GUUUUUUUUUUUUUYS! hey. Soo... this is the last chapter, and then an epilogue, and one chapter in Maddox's point of view. So choose carefully. Comment the chapter you want me to write in his perspective. (I wanna live a life from a new perspective). I'm only accepting "Chapter #" comments- no describing chapters. Keep in mind when choosing chapters: choose a chapter that was fun, choose a chapter where you were curious as to what Maddox was thinking, choose a chapter that wasn't boring! :)

RESULTS FOR THE TITLE CONTEST ARE IN. I'VE GONE THROUGH ALL OF THE COMMENTS (every single one) AND HAVE NARROWED DOWN THE LIST. AND THEN I'VE NARROWED IT DOWN SOME MORE. AND THEN I NARROWED IT DOWN AGAIN. BASICALLY, I NARROWED IT DOWN UNTIL I CAME UPON THE TITLE THAT I THINK SUITS MY NEW STORY THE MOST. THANK YOU ALL FOR ENTERING. I APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE SUGGESTION YOU GUYS GAVE. THE WINNER FOR THE TITLE CONEST IS: *drum roll* A Touch of Grace by Olliebatt. THERE WERE SO MANY GOOD ONES THAT I'M DEFINITELY USING AS CHAPTER TITLES. Don't worry- you'll still get dedications for that.

HAPPY READING!

Chapter 32: Don't Forget the Extra Apple!

I woke up on Monday morning with a smile on my face. I blinked a few times before grinning widely and getting out of bed to prepare for the day. Once I was ready, I went downstairs and grabbed a few breakfast items before heading outside. A few moments later, right on time, Maddox’s car pulled up, stopping in front of my house. I approached the car, repressing my smile. As I got in, I handed him his breakfast but he paid no mind. Instead, he leaned over and pressed his lips to mine, chuckling quietly as the grin forced its way onto my lips mid kiss.

“I can see that you’re happy,” he muttered as he rested his forehead against mine. I bit my lip and shrugged.

“I guess you can say that,” I told him as he pulled away, slowly making his way down the street.

“Did you tell Winona and Cassidy yet?” he asked once we reached the corner of the street.

“No,” I admitted. To be honest, I wanted to tell them in person so we could squeal and jump around together. It’s not every day that you get your first boyfriend. “Did you tell anyone?”

“Nope,” he responded. “Only Abel.”

“I’m surprised he hasn’t said anything to me yet,” I replied with furrowed eyebrows.

“Should we tell them today?” he asked curiously and I nodded.

“Yeah,” I responded.

“At the same time,” he told me with narrowed eyes.

“What? No!” I hissed. Definitely not. Winona and Cassidy will ruin me. They will both double team me and start reciting things I’ve said about Maddox in the past. And once they do that, they’ll drag me away and interrogate me about what happened. I’d rather tell them when we’re away from the guys, so if they say anything too embarrassing, no one will be there to hear.

“Yes,” he responded. When he saw my expression, he puckered out his lower lip. “Please.”

I scowled at him. “Alright, fine, but only because I feel like Nick has some embarrassing things to say about you, too.” When I saw the slightly panicked look on his face, I smirked. “At the same time, Maddox, remember.”

+ + +

When lunch time came around, Maddox took the seat beside me, making Cassidy move to the seat between Nick and Jackson. Winona didn’t care because she was still on the opposite side of me. Jackson and Nick didn’t bother to say anything either. In fact, they didn’t even seem to notice to change. About five minutes into lunch, Cassidy looked at us. “So what’s with the seat changes?”

“Well,” I started, unsure of what to say. I looked at Maddox for help and he was only smirking at the table as I stuttered over my words. I nudged him in the side and he turned to look at me, leaning in slowly as he moved his hand up to my face. His lips pressed to mine and I felt my face immediately heat up, but I kissed back without hesitation. Once I pulled away, I noticed that all of our friends had disgusted looks on their faces, but Maddox had a smug look on his.

“That was gross,” Jackson noted as he wrinkled his nose.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” Cassidy said, drawing my attention to her. “Come with me.”

By the look on her face, I could tell she had questions. I glared at Maddox as Winona tugged me out of my seat. The green eyed boy only winked in response. I turned and followed my two friends to the bathroom. Once they made sure no one was in there, Cassidy whipped around to look at me. Winona was already staring. I chuckled as I washed my hands. “Hey, did you guys do the calculus homework yet?”

“What was that?” Cassidy hissed as she stared at me.

“A kiss?” I asked with furrowed eyebrows.

“Are you two official?” Winona blurted and I slowly nodded. Cassidy let out a shriek that the entire cafeteria probably heard.

“Since when?” Cassidy asked.

“Saturday night,” I muttered, earning a squeal from Winona.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Cassidy hissed. I simply shrugged sheepishly in response, unsure of what to say.

“How’d it happen?” Winona asked, changing the subject quickly.

“We left Raven’s party and went to the cliff. He asked me there,” I confessed with red cheeks.

“How’d he ask?” Cassidy inquired as she leaned against the sink. I sighed, retelling the story that I told Vivica just yesterday. Once I finished, Cassidy was cooing and Winona was grinning and shaking her head.

“He finally asked,” Winona nodded.

“That was so cute!” Cassidy insisted. I just nodded as I stared at the floor with a bright red face.

“So what’s the deal with you and Nick?” I asked Cassidy curiously.

“I don’t know, to be honest. I mean, I’m still getting over Jackson, and Nick understands that. But when I get over Jackson, I don’t know if I’d want a relationship with Nick. What if we break up? What will happen to our friendship?” Cassidy explained.

“Well, if you guys break up, it’s up to you two to determine what will happen to your friendship,” Winona shrugged. “It can either be really tense and awkward, or you can acknowledge the fact that, yes, at one point you both liked each other, but that it didn’t work out, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t still be friends.” Cassidy nodded as she stared at her hands.

“Can we leave now? I’m sick of this gross bathroom,” I muttered and the girls both nodded. Once we exited, I noticed the guys standing against the wall opposite to the bathroom with our belongings. I walked over to Maddox and grabbed my bag.

“It was that bad?” he whispered and I narrowed my eyes at him.

“You couldn’t just let me say it,” I hissed.

“Come on, it was funny,” he chuckled as he stared at me. I had my arms crossed and he smiled. “It got the point across, didn’t it?”

“No!” I retorted.

“Well at least I got a chance to kiss you,” he responded, earning a short lived glare from me before I sighed and shook my head.

“Did they say anything to you?” I asked him and he nodded. I waited for him to speak but he didn’t. “Well, what’d they say?”

He grinned at me, slinging an arm around my shoulder as we began walking down the hallway. “Don’t worry about it.”                                                                                     

+ + +

“Hello?” I said into the phone.

“Is it true?” Abel inquired curiously.

“Is what true?” I asked as I pressed the phone between my shoulder and the side of my head. I scrubbed at the dishes, rinsing them under the warm water.

“You and Maddox are official?” Abel asked.

“Yeah,” I told him. “I don’t see how it’s a big deal. Nothing has changed. The only thing that’s different is that now there’s a title over what we are,” I told him.

“But now it’s weird,” Abel sighed, “Because instead of just being my friend, you’re my little brother’s girlfriend.”

“Well, I guess you can see it that way,” I shrugged.

“I do, and it’s weird,” he explained. “Now whenever I see you, it’s going to be awkward.”

“Oh shut up, Abel,” I hissed as I dried my hands on the towel.

“Now you can’t tell me anything about Maddox because you’re his girlfriend,” Abel explained.

“Abel,” I responded. “I’m still going to gossip about Maddox to you.”

“Good, because I have so much to tell you about him, girl,” Abel drawled.

I laughed loudly before looking at my phone. My father was calling. “Can it wait an hour or so? My dad’s calling.”

“Tell him I said hi!” Abel insisted. “Wait, don’t!”

“I won’t,” I laughed before clicking over. “Hey,” I greeted my father.

“You called?” he asked me. I had already told my mother about my relationship with Maddox, and she had assumed that I was already dating him since the dinner. I asked her not to tell dad, so I could tell him and she agreed.

“I did call,” I replied as I walked to my room.

“Oh, no, what is it now?” he asked. “Did you get fired from your job? Because I’m not paying your phone bill, and I’m not buying you concert tickets.”

I laughed. “No, dad, you remember Maddox right?”

“No,” he replied sarcastically. “Who is that again?”

I chuckled, rolling my eyes as I sat on my bed. “My boyfriend,” I blurted.

My father was silent before he spoke. “Nice.”

“Nice?” I asked, with furrowed eyebrows. “You’re not going to, I don’t know; yell at me, or something?”

“I gave you my approval, didn’t I? Your mother gave you hers. It’s okay with your aunt,” my father explained. “I guess he’s a nice kid. I don’t see why not.” I could tell that he had rehearsed this several times. My mother probably told him to say it.

“Okay,” I nodded, not bothering to question him further.

“So, is that all?” he asked me.

“Yeah, I guess it is,” I told him.

“Thanks for telling me,” he responded and I could tell it was genuine.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Most teenagers would go behind their parent’s backs,” he explained. “But you told me, and I appreciate that.”

“Well, you’re welcome, I guess,” I responded. Honestly, if my father wouldn’t have approved, I still would’ve dated Maddox. And I would’ve forced my father to approve by having him see Maddox several times. And if my father still wouldn’t have approved, then it’s his problem, not mine.

After hanging up with my father, I looked in the mirror and jumped when I saw my aunt standing in the doorway. “Hey,” I greeted her and she walked in, dropping down on my bed.

“So, Maddox?” she asked.

“You heard that?” I inquired and she nodded.

“Your door was open, and I was gathering the laundry from the bathroom,” she excused.

“Yeah, we’re official now,” I told her, repressing a grin.

“Have I told you the dating rules yet?” she asked and I shook my head.

“He can only come over here when I’m here. You can only go over there when his parents are there- his older brother doesn’t count. I want to meet his parents, too. If he pressures you into doing anything, tell me, and I’ll handle it,” my aunt expressed. My eyes widened as the last part slipped from her lips.

“Okay, Aunt Gen, I got it,” I nodded and she smiled.

“I’m happy for you,” she told me.

“Thanks,” I replied. I’m happy for me too.

+ + +

It was around midnight and I couldn’t sleep. I rolled on my side and picked up my phone. I saw that I had an unread text message and I hoped that it was recent, because I really needed someone to talk to. I saw that it was from two minutes ago, and it was from Maddox. I quickly responded and only seconds later, he replied.

What are you doing up?I stared at his message and sighed in relief.

What are you doing up? I responded. A few seconds later my phone vibrated in my hands but it was a call, not a text.

“Why are you awake so late?” his familiar voice asked. I felt a smile break through my face.

“I can’t sleep,” I told him. “Why are you awake so late?”

“I’m always awake this late,” he responded. “And I’m hungry.”

“I’m hungry, too,” I told him. And I’m too lazy to get up and go downstairs to the kitchen to get something to eat.

“I could go for some McDonald’s right about now,” he admitted.

“Can’t we all?” I sighed.

“Do you want to go get some?” he asked after a few seconds.

“What? McDonalds?” I asked.

“Yeah, McDonalds,” he answered.

“Now?” I asked him.

“Yes,” he responded without skipping a beat.

“You’re joking, right?” I inquired.

“No,” he replied.

“But it’s midnight. And we have school tomorrow,” I told him.

“And we’re hungry,” he responded.

“But…” I trailed off. Who would I be hurting if I went? My aunt isn’t home to stop me. And if Vivica catches me, I can always pick her up a burger or something.

“So do you want to go or what?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I told him.

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” he responded before hanging up.

Fifteen minutes later, I was getting in Maddox’s car, which was waiting outside of my house. “Nice pajamas,” he noted as I closed the passenger’s side door.

I looked at him, noticing that he too was decked in his nightwear. “Yeah, you too.”

“Thanks, they were Christmas gifts,” he grinned as he drove off down the road.

“This is crazy,” I told him.

“What?” he asked me.

“We’re out at midnight on a school night!” I told him. “Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve done this?”

“We’re only getting McDonalds,” he told me.

I sighed as we drove towards the 24 hour restaurant. “Where were your parents?” I asked him.

“Sleeping,” he responded. “Abel told me to get him an apple pie with extra apple.”

“Sounds like something Abel would say,” I nodded. “We’re going to be so tired tomorrow.”

“I can deal with that,” he shrugged. As we pulled into the McDonald’s drive thru, Maddox ordered the usual and so did I. After we retrieved our meal, with Abel’s apple pie (with extra apple), Maddox began driving down the road.

“Where are we going?” I asked him.

“The cliff?” he smiled sheepishly. When he saw my nervous look, he grinned. “Come on, it’s five minutes away. And we’ll only be there for twenty minutes tops.”

We arrived and Maddox got out of the car, taking the bag of food with him. I followed him, carrying the drinks. We sat down in our usual spot, which was illuminated by the dim moonlight. Maddox sat down, putting the bag in his lap. He took out his phone and began turning the brightness up before placing it down on the ground. It helped to light up the area, and I did the same. Maddox began handing me my food as I put his drink in front of him.

Silence took over as we prepared to eat. I’d been staring at him for the last few minutes and the only word that appeared in my mind was ‘boyfriend’ and it was oddly familiar. Did he look at me and think of the word ‘girlfriend?’ What if I’m not a good girlfriend? What if I’m the worst girlfriend ever? I should probably warn him.

“I’ve never been in a relationship,” I blurted as I stared at my food.

“I know,” he responded.

“What if I’m not good at it?” I asked him.

“You’re good at everything you do, Olive,” he told me.

“Except English,” I muttered.

“Even English,” he smiled.

“And kissing,” I responded.

“Especially kissing,” he assured me.

“But I bit your tongue,” I reminded him with a smile.

“You’ve redeemed yourself,” he told me with a grin. With a flirtatious smile, he smirked. “Unless, of course, you feel as if you haven’t.”

I smiled at him, rolling my eyes. “I’m not quite sure,” I responded as I moved closer to him, leaning in.

“Well,” he began. He raised his hand with a smile on his lips. Patting my shoulder twice, he leaned back to his original position, causing me to furrow my eyebrows. “I want to eat my McDonalds.” I stared at him with a dropped jaw. He simply smirked as he grabbed his French fries. “You want one?”

‘You know that I hate you, right?” I hissed.

“No, you don’t,” he responded with a laugh.

“Yes, I do,” I retorted.

“You promise?” he asked and I glared at him.

“I do promise,” I retorted.

“Do you promise you’ll hate me always…and forever?” he asked with furrowed eyebrows.

“Yeah, I do,” I replied, rolling my eyes with a smile. He caught me off guard by leaning in and pressing his lips to mine. I immediately wrapped my arms around his neck, closing my eyes and grinning into the kiss. Once I pulled away, I rested my forehead against his and sighed. “It was Forever and Always, Olive, you idiot.”