A Girl Named Madeline

Chapter 3

POV: Outside View (1991)

"There, done!" 11 year old Madeline says as she fills yet another notebook with the contents of that week. She hears a noise, and quickly spins on her heels. "Nicky?" she whispers. She hears laughing, and she recognizes one of the voices. Soon Nick walks in the cave, followed by 2 other people she had never seen before. She stands, cross-armed, facing the new-comers. "Hey, Nicky." she says sweetly. He turns around, startled. "Oh! Hey, Maddie." "Who are they?" she asks, her smile fading from her face. "Oh, yeah. This is Howie and AJ. They're my friends." I guess this is why he hasn't had enough time for me. she thinks to herself. AJ and Howie wave at her awkwardly. "We can go if yo-" Nick starts. "No. I was leaving anyway. See you Nick." She stalks angrily out of the cave. I can't believe it. He's forgetting me. She tries to hold in her tears as she walks home.

POV: Nick (2010)

"Come on guys!" Kevin hollers at the rest of the gang as they struggle to get out of the vans. "We're coming! We're coming!" I yell, pulling on my suitcase which is stuck between the seats. We finally manage to get everyone out of the car, we run into the airport. "Here's our terminal. Come on, give the bags to the ushers. Let's go, let's go!" Howie yells. He's always the traffic-director. "Ok, so Kev and Bri will go on plane #198 to Lexington, Kentucky. And Howie, AJ, and I are on plane # 764 to Orlando, Florida. I'll hop a cab to Tampa." I say to no one in particular. I hug Kev and B-Rok, and say goodbye. Then I grab Howie and AJ, and head to our plane. I've always had a fear of heights, so I find the seat furthest from a window. I'm on my way home.

POV: Madeline (2010)

"Ooh!" I say, after I stab my finger with a needle. Oh, I'll be fine. I really need to get this done. The velvet curtains that Nick and I used as covers for our bookcases in our cave ripped, and since I'm pretty decent with a needle, I brought them home to fix them. "Ah! Done!" I say, holding them up to admire them. I fold them, and place them gently in my tote bag as I tiptoe down the stairs. As I walk to the front door, I remember that it's Thursday. "Oh, shit." Every Thursday, my mama and I would go to Mrs. Carter's house for a visit. I kept the tradition alive since she's been gone. I resolve to go tomorrow. Sliding my shoes on, I leave the house. I make sure to grab Danny's car keys, so he doesn't go driving drunk. Then, I head off. Past the Tampa Bay dock. Past the meadow. Just outside of the town. To our cave.