I stepped out of the shower feeling quite refreshed. Waking up early was not one of my hobbies, especially after spending most of the night awake. My entire body was aching and my head was pounding from how exhausted I was. 

Anyway, I had no choice; I had to get up early because my parents asked me to meet them at the hospital. And nothing ever good came from them asking to meet at the hospital.

Beyond the annoyance of having to wake up early, I also had to dress nicely. The last time I came to the hospital, I rolled up in a hoodie and pajama pants with the Grinch on them. The way they looked at me, you would have thought I committed a double homicide or something. 

Not that it really matters, but to appease my parents, I went with a pair of beige pants, a black shirt and threw a blazer on over it. 

On my way out, I stopped in the kitchen to grab an apple for breakfast. Of course, Carson just had to be sitting at the island, eating a bowl of cereal. He hadn't noticed me at first, and I was pretty sure that was probably a good thing. 

Eventually, he looked up from his phone for a second before looking back down, not offering even as much as a grunt to acknowledge my presence. 

"Morning," I greeting, trying my best to be amicable. 

He didn't bother to grace me with another look up.

I rolled my eyes, "Great conversation."

* * *

"Hi, Mom," I smiled, walking into her office.

She took off her glasses, as if she had to check to make sure it was really me. She looked tired; her hair was pulled back into a neat bun as to give off the appearance that she was put-together and professional, but the dark circles and frown lines were a dead giveaway.

"Hi, sweetheart," She smiled. "How are you? How's Carson?"

I yawned, "I'm good. Carson's... the same as ever."

"Getting along better, I presume?" She asked.

I scratched the back of my head, "Oh, we're definitely getting along... something."

My mother shook her head and clicked her tongue, "You need to work on that. Carson's a very sweet young man, I don't understand the issue."

I groaned, "The issue is that he's irritating, egotistical, irritating, sexist, did I mention irritating?"

She laughed, "I could've sworn you had a little thing for him at the beginning of high school."

"W-What?" I stammered. "I-you- it's not proper to tell such lies."

She held up her hands in surrender. 

"Anyways, I've got it all sorted out, his presence isn't that much of a problem."

She nodded and got up from her desk, "That's good news. Speaking of good news-"

I cut her off, "No, I know that tone. You're up to no good."

She gave a very fake laugh while she slipped on her white coat, "Well, you're going to have to ask your father for the good news, I have a surgery in ten minutes."

I knew whatever she had planned had to be bad if she's was forcing dad to break the bad news. 

I walked into my dad's office– the next door over.

"Hi, father," I groaned, walking into his office. I went behind a desk and kissed his cheek.

"Madeline, how are you?"

"I'm good. Can we cut the chit-chat and just get to the chase? What's the news?"

My father rolled his eyes, "Is that any way to speak to your father?"

"Pardon me, sir, may we surpass the tiny chatter so you may elaborate on the recent development the madam has informed me of?" I said in a fake accent, very sarcastically may I add. "Now, stop stalling and just spit it out!" I hopped up on his desk, blocking him from looking at his computer.

He scratched the back of his neck, "Well next weekend, there may be a small gala that you have to attend."

"Dad," I groaned.

He held up his hands, "I'm sorry, honey. The owner's of the hospital in Italy, the one the Daniels' are working at, are having this party to celebrate the joint work of our hospitals. Your mother promised the owners that you and Carson would be there."

I whined, "So not only do I have to go, but that loser has to come with us?"

"Madeline," he warned. 

"But, Dad, I already have plans next weekend. Jason's having this-"

"Family trumps friends, Madeline," He said, cutting me off. "Besides, if you're going to take over the hospital some day, it's important you attend these events now."

I rolled my eyes, "I have like another decade before I'll even be a licensed doctor. I don't see the urgency. And I can garuntee you that Carson will not be thrilled about this either."

He gave me one of those death stares, "You're going. So is Carson. And that's final."

"I don't even have a dress! I'll have to go out of my way to buy a dress, not to mention-"

"Madeline, if all you came to do was complain, you can leave. I have work to do."

* * *

I got home from the hospital a little after lunch, and all I really wanted to do was sleep.

I trudged up the stairs dreaming of how nice my bed would feel.

On the way, I stopped outside of Carson's room. I could still hear screaming from behind the door (and not the good type of screaming, if you catch my drift).

That voice was very recognizably Carson's, and he sounded pretty angry. I couldn't hear anybody else in there, so I assumed he was on the phone. Otherwise, Carson was just have a screaming match with himself.

Whoever Carson was talking to, should definitely watch it. I remember this one time during freshman year, he beat up this kid named Damien. Anyways, no one really knew the reason why they fought, but Damien walked out with two black eyes, a broken nose, and a broken ribs. Carson, on the other hand, came out with nothing but a mere scratch under his eye.

Moral of the story, Carson was quick to throw hands. So whoever was pissing off Carson right now, might wanna sleep with one eye open. 

I stayed for a moment longer but left soon after because I'm not a nosy bitch.

Anyways, speaking of bitches, not more than 15 minutes later, I could hear heels prancing right outside my door. This was followed by Carson doing something to elicit an involuntary sound out of her that I would have rather not heard. Finally, I heard his door slam shut.

I really need to invest in earplugs. 

* * *

"Madeline, settle something for us," Luna said, plopping down next to me. Zach came up and sat down on my other side.

"Well, hello to you too."

It was lunch hour so we all decided to sit on the hill behind our school. No one really came out here, so it was good if you wanted to be alone or you didn't want to be found.

Zach laughed, "Sorry for her, she wants an answer."

Luna, "Don't you think if a girl, specifically a member of the L-Squad, asks Zach to 'save them a dance' they're trying to make a move and Zach should have politely declined?"

I shrugged, "Well it depends on which one. Lisa is interested in anyone who pays attention to her, but she usually knows better than to go after a guy in a relationship, and Lacey said she'd never 'stoop so low' as to hook up with Zach."

"Well, that doesn't help because it was Lana."

I laughed, "She definitely wasn't making a move. She booted Zach off her 'bang list' after he quit the football team. Lana was probably just trying to get to you."

Zach looked at his girlfriend, pointedly, "See, I told you."

"You still should have said no!" Luna exclaimed.

"I did!" Zach shouted back.

"No, you said that you didn't think it would be a good idea."

"Luna, is it really that big of a deal?" I asked, just trying to enjoy my nice lunch.

"Yes!" She exclaimed. "I don't want her slimy hands all over my boyfriend."

"Ugh, are we still talking about this?" Jason asked, coming up the hill.

"Didn't we get over this after third period?" Dylan complained. Him and Carson also reached the top of the hill and sat down with us.

"No! Because Zach still has not apologized!" Luna cried.

"Apologize for what? Was I supposed to sense Lana was going to ask me to save her a dance and hide from her all day to make sure she couldn't?"

I rolled my eyes, "Luna, if David Beckham asked you to save him a dance, would you say no?"

She opened her mouth to say something, but said nothing. She got up and grabbed Zach's hand, "That's way different, and you know it. Let's go."

"So..." Jason started. "You all coming to my party Saturday night?"

"No, I have plans," I stated.

Carson nodded, "I also have plans."

"The world must really be ending," Jason said, and then pretended to faint.

"I'm sorry, plans?" Dylan laughed.

"Yeah, the only plans you ever have on a Saturday night is partying," Jason said. "Neither of you have ever missed one of my parties, and you're not about to start now."

"The hospital's having this stupid event thing," I shrugged. "Our parents are dragging us to it. Sorry."

"How tragic," Jason said without an ounce of pity in his voice.

I rolled my eyes, "Your face is tragic."

"Wow, I feel so gotten," Jason stated blandly. "Anyway, why can't you come after the stupid event? Your parents can't keep you there all night, can they?"

"Maybe if Carson drives the two of us, we can sneak out early."

"Oh no," He laughed. "I'm not spending any more time with you than I have to."

"Why can't you be a decent human being for once. It's a half hour drive, you can manage."

"That really doesn't sound like someone who's Saturday night depends on how kind I'm feeling," He said, smugly

I rolled my eyes, "Please, if you want to live to Saturday, you're gonna agree now."

"Bitch"

"Bird Brain."

"Brat." 

"Bite me."

Dylan sighed, "I swear, it never ends."