"You're to not to make her your sex thing." My dad snapped, almost as he cared about her.
"Even if something had happened, it wouldn't be any of your business."
"Nothing happened, did it?" his voice was still in that strong tone.
"No, she was in another room. She had her own bed and everything," I said and rolled my eyes.
"You're to stay away from her."
"How can I? She lives near me, goes to school with me. Let's face it, she's human and needs and should interact with people. Why do you have such a problem with that?"
"Because I 'created' her!"
"She's still human! You also created me."
He stopped just to pause.
"I've had this conversation before. I didn't back down then and I won't this time either."
Glancing at the clock, I noticed I was going to be late. I only stopped here to grab a different pair of shoes for school. I wasn't going to have that conversation again with my dad, and there wasn't time.
"I have to go."
I started to take a step towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to go to the choir concert to support Madeline."
I stood in front of the garage door with my hand on the handle.
"I wish I was here to have stopped her."
"That's why I dropped her off early," I spoke quietly with my back still turned to him as I left.
As I ran down the hall towards the dark auditorium, my shoes barely hit the ground, and the piano cords echoed into the hall. Running faster, I couldn't miss her performance. Almost sliding on the tile floor, I grabbed onto the door to swing into the room.
Hearing a charming voice, I looked up out on the stage. Standing by herself under a spotlight, Madeline stood in front of a microphone, and her arms were by sides. Looking scared for her life, moving forward, she seemed to have seen me as she gave a weak smile. Her voice was a little small and started to build as the notes went along. A grin was wide on my face as I stared at her. Her confidence had to be growing with the song. Her eyes were in my direction instead of out in the masses. The grin felt permanent on my face. Her hands started to move a little away from her sides. Her voice grew louder, and her face seemed less pink. She might have gotten the chance to develop self-esteem. For once, the attention was on her talent rather than what she was.
"You sang so great! Why do you hide such a great voice?"
I hugged Madeline as she was blushing. She was outside of the choir room. Madeline hugged me back.
"Was I? Because I think I messed up this one part."
"You're too hard on yourself."
I ruffled the top of her head.
"Ah, stop doing that!"
I laughed. Madeline yelped. Justin came behind her and pulled her into a hug. Turning around to the smirking Justin, she stood next to me.
"Wow…I don't think there is another word that could describe that besides wow."
"Thank you."
"Why haven't I heard you sing before?" Justin kept going on with the badgering.
"I get nervous, and I don't think I'm excellent," Madeline mumbled.
"You're crazy!" Justin yelled out in comparison to her timid voice, causing others in the hall to turn to look at us. "You're the essence of amazing."
"Thank you, well we're going home now. I'm tired." Madeline spoke up.
"Alright, see you tomorrow." His voice dimmed.
We opened the doors from the school, and the December air smacked us. She put her hands into the pockets of her coat. We headed towards the car. It was time that we headed home instead of Ricky's house. After her performance tonight, she might have found her voice.
"You know about that dinner next week?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you go with me?"
My eyebrows bunched together. Glancing over, Madeline was staring at me.
"What?"
"Well, you don't have to, but at least I'll have a friend to talk to."
"Seriously?"
"I'll take that as a no." She whispered and got into the front of my car.
I turned on the car and pulled out of the parking spot.
"I'll go." I finally answered.
"Really?" Madeline asked, her voice sounded peppy.
"What the hell, I'll be there for you."
"Thank you! If you weren't driving, I'd hug you. I owe you so much for this."
I laughed.
"I get it. That's what friends do."
I sneezed and shook my head. My head felt stuffed up, and the medicine hadn't kicked in. I didn't even make it up the stairs after school. I was lying on the living room couch of my dad's house watching TV. Ricky's family was back. I had the TV on and didn't plan on moving the rest of the night. Thankfully, it was the last day of school before break, but I had the party with Madeline the next night. I had to make sure I had the cold manageable before then. Madeline walked into the room holding a mug that had steam drifting from the top.
"I already told you I don't drink tea."
She rolled her eyes and sat next to my feet.
"It's not tea. It is hot water with lemon and honey in it. It'll help open you up."
I rolled my eyes. I took the mug from Madeline and sat up. Sipping it at first, I nearly spat out the scolding hot liquid.
"Blow on it." She commented and raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, don't like this. Burning isn't the same as opening up my passageways."
She took the mug back and took a sip herself.
"Men are such babies when they're sick."
I shrugged and laid back down to close my eyes.
"I plan to take it easy from now until
