Before Everything

Chapter 3

Mike's Pov

I saw Madeline Johnson in our game. Actually, she always comes to every single game of ours. She's always at the same spot to see the three-point line. I remember her brother, Tyler. I always looked up to him, he was good at basketball and in school. I was Tyler's follower when he left to military. So I became the basketball captain in our team. I think Madeline must miss him a lot. I know I do and I didn't even know him that deeply. Just in a bro level.

I've always known who Madeline Johnson is. Of course I've known her, she's the most famous teen ballerina in the world. I've gone to her premiers many times because my little sister Sophie loves her so much. Madeline is like a role model for her and that's why Sophie wants to be a ballerina when she's older. Although, Sophie is only 7 years old so her dreams could easily change in a week. My other sibling, Max is 15 years old. He always flirts with every single girl there is and believe me when I say that Max doesn't know how to flirt. So you can imagine how awkward that is. He's a bit party boy and he doesn't want to take responsibility for anything. He's a freshman in our high school and doesn't have any idea about what he wants to be.

Maybe he'll help in our dad's company, Blevins Pearson Specter. My dad would like me to take over the law firm when the time is right. So that's what I'm going to do apparently. I'll go to Harvard University and my major will be law.

To be honest, and I haven't told this to anyone, I would actually like to be a doctor and study medicine at Harvard Medical School but dad and I have talked about me being a lawyer since I was like six years old. He is really looking forward to the time when we will be name owners together. I wouldn't like to let him down. He tells everyone about how I'm going to be the next superstar in law and how I'm going to take his company even higher. He puts the hope in me because Max is what he is and Sophie is too little.

And it sounds great. Big money, lots of respect from people and all that but even though I find all different kind of law things interesting, I just feel like a doctor's career would suit me much better. But we'll go with this law firm thing. We will take care of the whole NYC. You know like father and son. Nothing will stop us.

Madeline and I ran into each other yesterday. I was clumsy and her books and phone fell to the floor. We had a very uncomfortable conversation where I mumbled and she just nodded her head. Although, we managed to exchange our names and we shared small smiles. Then, Blake, my best friend shouted my name and Madeline and I separated. I was really confused about everything that happened in the hallway.

"Mike, you're looking like you just saw an angel or something like that," Blake said and gave a suggesting look.
"Well, something like that. That girl really confuses me, Blake."
"Ooooooh, Mike is about to fall in love! Boys, did you hear it!? Mike has a girl on his mind!!"
"YAHOO, our little Mikey will be married soon, have four kids and 12 grandchildren. And soon he'll realize he is bald, ugly and has none of his abs left," Nicholson, our team's own smartass said and made everyone laugh.
"Stop it now guys. There's nothing going on between us. We don't even know each other."
"Mmm, you're just saying. Who was that anyway?" Blake asked.
"It was Madeline Everle... Her name is Madeline."
"Okay bro, never heard about that one... is she a senior?"
"No, she's a junior."
"So, you have got to know her."
"Argh, stop it now."
"Yeah yeah, I'm sorry. Boys, remember that you can't tease Mike about his little angel Madeline," Blake laughed and all the boys from our team nodded their heads and laughed.
I just laughed along. They're always like that when I even talk to a girl. They find it weird that I don't have anyone. I just haven't find the perfect match for me. These things take time. You can't just rush into a relationship and finish it quickly. And repeat the same pattern all the time. That's not how things work. People will never be truly happy that way.

After our little "woo Mike is in love" session, I changed my clothes, went to my car and headed home. The route to our home is pretty nice. I usually drive through Times Square where I actually see Madeline's pictures everytime she has a premiere. I'm lucky that I got out of school before the terrible traffic. When I got through Times Square, there were lots of trees and bushes and every time I drive there, it takes me back to my childhood when we used to visit our granny.

Our driveway looks pretty because my mom likes to take care of our garden in her spare time. Well, actually she doesn't have much free time because she's a cardiology surgeon. I think she had hired a gardener for us. The garden wouldn't look like that without a professional.

I drove the car to the garage. I was still thinking about my clumsiness with Madeline and I started to think abo...
"Oh crap!! MAX, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU NOT TO LEAVE YOUR SKATEBOARD ON THE DRIVEWAY!"
"Sorry bro, you okay there?"
"Well, does it look like that?" My leg was bleeding and it was hurting. "Now come here and help your big brother. I swear on our mom's head that if my leg is broken and I can't continue playing basketball this season, I will kill you."

Max looked scared and he apologized to me. My face softened a little bit.
"It's okay Max. Obviously, I won't kill you. I will hurt you in some kind of another way," we both laughed.

We entered our house and my sweet little sister ran towards me.
"MIKEY MIKEY!! I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!" she ran into my arms and kissed me on the cheek.
"It was like 5 hours ago when we last saw each other but I missed you too, Soph!"

Sophie grinned and I could tell that she had something on her mind.

"Guess what, Mikey? I built a rocket when I got home from school. And I saved the last part for you to put on top of the rocket."
"Oh wow, you've been productive. Show me the rocket!"

We entered our kitchen and I saw a total mess. Glitter, glue, empty toilet paper rolls, scissors, ribbons etc, they were on the kitchen floor, tables and in the sink. Sophie smiled at me and held the rocket behind her back.

"Sooo, what's the last part?" I asked being a little bit overwhelmed by all the mess.
"It's the pink and fluffy ribbon. And we're going to put it right on top the rocket."
"Wow, so I have a special mission!"

I glued the ribbon very gently and slowly to the rocket while Sophie was holding her breath and it looked like her eyes were going to pop out any minute there.

"OH MIKEY, IT LOOKS PERFECT. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!" she screamed and hugged me.
"No thank you, Soph, for letting me do this honorable and noble job," I said with a serious face.
"Yeah. It truly was a noble job", she said and I saw that she started to think about that very seriously. You know, like little kids do.

"But now it's time to eat some food. I'll make you some pasta!" I interrupted her deep thinking.
"YEY!! MIKEY'S PASTA IS THE BEST FOOD EVER."
"There's food in the fridge too. Please eat that first before you do anything else," mom said and smiled at us.
"Hi, mom! Did your surgery got cancelled?" I asked and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Yeah, the patient couldn't resist the temptation and ate a hamburger with large fries an hour before the surgery was planned to do. Can you believe that she asked the delivery guy to sneak the food all the way to her room? Like we wouldn't notice that she had eaten... Why it is so hard to follow the simple rules?" she started to get pissed off and I just listened to her and nodded my head.

I started to think about Madeline again. And even though I tried to focus on mom's lecture about sloppy patients and nurses, I didn't get Madeline off my mind.

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Authors' note

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- Where are you from?

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~ Jurinasa