Chapter 22: A hint of things to come.

Ever had someone smack you with a baseball bat? If this wasn't the equivalent of a tap to the noggin with a Louisville Slugger, I don't know what is.

"But you said-"

"I know what I said. And I was lying through my teeth." She started pacing around the room, never looking directly at me. "By the time I realized what a silly fool I had been for letting Callista get to me with her stories, Morgan had already made--with my blessing--her play for you, and succeeded. What else could I do but smile and wish you two the best? And no, I'm not telling you this, when there's no chance of you staying, to try to hurt you." Maddie paused, then turned to look directly at me. "I want to try again. I don't know how I'm going to manage it just yet, but come this autumn, I will be up in Boston. We may not work out this time either, but I want to try. If you don't... well, you can tell me then. Take care of yourself." Before I could muster any sort of response, she came over and kissed me lightly on the cheek, then left, closing the door gently behind her.

I stood by the window watching the sunset as my frazzled mind tried to make sense of what had just happened. So Maddie decided to go all Felicity on me. At least she had the courtesy to tell me in advance, right? That being said, I really didn't know what to do. Telling her not to go to Boston was out of the question--those of you who have ever tried to tell a teenager not to do anything understand what I mean. I couldn't tell her to go either; no matter how much part of me wanted her up there, the rest of me cared too much for her to have her leave behind all she had here for me.

As I was moving into my new Boston apartment the next day, I came to the conclusion that doing nothing was the best thing to do. After all, Maddie's an intelligent girl. She'll realize what a silly idea following me to Boston is. And if she doesn't, her parents (even from two thousand miles away) will. I'll miss her, but this is for the best. As I said before, love doesn't conquer all. Nor should it be expected to.

(I didn't know about the following until much later, but am including it here for the sake of continuity.)

"You're doing WHAT?" Rachel spun around on the swivel chair so hard she almost fell off. She stared incredulously at Maddie, who was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The two were over at Rachel's doing homework before Maddie made her announcement. "Please tell me I heard you wrong."

"Not if you heard me say I'm going to Boston in the fall," Maddie replied, still staring at the ceiling.

"Was this Jordan's idea!?"

"No," vehemently. Then, a softer, "He didn't even know until I told him today."

"And what did he have to say about it?"

"I left before he could answer."

"Um, okay. Letting that go for a moment... why do you want to follow him to Boston?"

"Because... if I don't go, I'll always look back and wonder what might have been. I'll always take the path of least resistance, and never take another chance. I'll lose him again, this time for good."

"So, whatever reason you had for breaking up with him last year--that's no longer a factor?"

"No."

"And somehow, whether or not he wants you to go is also not a factor."

Maddie rolled over onto her stomach to face Rachel. "That's not fair, and you know it. This is about taking a chance, like I did before."

"That was going down an escalator the wrong way. This is moving several hundred miles to Boston!"

"I know. But I need to do this."

Rachel threw up her hands in exasperation. "Okay, okay. Let's assume that the ends check out for now. What about the means?"

"You mean, how am I going to sell my parents on the idea?"

"Well, yeah."

"My mom went to Fernwood Academy in Boston. She'd be overjoyed if I told her I was accepted there--especially with a full ride. The place has an even better academic reputation than Friends."

"Might this humble friend ask exactly how you're going to manage this?"

Maddie looked down briefly, then back up at Rachel, a look of determination on her face. "I know someone up there who owes me, big time. She can make it happen."

"And there's no way I can talk you out of this."

"No."

Rachel sighed deeply. "In that case... she's going to have to get you two spots at Fern-whatever, 'cause I'm coming with you."

"You're what? But-"

"You can't talk me out of this: end of discussion. If you're going dream-chasing up in Boston, you'll need someone to keep you grounded and watch your back."

"I... I don't know what to say."

"Just say 'Glad to have you on board' and leave it at that. Now, don't you have a phone call to make?"