Figure Eight

Chapter One: The Least Popular

Does it matter if you're popular or not in school?

Not to me it doesn't. I think that it's pointless having that kind of game.

But I guess that's because I'm the least popular girl in our entire middle school.

Name? Maddy Rogers. Age? 12.

I don't care mainly because I'm the goth chic of the school. But really, I'm the total opposite. I love to dress up and everything.

But most of all...

I love to figure skate.

Chapter Two: Partner Up!

So anyway, it was a normal day for me. I was really excited to do this figure skating thing for gym class. We were doing it for the week.

But unfortunately, we have to partner up with someone my teacher picks.

Everyone was sad not to get Drake Chapman, except for me.

Why?

Because I was sad to actually get him.

Who is Drake Chapman, you may be thinking?

He's the most popular kid in the school. He's always smiling, from what I've seen.

But really, I don't care who I get partnered up with. If it's Drake Chapman, we're opposites.

But we might not be.

Chapter Three: Questions

"Madison, is it okay if I ask you a few questions?" Drake asked.

"Sure..." I replied, trying to sound a little dozed off.

"Do you know my sister?"

"Mhmm. Georgia, right?"

"Yeah. And do you like her?"

"I guess."

"That's nice. I hope you two can be friends!"

"Okay... but why do you ask?"

"Oh, no reason." He smiled. "It's just she's been wanting to be your friend."

I gaped for a few seconds. "R-really?" I asked, closing my mouth.

"Yeah." His hand lightly touched mine as we skated. "Also, I wanted to know if you... um..." He looked away.

"If I what?"

"...well... Wanted to be friends with me...?"

Chapter Four: Georgia Comes Over

I sat at my desk in my room. It was after school. I still couldn't get over what Drake had said. He'd never acted shy before...

Ding, Dong, Ding, dong... I heard the doorbell ring. My parents weren't home yet, so I went downstairs and opened the door. There stood a girl with short black hair and brown eyes.

Georgia.

"Hi," Georgia greeted. "Is it okay if I come in?"

"Sure." I let her in. "So how do you know where I live?" I asked her.

"School directory. And I checked the phone book. No–one answered when I called," she explained. "So anyway, I was here to ask you a question."

"Yet again. Both Chapmans."

"Well, I was wondering..." Georgia whispered the next part. "If you liked my brother?"

"Uh... in what way?"

"Like, more than a friend kinda way."

I blushed a little. Yeah! Totally! one part of me fibbed. I knew I didn't. "Oh, god no," I said.

"Aw, okay. I like your hairband!"

"Thanks..."

"Oh!" Georgia looked at the clock on the wall. "I should get going. Here's me and Drake's number! Can I have yours?"

"Sure," I said, getting her paper and giving her mine.

Finally, someone who is really nice to me.

Chapter Five: His Idea, Not Mine

"Um, Madison..." Drake whispered. It was the next day.

"Uh–huh?" I replied, looking at him. I noticed he became a bright, bright, easily noticeable red. "You alright?"

"Oh! Um, yes. I was just wondering if we could do a figure eight together?"

"Sure." I knew figure eights weren't supposed to be done with two people, but he sounded desperate.

We separated. My skates cut lightly into the ice as I did the top part of the 8 and he did the bottom. We were going at the same speed and we bumped into each other. But then he fell on top of me.

"I–I–I'm sorry!" he stammered. His face became red again.

"It's cool," I replied casually. His hair fell into my face a bit and tickled my cheeks. "Uh, could you get off?" I asked.

"R–Right!" He flipped off of me. "I just, um..." He got up carefully. He held his hand to me.

I took it. "Just what?" I could feel myself slipping a bit. "Woaaah!" I screamed, falling into him.

"I–I–I"– Drake stammered. "I feel pretty stupid..." he murmured.

"Really. So do I." I felt my cheeks warm.

What was going on with me?

Was I crushing on him?

Chapter Six: Sticky Note

"Say, Madeline, I think I saw something on your locker," Katie, the new girl, said as she passed by me.

"What?" I murmured. It's Madison, not Madeline. "I'll go and check then." I considered that Katie had been very honest (all of the classmates say so, anyway), so I believed her.

Then I walked out of class and saw a bright green sticky note on my locker. If you ask me, it looked nice.

Oh, god.

Why is it the shape of a heart?

Why on earth was it heart-shaped?

I stepped towards my locker, took the sticky note, and read it.

So, Madison.

Meet me on the rooftop at lunch.

I have something incredibly important to tell you.

Hope you can wait until then ;)

-A Guy

"What the?" I mumbled.

This surely is not going to end well for me.

If any guy dares talk to me, it's a) Drake Chapman (think about it: he always does) or b) some crazy boy who doesn't know who he's messing with.

I hope it's b, 'cause it sounds like a love letter.

And if Drake Chapman is in love with me, he's never going to get anything back.

Chapter Seven: Georgia Examines My Life

"Hey! Maddy!"

I turned to see Georgia.

"What is it, Georgia?" I asked, sighing.

"Where are you going? Don't you usually eat at the mall?" she inquired.

"Well, some crazy loverboy wants to talk to me, so I'm just going."

"Ooohhhh, loverboy," Georgia cooed. "You like himmm?"

I blushed, noticing I had started thinking of Drake. "No! I don't even know who he is."

"What if it's a bully?"

"I'll fend off for myself. Just like I always do."

"What if it's a teacher?"

"It's probably about my grades. But they're good."

"What if it's Drake?"

I turned to her. "What?"

"I said, what if it's Drake?"

"Okay. Fine." I shook my head. "Drake Chapman does not know my locker number. Nor does he have any interest in me. And if it is him, it's about something on friendship. That's what everyone gets from him, right?"

"Well..." Georgia set a hand to her chin. "I dunno... he's always looking at you...and talking about you...he probably even stalks you, just because he does have a strange interest in you."

"Uh, sureeee. See ya later!" I ran off, thinking about what she said. What if it's true? I tried to shrug off those words.

Chapter Eight: The Truth Is, I Like You

"Huh?" I dashed past Drake Chapman. "Madison, what are you doing here?"

"I'm waiting, duh," I replied sarcastically.

"Waiting for what?"

"I dunno. Someone."

"I'll wait with you." Drake walked over to where I was. "So...who is this person you're waiting for?"

"I have no idea."

"Then why are you waiting? It could have been anyone, just trying to fool you."

I shook my head and took out the sticky note I had folded very carefully into my pocket. "Read it."

"Well then, I guess it'd make sense if they weren't fooling you. But if they were lying, then you've just been tricked."

"Oh, stop being so resistant. I know it's you."

"Huh?"

I noticed what I just said. I know it's you. Uh, no. I didn't know it was him. Nor did I think it was, either.

I turned to look at him, and noticed that he was wearing a t-shirt with long sleeves attached to it, those whatchyamacallits. Nope, no turtleneck today. Not even red.

He's kinda cute.

Oh god, today is the worst day ever. I'm thinking and saying very strange things. Drake Chapman is not cute like my mind is telling me. Drake Chapman is not cute like my mind is telling me. Drake Chapman is—

"The truth is, I like you. As in, like like, Madison Rogers."

Chapter Nine: My Heart Plus His Heart Equals Love

I can't take it anymore!

Just being near Drake Chapman makes me feel embarrassed!

But being forced to do gym every day with him (yes, we are STILL doing the figure skating unit) makes me feel worse.

So...

"Say, Madison. I have a good idea for practice." His cheeks were a bit rosy.

"Yeah? And what is it?" I asked, sure my face was crimson.

"A heart...Wanna do it?"

"Uhmmm...sure..." [I had no stinking idea I could be so shy!]

So we began to skate around our area of the huge rink, and I made a swift turn as I got closer to him. He did the same.

As soon as we were less than a meter away from each other, he took me by the waist and slowly brought me down to the ice. I felt my hair fall onto it.

I knew someone was looking. I felt it. I turned my glance to Georgia, who was smiling.

"Love you, Mads," Drake whispered as he brought me up to his height.

I felt totally embarrassed. He said it again? "L—Love you too, Drake," I murmured, setting my hands into his chest.

I looked up at him. Despite some of his girly features (his build, long eyelashes, etc.) he was really cute.

And thus ends the story of how skating changed my life.

A/N: Three stories left! They're not started yet. Hopefully you enjoyed this. :)