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Chapter 3

Tuesday

Madeline walked into science to see Luke sitting there by himself at the desk in front of hers. Where's Vanessa? She never misses a day. Luke waves at her and she cant help but smile and wave back. As soon as Madeline sits down Luke spins his chair around to her desk and smiles.

"Hi doll face." Luke whispers.

"Why do you keep calling me that?"

"Because your face is perfect and polished like a doll."

"Oh um thanks." Madeline says trying her hardest not to blush.

"Oh look now you have the rosy cheeks of a doll too." He said laughing. Luke has such a cute laugh. That just made her blush even more and all this blushing was making her mad so she just put her head down.

Sara wasn't here today either so the seat next to Madeline was open. Luke got up and took a seat right next to her.

"What are you doing? You're gonna get in trouble."

"Really? In trouble?"

"Oh yeah sorry I forgot who I was talking to." They both started laughing.

"Quiet!" The teacher yelled at them. "Um excuse me Mr. Hemmings. Get back in your seat."

"Well Sir that seat really wasn't working for me so I would appreciate it if you just let me sit here from now on. "

"Whatever Mr. Hemmings."

"Score." Luke whispered.

"From now on?" Madeline whispered back. "What about Vanessa?"

"Oh yeah. Her. Well we aren't really together anymore."

"Oh." Madeline tried to sound sincere on the outside but on the inside she was so happy. "What a shame."

"Was that sarcasm doll face?"

"No." Madeline said without hesitation but you could see the guilt on her face. Luke just started laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh nothing doll face."

"Stop calling me that."

"I can't. It's stuck now doll face."

"Ugh"

School went by how it normally did except the fact that whenever Luke walked by her he either smiled or winked at her. Madeline does not know what's going on. Madeline had to ride the bus home again and when she got home all the lights were turned off and she saw her dad sitting in a chair in the dark. She turned on a light and it revealed the two empty vodka bottles on the floor.

"Welcome home."

"Um hi. What's going on?"

"Oh nothing. It's just that your room is a mess. And I told you to clean it yesterday. WHY DID YOU FUCKING DISOBEY ME!" Her dad got up from the chair and was walking towards her with a fist.

"I'm sorry! Im sorry! I'm sorry!" Then she felt it. A huge punch in the gut. She hunched over in pain and started crying.

"Now go fucking clean your room like I told you." He walked over to a cupboard and got another big bottle of vodka.

Madeline went upstairs and sat on her bed and just cried. She lifted up her shirt and saw a bruise on her chest right on her ribcage. That made her cry even more. She started to clean her room even though there was only a few shirts and a bag on the floor. When she was done she started to do her homework on her laptop. But first she went on Twitter. She had 5 new messages from Luke. She clicked on them and read.

Luke H.- hi doll face.

Luke H.- I'm glad I get to sit by you in science now.

Luke H.- so um I was wondering if you wanted to get coffee tomorrow after school?

Luke H.- you there doll face?

Luke H.- uh sorry nevermind then.

Did Luke just ask her out on a date?

Madeline B.- Hi I'm so sorry I was cleaning my room. Yes I would love to get coffee with you.

Not even a minute later she got a reply.

Luke H.- alright cool doll face.

Madeline smiled and started crying again because all she could think about was her mom. And how all she wanted was to be able to tell her mom about a crush. Like any other girl had the chance to do.