Forever and Always, Olive

Chapter 28: From Bad to Worse

HI GUYS! Like I said I would, I'm updating again today.

This book has a few more chapters left, so I don't want you guys to panic when I say this, but I'm probably going to start setting things up for my next book (cover contests, posting, advertising here). So yeah, I'll keep you guys updated. IF YOU MAKE COVERS OR WANT TO TRY MAKING COVERS, KEEP AN EYE ON MY PROFILE AND THESE AUTHORS NOTES. :)

Next Update is probably next weekend. :D Happy reading.

Chapter 28: From Bad to Worse

We slowed to a stop in front of Maddox’s house and he turned to me. “Wait a second. I’ll be right out,” he informed me and I nodded, staring as he exited the car and disappeared into the house. I watched as Abel galloped down the steps, twirling his keys around his finger. However, this time, he didn’t drop them and fall down the steps trying to retrieve them. When he saw his brother’s idling car, he walked over and ducked his head into my window.

“Hey,” I greeted him.

“Hey,” he replied. “Ready for your date?”

“Yeah, I guess,” I muttered.

“You guess?” he asked me.

“I’m nervous,” I replied, glancing towards the entrance of the house. Maddox was walking down the steps with a large basket in his hand. “What’s that?” I asked as I squinted towards the green eyed boy approaching the car.

“You’ll see,” Abel replied.

Maddox put the basket in the backseat before shutting the door and getting in the driver’s seat. “What are you doing?” he asked his brother as he buckled his seatbelt.

“Talking, what are you doing?” Abel responded.

“Getting ready to leave,” Maddox told his older brother.

“You two have fun now. Don’t kiss too much,” Abel warned as he slowly started ducking his head out of the window. “Oh wait, she won’t even kiss you until you man up and ask her out!”

Maddox simply gave his older brother a glare before driving off down the street, allowing the sound of Abel’s mocking laughter to fade away as we drove further and further away. “So what’s that?” I asked Maddox when I looked towards the backseat.

“You’ll find out later,” Maddox informed me. I stared at him before sighing.

“You’re not going to tell me anything?” I asked.

He smirked at me and shook his head. “What part of ‘surprise’ don’t you understand?”

“The entire concept of a surprise,” I replied.

“Well you’ll understand after today,” he responded with a smile on his face.

+ + +

We slowed to a stop in a slightly familiar area. “The cliff?” I asked curiously. But we weren’t at the clearing. We were in what seemed to be a more forested version.

“Yeah,” he replied as he unbuckled his seatbelt.

I got out of the car nervously, pulling down my sweater. I held the purse tightly in my hand, fearing that I’d leave it somewhere and lose all of my belongings. I don’t understand why people just can’t use pockets instead of these bulky, unnecessary things. “Where’s the clearing?” I asked curiously.

He looked at me with a grin. “We’re going to be doing a little bit of walking, if that’s okay with you.”

“Lead the way, Maddie,” I replied. I was surprised that the grin didn’t falter at the use of his nickname. He grabbed the basket from the backseat and walked towards a slight opening in the forested area. The moonlight wasn’t as bright between the trees; I was simply going off of the sound of snapping branches beneath his feet rather than actually watching him. The cold air was nipping at my skin and the wind was blowing, causing my hair to attack my face, but I managed to listen to the noises Maddox was making. Suddenly, the crunching twigs stopped and I immediately grew tense. “Maddie?”