Stuck in reality

Chapter One: Opposite

The sun filtered through the curtains, casting a yellow hue on everything it touched. Madeline Cross stretched on her bed as her eyes reluctantly fluttered open. An involuntary groan escaped her lips as she felt her swollen eyelids aching when she forced them to stay open. This was a side-effect of crying oneself to sleep, a side-effect Madeline had become achingly familiar with, in the past four months.

Rolling over on her side, she noticed the time on the wall clock hung in the corner of her room. 9:30. Cursing herself, her alarm and everything else in the world, she got up hastily and changed out of her nightdress. Within fifteen minutes she was ready.

Bounding down a staircase with exquisitely carved wood banisters, she came face to face with Arthur Milton. At first, Arthur was not looking at her, but rather reading the paper, leaning against the banister in a manner that suggested that he had been waiting for her. He was a short man, with a lean body and a slight hint of stubble on his face. His height was a sensitive topic for him, though he always did try to brush it off nonchalantly, much to Madeline's amusement. He was one of the two founders of the Cross Milton Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The other founder was her father, Nigel Cross.

Arthur looked up at her and said, "Ah, Madeline. You're up."

Madeline rolled her eyes at him and said, "Thank you for stating the obvious, Mr. Milton." Her grandfather had taught her to always address her elders politely, no matter what the situation. She was sure he didn't mean to utilize it as sarcasm, but still. A lump formed in her throat when she thought of him, and she fought to hide the flash of sorrow that had enfolded her. "Um, I need to go. I'm late for school," she said, gesturing towards the fact that he was blocking her path.

Arthur laughed and said, "Yes. About two hours late, to be precise. I called the school to tell them you wouldn't be coming today."

Madeline groaned in frustration and said, "Father told you to, didn't he?" Arthur pursed his lips and looked at her as if she was nothing but a bothersome child. A few moments later he said, "Yes. Yes, he did. Frankly, I see no wrong in his decision. It's not safe for you out there."

Madeline resisted the urge to stamp her foot as she responded coldly, "Its school. And you cannot keep me locked up in the house!"

Arthur frowned at her and she abruptly neutralized her anger, realizing that she had been addressing him impolitely. "Pardon me, Mr. Milton," she began, "But it is wrong of him to keep me inside the house 24 hours a day. I'm missing out on school. And he has no appropriate reason. What is he protecting me from, anyways?"

Arthur sighed and said, "The money you have inherited from your grandfather has made you a target for a lot of people, Madeline. His enemies are waiting to pounce upon an opportunity to hurt you."

Madeline was beginning to feel increasingly infuriated now. She said, "My grandfather had no enemies. Even if he did have enemies, I doubt the fact that they would be twirling their mustaches and waiting to 'pounce' upon me in the cafeteria or the school halls, Mr. Milton."

"Regardless, your safety is a priority for us, now more than ever. Apart from school, what do you need to go outside for? You have a pool, a library, a theater, and a chef that can cook anything you want right here," He said, like he was explaining two plus two to an over emotional toddler.

"Mr. Milton, as you yourself said, apart from school. I want to go to school," Madeline said, realizing immediately that she sounded like a nerd. Thinking before talking did have some merit to it, after all. But Arthur was not a high school cheerleader, and did not pay heed to her - for a lack for fancy words - nerd-ness.

"Well, about that," Arthur began, slowly, "What exactly are your opinions on homeschooling?"

"Homeschooling," Madeline said, throwing daggers of contempt into the word, "- is not at all practical a mere months before the finals, Mr. Milton. And I want to go to a school like everybody else does. It's what - it's what my grandfather would have wanted."