Forbidden Love

Not a Secret Anymore

Chapter 7

(Maddie's POV)

We got off the bus and into the studio. I had barely walked into the studio when Kendall took me by the arm and dragged me to the bathroom.

"What are you doing, texting Gino? Gino?!", she hissed

I said nothing.

"He's a boy! You're texting a boy! You called him awesome!", she squealed

I said nothing.

"You like him don't you?", she asked, slyly, "Nobody calls a boy 'perfection' and 'awesome' just for the heck of it. They have a crush. And you, Madison, have a crussshhhh!", she stretched the last word.

"Sssshhhh", I finally whispered, "Its not a crush. Its... more like a secret missiom... for Abby. Top secret", I assured her, hoping my lie wasn't too easily see through.

Maybe that was so, but unfortunately, my cheeks were beet red.

"Hey", Kendall softened, "Its okay, you're secret's safe with me'

I repulsed

"What secret? I don't like him at all! He's just a boy who dances, big deal. There are plenty of boys at school, and that doesn't mean I like them!"

"You're homeschooled"

"Not the point. Point is, I don't, really, like him", I hope I finally drilled that into her.

I don't like him, right? He's just a boy dancer. Just a boy. 

No boys, Abby had always said. Maddie, no boys.

No fraternizing with the enemy, she had said. But he's not an enemy anymore, right?

In any case, I don't like him. I guess. Maybe.

(Gino's POV)

I wanted to text Maddie again, but I couldn't.

I had full on rehearsal for the next competition, two weeks from now. I had a group dance this time, plus a duet with this nice girl, Alyssa. 

She's nice and all, but is she Maddie? No.

I just can't get chemistry with her. My instructors are yelling at me to focus, but I can't. All I'm thinking is awesome, perfection, awesome, perfection, Maddie, flawless, love.

Wait, what?

Love?

Love is not part of this list. I'm certainly not in love with her. I just like her, as a friend. A a close friend. Besides, I'm pretty sure my teachers probably put me in this duet because they think that Alyssa and I have a thing going. Nobody would approve I I loved Maddie. Not that I do.