Survive

Chapter Nineteen

Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

September 1, 2022.

Madison Stone's Point Of View.

I look at the landscape while I wait for Andrey to appear. I called him to come to the park so I could talk to him, because I thought we should talk in a place that was not my house or his and that was not the school.

I spend long minutes waiting for him, even thinking that he is not coming, but when I hear him talking to me, I am reassured.

"What do you want to talk to me about?" I turn around to see him.

I want to hug and kiss him, because he looks so beautiful in the dark blue sweatshirt he is wearing, the same one that brings out the color of his eyes. But since we are fighting, I will wait until we make up before I do that.

"You know what I want to talk about."

"No. I don't know." He says seriously, but then immediately looks at me with a wry expression. "Oh, did you think of an excuse to say that you did want your ex to know you were dating?"

"I called you to apologize to you, Andrey," I ignore his sarcasm and he looks at me as if he liked what he heard, but doesn't want to give in so easily.

"What?" He plays hard to get and I take a deep breath before I say what I want.

"I know that I have wronged you and made you feel uncomfortable and insecure. So, I want to apologize to you," I say looking into his eyes and he looks away.

"Uhm.. I don't know what to say..." he stares at me again.

"You can start by saying you forgive me..." I suggest giving a shy smile and he loses his angry posture, giving a cute laugh. I'm in love with his smile.

"Okay.. I forgive you."

"So.. you're not angry with me anymore, right?" I say with a smile and he smiles back.

"I can't stay angry with you," he pulls me by the arm and gives me a hug, which I eagerly return.

"I want you to know that no matter who shows up or reappears, I want you, only you." I say and lift my face to face him.

"I tell you the same. If it's not you, so it's not anyone, my cheerleader." Why is it so nice to hear these romantic drivel?

I pull him by the neck and give him a little kiss on his soft lips.

"I am madly in love with you, Andrey Butler." I say as I stare into his blue eyes, which shine brighter than usual after what I say.

"And I love you Madison." And now the one whose eyes must be glazing over must be me.

Some time later...

"I'm glad you guys worked it out," Anthony says as soon as he stops the car in front of the house.

Andrey and I stayed a little longer in the park, ate ice cream, talked, and then left. Since Andrey went in his car and I went with Anthony, we said goodbye in the parking lot.

"Thank you. I really owe you a thank you, because if it wasn't for your advice, I wouldn't have called him to talk."

"You don't owe me anything," he smiles at me through the rearview mirror and I reciprocate.

"I'm going to go talk to my mom now, see if she's okay, all right?" I speak as I remember what I heard earlier and he agrees.

"Sure. Go check on her. Your father may not even care about you, but Mrs. Stone... she loves you, and a lot."