Chapter Seven

The day went on as usual. It was close to the end of the term, and the students were busy with their classes preparing for the upcoming exams. While revision was going on, some students and teachers were  preparing for the fund raising event that would be happening on the Saturday of the week before the examination starts.

"Adeline, your cousin is in the infirmary. She'd hurt her leg pretty badly and the nurse ask her to go back home and rest. But she is stubbornly refusing to."

"And why are you telling this, to me?"

"You...  Are you not her cousin? She hurt herself because of you, so you have to take responsibility."

Adeline squinted at the unreasonable girl in front of her. After much thought, she decided to check out on her. Not that it was her fault anyway, it's just that she did not want any trouble.

..

"What is she doing here?" Madeleine scrunched her face distastefully, when Adeline walked in. She turned her face away, not after giving her a prominent glare. Her eyesbrows furrowed with her teeth sunk into the flesh of her lower lip as a sharp numbing pain shot through her.

Was this karma? It should have been Adeline who had fallen, why did it have to be her and she also got herself a sprained ankle.

Cherry Creek rushed forward like a dutiful fellow and held her hand in her warm ones. "Hey, Maddie. The nurse said that you need to rest and even got a day off for you. So I called your cousin, don't be mad. It is for your own good." She leaned forward, close to Madeleine's ears and whispers softly, "besides, this is the best time to get her to do your bidding. Well, she is the cause.. I mean, related to your fall, so she can't shrink from the responsibility, right?"

Madeleine's eyes glisten in the small room, as she stared at her best friend. With realization, her eyes mirrors that of Cherry Creek's and she decided to go with the flow.

Pretending not to see what was going on, Adeline went forward, her eyes sweeping past the swollen ankle. Her lips purses, into a thin line as she came to a halt before the bed. She looked at Madeleine and stretching forth a hand, "Come on, I'll take you home."

Madeleine smiled inwardly, though her left ankle did hurt a lot that she was practically gritting her teeth with a frown on her delicate face. She looked at Adeline with attitude, she turned and started crying. "I can't walk. It is so painful..ah!"

"Fine. I will get you, but only this one time." Adeline gritted her teeth, squatting down, so Madeleine could get on.

Madeleine grinned and happily hopped on her cousin's back before giving her best friend Cherry, a playful wink. 

Going home, they both came to an agreement, not to mention what happened.

Adeline called a Cab, that took them home. In the 40 minutes drive back home, she had to listen to Madeleine's consistent mumbling.

When they got back, Mrs Doris greeted them at the entrance, as she helped the silly girl to the couch.

"What happened?" Mrs Doris asked concerned.

"She sprained her ankle, Mrs Doris and she is advised to take rest." Adeline informed the worried Elderly lady as she walked away to get some ointment to massage the spot.

"You should be fine in a couple of days, don't put too much pressure on the leg." Mrs Doris told Madeleine as Adeline helped her to her room.

**

Days passed uneventfully, with Madeleine and her Drama. Though her angle was somehow okay, she still let Adeline carry her everyday and let her do her assignments.

Soon it was Friday, a day before the school's Fund raiser day. While Adeline had chosen to help with the decorations of the school's auditorium for the event, Madeleine was with her friend Cherry practicing their song for the event.

"Hey, Cousin!" Adeline came to a halt as she took in the Madeleine's excited expression as she was waving at her beckoning her to their table. She pretended not to have noticed and turned to hurry away.

Madeleine who seemed to noticed her movement ran to her and held her hand dragging her to their table. "Cousin, were you trying to run away?"

Adeline gave a snort before following her, leaving the hall of gaping students. The students quickly broke into gossip, "Wow, I'm I seeing things now?"

"Is it just me or those two seem closer than before."

One guy let out a disappointed sigh as he watched them. "Ai ya... To think I was eagerly waiting for the two beauties to fight and now that dream seems to have become impossible."

"Tsk...tsk...tsk."

Adeline calmly ate her brunch not minding the excited girls seated before.

"I can't believe tomorrow is the day. My parents are finally going to see me performing on stage!" Cherry said giving an excited sigh.

"Look at you, you look so excited. I hope you have gotten over your stage fright? I can still remember a certain girl who pretended to faint on stage. Hmm.. when was it?" Madeleine pretended to think, looking at her friend as they continuously giggled.

" Oh, please. Don't remind me of that embarrassing moment. Gosh, I couldn't show my face for a week. The funny thing was that, that silly boy back then had to give me a mouth to mouth thinking i was going to die. It was my first kiss! I remember screaming loudly and crying." Cherry face palmed and cleared her throat embarrassingly when she saw the two girls laughing.

Adeline almost choked on her drink trying hard not to give in to the laughter.

"What? I was in fifth grade, Okay? It's not my fault a silly someone could not allow me to faint in peace. Ah.."

Madeleine joined Adeline as they both laughed but stopped as Cherry glared at her.

"Fine, fine. We'll go shopping today, I still haven't got any clothes for the event. So you'll follow me won't you?"

"Of course, I wouldn't miss it for anything, dohrr..." Cherry rolled her eyes and muttered cheekily before turning to Adeline. "What about you, Adeline?"

Adeline nods her head after thinking for a while. She had several wears in her wardrobe that she hasn't worn particularly since she didn't have where to go. Anyway, The dress code for a fundraiser event shouldn't be that troublesome.

"Really?" Madeleine pressed not convinced, "anyway, you should join us. We wouldn't want you being the odd one out of everybody Adeline."

After the girls finished eating, Madeleine dragged Adeline along as they went for shopping.