The Monochrome Army (title subject to change)

Part One, Chapter Two

     Starr began the walk in the bustling school hallways. Her good headphones were at home on her bed, so she had to deal with her ear buds. The sound of the hallways seeped into her music as she meandered toward her locker. Addi joined her and yanked an earbud out of her ear.
        "What?" Starr looked up her and scowled.
        "I just think you should listen to me." Addi listed his head.
        "Whatever." As they rounded the corner, Starr said, "So, about Madison-"
        As if she summoned him, she slammed straight into him. Starr stumbled backward, tripping over her untied shoelace and tottered toward the ground.
         Madison's hands shot out and he grabbed her arms, so all of his things tumbled to the floor. Starr's fall was halted abruptly and Madison looked down at her.
        For a moment, the grin that had seemed plastered to his face disappeared. Then, it slowly spread across his lips until it was lopsided, a smile bright enough to be infectious and dazzling enough to be flirtatious.
       "Well! You took quite a spill!" Madison pulled her upright.
       "So it seems, Mr. Madison." She bent to collect her things tucking her curls behind her ears. "That is your name, correct?"
       "At your disposal," he said imperiously and bowed. "And you're Starr." He crouched and picked up her notebooks. "Nice work in maths, by the by."
      Addi, who Starr had forgotten was there, leaned down. "I gotta scram, so I'll let you two get acquainted." To Madison, he said,  "Starr has Ms. Parkington for chemistry; if you'd be a gentleman and walk her there?" Addi tilted his head pointedly then spun and walked away.
         Starr let out a sigh. Here we go.
        "Uh-oh," Madison said suddenly.
        Somebody pinched her butt and called in amusement. Starr whirled around and glared balefully at the perpetrator, who was, of course, Garrett. Through clenched teeth, she hissed, "I think this game's gone a little too far, don't you, Garrett?" She poured venom into her words and grabbed his wrist, twisting it harshly.
        Garrett squeaked and his face went pale. Starr pushed him back, hard, into his herd of friends (who looked surprised at this sudden outburst).
       "Mess with me again," she dared, then turned back to Madison. She picked up his Rubik's cube.
        "Here," she said and held it out to him. A little shiver ran up her arm when Madison touched it.
      "Thank you," he said and eyed her curiously. "Garrett sure has a fascination with your butt."
        Starr flushed a pale pink and found it exorbitantly embarrassing that Madison mentioned a butt and specifically hers.
       She shoved the awkward feeling down and peered up at him, saying, "Yeah. Since eighth grade."
        "You looked at me like that in maths. Do you do that to other people, or am I special?" Madison sounded vaguely amused.
        "I look at everybody like that. I have to pick their minds apart to understand them." Starr stepped over an upturned cup in the middle of the hallway.
         "It's quite peculiar." He meandered after her. "You're quite peculiar."
        "And have you decided if that's a good thing or a bad thing?" She gazed level at him, waiting for him to catch up.
        He watched her for a moment and said, "I like it. I don't know if other people do."
        "An enlightening observation," Starr said satirically.
         "Ever the charmer," Madison said ostentatiously. "After you, milady," he said and opened the door to chemistry class.