My Strange Addiction➳ Carlos De Vil

Cotillion

I find Jane pacing around a fountain, rapidly talking into her phone. I can only catch a few words- "yes...no...party favors...on time...can't be late..."

I sigh and march over to her, "Jane, I got this. Give me the phone and go over to Evie's dorm. She'll help you get ready. I'll catch up with you later."

"But-"

"No buts!" I snatch the phone from her open hand and press it to my ear, "Go. I'll have time to get ready. I swear."

Jane blinks but I get right down to business, talking Lumiere. She shakes her head and says, "O-Okay. Then...I better go." I nod as I ramble off instructions, counting them off my fingers. She turns towards the dorm then hesitates. She turns back, "Thanks Madison. You're a great friend."

I flash her a quick grin, "Thanks, Jane. Now hurry!"

I don't have to tell her again. She runs towards the dorms and I walk along the stone wall surrounding the fountain, devoting my attention to finishing this phone call.

"Maddy, Maddy!" Carlos scares the Isle out of me. I yelp and almost topple over into the fountain. He grabs my arm and half pulls and half lifts me off the wall. I punch his arm repeatedly, "You idiot! I could've drowned!"

"It's barely five inches!"

"So?! You can drown in less!"

"Like I really would've let you drown. Quit hitting me, Maddy! Ow!"

I punch him one last time and Carlos rubs his arm, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you. I need to ask you something."

Lumiere calls through the phone, "Hatter? Hatter, are you there?"

I sigh, "Hold that thought, Carlos." I speak to Lumiere, "Lumiere. I'm here. We're all taking a stretch carriage over at 6:00. No, no, no. The pen toppers are in the port side cabin. So, when you're on the boat facing the left...Yeah, yeah. Right. No, no, no. Not right, left. You got that? Okay. Great. See you there then. Bye! Thanks a bunch!"

I hang up and look down at the phone, "If this wasn't Jane's phone, I'd so throw it in this fountain." Instead, I pocket it and look up at Carlos, "Sorry. I'm so sick of Cotillion and I haven't even attended one technically. Think I can fake sick?"

"I hope not. Cause...uh..." Carlos takes my hands in his which is kinda strange. I've only held his hand when we're running.

"Maddy...will you go to Cotillion with me? And...maybe...if you want, of course...we can be more than friends? Like...boyfriend and girlfriend?"

My mouth drops open and I blink. I really like Carlos and everyone does think we'd be a good couple. I'm a little scared of being in a relationship but- to quote my pesky roommate, "That's normal in any relationship. You just gotta decide if the person is worth it...and take that leap of faith!"

Carlos is so worth it.

So...I guess I'm taking that leap of faith.

"Yeah. I'll go to Cotillion and be your girlfriend."

"Really? Both?"

I burst out laughing, "You're the one who asked for both, aren't you?"

"Huh." Carlos grins, "I guess I did. Weird. Two minutes ago, I was too scared to ask for either."

"Well, two minutes ago I would have been too scared to say yes. But I'm Madison Hatter and I'm not scared of anything."

We both start laughing and I grin, "Well, I guess now I have a reason to go to Cotillion. So...I better get ready!"