Blue Crescent

The Road

Maddison

"Hey Maddie!"

Leaving my coffee untouched on the table, I stopped writing and looked around to see who was calling.

"Olivia," I answered.

"Hey. Hannah told me something about a guy named Michael and . . ." She looked at me teasingly and poking my cheek before laughing.

"Oh no. Hannah told you?" I asked.

"Why not? We're friends anyways. I would really be upset if you and Hannah are sharing secrets, and we don't. Like hey Maddie, spill the beans."

"He's just a guy who lives in Bridgeton. Tall with green eyes and a charming smile." I giggled.

"Hmmm, anybody in Hollywood who kinda looks like him?"

"Let me think . . . hmmm . . . I think he kinda looks like . . . Dominic Sherwood."

"You gotta be kidding me? Wow, Mr. Bridgeton looks stunning then, huh? You know what? I'm gonna go get some chips to munch on while binging on your story," she said before walking towards the counter. "Oh! Your coffee is getting cold, by the way, but Mr. Bridgeton can make it boiling hot again when he's around," she added.

I facepalmed, realizing that the other students were staring at us.

"Here we go." Olivia came back minutes later, taking the cans of soda from the tray and putting them on the table. "Some chips and sandwiches too," she added.

"Thanks," I said, opening a can of soda.

"So, Mr. Bridgeton swept Maddison Greene off her feet for the first time. When do I happen to meet this lucky guy?"

I was frozen and didn't seem to hear Olivia as my eyes were glued on someone.

"Maddie?" Olivia asked.

When I didn't respond, she followed where my eyes were at.

"Oh . . . my . . . gosh. That must be Dominic Sherwood," she uttered before putting some chips in her mouth.

"Yeah," I answered absentmindedly.

Michael walked in towards an empty seat and placed his bag on the table.

"Hey Michael!" Olivia called him, raising her hand.

"What are you doing?" I said, wide-eyed.

"Putting an end to your misery, my friend."

Michael got her attention and walked towards us. He placed his bag on the side of our table and sat on an empty chair next to me.

"Maddison, right?" he confirmed.

"Hi . . . Michael, right?" I replied.

‘Yeah, I’m glad to see you here.”

“Me too.”

Olivia moved her eyes between Michael and me.

"So . . . ah . . . I'm gonna leave both of you two," she said as she stood up, taking the bag of chips and sandwiches with her.

"Hey, where are you going? Why are you taking our food away?" I asked.

"Ahm . . . My mom actually called me to buy groceries so I'm gonna go now," she replied. "Maddison loves sandwiches and chips for snacks, by the way," she added, facing Michael.

"Since when did you start doing groceries?" I asked.

"Since today. Bye.” She grinned.

“Wait, could you please leave the chips at least?” I asked.

“Nah, Michael can give you your favorite one," she said. "Pringles Cheese, alright?" she added, turning to Michael.

“Fine with me,” Michael answered.

Olivia turned on her heel and walked away, leaving me blushing.

“Hoarder,” I uttered.

“I heard that,” she said.

I softly fixed my hair as Michael cleared his throat.

"So . . . ah . . . How was your class?” he asked, breaking the awkward stillness.

“It’s fine actually. Nothing special happened except the same routine and stuff. How about you?”

“Just the same boring class as always.”

“Yeah right.”

“Hey, ahm . . . Would you like to go somewhere and get some fresh air?”

“Yeah sure. But where would that be when everything around are buildings and walls?”

“I know a place you will surely love.”

“Really?”

“How does nature sound like?”

“I’d love that.”

Michael led me to the parking lot, and we drove off out of the city in his red 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO. The feeling I felt was totally strange. For the first time, I got to experience what it was like to be a princess in someone’s eyes. As we neared our destination which I presumed it was, my eyes wandered around the beauty of nature.

“Here we are,” he said, switching the engine off.

“Wow, it’s beautiful,” I uttered. “How did you even find this place?” I added, climbing down the luxurious vehicle and walking towards the riverbank. “I mean, you got this luxurious car and . . . Who knows this place could be yours too, and you're keeping it as a secret. Rich kid, huh?”

“Nah, I got the car from my parents who died five years ago. I only discovered this forest one day while walking. Since then, I fell in love with this heavenly nature. The raging waters, luscious trees, and chirping birds became my haven. In fact, this is already part of Bridgeton which is fifteen minutes away.”

“Well, I can’t say anything more. I’m speechless. Nature is amazingly . . . beautiful.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Hearing his voice made me literally wanna faint. Whew! I gazed into his eyes, and it seemed like an electric sensation crept into my veins. God knows where my mind went, and I suddenly found myself outrageously zoning out.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" he said, handing me a strange copper-colored flower.

"Wow . . . thanks."

"It's called Coppertina. The most beautiful among the family of Ninebarks. Ninebarks are—"

"Don't worry, I know what Ninebarks are."

"Sorry."

"No, no it's fine. Don't be sorry."

He nodded. "Would you mind me taking you home? Seems like it’s going to rain.”

“You are totally mesmerizing."

"So are you."

Wait, what? Did I just happen to say it loud?

"I mean . . . the Coppertina.”

"The Coppertina."

"Yeah . . ."

“Yeah. Shall we?” he said, motioning his head towards his car.

"Sure . . ."

The skies were cloudy when we arrived home, but it would have been cloudier without Michael.

“Mom? Dad?” I called as I entered the door with Michael behind me.

“Hello Baby,” Mom answered, descending down the stairs.

“Hi Mom, it’s Michael. I met him at school.” I kissed her on her cheeks.

“Hello Mrs. Greene. Nice to meet you,” Michael said, offering a handshake.

“Nice to meet you too, Michael,” Mom responded.

‘Where’s Dad?” I asked, walking towards the living room and placing my bag on the couch. “Have a seat, Michael.”

“Sure, thanks,” Michael responded with his eyes observing the corners of the house.

“I’ll go prepare some snacks for you. I'll be in the kitchen, okay? Dad will be late so you might wanna bring Michael again next time to meet him. Right, Michael?” Mom said, turning to Michael. "I’ll be back.”

“Thanks Mom,” I said before another moment of silence took over.

Michael stood up and looked at the photos hanging on the wall. His eyes stopped at the last photo and looked closer.

“I’m sorry, why do you have a picture at Little Oaks?” he asked, pointing at the photo.

“I actually grew up at Little Oaks.”

“Seriously? I came from Little Oaks too?”