
"How do you know?" asked Skye.
"My cousin Felicia had a boyfriend who was Mexican. He told great taco jokes."
"Okay, since you guys don't know about my candy," Andrea started, "I believe it's not too late to talk about him. His name is Nicky, he's six foot one, he has hair made from sunshine, and eyes like Valentine's Day bonbons. Hence the term, 'caramelo'."
"Shouldn't 'caramelo' mean caramel?" asked Skye.
"Don't tell me how to speak Spanish!"
"Maybe they're caramel bonbons," Lizzie added.
"Exactly," Andrea nodded. "Either way, he is so dreamy. I cannot take my eyes off of him."
"Talking about me again?" asked a tall, handsome, brunet boy, standing behind Lizzie and Madeline.
"Nicky-Nicky!" Andrea squealed.
She bounced off the bench and walked quickly over to her friend. She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed him, rocking side to side.
"His eyes don't look like caramel," muttered Debra.
"Girls, this is my friend, Nicky," Andrea introduced him, releasing from the hug.
"Hey, Nicky," all of the girls greeted.
"Hello, Andy's friends," Nicky greeted back.
"What are you doing here?" asked Andrea.
"I have lunch this period," he answered.
"The things I learn about you."
"You can sit with me if you want."
"No, it's okay. I have to talk to my girls about a bunch of stuff."
"Oh, well, that's fine. I got to talk to my bros about a bunch of stuff, too."
Andrea giggled as if she was light-headed.
"Hey, I've seen you before," said Madeline. "You have Miss Hall for second period."
"I sure do," Nicky said.
"I love Miss Hall. She's so wacky."
"And uproarious."
"Yeah!"
"Okay, enough talking," Andrea chuckled. "So what's new, Nicky?"
"Well, after school, I'm going to be auditioning for the play, 'Hearts at the Fountain'."
"Oh, I heard about that play," Debra said. "What is it about?"
"It's about a boy and a girl," Skye started, "who first meet at a public fountain and fall in love. They meet up every day by the fountain and share moments. Nearing to the end, construction workers try to tear down the fountain and the couple try to stop them."
"How do you know?" asked Lizzie.
"I'm playing the piano for the play," Skye answered. "You know, to add mood."
"That's great, Skye," commented Madeline. "You're really good at piano. And speaking of this play, I might audition myself."
"Oh, you act?" asked Nicky.
"A little here and there," she cracked her knuckles.
"I don't know what that means."
"It means I do sometimes. I've been in plays outside of school. I want to be an actress when I'm an adult."
"Oh, well, good luck auditioning."
"Thank you."
"Okay, enough talking," chuckled Andrea.
"You said that earlier," said Madeline.
"Well, I'm saying it again." She turned to Nicky. "Call me later?"
"I'll call you sooner," Nicky smirked.
He pecked her on the cheek, making Andrea coo and giggle like a child. She sat back down on her seat as he walked away.
"'Mama got some candy', indeed," said Debra.

The Breadwinners Cafe

Two Heads Are Better Than One (Chapter 5)

"So how did Thomas respond to your confrontation?" asked Andrea, tearing the crust from her slice of pepperoni pizza that she bought in the cafeteria.
"He was so nervous," responded Madeline.
"But he wasn't very apologetic," Lizzie added.
"Yeah, he was still being chill at the same time."
"He probably thought he was going to 'get lucky'," said Skye.
"Well, he was wrong," said Madeline.
"So what happened after he was caught?" Andrea asked.
"We taught him a lesson," Madeline answered.
"And as in, 'we taught him a lesson', we mean, 'we beat him black and blue.'"
Debra and Skye giggled.
"Ooh, did he cry?" Andrea asked.
"Girl, he cried so much," said Madeline, "his boogers had boogers."
"Well, that's what he gets for dating two girls at the same time," Debra said.
"Do you think he learned his lesson?" asked Skye.
"He should," answered Madeline. "Two-timing isn't funny."
"Yeah," Lizzie said. "If he does that to another girl, I wouldn't be more happy but to beat him up again."
"Good thing he didn't tell us where he lived," Madeline mentioned.
Lizzie giggled.
"I just can't imagine getting cheated on," said Andrea.
"I can," Lizzie responded. "You'd tear your guy up like a bloodhound."
"That's true," Andrea grinned.
"But I wouldn't consider it cheating," said Madeline. "We were just dating him. We weren't in a relationship."
"But you described him like you were in a relationship with him," Andrea noted.
"Either way, I don't think what he did was officially cheating. But it was still bad."
"Yeah, what he did was still bad," Lizzie agreed.
"Well, I think cheating is cheating," said Debra. "Whether or not two is in a relationship."
"So you're saying that Dan Helman, the cute guy from the softball team, is cheating on me with his long-time girlfriend, Hannah Hope?" Andrea joked.
All of the girls laughed.
"That's not what I meant, but sure," Debra chuckled.
"It is good that you girls stuck together," Skye said. "It is weird to learn that you're dating a guy with some 'excess'."
"Well, as long as it's over," Madeline shrugged. She then patted on Lizzie's shoulder. "Sorry that you were excess, Dolly."
Lizzie squinted her eyes at Madeline. "Excess? I found him first. You were the excess."
"No, you were the excess because I found him after you, leaving you behind."
"Finding someone second is not as good as finding someone first. I found him first, making you a certain type of a 'third wheel', making you excess."
"No, since you found him first and I found him second, you were stuck in the past. That being said, you were the excess, being left behind."
"Girls, does it really matter?" questioned Andrea. "He probably dated other girls before and after you two anyway."
Madeline paused. "Yeah, you're probably right. I'm sorry, you're not excess, Lizzie. You're a portion."
"I don't know what that means," said Lizzie, "but thanks. Right back at you."
"You girls are great to talk you," Debra smiled.
"Thanks, Debra," Madeline giggled. "Can you guys promise to not spread the whole beat-up situation with Thomas to other people? I don't want to get suspended."

Two Heads Are Better Than One (Chapter 4)

A brunet, teenage boy approached the door of a big, pearly-white house known as Madeline's house. Once he was inches away from the door, he combed his hair with his fingers and flipped it around. Afterwards, he pulled a tiny bottle from one of the front pockets of his jeans and spritz it into his mouth. He cleared his throat and put the bottle back into his pocket. After muttering to himself about how charismatic he was, he rung the doorbell. He fixed his army-looking jacket and cleared his throat once more. Seconds later, Madeline opened the door.
"Hey, Madeline," the boy said in a rich voice.
"Hey, Thomas," Madeline greeted back.
Thomas smiled but soon lost that smile when Lizzie walked out from behind Madeline and stood beside her.
"Hey, Thomas," Lizzie greeted with confidence.
Thomas' eyes widened. "Lizzie! I mean-- I don't-- Uh-- What is going on?"
"Oh, Thomas," Madeline chuckled quickly, "don't play dumb."
"Even though what you have done was quite dumb," Lizzie commented.
Thomas stuttered his nervous moans.
"Come on, Thomas, say something," said Madeline.
"Yeah, tell us what you're thinking," Lizzie added.
Thomas froze. "I'm sorry?" he could only say.
"Oh, he's sorry," chuckled Lizzie.
"That is so cute that he's sorry," Madeline said, sarcastically. "But tell us, Tom. Why are you sorry?"
Thomas stared at Madeline. Then he switched his eyes to Lizzie. Then back to Madeline.
"Look, girls, you know how boys are," he said, nervously. "I hope we can still be friends."
"Friends," scoffed Madeline. "He wants to be friends."
"Friends?" Lizzie added whim to her voice. "He wants to be friends, he said?"
"Of course, we can still be friends, Tom. If pigs grew butterfly wings and flew off to fairyland."
"Ooh, that would look so pretty," whispered Lizzie.
Madeline scrunched her eyebrows, but then started to relax her face.
"What you did, Tom, was very uncalled for," she continued. "Plus, it was rude and humiliating. You got to understand that."
"Okay," Thomas answered, with less feeling.
Madeline stared at him, thinking how she can't believe him.
"Okay?" she inquired.
Thomas nodded.
"Okay," she said.
"Okay," Lizzie repeated.
"Okay," Thomas hesitated.
"Okay," the girls said in the same breath.
Thomas stared at the girls, not knowing what to do next. "So... what are you going to do?" he spilled.
"Well, we can be mature and let you go with no harm done," said Madeline. "Or we can be immature and beat you until you cry blood."
Thomas widened his eyes. "And your choice is--?" he asked, quietly.
Madeline inhaled through her teeth. "Well, I'm not a very mature person. And neither is Lizzie."
Thomas gulped.
"Let's break his butt!" yelled Lizzie.
The girls grabbed Thomas by his arms and shirt and pulled him into the house. He let out a girl-like shriek before the girls closed the door to privately do their worst to him.

Two Heads Are Better Than One (Chapter 3)

Andrea slowly drove her jeep into the parking space next to a public café called the Breadwinners.
"I love a sunny day," she said to Madeline, sitting in the passenger seat.
"It's always sunny," Madeline commented.
Andrea pushed her car's lever into "Park" and unlocked the doors with her keys as she took them out of the ignition. The girls opened their doors together and hopped out of the car, closing the doors behind them.
Madeline walked toward the café, spotting the other girls sitting in the same table by the café.
"Hey, Maddie," Debra waved.
The other girls greeted Andrea and Madeline as soon as they saw them. They both sat down between Lizzie and Skye, putting down their tote bags on the table.
"Geez, what's in your purse?" asked Skye to Madeline. "Your dog?"
"No," Madeline answered. "Crystal doesn't like that. She threw up once. It was probably because of the heat."
Andrea looked at Lizzie, giving her a look of "Have something to say?" Lizzie was confused at first but then started to read it. She sighed, feeling pressured.
"Girls, I have an announcement," she declared.
All of the girls paid their attention to Lizzie.
She continued: "I should have told you less than a week ago but... I met a guy."
"You met a guy, too?" Skye asked.
Lizzie nodded.
"Wow, that's interesting," Madeline commented.
"Oh, my goodness," Debra smiled. "What's his name?"
"Since Madeline won't tell us her man's name," Andrea added.
Madeline rolled her eyes, but not in an angry way.
"His name is Thomas," Lizzie grinned. "But I don't know his last name."
"That's okay," said Andrea. "That's not important."
"Where did you meet him?" asked Debra.
"At a bakery. I was buying a cake for my grandmother and he just went up to me."
"Aw, it sounds romantic already," Debra said.
Madeline placed her elbow on the table and rested her cheek in her hand. "Guys, can I tell you all something just to discuss?" she inquired.
"Sure," Skye shrugged.
"My guy's name is Thomas," she spilled.
Lizzie scrunched her forehead to herself.
"Whoa, you guys are both dating Thomas's?" Debra asked. "You guys might be really sisters."
"Tom is such a simple name," Andrea noted. "You couldn't tell us that his name was Tom?"
"Don't get upset, Andrea," said Lizzie. "At least she told. It's just weird that our guys' name is Thomas."
"It's not that weird," said Skye. "Tom is a common name. What does your Tom look like, Lizzie?"
Lizzie paused to think. "Well, my Tom has brown hair, brown eyes and smooth skin."
"Huh, my Tom has the same characteristics," Madeline pointed.
Andrea widened her eyes.
"Well, describe him more," Skye suggested.
"Thomas was Caucasian," Madeline added. "About five foot nine."
"Thomas told me he was five foot nine," Lizzie jumped in.
The girls inhaled through their teeth, not wanting to know what would happen next.
Lizzie continued: "He was Caucasian, also."
"Was his hair full and a bit shaggy?" Madeline asked.
"Yes, like he just got out of bed."
"That's how my Thomas' hair looked like."
"Did he smell Axel body spray?"
"Oh, my God. Yes!"
Lizzie slammed her hand on the table.
"Girls, you don't think that you are both dating the same Thomas, do you?" inquired Debra.
"No, we can't," Madeline shook her head. "It's not possible."
"We are not dating the same Thomas," Lizzie agreed. "He told me I was as special as a rose."
"That's what he said to me!" yelled Madeline.
Lizzie gasped loudly.
"Oh, my God!" Andrea put the palms of her hands on her face. "What are you guys going to do?"
Lizzie and Madeline looked at each other in sadness.
"You can choose who gets him," suggested Skye. "Rock, paper, scissors?"
Andrea glared at Skye. "Skye--"
"I'm kidding. Trying to light up the mood."
"I don't know what I'm going to do," admitted Madeline. "I really liked him but... but I guess it was all a lie."
"Well, whatever you guys do," Debra started, "I bet it will be the right decision."
Lizzie and Madeline both smiled faintly to themselves.
"You're so calm all the time," Andrea commented. "I can't do that."
The girls giggled, especially Lizzie and Madeline.  

Two Heads Are Better Than One (Chapter 2)

The next day, in the beginning of the morning, Lizzie put away her sparkly red backpack in her locker. She closed the locker door and sighed dreamily; her face became red. Soon she turned around, hearing her name being called in a Latina accent.
"Hey, Doll," greeted Andrea, who walked up to her in a quick manner.
"Hey, Andy," Lizzie greeted back.
"I just heard that Miss Adams is not here. That means no test today."
"Ooh, good."
"So what's new? Like why are you red?"
"Red?"
"Yeah, your face looks like a tomato. Or an apple. Or a pepper."
Lizzie sighed as she held onto her books tightly. "Okay, if I tell you what I am about to tell you, can you keep it as a secret for a while?"
"Depends on the secret."
"Andrea--"
"I'm sorry. I promise not to tell. But what is it?"
Lizzie looked around to make sure that any of the girls are coming their way. "Remember when Maddie told us that she met a guy?"
"Yeah..."
"Well... I met a guy, too."
"¿Qué dijo? "
"Really, I met a guy."
"So why are you keeping that as a secret?"
"I don't want to draw the attention away from Madeline. She found a good guy and I don't want to seem like I'm fibbing for desperation."
"Oh, come on. If you tell the rest of the girls, they wouldn't care. I mean they would care. I meant that we wouldn't think you were lying. We trust you."
"Good. Then maybe you can tell the girls."
"I was going to tell them anyway."
Lizzie scrunched her eyebrows.
"So who is the lucky guy's name?" Andrea playfully slapped Lizzie's arm.
"His name is Thomas."
"Thomas. Sounds smart."
"He is. He was real corny but he was smart so it's good."
"Where and when did you meet him?"
"At the Samuel bakery on Sunshine street last Saturday. He told me I was as sweet as a cupcake."
"That's cheesy."
"But he was sweet. Like he said I was."
"Aw! So are you two just dating or are you two in a relationship?"
"We're just dating. But I feel that he would ask me to be his girlfriend after the third date or so."
"Oh, so he's that hung up on you?"
"As it seems to me, yeah. But I really like him and I can't wait for you guys to meet him."
"I can't wait either. Madeline doesn't want his guy to meet us until they are official which could take weeks."
"Yeah, but let her take her time. She is a smart girl."
"Yeah, I agree. So when are you going to see Thomas?"
"Today! We're meeting up at the park."
"Sounds romantic already. I hope he is the right guy for you."
"Thanks, Andy."
"And if he ever tries to hurt your feelings, just call me. I'll break his face."
"Andrea..." Lizzie giggled.
"Sorry... I'll break his butt."
Lizzie started to walk away. "You can't break a person's butt. That's kind of impossible."
"Not the way I break butts." Andrea followed her.

Two Heads Are Better Than One (Chapter 1)

"Hello, sisters!" Madeline greeted, walking toward the lunch table.
The girls waved and greeted together at Madeline. She sat down quickly between Lizzie and Debra who left a space on the bench for her. She laid down her pink lunch bag on the table and un-clipped it open. She sighed merrily as she took out her food.
The girls stared at Madeline, all wondering what was up with her excessive grinning.
"So... what's up, Maddie?" Andrea asked, awkwardly.
"Nothing," Madeline answered. "Why? Do I look sad?"
"No, you look happy," Skye jumped in.
Madeline scrunched her forehead but still kept her smile. "Okay. I'm happy every day."
"But not this happy," commented Lizzie.
"What's wrong with being happy?"
"Nothing," answered Andrea. "It's just that you look too happy."
"Why are you happy?" asked Skye, laying her elbow on the table and resting her chin on her hand.
Madeline giggled a bit. "Well, I met this person--"
"And they gave you money?" Andrea interrupted.
"No," Madeline squinted her eyes. "I met this person who is really nice and cool and they gave me a feeling of happiness, obviously. So that's why I'm happy today."
"Wait a minute," Lizzie stuck her index fingers up in front of her. "Does this person have the gender of male?"
"In other words," Debra jumped in, "is it a boy?"
"Maybe," Madeline rolled her eyes. "Maybe not."
"Maybe yes!" said Andrea.
"Are you in a relationship?" asked Lizzie.
"No, no," answered Madeline. "If I was in a relationship, I would tell you guys right away."
"But you won't tell us right away if you just met a guy?" Andrea asked.
"It's complicated. We just started dating. Actually, we haven't gone on our first date yet unless yesterday counted as a first date."
"What happened yesterday?" asked Debra.
"Well, I went to a coffee shop and ordered a non-fat latte. After I got my latte and sat down, he came up to me and said, 'You like that a 'latte'?'"
The girls looked at Madeline in a blank, awkward expression.
"What?" Andrea squinted her eyes.
"It was a joke," Madeline threw her hand out.
"And you thought it was funny?" Skye asked.
Madeline paused. "No. But it was cute and he was obviously shy. So I asked him to join me and we started talking. Afterwards, we exchanged numbers."
"That is so sweet," said Debra. "Nothing like love to calm a person down."
"She barely went on a date with him," said Andrea. "I wouldn't call it love yet."
"Well, is there anything else you want to tell us about this guy other than he's nice, cool, cute and shy?" asked Skye.
"Well...," Madeline started thinking. "His last name is Jepsen."
The girls paused to think.
"You want to tell us his first name?" Andrea inquired after taking a pause.
"I will tell you his first name after we settle into a relationship," Madeline replied.
"Is that what you're going to do from now on when you meet a boy?" asked Skye. "Tell us their names after you two get serious?"
"Yeah, that's crazy," Lizzie commented. "That's your decision?"
"Yeah, but I really like him and I just want to keep him on the 'down low' for a bit so I don't seem, you know, crazy," Madeline replied.
"But it's not like I'm going to go for a walk," said Andrea, "and look at every teenage guy walking down the sidewalk and go, 'Hey, are you Jepsen?'"
"Yeah, we're your friends, Maddie," said Lizzie. "You should tell us every detail."
"I know," Madeline sighed. "I'm sorry. But if he got me smiling all day like this, there is a possible chance that he could be the one. Even though I just met him. And I want to wait to express him until I feel comfortable."
"Well, I hope he is the right one for you," Debra commented. "And may you feel happiness every day."
"Thank you, Debbie," Madeline smiled.
"Yeah, same here," Andrea agreed.
Skye and Lizzie nodded in agreement.
"You guys are the best," Madeline said.
"Don't mention it," Lizzie smiled.
Andrea crossed her arms and laid them on the table. "But can you at least answer this one thing: before you and Jepsen went on your separate ways, did you say, 'I like you a 'latte''?"
All of the girls laughed to Andrea's little joke.

Skye's Personality Collage

Debra's Personality Collage

Andrea's Personality Collage

Lizzie's Personality Collage

Madeline's Personality Collage

The Apparel That Madeline Bought From The Mall

No dumpster items included

Credit Card Cut Off (Chapter 5)

Lizzie rung the doorbell on the door of a pearly white mansion.
"I hope my sister is alright," she said to Debra, accompanying her. "Andrea said she looked sick."
"Maybe she was," Debra responded. "That is probably why she didn't go to lunch yesterday."
"That can't be it. Madeline rarely gets sick. She said she's too wealthy for that."
"Then why is she using layaway?"
"Because she is a liar, Debra. Ever since I've known her for the last ten years."
The door opened. "Hello," an old gentleman greeted to the girls. "Come on in."
The girls entered the nice-looking house.
"Thank you," said Lizzie. "Is Madeline alright?"
The man closed the door. "I don't know. She's been locked in her room for hours. Every time I knocked on her door, she would yell or do some sort of mating call. I assume it's P.M.S., but you girls can take care of her, right?"
The girls stared at him blankly. Lizzie then broke her stare and giggled uncomfortably. "Yes, we sure can, Mister King."
"That's the spirit," he winked. "Cover up more, will ya?" He then walked away as if the things he said did not bother him.
Lizzie made an annoyed look but got over it and walked upstairs with Debra following her. They walked down the long hallway until they saw a door with Madeline's name as a sign on it.
Lizzie knocked on the door. Soon afterwards, the girls heard a violent, animal-like scream. Debra rubbed her ears as the scream was piercing to her eardrums.
"Maddie, it's me," Lizzie shouted.
Madeline opened the door and peaked her head outside. "Hey, my sisters. Come on in," she smiled.
Lizzie and Debra entered her bedroom and looked around. Madeline closed the door and walked up to the girls to put her arms around them.
"What is new?" she asked.
"Your room," Debra responded.
"Yeah, did you get new stuff?" asked Lizzie.
"I sure did!" Madeline patted on their backs. "I got a nightstand, an ottoman, a little couch to do some reading in."
"And what is that horrid smell?" asked Debra.
"My other couch," Madeline answered. "After my idiotic dad cut off my credit card, I've been 'finding' stuff. So I got that chair from a dumpster."
"Ugh!" Lizzie exclaimed.
"I know, it's gorgeous, right?" Madeline grinned.
"What else did you get from the dumpster?" asked Debra.
"Um... a lamp, some pillow cases--"
"Pillow cases?" inquired Lizzie. "No way. You are not gonna break out over some pillow cases. Maddie, I think you have a problem."
Madeline covered her ears. "No! Don't say that. I never felt so free. So alive. I'm learning."
"Learning what? That instead of not taking a shower, you can just get the stench by rubbing dirty pillow cases on yourself? We are worried about you."
"Well, there's nothing to worry about. I'm like a bird. You should be happy for me."
She walked over to the zebra-printed chair beside her closet and picked up the pastel pink sweater laying on its back.
"Did you buy that sweater recently?" asked Lizzie.
"Yeah, when I had my card," answered Madeline.
Lizzie walked slowly towards Madeline. "May I see it?"
Madeline squeezed her sweater. "What are you going to do?"
Lizzie reached out her arms. "I'm not going to do anything."
"You're a liar! You've been lying ever since we knew each other ten years ago!"
Lizzie quickly grabbed the sweater but Madeline managed to still hang on to it. They both screamed as they fought for the sweater as if they were having a mini tug-of-war.
"Where are your receipts?" shouted Lizzie.
"I threw then away!" Madeline answered, holding onto Lizzie's neck with her free arm.
"Now I know you've really lost it," Lizzie grappled Madeline's leg with her leg.
"Her receipts are visible in the trash can," said Debra, glancing into Madeline's pink trash can by the doorway.
"Then we have lots of returning to do," Lizzie commented, yanking the sweater harder and harder with Madeline still holding onto it.
"You're not taking my stuff!" shouted Madeline, forcing her elbow into Lizzie's stomach. "I own them!" 
"Girls, girls," called Debra. "There is no need to fight. Let's just all calm down and talk it out."
"Enough with your hippie mess, Debra," growled Madeline. "That will never work."
Debra stared at Madeline. She walked over to her and pinched her shoulder. "Don't be callin' it 'hippie mess', nappy girl," she snapped.
Suddenly, Madeline fell to the floor, flat on her back, unconscious. Lizzie and Debra stared at her in shock.
"What did you do?" asked Lizzie, folding the sweater.
"I hit her pressure point," Debra answered.
"She has a pressure point?"
"Guess so."
"You didn't know that before you knocked her out?"
"I was just trying to help. I only wanted to pinch her because don't you feel weird when someone pinches you between your neck and your shoulder?"
"Yes, I do," she nodded.
The girls continued to stare at Madeline, who was not budging.
"Well, try to revive her," mentioned Lizzie.
"Black people aren't magicians."
"Well, we can't leave her there. She could be dead."
Lizzie looked around the room until she noticed an article of clothing on the floor. "Maybe that sock will wake her up."
She walked over to the sock and picked it up with two fingers. She passed it to Debra to place it on Madeline's face. Quickly after, Madeline shot up to the foul smell.
"Why is a dirty sock on my face?" she asked, throwing the sock to the side.
Lizzie ran over to Madeline and helped her up to hug her. "You're back!"
"What happened?" Madeline questioned. "What happened to my room?"
"You don't remember?" asked Debra.
Madeline continued to ask questions: "Did I do this?" She scratched her head. "Are these barrettes?"
"Madeline, you were insane," Lizzie noted.
"So insane that Lizzie knocked you out," Debra pointed at Lizzie.
Lizzie gave her a confused look.
"I went crazy?" asked Madeline. "Is that why my room looks like a yard sale?"
"I guess you can't handle being poor," said Lizzie.
"Oh, guys, I'm so sorry," Madeline sighed. "I let my wallet get the best of me. I don't need materialistic things to be happy. I'm already happy. Because I have you guys."
"Aw, apology accepted," Lizzie said, hugging Madeline.
Debra joined in on the hug. "Yeah, welcome back, girl."
The girls released and together let out a big sigh.
"Now can you guys help me return this stuff?" Madeline asked. "I really want my room back."
"Sure," answered Debra. "Where's your dumpster?"
Madeline squinted her eyes. "My dumpster? Oh, now I remember. Why did I take stuff from the dumpster again?"
"I don't know," said Lizzie, throwing the pink sweater on the bed. "Maybe you have different tastes than us."
"Yeah, rank tastes," Debra responded.
Madeline sighed and slapped her forehead. "I'm too rich for this."
"Yeah, you're too rich," Lizzie responded. "Do you want me to take your receipts out the trash?"