Madison yawned as she made her way down the hall toward her locker. It had been a late night with everyone and she had almost skipped school. As she stopped in front of her locker, she noticed a pink ribbon that had gotten caught in the door. She didn’t remember putting anything in there that resembled it and opened the locker slowly.

Sitting on her books was a dozen red roses wrapped with a pink ribbon. Madison grabbed them and smiled when she realized that they must be from Ethan. As she searched for the note, she didn’t notice that Foster had spotted her. He walked down that particular hall every morning but normally he waited for the crowd to leave. Since their arrival was now yesterday’s news, he could move through the business hall with ease.

Madison found the note and grinned when she opened it. Her happiness disappeared almost immediately as she read the note, the words were that of Dante Alighieri. “In that book which is my memory . . . On the first page that is the chapter when I first met you appear the words . . . Here begins a new life. Darick.” She rolled her eyes after mumbling the message to herself.

“Ethan sending you flowers again?” Foster asked as he walked up beside her.

“Oh, yeah.” Madison quickly hid the note as her heart raced at the sudden appearance of the man. “He knows I hate these damn things.” She tossed the roses back into her locker and decided she would throw them away later.

He chuckled as she pulled out her books and then slammed her locker shut. “Hey, I got a question.”

“I’ve got an answer.”

“Jack…” He seemed to pause to see if Madison would have a violent reaction to his daring attempt to even mention her cousin’s name, when she didn’t he continued. “Is she still upset with me?”

“She told me that she’s over you, why?”

He shrugged, “She looked nice last night that’s all and I was wondering…”

“If you touch my cousin again, I’ll turn you into a eunuch. Got me?” Madison tossed her backpack strap over her shoulder. “I’m serious, Foster. It took her a long time to get over the mind fuck that you gave her last time.”

“So, the correct question was are you still upset with me?”

“I don’t care who you sleep with as long as it isn’t my friends and family. You have no heart, Foster, but Jack does and she gets hurt easily.”

“I heard she was sleeping around while she was gone. She can’t be that easily hurt.”

Madison crossed her arms, “You just don’t get it do you? The bullshit you dragged her through has made her unable to trust men. So, yeah, she was sleeping with rich guys to get crap for herself, but you’ve damaged her. I hope you’re happy with that. She is trying to heal so leave her alone.”

He tossed his hands in the air, “Ok, fine.”

“Heartless bastard. Can you even look at a girl without thinking of a way to get into her pants?”

Foster looked Madison up and down, “Nope.”

With a quick punch to his shoulder, she snapped playfully. “Get out of here!”

As he left laughing, Madison noticed Brianna standing across the hall. She slowly approached her once the man she had been talking to left. “Hey.”

Madison smiled, “Hey, how are you doing?”

A sigh of relief came over Brianna. “I wanted…” She stopped when Madison began to dig into her locker. “What are those?”

She held up the roses, “Darick. He’s sending me poetry and roses. What the hell would have happened had Ethan been with me?” She tossed them into the trash. “I told him off not long ago. Gave him my final goodbye and this is what I get for trying to smooth things over with him.”

Brianna reached into the trash and pulled out the note. “It’s a sweet thought.”

She grabbed the note from her and ripped it up as small as she could get it. “Only you could be won over by stolen poetry.”

“I’m a romantic, give me a break.” She giggled.

“I need to get to class. Why don’t you come by after school? Let me give you the address.”

“I can’t. I am going with Ian to see the rest of his friends. I’m going to help with your clothes for that thing.”

Madison nodded, “Well, I’ll give it to you anyway and I have a new cell phone.”

“Ok, great.”

Was Madison really going to let everything that was said between them and all the time apart just go? Could it really be that easy? Did she just prefer to let any apology go unsaid and instead just enjoy each other’s company again? Brianna smiled softly to herself as she watched Madison write her information into a notebook that she had pulled from her backpack.

There were just some people that were easy to be friends with and Brianna often forgot that Madison was one of them. No tearful apologies needed, all you had to do was say “hey” and all was forgiven. Every relationship should be so easy.

“Ethan has his friends over a bit, but I think you’d get along with them.” Madison told her as she handed her the piece of paper.

“Grace of the Generic Habit, right?”

“Are you a fan?”

She nodded gently, “I mean, I like their songs on the radio, but I’ve never gone out of my way to buy a CD or anything.”

“They are good guys. Each has their own issues and I really don’t know Noel that much, but they aren’t bad.”

Brianna folded the piece of paper that she had gotten up and shoved it in her pocket. “When it rains new friends, it pours new friends.”

“Hmm?”

“Oh, your guy friends and Ian’s friends. I have more friends now or at least potential friends than I know what to do with.” She chuckled. “Well, I’ll let you get to class. It was nice seeing you again.”

“We’ll get together soon. Call me!” Madison ran off toward the entrance.

Brianna’s eyes turned to the flowers in the trash can. She felt slightly sorry for Darick as she remembered the trip in the woods and their time together. He wasn’t that bad of a guy, though she could understand why Madison didn’t want him as anything more than a friend.

--

“Morning.” Grady greeted Jack as he jogged up beside her. He had waited until McKenzie had walked away before approaching her, though he did realize that it was a bit stalker-like to follow behind her until her sister left.

Jack turned her head to look at him, but offered no pleasant look that she was happy to see him. “Morning.” She returned the greeting flatly.

“How’s everything? Getting settled in with the school?”

“It’s only my second day, but I think I have it figured out. Thanks for asking.” She adjusted her backpack strap nervously. There was something about this guy that was completely off putting and she just wanted him to leave her alone.

He gave a slight nod, “Hey, there is going to be a party this weekend and I was wondering if you wanted to come. It’s just a group of friends, we are all taking dates out and…”

“No, no thank you.” Jack shook her head. “I’m not much for parties or dates.”

Grady nodded again as if it was his attempt to shake off rejection each time. “Yeah, too late of notice anyway.” He wanted to smack himself for how desperate he was being. This girl had been on the island almost a year ago and though he had found her attractive, he didn’t throw himself at her. He had to wonder if it was the change of dress or just knowing she was a Kincade. Was his mother rubbing off on him?

“I have to get to class.” She told him, even though they had been walking through the crowd of students together towards her building.

“I’ll walk you.”

Jack tried to roll her eyes without being noticed and did her best not to release an exasperated sigh. “Hey!” She waved when she saw Foster and Efrem standing in the distance. Jogging up beside them, Grady had followed with her. “Hey, guys. What’s up?”

“Just getting ready to go to class.” Efrem told her. “Who’s that?”

Jack looked over her shoulder at Grady, who had followed her.

“Grayden Dawson.” Grady shook their hands, “Most call me Grady.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Efrem and this is Foster.”

“Yes, I know.” He put his hands in his pockets and smiled at Jack.

“How do you know Jack?” Foster asked and to Efrem’s surprise he sounded a little jealous.

“Oh, Grady is a friend of Madison’s.” Jack told him. “He showed me around the school yesterday.”

“Did he?” Foster’s brows came together before he smiled, “That was nice of you.”

Even though the first hint of jealousy went unnoticed by Jack, the second didn’t and a sudden plan was concocted almost immediately. “He is taking me out to a party this weekend as well.”

It was news to Grady since he had just been rejected moments before, but he wasn’t about to argue. Though, he knew that something had just occurred in front of him that made her change her mind.

“Oh, there is a party?” Efrem asked.

“It’s a few friends, we are going out on couple’s dates together.” Grady informed them.

“Couple’s dates? Shouldn’t you be a couple to go on one of those?” Foster asked.

“I don’t have a girlfriend and they want to involve me, so I’ll just take a date.” He told the man bluntly, though he had a feeling that this was the guy that had suddenly changed Jack’s mind.

She turned to face him, “I haven’t given you my number yet. Let me see your phone, I’ll put it in there for you.”

Grady pulled his phone from his pocket and handed it to her.

“We have to get to class.” Efrem told them.

Jack gave a brief goodbye and Grady said it was nice to meet them, before they walked off.

“Want to tell me what that was about?” Grady asked when the guys were out of hearing range.

“What?” Jack offered his phone back, “I changed my mind and that was a perfect opportunity to let you know.” She smiled, “I have to get to class, call me later.”

Grady opened up his cell phone and looked at the number that she had entered. His lips pressed together as he stared at the screen.

“She’s using you.” Brad said as he walked up beside him. “I mean if you are just using her, then I say go for it. This is the exact kind of girl that your mother would die to see you with. So you are just using her for a good time, right?”

Grady looked over at his friend and then back at the area where Jack had disappeared to.

“I see.” Brad put his hands in his pockets as Grady did so. “Has the great Grady, lover of all, loved by none, finally been struck with cupid’s arrow?” Brad smirked when his friend didn’t respond. “I know how it feels, I honestly do. Confused beyond belief, right? It’s an interesting choice, my friend. She loves someone else, you love her…”

“I barely know her. For all I know, it’s just the Kincade name that my mother has ingrained in me. Once I get to know her, I’ll hate her.”

“Then let her use you. Enjoy her.” Brad pulled one hand from his pocket and ran it over his hair. “However, if it ends up not being that way, what will you do?”

“Why do you care?”

Brad shrugged, “You don’t want to end up like Darick and me. I’m just trying to look out for you. I think I have a few ideas if it were me in your shoes, so when you know what you want, I’ll share them with you.”

“You are so arrogant.” Grady snorted. “You don’t know how to win over any woman just by looking at them.”

“That’s why I have never failed, right? Give me a break, if tomorrow I decided that I wanted Madison Kincade herself, she’d be mine. You know it and I know it.”

“Prove it.”

Brad grinned, “And stomp all over Darick? I have more respect for my friends than that. Anyway, why argue with me over this? You know I am right. This isn’t the type of girl that you normally go after. This is a strong girl with convictions, who has absolutely no need for you. The way to her heart isn’t through your wallet and charm, my friend. It’s most definitely not through your lost puppy dog following her around act either.”

“Fuck you.” He flipped him off.

“You know where to find me when you decide to get serious.”

--

“Can you come over tonight?” Thomas asked as he sat on the bench next to Brianna. They both were eating burritos that Thomas had bought off campus for them.

“No, Ian is taking me to help out with that project. I’ll try to make it this weekend though.” Brianna unwrapped the aluminum from around her burrito. “How will your mom feel seeing me there again?”

“She always liked you.”

“Yeah, but those times were before I was cheating on my boyfriend with you. The last thing I want is her for to think we are dating and to cause problems.”

Thomas hadn’t even opened his burrito yet but had started when she aired her concern. He pressed his lips together and shook his head, “If you don’t want to come over, then just say so. Don’t find excuses.”

“I’m not looking for excuses, I am just trying to make sure that things won’t be ruined. That’s all.” She bit into her burrito and began to chew, but after a moment stopped chewing as she looked into her burrito. “Eww!”

“Got the tongue one?”

“Yes!” She spit it into her hand. “Ah! You can see the taste buds on the meat! Gross!”

“It’s good, nice and tender. If you hadn’t seen the taste buds you wouldn’t have known.” He took his burrito from her and gave her the one he hadn’t opened yet. “There are no taste buds.” He said as he looked at the meat, “It’s just not chicken. They didn’t mark them. I told you to be careful.” There was an amused smirk on his lips.

“It’s not funny!” She snapped as she tossed the handful of chewed burrito toward the bushes.

“I didn’t say it was.”

“You were laughing at me on the inside, I could tell!”

Thomas continued to smirk and shook his head as he began to eat his own burrito. Brianna unwrapped hers and this time she pulled it apart to check for the chicken. “I have the tongue one, obviously that’s the right one.”

“They could have given you two! I would rather be safe than sorry.” She said as she rolled the burrito back up. “What’s that green stuff?”

“Avocado.”

“I wanted guacamole.”

“They don’t have guacamole, they use avocados.” He shook his head again, “You are being a brat today.”

Brianna smiled, “I know. Oh hey, I talked to Madison this morning.”

“How’d that go?”

“She didn’t even let me apologize. Just acted like nothing had ever happened.”

“I’m sorry.”

She rolled her eyes up as she thought about it, “No, I liked it. It was like we are such good friends that we don’t even need to apologize, the other already knows they are sorry. I was alright with it.”

“Are you trying to convince yourself of that? If you want to apologize or hear an apology in return then you can’t just let her walk on you.”

“She didn’t walk on me. I just told you that I liked it. I’m glad that she didn’t make me go through a long tearful apology. She knew I was sorry and I knew she was sorry. We didn’t need to sit there and overdo it or force words. It was over and painless and we were friends again.”

Thomas shrugged, “I don’t know. You seem the type to need words to prove how someone feels.”

Brianna bit into her burrito, “You don’t know me as well as you think you do.” She spoke with a mouthful of food.

“Ok, fine, but when this eats you alive don’t blame me.”

“Why would I blame you?”

“Because you always blame anyone who isn’t the problem.”

Brianna rolled up her burrito, “Seriously? Are you looking to start a fight with me today, Thomas? Because I am trying to keep it pleasant and all you do is offer negative retorts on who I am as a person.”

He sighed, “No, I’m sorry. I am just a little stressed out right now. I have a lot of school work and now I can’t figure out where we are going with this. Are we just screwing each other for fun or is there more to it?”

“I’m not really sure either.” She looked toward the pond in the garden. “I mean I really do love Ian and that’s not just lip service. I want to be with him, but I also want to be as far away from him as possible too. Whenever I see him, I just feel guilt over what I have done and what I am doing. I keep screwing us over and I can’t get my act together, but with you even when we argue I still enjoyed the time spent, but…” She shook her head to toss away the thought.

“But what? Be blunt with me.”

Brianna looked toward him, “I don’t have the same feelings for you as I do with Ian. I mean, you don’t have the same feelings for me as you do with Pia, right?”

“Right.” Even though it was the truth, it was the opposite of what she had meant. He felt more for her than Pia, but if she wasn’t going to admit any feelings, neither would he.

“If Ian ever found out about us, then he would end our relationship and I know it. I sometimes wonder if I purposely sabotaged my relationship with him or just men in general. I always know when I am doing the exact wrong thing, but I do it anyway. It’s like I can’t help but stab myself in the heart repeatedly.”

Thomas wrapped up his burrito as he decided that he wasn’t hungry anymore. “When you find the right guy, you’ll know.”

“That’s what they always say. I think I did find him though, but we just couldn’t be together. Everything was always working against us.”

“Then he wasn’t the right guy.” He stood up from the bench, “I should get to class to get a head start on some of my homework. Call me if you can come over this weekend, alright?”

Brianna stood up and he kissed her briefly on the lips. “Ok, I’m going to try my hardest to make sure that I can find time.”

“Thanks, that’s all I ask.” He waved briefly before heading out of the garden.

She watched as he left and then sighed, when he was finally out of sight.

“Screwing yourself over again?” A voice came from the entrance of the garden and Brianna turned to look at the familiar face.

“Yeah.”

--

Jack sat on the steps of one of the school buildings with Madison as they ate the lunch they had brought with them. All the students that had to walk past them to get to class gave them enough room and seemed willing to leave them alone. Since the arrival of Ethan’s band, she had been almost forgotten, but it had a lot to do with the novelty wearing off. People still bothered her from time to time, but she was starting to get the reputation of McKenzie’s social twin.

“So, your Grady friend. He’s alright, right?” Jack asked as she took a potato chip from the small bag.

“Grady, he’s a good guy. Why?” Madison turned her head slightly toward her cousin.

“Well, he asked me out on this couples thing this weekend. I guess it’s him and a few of his friends with their dates. I didn’t want to go originally, but…” She smirked, “never mind.”

“Uh, oh. Tell me.”

“No, no. You’ll get mad.”

“Hey!” McKenzie jumped up on the step in front of them. There was a tall, slender boy following behind her. “Having lunch?”

“No.” Madison replied. “We just took our lunches out to show them to each other.”

She frowned, “Guess what?”

“What?”

“I found those Rag guys and offered my services as well! We are going to be modeling for the same team!” She clapped her hands together.

“When did you become a giggly school girl?” Madison asked. “You were so stoic for a while there.”

“I wouldn’t say stoic, but serious and self confident. Where is the McKenzie that goes to parties and is an ass to everyone?” Jack asked.

“First of all, I’m not at those parties so I don’t have to be an ass. Second of all, you two are two of the few people that I can be around who don’t judge me. Unless this whole conversation is an attempt…”

“Are you high?” Madison asked.

McKenzie frowned and crossed her arms, “You know what, fuck you both!”

“Whose that?” Jack pointed to the guy behind her.

“Flavor of the week.” She shrugged, “What’s your name?”

“Marcus.” He answered as quickly as possible.

McKenzie made a buzzing noise, “I just told you what your name was. You don’t get a real name when you are my man thing. That’s your third failed question, goodbye.” She waved her hand to make him leave.

“Very ladylike.” Jack said as the guy walked away.

“I can replace him like that.” She snapped her fingers. “I don’t have time to waste on boy toys that don’t follow the rules that I set out for them.”

“Why don’t you just date them like… uh, I don’t know… for real?” Jack raised an eyebrow.

“And risk them running feelings for me? No.” McKenzie shook her head, “You treat them like shit, let them screw the Kincade so they can brag, and then after a week we are done with each other. I get mine, they get theirs and there are no feelings.”

“I suspect that’ll backfire someday.” Madison tossed a baby carrot into her mouth.

“And your male friendships and boyfriends haven’t?”

Jack chuckled, “She’s got you there.”

McKenzie looked down at her watch, “And with that, I’m out. Got to get me a new flavor and then go shopping.”

“School day isn’t over.” Madison told her, but her sister didn’t pay any attention and simply walked away. “Seriously, what is with her?”

“She’s just excited to have her big sister back and she’s trying to impress you. I think it’s pretty obvious.” Jack shrugged and opened a container of sushi. “She just wants to spend more time with you. She’d probably settle down if you made room for her on your schedule.”

“She wasn’t like that when I was in hiding.”

“She was stressed out over having to keep your secret. At home, she’s a lot more easy going now or at least that’s what William tells me.”

Madison grabbed one of her cousin’s vegetarian sushi piece and popped it into her mouth. “What were you saying about Grady?”

“Nothing, I’m just going to date him for a while.”

“His family isn’t exactly Kincade marriage material.”

Jack nodded her head, “I just said a while. I’m not interested in more than a quick fling, besides I think Foster might have been jealous of him.”

“Oh come on, Jacinda! Seriously? I thought you said you were over him!”

“I am! It’s just nice to see the guy that did that to me all jealous. It’s not like I am using Grady to make Foster want me. I just want him a little jealous and then Grady and I will have a good time. That’s all. I’m sorry that I even mentioned it. You need to get over what happened to me.”

Madison rolled her eyes and began to eat her lunch again.

“Are you pouting?” Jack asked after a couple moments of silence.

“No.”

She grinned, “You are pouting!” Jack laughed out loud, “I’m sorry that I mentioned it alright and I’m glad that you care about me so much. Just think of it as me dating Grady and nothing more. Ok?”

“Too late, I already know the truth.” Madison spat. “Grady’s my friend, don’t fuck with him if you don’t mean it.”

“Oh please, I have heard about his playboy ways from some other girls. The man is no more serious about me than I am about him. He wants a quick fuck and a goodnight kiss and I’m willing to offer it to him. He isn’t bad looking or anything.”

Madison shook her head slowly, “I don’t know about that, Jack.”

She frowned as she began to eat her sushi, “I won’t do anything to hurt your friendship with him, alright?”

“Then don’t date him at all.”

“Let me go on one date, it might change my mind, ok?”

“Whatever.”

--

Brianna sat back down on the bench as her latest visitor came to sit beside her. He crossed his ankle over his knee and sighed as he looked over at the pond. She didn’t know if she was supposed to begin the conversation or not and had chosen a look of shame with a dropped head as her stance.

“You’re doing it wrong.” Brad spoke softly.

“What part?”

He smirked, “Cheating on someone is never a good idea. Even when I was sleeping around with girls, I never led them to believe we were more and then slept with someone else. Look at what I did with you, I gave you a certain time limit that we would be together. I doubt that is the case with Ian and Thomas.”

“What about Lydia and when we slept together?”

“I’ve never led Lydia to believe that there is anything between us, quite the opposite actually.”

Brianna leaned back on the bench and crossed her arms over her chest. Her burrito that Thomas had left her with had been set on her lap.

Brad reached over and grabbed the wrapped meal. He peeled away the aluminum layer and handed it back to her. “You won’t be able to concentrate in class if you don’t have enough energy.”

Taking the burrito from him, she began to eat it slowly.

“Smells good.”

“Want some?” She offered it out to him, but he shook his head. “What has happened to me?”

“You have begun a long and dark journey down a road you didn’t even know you turned onto. You have to fix it, you know that right? You can’t let this go on and play with both of them over this.”

Brianna nodded her head, “I know, but I don’t know which one either. I’m not sure what I should do.”

“If you don’t know which one then the best answer is neither.” He put his hands behind his head and leaned back.

“Neither isn’t an option.”

“It is, just one that you don’t want to take.”

She didn’t respond to him and instead continued to eat her lunch. Brad watched her for a couple moments. He didn’t know what to expect when he approached her, but Brianna seemed to need someone to talk to. It was only his fear that caused him to hesitate and think she might tell him off, but he could still read her like a book and he knew it.

“Being alone isn’t so bad, I’ve come to find out.”

“I wouldn’t have anywhere to live if I was alone.”

Brad shrugged his shoulders, “Last I checked, you were a millionaire. Forgive me, if I don’t take your word on that.”

“I haven’t spent any of it.” She defended herself with a mouthful of food.

“Why’s that?”

“I feel guilty.”

“Why?”

Brianna looked down at her burrito, picked a small piece of tortilla off, and put it in her mouth. “Because of how I came by it. Feels like dirty money.”

He gave a nod, “And if I gave you permission to use it? If I said that I wanted you to have it so that you could live how you wanted, would you spend it then?”

She pressed her lips together, “I don’t know.”

“Brianna, I want you to use that money that they gave you. Don’t think of it as betrayal money, but a gift from me to start over. I actually care about you and it makes me feel better to know you have that kind of money at your disposal.”

“Do you really mean that or are you just saying that to make me feel better?”

“Does it matter either way?”

She shrugged, “I guess not.”

“You can’t treat them both this way. It’s not like you to outright go behind someone’s back like this. If you can’t figure out which one is best, then the answer is truly neither of them.”

“How do I know you just aren’t telling me this so I can be single again for you?” She raised an eyebrow as she covered up her half eaten burrito.

Brad chuckled, “You don’t. In six months time, when Lydia and I are divorced, don’t be surprised if you find yourself with a puppy that looks just like me.”

Her playfully raised eyebrow turned into a somber look, “Don’t make jokes like that.”

“Have I ever spoken lightly or teasingly of my plans and feelings?” He crossed his arms, “Forget I said anything. We have made it clear that right now, in our lives, nothing can come between us, and I have accepted that. My plan isn’t to destroy your relationships, but to ensure your happiness. I came here to be a friend and point out the errors of your ways.”

“I know I am wrong, but I feel like I’m stuck. I keep making more mistakes to fix the ones I already have. It’s frustrating me.”

“You either need to end your relationships, both of them, or you need to move out on your own and tell Ian that you want to date other people, so he knows there are other men. If he can’t accept that you need this in order to fix yourself, then he isn’t worth your time.”

“What would you do if you found out I was cheating on you?”

Brad shrugged, “I’d sleep with Madison or one of your other friends.”

“Mature.”

He grinned, “I wouldn’t break up with you though. When I am serious about a person, I am loyal to the end, but I have a mean streak. It demands revenge, then we would be equal and neither of us could shove it in each other’s faces again.”

Brianna shook her head with a smile on her lips.

“Well, I better get back to the guys.” He stood up from the bench. “I’ll see you around sometime.” He waved briefly before heading towards the garden exit.

“Brad?”

He stopped and turned his head to look over his shoulder at her.

“Will you really come for me?”

There was a small smirk on his lips, before he turned back around and left the garden.

Brianna looked down at her burrito then back up at the exit, “I’ll be waiting.” She whispered to herself.

--

Madison stretched her arms out as she began to walk to her next class. Her eyes felt a little heavy as she had spent the last few nights studying or hanging out with friends. She was beginning to remember why high school had been so rough. As she walked through the crowd, she didn’t even notice the other person who jogged up beside her.

“Getting a little warm, isn’t it?”

The question startled her out of her zombie-like state as she turned her attention to Darick. “What the fuck is your problem?” She asked as she continued to walk.

“You’ll have to be more specific.”

“Leaving roses in my locker, really? You do realize that I know people and one of them happens to be my fiancé? He wouldn’t be too happy to find out I am getting roses from some asshole at school.”

Darick smiled, which was more eerie to Madison than friendly. “I’m just letting you know how I feel about you. I figured a Kincade woman would like those sort of things, since they are so sophisticated.”

“Seriously? Is this what you are going to be doing? I can get ‘condescending’ from anyone in this school, your attacks don’t work on me.”

“I’m not being condescending.”

She rolled her eyes, “I said goodbye to you. Please, leave me alone. This semi-friendly act you are trying to play is creepy beyond belief.”

“I’m just trying to be hospitable. I think that was something that we were missing from our friendship, don’t you?”

“A fake, thin layer of kindness and compassion? No, it was not missed. We aren’t friends anyway. What part of ‘I don’t want you in my life’ didn’t you understand?” Madison didn’t even care if the passing students overheard their rather loud conversation. “Besides, you aren’t looking for friendship, you are looking for much more. You made that pretty clear with that kiss.”

She could see Darick’s annoyance as his eye spasmed briefly, but he recovered. “Fair enough, but I figured we could start with friendship.”

Madison stopped walking and turned to face him, “No, Darick. I don’t want to start with anything. Please, leave me alone. I’ve asked you nicely and this will be the last time.”

“You are being unfair and not giving me the chance to win what I have sought for so long.”

“Are you going to be one of those guys?”

Darick raised an eyebrow, “Once again, you’ll have to be more specific.”

“Those guys that hang on the ‘love’ of one woman and say they’ll do anything for her. The ones that wear their emotions on their sleeves. You know, the ones that are in almost every romance novel out there, where the male lead is basically a woman with a penis.”

“It wasn’t my intention. I am just being more open, isn’t that something that would be an improvement?” He crossed his arms.

“Oh fuck you!”

“I don’t understand why you have to be so difficult.”

“I don’t understand why you think being creepy and changing how you act towards me will make anything better. I don’t understand why you just won’t accept rejection. I don’t understand why you think you are in love with me, but here I am trying to understand it and trying to make you stop.”

Darick looked at her face for a moment, “If questioning would make us wise no eyes would ever gaze in eyes; If all our tale were told in speech no mouths would wander each to each.”

“Are you seriously reciting poetry to me?”

“Were spirits free from mortal mesh and love not bound in hearts of flesh no aching breasts would yearn to meet and find their ecstasy complete.”

Madison felt herself becoming embarrassed as the other students began to take notice of them. “Knock it off.” She mumbled as he continued to speak.

“For who is there that lives and knows the secret powers by which he grows? Were knowledge all, what were our need to thrill and faint and sweetly bleed?”

“I’m leaving.” As she turned away, Darick only began to speak louder.

“Then seek not, sweet, the "If" and "Why" I love you now until I die. For I must love because I live and life in me is what you give.”

She had stopped walking away so not to make him yell the poem in front of everyone. “Did you stay up all night to remember that?” She asked unenthusiastically.

“No task is too difficult if it means in the end I win what I seek.”

Madison flipped him off as she began to walk away from him.

He didn’t chase after her and allowed her this escape. A small hand was placed on his shoulder followed by a chuckle. “Really, Darick? Christopher Brennan poetry?”

He looked down at Abigail who was smiling up at him. “Bad selection?” His voice had returned to it’s normal monotone and the other students continued on their way.

“How many have you memorized?”

“I looked up romance poetry online and recited a bunch of them. I was just waiting for the right subject to be brought up.”

Abigail laughed, “I have to say that I am with Madison on this one. Seeing you do that even freaked me out. I would suggest never doing that again.”

Darick shrugged her hand off his shoulder, “I’m glad that you find my humiliation so thoroughly humorous.”

She shook her head, “Who or what put that idea in your head?” She decided that laughing at him would only cause him agitation and he seemed to be teetering on the edge of an explosion.

“Fucking Grady.” He mumbled and looked toward the tree.

“Yeah, I hear he is pretty desperate toward a Kincade too.” She shook her head, “Kincades arrive and all the playboys and untouchables fall in love. Wonder what kind of hocus pocus those girls have got.”

Darick frowned at her, “It has nothing to do with being a Kincade.”

She shrugged one shoulder, “It was a good try. Coming from almost any other guy, it would have been sweet. Look at it this way, you let her know without a shadow of a doubt how you feel. No girl can be completely immune to that.”

“Choke on your own shit.” Darick snapped before heading back to the tree to tear into Grady.

--

Brianna smiled at the two girls who were sitting in the living room next to the sewing machines. They smiled back at her just as brightly which caused a gentle sensation of relief to come over Ian’s heart. He had feared that they wouldn’t treat her right or leave hints of resentment in their actions after their argument.

“Brianna, it’s so nice of you to join us.” Charles walked into the large room behind them and shook her hand. “We have been wondering why Ian hasn’t brought you around. Wanting you all to himself, eh?”

She giggled, “I suppose so.”

“Well, we are making clothes for McKenzie and Madison Kincade. Do you know how to sew?”

“I’m afraid I don’t. Please, do not think you have to include me though. I don’t want to ruin your designs, I know this is important to you all.”

“Nonsense!” Winnie chirped in from the corner. “We all have to start somewhere and this will be perfect to get you going.”

“Yeah, you can cut out the designs for us and later we will teach you how to use the sewing machines.” Erica added.

Drew sat quietly on the couch as he went over the last few designs. He wasn’t going to be overly friendly toward the girl, but he had promised to show her no hostility as well.

“Come sit over here.” Winnie patted the chair beside her. “I’ll teach you how to lay out the cloth, cut it, and get it all ready.”

Brianna left Ian’s side and sat down beside her. She still didn’t feel comfortable around these people, but they seemed to be friendly enough.

“How much longer until the competition?” She asked.

“About a month. It’ll be broadcast on television, but since you are part of the team now, you should come.” Erica invited as she used the sewing machine to stitch together what looked like it would eventually be pants.

“Oh, I’m not really part of the team.”

“You are cutting the cloth, aren’t you? That makes you part of the team.” Winnie smiled as she handed her the scissors.

Brianna looked across the room at Ian, who was looking at a piece of paper with Charles. He didn’t even seem to be paying any attention to her or what was being said. She had been under the impression that they were coming here together to spend more time with each other, but already it felt like she was here to spend time with the girls.

Her suspicion was only confirmed when Ian and Charles left the room. The large, elaborate living room was big enough for all of them to sit comfortably, but it felt crowded. Drew was on the couch and seemed to be ignoring the conversation going on around him. Winnie and Erica were trying to give her their attention, but she kept getting distracted on whether Ian was coming back or not.

“He really loves you.” Winnie said and the words caught Brianna’s attention.

“Ian has always been a very cold person and I have to admit there were times where I wondered if he was really our friend at all. He seems to care for you a lot though. He sacrifices time here with us to be with you all the time.” Erica shook her head, “Not that I am complaining. I think it’s great that he cares about someone as much as he does you. This project has been his life and he wanted to win desperately until he met you. Now, it’s more like a hobby.”

“And that’s a good thing. He was too caught up in it and winning.” Winnie patted her back gently.

“Oh, well, I’m glad to hear that I am good for him.” Her voice held uncertainty that was easily caught by the girls and Drew.

“You don’t think so?” Erica asked.

“We’ve had a lot of troubles and I sometimes wonder if the opposite is true, that’s all.”

“All couples have their problems.” Erica stopped the machine and dropped the cloth to her lap. “I mean Drew and I…” She stopped when Drew cleared his throat.

All three girls chuckled at his reaction.

Without anything said, he gathered up his work from the coffee table and left the room. It was apparent to Brianna that he didn’t want to be there for the girl gossip that was about to take place.

“Drew used to have a thing for Winnie.” Erica said after she watched him leave. “I have to admit that I am sometimes still jealous about it.”

“Aw, baby, you know I would never do anything like that to you.” Winnie put her arm around her shoulder.

“I know. I trust both you and Drew completely. You two would never do anything to hurt me and besides you don’t care for him that way. My point is that there are always problems in the past. Sometimes I wonder if Drew is with me because I am the only option or if he really cares for me.”

Winnie gave a nod, “And I sit on the edge of my seat sometimes wondering if Charles’ belief that the group would be destroyed if we broke up is true. I don’t want to break up, but realistically speaking it could happen someday. What if my selfish desire to break our rules ends this whole group?”

“Plus, he’s bossy.”

She chuckled and hit her friend, “He is bossy, but you don’t have to be so blunt.”

Brianna grinned at the close friendship between the girls and there was a longing to be with Madison at that moment. She didn’t think they ever had a friendship as deep, but she could connect with her better. “I wish that everything that I feared had no premise, but…” She cut herself off.

“Mistakes are made, you learn from them, and don’t make them again.” Winnie told her. “We know what happened and some of it just wasn’t your fault. Ian has a tendency to run away to think about things. His problem is that before he does it, he ends the entire thing so there is no pressure to find himself an answer.”

“She’s right.” Erica continued, “We have gotten used to him declaring he never wants to see us again and then showing up a couple days later. It’s different with you though and he needs to learn that. I think that might be part of the problem.”

“Well that and all the guys in my past.” Brianna sighed, “I’m sorry, this should be fun and I am bringing it down.”

“Uh, Brianna, we are girls. Gossip and leaning on each other that is fun.” Winnie gave a firm nod, “We aren’t the cold hearted Madison.”

Brianna giggled.

“We want to be your friend. I know it may have seemed like we were using you in the past, but there is nothing to gain now. Ian is our friend and that makes you our friend too.” Erica grinned. “Hey, we haven’t shown her any of the designs. You never know she might have some fashion sense stored up there that we could tap into.”

“Drew has them.”

Erica stood up from her chair and draped the pants over the sewing machine. “I’ll grab a few and be right back.”

“Oh, do you want something to drink or snack on?” Winnie asked and didn’t even bother to wait for an answer before she rushed to the kitchen to get her something.

--

Dorian stretched out his arms over his head as he exhaled loudly. He was finally leaving the emergency room after a sixteen hour shift. Normally, he would have tried to find a way to leave, but without Madison at home there was no real reason to.

There was a nurse that seemed to be interested in him and Naomi said that she thought she might be a good match. He didn’t feel like dating again so soon after the break up and wanted to wait it out. Rebound girlfriends really weren’t his cup of tea.

As the double doors slid open to the parking lot, Dorian’s eyes fell on the very woman he had been thinking about just moments before. He didn’t say anything to her and diverted his eyes as he began to make his way to his car.

“Dorian, wait.” Madison ran up beside him and grabbed his upper arm. “Will you just listen to me for a couple minutes?”

He gave his answer in the form of action by continuing to walk and ignore her presence.

“I want to apologize to you and have a peaceful conversation.” She stopped walking and let him walk up ahead. “Is stewing over me for the next eight years until someone else comes along what you want? Or do you want some closure?”

Dorian stopped walking and turned around, “Don’t act like you have the higher ground here, little girl.”

She jogged up to stand in front of him. “I’m not trying to act like I’m better. I just want to talk to you. I want to know what I did that was so bad and I want to know…”

“You started a relationship with Darick.”

“We were broken up.”

He crossed his arms, “You expect me to believe that you started having feelings for him, but the moment that I turned up they all disappeared? You expect me to believe that sleeping with him won’t affect your relationship with him or me? I have been worried and jealous over your relationship with him from the first moment I realized how I felt about you. You fed my fear. I can’t sit by and wonder the rest of my life whether he’ll win in the end.”

“Darick and I aren’t even friends anymore.”

“And how long will that last, Madison?” He tossed his hands in the air. “The two of you have been on and off since the day you met. You’ll be friends with him soon enough, that’s just how it works with you. I realize now that you are too immature for anything serious right now.”

“Fuck you! I was in a relationship with one guy before you that lasted all of high school.”

“And then another guy that lasted until you went to an island and forgot to call him. That was like what a couple weeks long?”

Madison rolled her eyes and tossed her head back, “That was a huge mistake on my part and I was confused.”

“You use that same excuse for Darick.”

She looked at the doctor standing in front of her. He wasn’t wearing his lab coat, but instead khakis and a blue button up shirt with no tie. Madison sighed, “What do you want me to do or say? Tell me what can fix this and I’ll do it.”

“Even if there was a way to fix the whole incident between you and Darick, there is no solution for who you really are. I’ve known that if your real life was ever revealed there would be no chance for us. I allowed my feelings for you to blind my logic and then I even came back to try and make it work. I’m not a stupid man and I know how the world works. I know how your world works because I was once part of it.”

“I know that William will give in to my choice of a spouse. He likes compromise as long as in the end he gets the majority of what he wants. If I can convince him that I’ll come back to the family and do all my duties, but I want to select my own spouse, I think he would do it.”

“Then why didn’t you do it before?” He unfolded his arms and slipped his hands into his pockets.

“Because I didn’t want to accept my role, but if it’ll make you feel better…”

“Even if he did accept it, this isn’t his plan. William Kincade is notorious for getting his way every time. He would find a way to get rid of me. Hell, he intimidated me to no end the first time I met him.” Dorian sucked on his bottom lip, “I don’t know why you came here. Was it to beg me to let you come back or offer me closure?”

Madison swallowed and shrugged her shoulders, “A bit of both, probably.”

He shook his head, “You can’t give me either. There is this huge wall between us that has always been there, but I would keep climbing it just out of hope that there would be a way to hop over. There isn’t, Madison.”

“There is if you are willing to keep trying. Your brother found a way.”

“My brother was just the first of many sons. You are the heir and there is no way William will just let you go and give everything to McKenzie.”

Madison held herself as she tried to fight back the tears, “Don’t be this way, Dorian. We have been through so much together and you are just tossing this all away. If everything had gone my way, I would have never told you about Darick and me. I would have spent every day proving to you that I wanted to be with you and not Darick or William. I can walk away from both of them.”

“Pretty words, Madison, but that’s all they are. Your actions over the past year have shown a very different story.”

“Really? How?”

“You remained friends with Darick despite knowing his feelings for you and you lied to yourself that he just saw you as a friend. Why did you do that? I know, because you wanted to have both of us.”

“And Darick got the short end of the stick.”

“Did he?”

Madison opened her mouth to speak and then closed it. She watched Dorian shake his head before heading over to his car. When he got inside, she turned around as quickly as she could and ran toward her own. She didn’t want to cry in public.

Dorian sat down in his car and slammed the door. His eyes carefully watched as Madison ran off into the distance. When she was gone, his hands beat on the steering wheel as he screamed and grunted. As the temper tantrum passed, he inhaled and placed his forehead on the steering wheel. That had to be the single hardest thing he had ever done and it felt wrong. The moment she disappeared, he knew that he had made a choice he couldn’t live with.