“What the hell is going on in here?” a voice shouted. Madeleine’s head shot up to see her older brother standing in the doorway.
“Brian, let me explain,” she quickly said.
“Okay, please explain, because I think this really could use an explanation, and it better be a damn good one, Madeleine. I would like to know why my best friend and my baby sister are making out on the couch and both of your shirts are on the floor.”
“We’re…we’re in love,” she said.
“You’re in love?” Brian exclaimed. “What were you thinking? You promised me!”
“What? What did you promise him?” Nick asked.
“You stay out of this! I’ll deal with you later!” Brian said.
“You sound just like Dad, Brian. It’s not that big of a deal!” Madeleine groaned.
“What do you mean, it’s not that big of a deal? You were about to sleep with my best friend! You’re not even legal, Mattie!”
“Brian, it’s my fault,” Nick stated. “I started it. I kissed her. She didn’t do anything.”
“Well, she obviously didn’t try to stop you, Nick, and as I said before, I’ll deal with you later,” Brian said.
“Please, just calm down, Bri,” Madeleine begged. “It wasn’t his fault. It was neither of our faults. It just sort of…happened.”
“It just happened? You’re going home, Madeleine. I’m calling Mom first thing tomorrow morning.”
“No!” Madeleine cried. With that, she burst into tears. “I love it on tour! Please, Brian! It will never happen again! Please, don’t send me home!”
Nick’s heart shattered into a million pieces, not because of her words, but because she was so upset over something he was the cause of. “Brian, I love her. I’m in love with her.”
“She’s seventeen. You’re twenty. Being in love with her is illegal,” Brian stated angrily. He turned back to Madeleine. “And you’re still going home. I can’t believe you’d do this! Get your clothes back on, both of you. Nick, get out, and Mattie, just…I don’t know. Go to your room and start packing or something.” He went into his room and slammed the door as Madeleine pulled her knees to her chest, still in her bra.
“I’m such an idiot, Nick!” she sobbed. “I shouldn’t have let this happen.”
After he put his shirt back on, Nick gathered her in his arms and whispered in her ear. “I’m so sorry, Mattie. This is my fault. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have kissed you.”
“It’s neither of our faults. Brian is just being stupid! I just-I can’t help how I feel for you, and he’s sending me home for it. He’s being such an asshole!”
“Don’t say that. I can relate to him. If I found one of my sisters in this position, I would probably react the same way,” Nick said softly.
“Do you really love me, or is that just some line you use on every girl?”
Nick was visibly hurt by this remark. “Madeleine, of course I love you. I would never do something like that to you-to anyone. That’s a terrible thing to do.” He kissed her cheek and looked up. “I better get out of here before Brian kills me.”
Unable to speak through her sobs, Madeleine simply nodded and watched through teary eyes as he left. She loved Nick, and she wanted to be with him, but Brian was going to make sure that never happened. In fact, he would probably make sure they never saw each other again. Knowing she had lost, she returned to bawling.