Back Online

by Laura Dower

  “Wait up! Maddie! Wait up!” Dan called out.

  Madison turned. “I’m sort of in a rush,” she said.

  “I should have just talked to you at lunch,” Dan said. “But I looked everywhere and …”

  “Huh? Did you want to steal my brownie or something?” Madison quipped. “Look, Dan, I know you want to talk but I really have to—”

  “Madison,” Dan got this serious look on his face.

  Madison paused. “Dan? Is everything okay?”

  But then he just shook his head. “Aw, forget it. I’m such a weirdo. …”

  “You’re a weirdo? Ha! Like me?” Madison laughed.

  And then she remembered what Ivy had said.

  “You need someone who says things to you like, ‘I’ve liked you ever since I met you,’ or someone who laughs at all those incredibly lame jokes you tell. A weirdo like you, basically.”

  Dan.

  He stood there, slumped over, looking at his feet, mumbling to himself.

  A weirdo like her, basically.

  Madison sighed. There was no way around this.

  She liked this weirdo very much, didn’t she?

  Chapter Ten

  A tall, dark-haired waiter came to the table at Le Poisson, where Dad and Stephanie had taken Madison for dinner. The place was pretty dead, but then again, it was only Tuesday night.

  “May I share with you zee specials?” he offered. His hair was slicked back like he’d been to a salon. Madison scanned the menu. Fancy restaurants gave her hungry rumbles. There were too many good things to choose from.

  Things had settled down a lot since the apartment incident, as Madison referred to it inside her own head. They hadn’t spoken again about babies, and Madison was more than happy to avoid the awkward subject. She wasn’t about to introduce her boy drama, either, even though she had some major Dan on the brain.

  Tonight, Stephanie glowed. Her hair was swept up, and she had on an angora shrug over a silky white blouse. Madison felt honored to have a stepmother like Steph. She was no wicked stepmom from Cinderella. Although she felt guilty about it, sometimes she thought Steph was a more nurturing mother than Francine Finn.

  Dad was acting all goo-goo eyed, so Madison guessed something was about to be announced. Dad had gone through every mood known to man in just a few days. Maybe he would make up for some of those harsh things he’d said.

  “We have news, Maddie,” Dad announced as the salad course was placed on the table.

  Madison speared a tomato and listened closely. Dad had his I’m-about-to-say-something-important face. Dad and Stephanie grabbed hands and squeezed.

  Dad was going to apologize, Madison was sure of it.

  But then Stephanie started to talk.

  “We got some very big news last night,” Stephanie said slowly, deliberately.

  “We wanted you to be the first to know,” Dad said.

  Madison crinkled her brow. This was no apology. What was going on? Know what?

  Stephanie leaned into Dad’s shoulder. “Madison, our application for adoption was approved. We may have a baby within a year. A new baby! Our baby!”

  “Baby? What?” Madison slurped her ginger ale. “A year?”

  “Or sooner,” Stephanie said.

  “But wait,” Madison went on. “You just told me last week you lost a baby and now this happens? I mean … huh?”

  “That’s how the process works sometimes,” Dad explained.

  “I don’t get it, Dad. I’m gonna have a brother or sister for real?” Madison asked.

  Dad and Stephanie nodded.

  “Most likely, yes. For real,” Stephanie said. “Isn’t it wonderful?”

  Madison took a breath. After all the piled-on crazy that she’d had in school and at home today, discovering that she also might get a sibling was like hot fudge, whipped cream, and the cherry on top of it all.

  “So what now?” Madison asked. “I mean, what are you thinking about? Can you name her Elizabeth? That’s one of my favorite names ever.”

  “Maybe.” Stephanie got all weepy. “It depends on the baby. If it’s a boy, that may not work as well, right?”

  Dad chuckled.

  “Can I help you pick out the nursery wallpaper?” Madison asked.

  The three of them laughed.

  “Of course you can,” Dad said.

  “You’ll be involved in everything we do,” Stephanie said.

  During dinner, Madison didn’t have much time to process what everyone was saying. Although the restaurant was only a block from the Finn loft, the short walk home allowed her to think more clearly. This news changed everything. She was about to get a sibling!

  When they reached the lobby at Dad’s apartment building, Madison noticed how it had been decorated with huge paintings. Madison stopped in front of the largest one. It depicted a little rowboat on a giant wave.

  “You’re the wave, Maddie,” Stephanie said, coming up behind Madison.

  Madison turned and looked at her stepmom. “I was just thinking that I was the rowboat and everything was crashing down onto me. …”

  “Nope,” Steph said. “You’re the wave. You’re beautiful, strong, in charge. You are the one who knows what’s right for you.”

  “Someone else told me something like that today,” Madison said.

  “Hmmm,” Steph said. “Sounds like someone smart. Your mom?”

  “Not exactly. A friend. Well, I think she’s a friend.”

  “Sounds like the kind of friend you keep.”

  “Yeah.” Madison nodded. “I guess you’re right.”

  They got onto a sleek brass elevator and pressed Dad’s floor.

  “I’m really excited about the baby, Dad,” Madison said as they watched the numbers count up.

  “I know, Maddie,” Dad said. “We’ll all be one big family.”

  After the special dinner, Madison had decided she wanted another sleepover at the loft. She liked her room here now. It felt more like a real home. And soon, with a baby coming, she’d probably come over even more.

  Phinnie was still recuperating at the clinic. Dad would take Madison to meet Mom there tomorrow. Hopefully all of Phin’s ailments would be cured, and all would be right with the world.

  Madison went straight to her laptop when they got inside. She popped online and checked her email. She hoped there would be a note from Dan. Instead, she found several that were not from Dan. They were from Hart Jones. To be exact, there were three emails to Madison from Hart Jones.

  What was his problem?

  From: Sk8ingboy

  To: MadFinn

  Subject: FALL FEST

  Date: Tues 17 Oct 4:56 PM

  I am still in Far Hills at Drew’s. I’m here for two more days and I would like to see you. Please e-me back.

  Madison sighed. She went to the next one.

  From: Sk8ingboy

  To: MadFinn

  Subject: FW: FALL FEST

  Date: Tues 17 Oct 6:03 PM

  Did you get my other email? I am staying with Drew you can e-me or call his house. I will only be here for another two days and I want to see you again. Can we go to Freeze Palace or something please?

  And the next one.

  From: Sk8ingboy

  To: MadFinn

  Subject: FW: FW: FALL FEST

  Date: Tues 17 Oct 7:44 PM

  I wonder if you are getting these. I will keep trying. There is no answer at ur house. Drew said you were in school. Write back. Are you mad at me? BFN.

  Madison moved all the emails into a folder called HART and then logged onto tweenblurt.com. She had to tell someone about the emails. And about other feelings she’d been having that week.

  Where was everyone? Madison skipped around on the site.

  She k
new Aimee was probably at dance because she had class very late on Tuesday nights. Fiona wasn’t answering her cell phone. Madison knew Leyli was leaving tonight for a weeklong major gymnastics tournament.

  Maybe Bigwheels was online? That was it! When in doubt, there was nothing quite like a long-distance friend. Madison could always spill her guts to Bigwheels.

  Unfortunately, she wasn’t anywhere to be found, either.

  Now this was a drag.

  Madison opened a new file. When all else failed, there were always her files. She could count on that.

  BOYS

  Rude Awakening: Boys are harder to figure out than science equations. And I always thought I was good at science.

  Leyli is leaving for Texas tonight. I actually started to cry a little teeny bit when I thought about her not being here anymore, at least for now. I am so happy she moved to our school and we became BFFs. Thankfully, she will be back and we promised we’d insta-message all the time. The last thing she said to me was “Keep an eye on Dan for me, ’kay?” OMG what am I supposed to say to her about that???

  Hart sent me THREE emails and I have NO idea what to write back. My feelings for him have changed. Or have they? I don’t know.

  Dad is like a roller coaster. First he’s crying his eyes out, and now he’s waaaaay back up top because they are going to ADOPT A BABY!???? I can’t keep up with all this Far Hills action. Mom jets off to Barcelona, and Phinnie has been sick. Life is CRAZY.

  As of this moment, right now, I am NO LONGER going to crush on anyone or anything. I am going to focus on my schoolwork and the school website. I am not going to pay attention to ANY boys because boys are a problem and they always cause drama and they make my head spinny.

  Famous last words, right?

  There is only ONE awesome boy in my life: Phineas T. Finn. He makes my heart feel like the heart inside the Grinch at the end of the cartoon: It grows three sizes each day!

  Maybe I’m ready for things to get back to boring.

  The next day at school, Madison had no intention of talking to or about boys. But spending a full seven school hours at Far Hills Middle School made it impossible to avoid them. At lunch when Fiona insisted on talking about Egg’s new haircut, Madison didn’t comment. Not to mention, Lindsay was back from her trip, and all she wanted to do was show pictures of the cute boy band that played on her cruise. Madison didn’t want to hear it.

  Then there were the actual boys, making fart noises in the hallway, slamming lockers, and talking about sports. So predictable.

  When lunch ended, Madison was eager to meet up with Ivy in science class to work on a few of the lab questions they hadn’t finished. Ivy was in a good mood, too, cracking jokes. She even shared a bag of chocolate almonds with Madison while they worked. She obviously knew Madison was feeling anti-boy today. She didn’t bring up Hart or Dan or any boys. Not once.

  That was a first. It was Madison who introduced the subject.

  “You were right,” Madison told her as they cleaned up their station.

  Ivy flipped her hair dramatically. “I’m always right.” She smiled.

  “Seriously,” Madison said. “You were right about Dan.”

  “Pork-O?”

  “You are like the only person in the whole wide world who knows.”

  “Except for Dan, of course.”

  “What?” Madison laughed. “Dan doesn’t know I like him.”

  Ivy crossed her arms. “Now he will. When I post it all over the school website.”

  “What?!”

  Ivy chuckled. “Get real, Maddie. I’m kidding. We’re friends again. I’m cool. You really can trust me. Okay?”

  After they parted ways, however, Madison began to wonder: Was Ivy just tricking her? Was she going to post something on the site or tell Dan or blurt it out one day in the cafeteria? She’d certainly done meaner things.

  When Mom picked her up from school, Madison was happier than happy to see her. She was even happier when Mom gave her a small bag with a ribbon tied on top.

  “What’s this?” Madison asked, opening the bag.

  “I’ve been waiting for a special time to give you this, but then I realized that all our times together are special,” Mom said. “It’s from Spain.”

  Inside the bag was turrón—an almond-paste sweet—some dark Spanish chocolate, and a small box. When Madison opened the box, she found a single Mallorcan pearl on a chain.

  “I know I’ve been too busy these weeks … and years,” Mom began, “but you are the pearl in my life. I want you to remember that.”

  Madison felt her heart swell. Yes, she knew this was another kind of “gift,” really sort of a substitute for what Mom knew she’d been missing at home. Yes, it was an apology for Mom not being there. And Madison loved Mom so much, no matter what happened. Family was everything—Mom, Dad, Stephanie, Phin, and soon a new brother or sister.

  They drove to the clinic. This time Mom would not forget to pick up Phin like she had before the trip. Eileen greeted them warmly. Today her T-shirt read: I’m Not Antisocial. I Just Like Animals Better. Mom went off to speak to Dr. Wing for a little while because Phin was being put on medication and other things. Madison headed into the back to say hello to all the animals.

  Dan was right there with a handful of blankets. As soon as he saw Madison, he started to run in the other direction.

  Madison groaned. Really? He was running away from her?

  “Maddie! What are you waiting for?” Dan yelled. “Come on!”

  Dan led her to the back to meet one of the newest residents of the clinic that week: an ancient tortoise.

  “Isn’t he the coolest?” Dan said. “I couldn’t wait to show you.”

  “Why?”

  “Remember when you went to that camp in Florida a couple summers ago and you watched sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach? Remember?”

  “Of course.” Madison smiled. “But how did you remember that?”

  “I remember stuff, especially the stuff you tell me,” Dan said. “We’ve missed you around here.”

  “I know,” Madison said. “I’m supposed to start volunteering again, but not until the end of the month, remember?

  “You’re pretty good pals with Leyli, right?” Dan said.

  “Oh, yeah,” Madison said. “Why?”

  “She’s really nice,” Dan said.

  “Um …” Madison still wasn’t sure why Dan was asking about Leyli. It had her a little worried. “She’s nice, yeah.”

  “I wanted to sit with her at lunch, but I thought that would have been kind of weird.”

  “Weird?” Madison asked, thinking about that word again. “No, you should have lunch with her. I mean, I think she might like to sit with you at lunch, too.”

  As soon as the words spilled out, Madison regretted it.

  “All right,” Dan said. “Then I’ll ask her to sit with me at lunch tomorrow.”

  “No problem,” Madison mumbled. “Except that she’s in Texas for a week or more. Gymnastics.”

  “Oh, next week then,” Dan said. “Hey, here’s the surprise I wanted to show you, other than the tortoise.” Dan slipped on a white lab coat. On the pocket was the silhouette of a dog and the embroidered name Daniel. “Dr. Wing got these for us.”

  Madison grabbed a Twizzler from the oversized cup on one of the back desks and chomped down. “I miss this,” she said.

  “I miss it, too,” Dan said. “Mom always talks about you. It’s so annoying.”

  Madison laughed. “Sorry, Dan. I know I’m missable.”

  “Yeah,” Dan stammered a little. “Remember when I told you once that I sort of liked you?”

  Madison bit her lip. “Um … yeah,” she said.

  “Mom never forgot that, either. She reminds me all the time. She’s so ridiculous. She loves you.”


  “I’m glad somebody does,” Madison quipped.

  Dan got a serious look on his face. “A lot of boys like you, Maddie. You know that.”

  “Right,” Madison snorted. And then, without even thinking about what she was saying, Madison blurted out, “Well, you don’t like me anymore.”

  Dan smirked. “It’s not that I don’t like you. I just try not to.”

  “What if one day I decided I liked you back?” Madison asked.

  Dan shrugged. “What are you talking about? Don’t you like me now?”

  “No!” Madison said quickly. “I mean like-like …”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Madison felt her heart start to thump a little as she was saying all this out loud.

  A wide-eyed Dan was definitely staring at her again, too. “This whole conversation is a little intense, Maddie. Don’t you think?”

  “Intense good?” Madison said.

  “You think too much,” Dan said, laughing.

  “It’s not weird talking to me, is it?” Madison asked, grabbing another Twizzler.

  “Sure it is,” Dan said, shuffling back and forth on his feet. “Right now. This. Definitely weird.”

  “Oh.” Madison took a breath. “Sorry.”

  “Maddie, I’ve liked you since I met you. I even like your lame jokes, which is saying a lot. Because they are so lame.”

  Madison gasped. It was word for word what Ivy had said to her.

  “KIIIIIIIDS!” Eileen howled, walking into the back of the clinic.

  “Love the shirt,” Madison said. And a teeny little part of her wanted to say, “And I like your son, too, only I was too dumb to know it before now. And now he might like someone else.”

  Phin scampered out of the back, his sharp little nails scratching the floor. He couldn’t get to Madison fast enough. She scooped up her pug and covered his head in kisses. It was the best kind of reunion.