Chapter 10

“You just wouldn’t believe it Jazz the whole think was completely surreal.” Madison spoke into the cell phone while whipping around Portland in a rental car.

“So what are you thinking Maddy? Is it real? Is there something there?”

“I don’t know… he went through a lot of trouble just so I wouldn’t hate him. Maybe he is legit… I don’t know.”

“Just don’t lead him on baby girl. If you like him then go for it, but if you can’t go through with it then tell him… Cut your losses and move on.”

“I hear ya… girl… Jazz I gotta beep… I’ll talk to ya soon.”

“Hello?”

“Hey baby.”

“Hey Mama.”

“Sweetie there is a very large stuffed bear in my living room, can you tell me why?”

“Hehe, it was a gift.”

“Please don’t say it was from Brett.”

“No!” Madison swerved a little at the thought. “It was Lance.”

“Oh the one that kept calling?”

“Yeah, that one.”

“So y’all are together now?”

“No we just don’t hate each other, that’s all.”

“Well baby girl for not dating someone these flowers are beautiful.”

“Ok Mama, I’m hanging up now.”

“Love you too Maddy” Shelby laughed to her daughter scrim.

“Love ya.”

Gwen met her at the studio door and gave her a final time sheet fro the next three weeks. Madison looked over it and was relieved to see her dinner date was still in effect.

***********************

Madison snatched her 2way off her side when it went off at four o’clock that afternoon. Lance was paging her with the details of their date.  She was heading back to the hotel from her last shoot when she hit him back. The group had an in-store that morning and now had the rest of the day free. Getting a shower and dressing to the nines, Madison was excited about the second… third… fourth time they were about to embark on. “Gotta love that little black dress,” she muttered to the mirror as she heard a knock on the door. She opened it to see a gentleman standing in front of her with a bouquet of roses in front of this face. He was sporting a nice suit that fit him just right. “Lance?” she laughed at his antics when he handed her the flowers like a little kid giving his teacher an apple.

“You look amazing” he assured her as they made it to the elevator.

“Thank you sir, and you are simply ravishing…” she let the words play out of her mouth as he blushed to be complimented so.

They went to dinner in Manhattan and across town to a salsa club afterwards. They picked up the steps to a steamy dance and showed off to each other for hours. When things got a little too hot heated for them they knew it was time to go. Talking and joking all the way back to the hotel they hoped the night would never end. “I had no idea you could move like that” she cracked up still high from the adrenalin rush.

“Me? What about you with all that Shakira hip shit you were doing.” He swatted at her playfully.

“Hey man” she caught his arm “I got the rhythm” she laughed. An awkward silence fell in the car when he used the arm she was holding to pull her closer to him.

“Madison, I had wonderful time tonight.” He whispered to her softly. She closed her eyes and laid her head on his shoulder.

“Is this how it’s suppose to be?”

“What do you mean… this feeling… this is what it is all about. Madison you have brought something out of me that I haven’t felt in a very long time.”
”I can’t be hurt again. I won’t go through it again. My feelings and my work have to be priorities too.” She let out in a deep sigh.

“I, of all people understand what you mean. You know what my work means to me and I know how hard you have worked to get where you are now. I would never want to come in between that. This is the last chance you will ever have to take, baby I love you.” Lance finished getting those thoughts off his chest. She looked into his green eyes and put her hands up to touch his face. Madison pulled him down so she could look into her eyes before she started talking.

“If your hurt me… I will kill you.” Lance busted out laughing at her bold statement. “It’s not funny!”

“Baby, I’m not laughing at you. I was just expecting you to say something else.” The limo stopped and they went into the hotel. “What time is your flight tomorrow” he asked nonchalantly on the elevator. It stopped and they walked down the hallway to her room.

“Not until five” she propped the door open with her foot. “Come in with me.”

“Alright,” he answered not wanting to sound too eager. He followed behind her as she found the lights.

They had spent time together alone before, but they both knew this time was going to be different. He slid out of his jacket and loosened his tie. Finding her kicking off her heels he hugged her from behind. She rested her head on his chest ands out her hands on top of his.

“Now what were you expecting in the car?” she said with a little laugh.

“Oh you mean before you threatened my life?” with that she spun around to smack him, but stopped when she saw the expression on his face.

“Lance?” she questioned breathlessly.

“Shhh…” he put a finger over her lips as he started kissing her neck. She held onto his arm when he pulled her to him with force. They began to kiss passionately with every breath they got deeper and deeper into each other. His arms wrapped around her body. She stepped back only long enough to drop the unzipped dress to the floor. Lance guided her hands as she unbuttoned his shirt. When she pulled it off his hot shoulders he grabbed for his belt buckle. They floated back to the bed where he laid her down. He took his place next to her she gazed up at him.

“This is going to change everything.” She whispered touching his temple.

“Do you promise?” He smiled gingerly and kissed the inside of her wrist down to her elbow. She let her hands run over his ripped muscles. His skin was smooth and hot. Madison relaxed and took all of him into her. Slowly they melted into one another. It was erotic and exciting to find the other’s spots along the way. There were no memories of the past and no thoughts for the future, only the sweet gift of the present. The combination was unbeatable. It lasted long into the night, the morning found them enraptured in one another, the sheets that were still on the bed covered their lower halves. Lance rested his head on her chest with her arms around his neck.

“Madison…”

“Humm?”

“I want us to be together.”

“Again?” she joked with a laugh to lighten the tone in his voice.

“Baby you know what I mean.” He squeezed her hand to get her attention. She let the idea roll around. Thinking about all the consequences, he swallowed and knew there was only one thing to do. “What are you thinking?” he broke into her daze.

“I think… I think it’s a pretty good idea.” She smiled at him sleepily.

“No backing out this time, right?”

“Nope… It’s your turn to flake out on me.”

“Maddy,” he pulled her down to out her face in front of his. “I’m not going anywhere.” They kissed and spent another two hours in bed.

Chapter 11

Four Months Later

“Finally Rick, I have a whole month off.”

“Don’t get too excited Maddy, if they don’t call you back in a week then you will go crazy on your own.”

“I’m so happy you think so.” Madison said sarcastically. The crew was finishing up a shoot as she said goodbye to Gwen and Rick. She made her way home and started to unwind.

“Sweetie?” Madison’s mother entered the den.

“When did you get home Mama?”

“Just a few minutes ago, welcome back.”

“Thanks.”

“So you are already taking advantage of your time off?” she said looking over the blockbuster DVDs and all the snack mess she had made in the room.

“Yep,” Madison retorted with no shame.

“Ughh…” She dropped the subject. “What are we doing for you birthday?” she asked as she sat down and stole one of Madison’s chocolate peanut buttercups from the stash on the coffee table.

“Nothing,” Madison answered not looking away from her movie.

“Yeah right… this is the only 22^nd birthday you will ever have. If you want to go out with your friends then we can do something with the family during the day. Sound good?”

“Okay Mama, we still have another week. So let’s not get all up in arms about it.” Shelby acted like she would faint from the words.

“This from the girl that planned her sweet sixteen two years ahead of time.” At that Madison had to look over at her mom and laugh hysterically. When she calmed down she heard the doorbell. “I’ll get it,” Shelby said as she stood up and left the den. Not even slightly interested in the door Madison continued to watch her movie.

“How domestic!” She was bombarded and pinned under a body before she could distinguish who was there. Chris was now laying in her lap looking up at her and commented on her presently domestic state. JC sat in the recliner with Ananda in his lap.

“Chris, UP!”

“Up? What is this UP you speak of LB?”

“Well… One shut up. Two get up!” Lance smiled as he pulled Chris off his woman. Everyone laughed at the scene. Since Lance and Madison had officially hooked up they had been spending a lot of time with each other. The guys were happy how she fit into the group. She was never obtrusive, and could rough house with the best of them. “Hey baby girl, he pulled her into a hug sitting on the sofa with her. “Damn it, why didn’t you tell me you guys were coming, then I would have…”

“Shhh,” he hummed on her cheek before she gave into a kiss. They sat back in the pillows and she took a deep breath of his cologne before he pulled away. Chris had crawled to the love seat where he sat on the floor between Tara’s knees. She was already wiggling away from him because he was tickling her feet.

“So what are y’all doing?” Madison spoke to the room.

“We have two weeks off, so I came to spend some time with you. The guys flew in with me because of their ladies.”

“We have some MTV stuff to do in Dallas tomorrow.” Ananda explained about Tara and herself.

“That is cool, so do you guys want to go out or stay in or what?” Grunts and groans filled the room.

“Let’s stay in,” JC whined. Everyone cheered in agreement.

After the second movie went off they became restless.

“Okay, break time,” Madison said as she stood up. They all stretched out for a minute then realized they were hungry. Ananda was trying to wake JC up with soft kisses, when he fluttered his eyes at her and a grin crossed his face. Chris looked up at Tara where she was playing with his hair.

“I want pizza, please give me pizza. Tara only you can give me pizza.” She laughed in her raspy voice and shook her head at his antics. Nudging him up a little she pulled her legs together so she could get up. Madison had Lance holding her at her waist as she leaned backwards as far as she could to get all those hard to reach muscles. When she was upright again he kissed her lips and she stumbled away when Tara pulled on her hand. They made their way to the kitchen where Shelby and Shawna were. Tia came into the room from the garage entrance.

“Hey guys, I forgot my keys. Do you want anything while I’m out?” she asked with Shelby’s list in hand.

“Yeah Tia wait up, if we order some pizzas will you pick them up?” Madison asked sweetly.

“Sure no problem. Do we need some cokes too?”

“Yeah that would be great.” Madison replied. Tia was looking for her keys when Shawna decided to put her two cents in.

“What’s wrong Madison Avenue? Can’t take the limo your friends came in to go pick up pizza? Funny, Brett never had a problem with it…”

“Shut up Shawna, just because your jealous is no reason to be rude.” Madison lunged at her when Shawna tried to toe off with her.

“Girls stop it now!” Shelby stepped between them before it got to far out of hand. Tara pulled Madison back to the wall where the phone was. Tia finding her keys pulled Shawna back to the other side of the room.

“You’re such a brat!” Madison yelled after she got her self-control back in order.

“Better than being a bitch like you!”

“Shawna Mackenzie Davis! GO to your room right this minute.” Shelby’s forgotten presence put a final end to the bickering.

“Pizza, remember?” Tara joked to Madison to lighten the mood. She tried to let the incident go as well, but could only dial the number for Tara to place the order.

The next day Madison woke up in Lance’s embrace. “Baby, what do you want for your birthday?” His tone made her wonder how long he had pondered the question.

“Umm to spend time with you.” She smiled to herself for being clever.

“Awe really?” he asked sweetly as he turned and started kissing her shoulders and back.

“Sure why not.” She teased back while rolling over to kiss him.

They spent the next four days together. Just soaking up the precious time together. It was past he time of adjusting to each other, this was the time for them to completely enjoy one another. The bond was growing strong and the trust was turning to love. The afternoon of the fifth day the phone rang. “Here!” Shawn beamed Madison with the telephone. She was cooking lunch for everyone so she couldn’t chase after her sister.

“Ughh…hello? Hey Gwen, I hope your calling to wish me a happy vacation.”

“Well kinda… how would you like two extra weeks off?”

“Maybe, what’s the catch?”

“Umm… working two days next week.”

“So are you saying work for two days and get two extra weeks off?” Madison said slightly intrigued by the offer.

“Two weeks off with no interruptions!” Gwen knew she was now close to hooking Madison.

“Can I call you back?”

“Sure, but make it before six okay.”

“ Alright… bye.”

“Bye sweetie.”

“So you will be flying up to New York on Thursday and back on Friday night?” Lance asked sadly.

“No I will be back Friday morning.” Madison confirmed sitting next to him holding hands, cursing herself for even considering leaving.

“Well Maddy we can have family over during the day and you can go out with your friends that night. I’m sure it will work out.” Shelby went over the plan aloud.

“Lance you said you wanted to go see your parents before you went back to work right?”

“Yeah, I really should get ready to go too.” He said a little more upbeat this time acting like they shouldn’t make too big a deal out of it.

*********************

“I’m so stupid…” Madison mumbled to herself on the plane.

“What?” Gwen questioned not hearing her the first time.

“Gwen, I’m so stupid. Why did I agree to do this?”

“Sweetie it isn’t the end of the world.”

“No, I left him again, for my work. I really wouldn’t be surprised if he dumped me.”

“Okay drama queen. Chill out just a little. One, Lance isn’t going anywhere. Two, photography is your first love. Three, Lance understands that.” Her words made sense, it calmed Madison’s nerves a little. She put her head back and smiled to remember the sweet kisses he had given her only an hour ago.

“Where the hell are the boards!?!” Madison screamed into the studio. The crew ignored what was one of her many fits and continued working so not to be in her path.

“Maddy, what’s wrong?” Rick asked finding her more tense than usual.

“I have no boards, so I have no idea what I’m shooting and the models were supposed to be here like two hours ago. So you see my dilemma?”

“Okay well first calm down. Look here comes Gwen with the boards. I will handle the editor, and she can call the agency about the girls. Take these boards and go out to one of the trailers and take a break. I will come get you when we are ready to start.” Madison gave into Rick like a child being corrected. Madison did as she was told. After studying the boards she had a solid approach to the shoot. She called Lance and told him what a freak she had made of herself. He consoled her best he could over the phone, when they hung up she balled up on the bunk and fell asleep.

“Maddy is such a workaholic.” Rick confided in Gwen.

“Yeah, but this time it’s for her own good.” She joked back.

The shoot lasted long into the night that left Madison sleeping until eleven the next morning. After her morning routine of showering and such a smile broke across her face to realize it was her birthday. Shelby had called about thirty minutes ago and now she was finishing up her make-up.

The banging on the door startled her. “Who is it?” she yelled. When there was no answer a slight panic swept across her body. When the knocking started again she tried not to let her voice shake. “Who’s there?” Her cell phone rang and made her jump out of her skin. “Hello!” she answered the phone fuming from panic turned to anger.

“Madison open the damn door.” As soon as the voice came through the receiver she ran to rip the door open to see Lance and Steve standing there.

“Damn it boy! Do you have to be so dramatic?”

“What did I do?” Lance asked innocently laughing to himself as they stepped into the room. He handed her the rose he was carrying and tried to pull her in to a hug.

“Reenacting a scene from Friday the 13^th was not how I wanted to start my day.” She pushed him back playfully before he could hug her.

“I told him to stop because he was probably scaring you.” Steve admitted to get his points with her. Lance laughed and picked her up walking over the to wingchair. “Whose side are you on?” He laughed.

“Well happy birthday anyways.” He said in almost a whisper as he kissed her softly. She let up on her guilt trip and held him tightly.

“Thank you… Hey, what are you doing here? I thought you were in Mississippi?” She leaned back and looked up at him. Steve took a seat on the sofa and clicked on the TV.

“I’m happy to see you too… after that long plane ride and all.”

“You know I didn’t mean it like that.” She kissed his cheek in her defense.

“If you must know,” Lance continued holding her. “My mom was going to kill me if I kept talking about you and mulling around the house.”

“Ah… I see,” she smiled at him.

“Come on, let’s go get some lunch then… We are going on a very special birthday shopping spree.”

“OK, one… I have a flight in an hour and a half. Two, you are not getting out of picking out my present that easily.”

“Try again Madison Avenue.” He cracked. “One, I talked to your Mom and Gwen things won’t be ready until tonight so we can take a later flight. Two, I already have your gift and it is safe at home with yo’ Mama.” His coyness made her laugh and once again she was happy to be his little girl.

After lunch they went shopping around the city. Running into small groups of his fans here and there. He bought her anything and everything she even looked at twice. Even Steve was loaded down when he climbed into the passenger side of the suburban with the driver. “Thank you,” she kissed him on the forehead.  “Thank you,” she kissed him on the nose.  “Thank you,” Then she kissed him on the fully on the lips.

“You are very welcome baby girl. Happy birthday.” He pulled her half in his lap. She curled up with her head on his shoulder and fell asleep on the way back to the hotel. When they returned they started packing her things.

“Maddy.”

“Yeah carebear?” he blushed a little at her choice of a pet name but managed to finish his statement.

“We should dress now, so when we get there you will be ready to see everyone.”

“Makes sense to me.” She smiled at him. Steve returned with a wardrobe bag for Lance as Madison picked out an outfit out of the pile of clothes that Lance had just bought her. Lance convinced her to shower with him by putting her under the water with all her clothes on. After that she didn’t have much choice. “Wow, is that my present?” she joked loudly as he stepped in and began taking off her jeans. After they made love in the shower they started getting ready for the night. Lance wore a flashy black suit with a sliver blue tie. His attire reminded her of the way he looked at the first award show she ever took pictures for. He looked amazing, she watched him gel his spikes up into place in the mirror. His eyes sparkled in the reflection as he caught her staring.

“You ok?”

“Yeah, I was just thinking… I’ve done pretty damn good well for a twenty-two year-old. Don’t ya think?”

“Yes I do think so.” He said as he washed the gel from his hands and dried them on the towel that was still wrapped around her. She looked up at him for some positive reinforcement that he seemed to give with out cue. “You have your work, family, friends,” he cheesed a little to admit, “You have love.” He kissed her bare shoulders. “And not to mention your killer looks.” She put her hand around the back of his neck and spoke up to him.

“So the truth comes out… You only want me for my looks.”

“Well,” he cocked his head to the side. “I wouldn’t have pursed you in Cancun if you were ugly.”

“Lance!!” she swatted at him.

“Baby girl go get ready.”

After she did her hair and make-up she decided on an outfit. She wore a long low-rise black flare silk skirt that gave her a tight body look. It went well with the reddish black butterfly top that exposed her still tanned tightened abs. Lance recognized the similarity between her shirt and the shirts that the girls from Eden’s Crush wore in their video. The toe ring and black platforms completed her outfit. Her small build was curvy and pleasant to the eye. Lance helped her with her matrix jacket at the door. The bellboys came to get their bags and she giggled to herself to remember her uncouth companions in Cancun.

Gwen met them at the airport, she was yelling into her cell phone when they entered the building. “Madison this isn’t my fault!” She shouted when she saw them.

“What’s going on?” Lance asked before Madison could.

“Our flight was canceled!”

“What!?!” Madison yelled back at her making a few people stop and stare at them.

“We can’t get back to Texas until tomorrow afternoon.”

“Damn it Gwen.”

“Don’t kill the messenger Madison.” Lance put a hand on her shoulder.

“There is no other way?” Lance asked Gwen.

“I’ve tried everything, you have to believe me.”

“Okay people if we can’t get on a plane then move it back to the limo,” Steve warned as a few girls started to get restless to see Lance. They all went back to the car and climbed in. Madison called her mom. She got no answer at the house so she called her cell phone.

“Hello?”

“Hey Mama… We can’t make it.”

“Oh honey, we were hoping everything would go so smoothly. It’s ok we can just move everything to tomorrow. Okay?”

“Mama are you laughing at me?”

“What? No sweetie, I was laughing at Shawn she is a nut.”

“Well, I’m not feeling good so I will just talk to you later.”

“Now Madison don’t get all down in the dumps, we will all be partying before ya know it.”

“Okay…bye.” She hung up the phone and turned to the others.

“Well Maddy if it makes a difference you look really pretty.”

“Thanks,” Madison laughed. “All dressed up with no where to go.” She smiled as she ran her hand over the smooth material of her skirt.

“Oh my goodness! Maddy I have it.” Gwen shouted loudly. “There is a huge gala at Planet Hollywood tonight.”

“Oh yeah,” Lance broke in. “*Nsync was invited to that they are honoring a photographer, I think…”

“Yeah Maddy you were invited like a month ago,” Gwen informed her.

“Really? Lethal! Let’s crash it man.” Madison perked up not to waste a whole night doing nothing.

***********************

When they pulled up to Planet Hollywood, it was packed with red carpet and all. “Should we get out here?” Madison questioned.

“Are you serious?” Lance and Gwen laughed at her.

“What?”

“Sweetie I’m really happy you thing that he is just a normal guy, but do you know who your boyfriend is?” Madison thought about it for a minute and realized why they laughed at her. When the car stopped the door was opened. Lance stepped out and offered Madison a hand to get out of the car. She tried to smile her best when she saw a ton of people in front of her. There had not been any events up until that point that would let her know how to act in front of the press. It was intimidating and she barely decipher her name out of the roar of the crowd. The photographers shot and shouted, for a moment she was ashamed of her profession. Pushing it from her mind they walked to the entrance and stopped a few times for pictures. She thought she was there as nothing more that Lance’s girl.

To her surprise there was not a great deal of commotion inside. They passed through a small archway after that Madison couldn’t see anything. It was pitch black and she held close to Lance in the dark. All at once there was a loud boom and all the lights came on.

“SURPRISE… HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!…” Her heart stopped in her chest and jumped at the startle. Lance was laughing and put his arms up to present her to the room. Everyone clapped to see her react to the shock of it all. She laughed and smiled sweetly to catch on to the joke. Madison put her hands around Lance’s neck pretending to strangle him for the crowd.

Making it down to the main floor. She greeted the guest and tried to get her nerves under control as they took her jacket. Dale, Shelby, and Shawna laughed when she got to them. “Mama you knew?!”

“Yes, we flew in this morning with Lance and his parents. Jasmine and Courtney are around here somewhere too.” Madison hugged her dad and tried to keep from crying. When Madison leaned in to Shelby she whispered in her ear where no one could tell. “Lance did all of this.” Madison stood up with a blank expression to hear it. At the same time she knew something this good would have to come from him.

Jim and Diane were not far into the crowd when she met them. Lance was nowhere to be found, but they recognized each other from pictures. Madison was suddenly a little self-conscience about her outfit. Jim waved to her as they met in the middle. “Hi Madison, happy birthday dear.” Jim said with a hug and a camera in his hand. Diane shooed him away with her own hug.

“I can’t believe we haven’t met each other before now.” She said holding her at arms length. Madison smiled and tried to speak over the crowd.

“It’s so nice to finally see you in person. Lance has a lot of pictures, but I’m so happy you’re here.” Diane laughed in agreement and turned so that they could pose for Jim.

“We’ll talk later doll go have fun with your friends.” Diane squeezed and sent her off in a motherly fashion. All kinds of people she knew from work and school and old friends greeted her for what seemed to be hours.

Once she made her rounds she sat at a table close to the dance floor.

“So let me get this right…” Madison spoke to the group that surrounded her. “The whole thing was a set up.”

“Afraid so,” Gwen admitted laughing.

“Spill it, how did it happen?”

“Hey Lance why don’t you tell her, it was all your idea.” Justin said from across the table. Lance blushed a little to admit he was the mastermind behind the night. He sat up and tugged on his tie as he began.

“Well, your mom made me some lists and I begged everyone else to help me out. Ananda used all her MTV connections to get all your music friends. Tara and Drew got all the movie peeps together. Gwen and Rick handled your work buddies and set up the shoot you had to leave Texas for. Shelby of course invited your family from all over. Jazz and Court called all your friends from school and Britney got the location… The guys kept me sane through it.”

“Which wasn’t easy. I thought we were going to have to knock him out a few times.” JC piped. Madison smiled at him and then turned to Lance as he finished.

“Anyways we pulled it off and here we are.”

Madison listened intently, completely amazed at all the trouble he went through and how thoughtful he was to her.

“How in the world did I not know about this?” She smiled at them. “My best friends in all the world, and no one let it leak.” They all laughed as she continued. “If only y’all could keep my secrets this well,” she joked. “Guys thank you so muc…”

“Madison!! Girl you better get up here!” Alicia called from the stage when she finished her last song. Madison was startled but realized who was yelling her name and why. She made her way to the stage. She gave her a hug and accepted the microphone from her as everyone started chanting for a speech.

“Hi everybody. Are y’all having fun? Well at first I thought we were at P. Diddy’s party.” Everyone laughed as Madison looked out on a room full of people she knew and adored. “Really I would like to thank all of you for coming out. Thank you so much… This is the best birthday I have ever had.” The room clapped and waited for more. “You guys will never know what this has meant to me. Everyone who showed up, everyone who worked on any detail of this night, thank you so much.” She stopped and applauded them. “Now as you know my very sweet boyfriend was behind this evening, he stole my phone book and now you are all here.” They all laughed in agreement and looked around finding him at the table where Madison had just left him. “But really, Lance could you come up here…” Steve and JC pushed him toward the stage as everyone cheered.

“I want to say a very special thank you to this guy right here.” She put her hands up to him as he joined her on stage. Madison turned to him and took his hand. The awws and giggling rumbled over the crowd. “Lance you have worked so hard on all this… just for me. No one has ever made me feel quite this special. Thank you very, very, very much. You my dear are, for the lack of a better word… thoughtful.” With her last words Lance pulled her into a hug, the room clapped and cheered. She laid a kiss on him that the people in the back row could see. The room went crazy with laughter. She stepped back one last time and spoke into the mike. “Everyone please give Lance a round of applause.” The guest showered him with love. They turned the stage over the Chester and the band that started rocking out Madison’s favorite songs. The introduction of the birthday cake in the shape of a butterfly made the party last until the early morning.

 “Even the bellboys were in on it.” Madison joked to herself while she dug through her suitcase that had been taken earlier for sleep clothes.

“Maddy you forgot to open one of your presents.” She stopped a little confused at his words to look back at him. She held her breath when she turned to see him walking toward her with a small jewelry box.

Chapter 12

Later that day Madison woke up in his arms. She smiled to remember the promise that went along with the ring.

This is a promise ring. My promise to you, to always be true.

To love you with all I have, to take care of you.

The promise of all of me to you.

Lance woke up smiling too. Madison had put some wild loving on him after she opened her last gift. All the romance, gratitude, and all the want she had felt was unleashed. After they showered and dressed they traveled to the airport. They made it to the small café at the end of the terminal that all of their friends had taken over.

Waves of the A-list that had attended the party passed through as they waited for their flights. “Look Maddy, you made the front page.” Shawna said as she knocked her in the back of the head with a newspaper.

“Watch it Shawn,” Madison snapped. Shelby was reading a different version of the same story in a different paper. Lance read over Madison’s shoulder as she sat in his lap.

“Not bad,” he assured her.

“Man, I’m suppose to take these pictures not be in them.”

“Welcome to my reality.”

“Reality, what a concept,” she joked to him. Madison told her family goodbye as their flight started boarding.

******************

It was three months before Madison saw them again. She finished out her vacation on tour with Lance. The experience was incredible. The schedule was hectic. She got used to it quick, it wasn’t much different from her own, with all the traveling. On the road with the guys was cool. They all became pretty tight. The best part was spending more time with Lance. They had spent a week in Mississippi with his family. It was nice to finally spend time with them. Seeing him in his element brought a deeper respect for him and his job. More than she could have imagined than when she was just a fan. All the guys moaned and groaned when they went back to work, but they all loved it. Seeing how they all came together at crunch time made her miss her own world. She kept in touch with Gwen and Courtney still it wasn’t the same. Her dad called while she was at a show in Nevada. He left a voice mail requesting her to come home. Lance sadly put her on a plane back to Texas, but he knew it must be important for Dale to call.

“Welcome home sunshine.” Dale greeted her as she stepped off the plane.

“Hey Daddy.” She answered back with a hug. “Is everything ok?”

“Let’s hope so.” He spoke softly not to worry his daughter. They made it back to the house. Tia took her bags to her room to help her get settled.

“What’s going on?” Madison asked Tia.

“Your parents will talk to you soon.”

“Tia…” Madison called as she quickly slipped out the door.

After she couldn’t stand trying to act like nothing was wrong in her room she went to the den where she was sure to find her dad watching TV. To her surprise the den was empty. She saw Shawna sitting on the terrace through the French doors.

“Hey girl.” Madison poked her head out the door.

“Have you talked to them yet?” Shawna asked not moving a muscle.

“No…not yet, Shawn are you crying?”

“Madison! Can you come in here please?” Shelby called from the next room.

“Just go!” Shawna dropped her head to her knees and cried again. Very confused Madison left her sister and joined her parents in the large study next to the library. Taking a seat in front of the main desk she waited for some kinds of explanation.

“Madison, how have you been?” Shelby asked from the next chair. The question threw her for a loop.

“Umm… pretty good. I spent some time with Lance and his family. Gwen has a summer of work lined up for me. A few assignments overseas and Lance wants to meet up whenever we can. Other than that…”

“Well the reason we needed you home is… Have you seen the pictures from your party?”

“A few but there were so many different sets.” Shelby listened as she picked up a large envelope from the desk lying in front of Dale. She opened it and handed Madison some pictures.

“You’re sister took it upon herself to invite a guest.” Madison looked at the pictures and saw Brett kissing her little sister as they posed for the shot. Flipping through them faster with each one she was stunned.

“She invited Brett… I don’t understand this.”

“Yes she invited him. When your father and I questioned her about these pictures she told us they are seeing each other.”

“Damn it…” Madison took a deep breath and tossed the pictures back onto the desk. “Well Mama, I don’t know what to say.”

“Well wait, I’m not done yet.” Shelby shot a look at Dale and back to Madison. “This has been going on for the past six months.”

“Have you confronted him?”

“We told him the relationship was over. Shawn has been grounded for the past three weeks. She had snuck out with him twice already.” Dale informed her.

“Umm… no offense, but beat her ass. Maybe them she could stay at home.”

“Well I have thought about that,” Shelby stated. “But now I have a new problem on my hands.” Madison looked at her parents and saw the next sentence on their faces.

“No… no don’t say it.” Madison stood up and walked around the office like she was in another world. She sat down before her knees gave out. Leaning forward in the chair she put her head in her hands and tried to take a deep breath.

“Shawna is pregnant Madison.” Shelby relayed the bomb that brought tears to her eyes. Dale made his way around the desk and tried to comfort his wife with a hug. Madison sat up and shook it off.

“What do y’all need me to do?” she asked being supportive.

“Can Shawn spend the summer with you? Anything to keep her away from Brett, maybe traveling and finding another way will open her eyes.”

“Ok… I can do that… What about the baby?”

“She has until the end of the summer to figure out what she wants to do.”