Michael was sitting outside on the porch. He had a lot on his mind. “I know where I really came from. Dad didn’t want to tell me but I overheard everything. He probably thinks I won’t understand because I am so young. But… I do understand and I feel uncomfortable. I don’t even want to go on living here.” Michael stood up. “I just want to go back living in an apartment like we used to. Now we’re here and I can’t stand it!” Michael ran off. He didn’t want to stay at the house. He felt very uncomfortable being there. Knowing that Robert, Ronnie, and even Bryan were his half brothers. Besides that they were his half brothers they were his cousins too. Which made him felt more worse.
Michael made it to Madison’s home. For some reason, when Michael started hanging out with Madison he began to feel better. She was a good friend of his. Michael actually never had friends before, Madison was his first. And even though he was friends with her, he wasn’t even sure if he liked her or not. He didn’t understand much of love, but he knew Bryan has a crush on Madison.
Michael knocked on the door. A woman answers the door. It was Monica, Madison’s mother. “Hello?” She asks as she stared at him. “Oh! You’re Michael. Madison’s friend? You came to visit Madison?”
“Yes.” Michael answers.
“Well, I guess it’s okay. Come in.” Monica lets Michael in the house and shuts the door. “Madison is in her bedroom.” Michael went to Madison’s bedroom. He knocked before coming in. Madison was surprised to see him. She was sitting in her bedroom at her desk and was working on some homework.
“Michael, what are you doing here?” She asks as she stared at him.
“I need to talk.” Michael said and shut Madison’s bedroom door. Madison stared confused.
“Talk? Talk about what?” She asks.
“Well…” Michael looks down. Madison got up from her chair. “You and I became really good friends lately. I never actually had a friend before. At my old school, I just didn’t want to talk to anyone. I don’t know why, but when I saw you, I felt like I could trust you.”
“Michael… That’s really nice of you to think that.” Madison said staring at her friend. “You’re a good friend to me too. I never got along well with kids my age usually. All the girls in class never wanted to hang with me. They all thought I was too childish, but then I met Katie. She was really nice to me and we became best friends. She cared for me as I cared for her. She never picked on me just because I was a bit childish. Then I met Alana and Katie and I became friends with Alana. We became good friends with her too. Alana is nice and loves cute things like I do, but she isn’t that type of girl that picks on people. She’s sweet.” Madison said and Michael looks at her.
“And me?”
“When I met you, you were really nice. I liked that about you. You are quiet sometimes, but you’re nice. I really like that about you. You became a good friend and you really help me with my homework. My grades have been improving.” Madison smiles.
“Before I never thought of liking her this way. But every time I kept being with her… She’s really cute.” Michael thought to himself and blushes.
“Is that what you wanted to tell me?” Madison asks. Michael walks closer to Madison.
“Actually, no. There’s more.”
“There is?” Madison asks. She was confused but Michael had a serious look on his face.
“I know about who my real mom is and it upsets me. And now I am living with my cousins and I just don’t feel right. I wish I can live back with my dad in an apartment like we used to.”
“But if this never happened, you wouldn’t have met me.”
“That’s the point. I don’t think I should have met you.” Madison couldn’t believe what Michael said to her. She felt upset.
“W-What? Why?” Madison asked as if she was going to cry.
“It’s just… I knew… I already knew who my real mother was and I felt upset about it. But living with my cousins is making it more weird for me.”
“What does that have to do with me? And who’s your mother?” Madison asks.
“My mother is the same mother as Bryan’s!”
“W-What?” Madison was confused. “But you all are cousins. Why would you have the same mother? I don’t understand it.”
“Because! My dad was young when my mom had me. She was disappointed I wasn’t a girl. Like she was disappointed my cousins weren’t a girl! She tried to use my dad to give her a girl baby. But when I was born she was angry and left me with my dad. Then it caused a big fight between my grandparents and my dad. My grandparents doesn’t like me or my dad anymore because of what had happened.” Michael explains to Madison.
“That’s horrible! That woman did something so cruel like that?” Madison asks. “So… Bryan is your cousin besides brother? That means Robert and Ronnie are too. Is that why you feel weird around them?”
“Yes. I don’t feel comfortable because of what had happened. I feel weird and if really anyone found out they would think it’s weird. I decided to tell you because I felt like I could trust you.”
“it is weird, but it’s not your fault. I don’t even think it’s Bryan’s fault either. Robert or Ronnie as well. But that’s weird and crazy. Is it your dad’s fault?” Madison asks. Michael shook his head. “Then it’s the woman to blame. I guess that’s why Bryan’s parents divorced. I can see why.”
“I know…” Michael looks down.
“But why did you say you wish you didn’t met me? I don’t understand. Why would you say something like that? Do you not like me?” Madison asks. She looked upset. “Hearing that made me want to cry.”
“Actually, you’re wrong. I don’t hate you. It’s the opposite and that’s why I wish I didn’t met you.”
“Opposite?” Madison was surprised. “Does that mean you like me?”
“Yes! And I shouldn’t have feelings for you! I know Bryan likes you a lot! And now I don’t want to fight or compete with him just to have you!”
“Bryan likes me too?” Madison couldn’t believe what Michael said. “Are you sure? He acts like he don’t like me in school. We always fight. Maybe you’re thinking too much.”
“No! I am not! I know he likes you!” Michael looks at Madison with a serious look upon his face. “I know it! I caught him talking in his bedroom when no one was around! Looking at a classroom photo! Staring at you on it saying he can’t believe he really likes you!”
“Are you serious?” Madison couldn’t believe it. Bryan had a crush on her. Something she didn’t even expect. And now… Michael is admitting he likes her too and it’s making Madison feel weird. “But were young… Maybe we shouldn’t be thinking about love and dating!” Madison felt nervous.
“But I can’t stop. At first I didn’t think much and thought of you as a friend and was teasing Bryan because I knew he liked you. But now… Spending time with you made me realize I do like you. A lot.” Michael admits and blushes. Madison couldn’t believe it. Michael was confessing his love to her and she didn’t know what to do about it. She wasn’t even sure how she felt about him. He was a good friend, but she never thought about dating him actually.
“Michael… We really shouldn’t be thinking of dating. We’re too young.” Madison said nervously. She wasn’t sure what to actually say to him.
“I don’t care! I really like you!” Michael blurts out and blushes more.
“Michael…” Madison wasn’t sure what to say. She likes Michael, but not the way he that he liked her. She felt like he was just a friend to her and nothing more. More like part of the family sort of way. Madison closes her eyes and took a deep breath. “Michael, look. I really am sorry. But… I just don’t like you that way.” Madison looks at Michael. He looked upset.
“I bet you like Bryan!”
“Michael! Be for real! Why would I like him?!” Madison blushes. She felt her heart beating fast. Something she never noticed much before.
“You do like him! I know you do! And he likes you too!” Michael looked upset. Madison looks the other way.
“Michael, I am sorry. I just want to be friends with you. I do like you, just not the way that you like me.” Madison said. She didn’t know what else to say. She really didn’t want to hurt his feelings.
“You like Bryan like I knew it!’
“What? I don’t love anyone!” Madison blushes more. She didn’t understand the feeling that she was having when he said that to her.
“I knew this was going to happen.” Michael thought to himself and looked down. “She doesn’t want to admit it, but I know she likes Bryan… Just like he likes her too.” Michael walks towards the door.
“Where are you going?” Madison asks.
“I am going home.” Michael responds and left.
“What was that all about?” Madison thought to herself feeling confused. Michael looked up at the sky when he got out of the house.
“I told her my feelings and got rejected.” Michael whispers to himself and left.
Lacy wasn’t sure what to say. She tried to get her thoughts together as she was changing her bed sheets.
“I like both of them but I can’t have them both. I really need to make a decision. I tried dating Ronnie but that didn’t last long. I missed Robert. I am sure if I start dating Robert, I will do the same. But… I need to stop.” There was a knock at the front door and Lacy heard it. “Is that them already?” Lacy went to get the door. When she opened the door she saw Stephanie. “What are you doing here?”
“You need help on who to choose?” Stephanie asked. Lacy was surprised that she knew what she was thinking about.