Chapter Eight

*Austin's POV*

I got home from school and threw my bag on the couch, grabbing a bag of chips from the kitchen and plopping down on the couch, turning the tv on.

Mom came in and smiled at me. "How was school?"

I shrugged. "Fine." I said, putting my feet on the coffee table.

"Did you talk to Madison today?" She asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. We have almost every class together and she sits with us at lunch."

She picked up my backup and threw it in my lap. "I'd like you to go invite her and parents over for dinner tonight."

"Okay." I said, standing up and dropping my bag on the floor.

Mom pinched my arm. "Put your bag away or I'm gonna kick your butt."

I smiled and put my bag in the hall closet, then ran next door. I knocked on the door and waited a second, then frowned when I heard yelling.

"Carol! Get the door!" A man yelled.

"You do it!" A woman yelled back.

"Both of you stop yelling!" I heard Madison tell. Then I heard glass shatter.

"Shut up!" The man yelled.

The door opened and Madison stepped out, closing the door behind her.

I looked at her. "Are you okay? "

She nodded and smiled. "Yeah. Everything's cool. What's up?"

"My mom wants you and your parents to come over for dinner tonight." I said.

More glass broke inside the house and Madison rolled her eyes. "I can come, but my parents probably won't make it."

I nodded. "Okay. Come over around 6."

She nodded and smiled. "Okay."

I went to walk away, but then I turned and looked at her. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah. I promise." She said. "I'll see you later."

---

"Madison's here!" Mom called from the living room. I came downstairs and saw Madison standing in the door holding a dish.

"Hey, Mads." I said, smiling and taking the dish from her. "This smells good. What is it?"

"Green bean casserole." She said.

My mom smiled at her. "Did your mother make it?"

She shook her head. "No. I did." She smiled. "I like to cook."

Mom took the dish and went to the kitchen.

I put my arm around Madison. "Are you ready to be riddled with questions and super awkward moments?"

She chuckled. "I think so."

I walked her to the kitchen and saw my dad. "Hey, dad. This is Madison. Her and her family moved in next door."

He smiled and shook her hand. "Nice to meet you."

Madison smiled. "Thank you for inviting me, Mr and Mrs Carlile."

Mom smiled and motioned to the dining room. "You guys can go sit. Dinner will be done in 2 minutes."

I nodded and led Madison to the dining room, pulling out her chair for her and pushing it in when she sat down. I sat down next to her.

"Your house is so nice." She said.

I frowned and looked around. "Really?"

She nodded. "Well compared to mind I guess."

I looked at her. "You look really nice by the way."

She smiled and blushed. "Thank you."

"Okay, kiddies. Dinner is ready." Mom said, carrying in a platter of ham. She came in and set it in the table, smiling at Madison. "I hope you like honey ham. I use my own special recipe."

Madison smiled really big. "Honey ham is my favorite."

I smiled and stood up. "Sit down, Mom. Me and Dad will get the rest."

Mom sat down and smiled. "Oh, so a pretty girl comes over and now you wanna learn manners?" She winked at Madison and Madison giggled.

I smiled and went to the kitchen. Dad was trying to pick up five plates at a time. "Dad, let me help."

I gathered the mashed potatoes and rolls, Dad got the carrots and the green bean casserole that Mads brought. We took it the dining room and everyone got situated. I took my seat next to Madison and Dad sat with Mom.

I made Madison her plate and Dad handed her and I both a glass of wine. "We allow Austin to drink a little wine with dinner." He said.

She shook her head. "No, thank you. I'll just take some water."

Dad smiled and nodded. "Okay."

We started eating and it was quiet. After a few minutes of silence I cleared my throat. "This casserole is really good, Mads."

She smiled. "Thank you."

Mom looked at her. "So, Madison, how come your parents couldn't make it?"

Madison looked down at her plate. "My mom has a cold and my dad wanted to stay home and look after her."

"You don't have any brothers or sisters?" Dad asked.

"I have an older brother but he still lives in Michigan."

I looked at her. "Really? I didn't know that."

She nodded. "Yeah. He's 24. He stayed in Michigan because he doesn't get along with our parents."

"Are you guys close?" I asked.

"Yeah." She smiled. "He was like my best friend." She took a drink of her water. "He's getting married next year. So since I'll be 18, I'm gonna go see him."

Mom smiled. "Are you close with your parents?"

Her smiled disappeared. "Not really."

Dad held my mom's hand. "Sweetie, stop interrogating the girl."

I looked at Madison. "Told you."

She giggled and took another bite of her food.

Mom smiled and raised her eyebrow at me. "Told her what?"

I smiled. "Nothin."

---The rest of dinner was nice. Madison talked about the things she liked and it turns out, we have a lot in common. We both love music and history. She wanted to study the human brain, mostly serial killers. She was smart. In a way it was a little intimidating. She was beautiful too. Long brown hair, big green eyes and a killer smile. She was about 5'5 and had a large chest, tiny waist, and a big butt and hips.

After dinner we went upstairs to my room. Madison sat on my bed and smiled at me.

"I love your parents. They're so nice and cool." She said.

I sat down on my bean bag chair. "Yeah I guess they are pretty cool."

She looked at me. "Thanks for inviting me over."

I smiled. "You're welcome."

She smiled. "I also wanted to thank you for being so friendly. I'm really glad I met you."

"I'm glad I met you too. You're really cool." I said.

She blushed and looked away, that cute smile never leaving her face. "Is it stupid that I kinda think of you as a best friend?"

I shook my head. "Why would it?"

She shrugged. "Well we've only known each other a few days."

I smiled and picked up a baseball from the floor and tossed it in the air. "That doesn't matter."

"I miss having someone to be close with." She said.

I dropped the ball. "Well you can tell me anything. Always."

She smiled. "Same to you." She held out her pinky. "Pinky promise?"

I grinned and wrapped my pinky around hers. "Pinky promise."

The rest of the day we talked about school and baseball and music. She helped me finish my science project and even cleaned my room for me. Around 9 o'clock I walked her home and hugged her goodbye. When I got home my mom was waiting for me.

"She's really awesome, Austin." Mom said.

I smiled. "Yeah. She's cool."

Mom grinned. "You like her."

I chuckled. "Yeah I guess do have kind of a crush on her."

"Well I approve." Mom said, hugging me really tight.

I hugged her. "Night, Mom."