A Room With A View

Chapter Twenty-Four - Madeline

September 18th, Monday

"That's so great," Len enthused.

"Thanks." A flush colored Madeline's cheeks. "You know, I really didn't think I'd get it when I was reading the--"

"Oh, I meant that's so great that Colin still thinks about me. I hope you told him the feeling's mutual." Len winked. She was wearing ridiculously long false eyelashes. They reached her cheekbones when her eyes were closed.

Madeline leaned forward. "Of course. In fact, he should be here any minute to whisk you away." Both girls looked expectantly at the front door. No one burst in.

Len cleared her throat. "Well there's one fantasy that's been shot in the foot. But honest, Mads, that's awesome about the show. When do rehearsals start?"

"Today." Madeline ran her finger along the lip of Café Clark's signature mint green mug. She was nervous and excited, all twined up into one big ball of barely-contained emotion.

"So are you the lover," Len asked, adding a seductive emphasis to the word. She puckered her red lips and fluffed her new short hair.

Madeline laughed. "No, I am the pure and kind best friend."

"Ah, so it's a play about us then?" Len quirked her eyebrow. A quick warmth spread out from Madeline's chest. Len had called Madeline her "best friend".

"Apparently," Madeline said.

"Oi!" Dennis called across the café to them. "Do I pay you to sit or do I pay you to work?" he asked. He jerked his head toward the customers who had just walked through the door.

"I'm not working today, Dennis," Madeline called back.

"Then tell pixie cut to get off her ass."

Dennis really should have kept to the espresso machine. He was marvelous with the coffee, not so much with the customers. The general manager had called in sick, and so Dennis had filled the spot. He owned the place, which seemed to give him the permission to speak the way he spoke, no matter who was around. Madeline watched the couple who had walked in exchange words with one another.

"Oh I really think we should leave, Sugar Bun," Len said, high-pitched. She was putting a voice to the female half of the couple by the door.

"Yes I agree," Len responded to herself in a deep baritone. "This manager says just the most disgraceful things. My virgin ears can't handle it."

Madeline snorted.

"Len." It was Dennis's no-nonsense voice.

Len sighed. "Our fearless leader is just begging for my presence. Fifty cents says they order a muffin and two coffees and leave an eight percent tip," Len said, getting up from the table.

"You're on." Madeline watched Len weave through the tables and cheerily greet the customers before pulling out her book. She had finally started Sunset at the Cove last night. So far, it wasn't bad. It was written from a woman's point of view, and Madeline was enjoying the narrator's quick wit. She cracked open the spine, but felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. It was her mother. Madeline's mom had gotten so excited to learn that she could program a specific vibration for a contact, that she had spent a full hour programming her vibration for Madeline's phone. "Now you'll always know it's me!" her mother had said excitedly.

Madeline smiled. She refolded the corner of her page, and answered the phone.

"Hey Mom."

There was a heavy pause. Madeline's heart sped up.