Burn that bridge

"You really mean that Maddie?" asked Annie as she wanted to be sure that Maddie wasn't just saying that to cheer her up, but at the same time, she knew Maddie, and she always said what was on her mind, which meant that she was being honest, but Annie still wanted to hear her reasons regardless.

"Of course I do silly." replied Maddie with a chuckle.

"Look, everyone has different capabilities, and although I hate to admit it, I admire your determination." said Maddie.

"When you truly set your mind to something, you never give up, and you will never let anyone change your mind." said Maddie.

"Although it didn't look like it, I was really proud of you for standing your ground and putting me in my place, even though I didn't deserve it." said Maddie as Annie laughed.

"Right... of course you didn't." said Annie as she shook her head and Maddie chuckled.

"Yeah, yeah, but anyway, you will be alright, you studied really hard, practiced all your potion making and read a lot of spells, I am sure that you will ace the admissions test." said Maddie as she smiled.

"Thanks Maddie, you don't know how much it means to me to hear you say all that." said Annie as she smiled.

"You deserve it little miss stubborn." said Maddie playfully as Annie laughed.

"Well I learn from the best." replied Annie as Maddie laughed.

"I am flattered and yet disappointed in myself for teaching you so well." said Maddie as they both laughed.

"And what about you? How do you feel about the test tomorrow?" asked Annie as she had noticed that Maddie spoke more about her than herself.

"Ahh well what can I say? I feel nothing in particular, no dread, no happiness, I'm just waiting to get it over with so that blondie can finally teach me how to convey!" said Maddie excitedly as Annie laughed and shook her head.

"Of course that's all you care about." said Annie.

"But I can't blame you." said Annie as she smiled and Maddie smiled at her.

"Hey Maddie, what do you think will happen if Matt and I pass the test and you don't?" asked Annie as she just had to say what was on her mind, this was what was actually bothering her.

She was so worried of the possibility, it was easy for them to say that everything would be alright right now, but that was before they knew the outcome of whatever would happen, and she could not help but be filled with dread.

"Well my dear Annie, I don't think we should be thinking about that right now." replied Maddie plainly.

"But—" said Annie as Maddie cut her off quickly.

"But nothing Annie, look there is no need worrying your pretty head about that possibility, what matters now is that you are calm and you get enough rest for tomorrow." said Maddie as she smiled.

"We will burn that bridge when we cross it." said Maddie happily.

"I don't think that's how the saying goes." pointed out Annie quickly.

"I know, and I don't care, that's my own rendition of the saying." said Maddie proudly as Annie shook her head and laughed.

"Yeah, okay, whatever, you are right, we shouldn't worry about that now." said Maddie.

"Of course I'm right, now we better go to sleep before we wake up late for the test tomorrow." said Maddie as Annie smiled.

"Alright, goodnight Maddie." said Annie as she smiled.

"Goodnight Annie." replied Maddie as she smiled and Annie turned to the left as she closed her eyes and drifted off into sleep. Meanwhile Maddie had her eyes wide awake as she smiled, no matter what the results of tomorrow's test were, she would still make sure that she, Annie and Maddie remained good friends, even if they were separated.

The next morning.

"Oh my goodness, I am not joking when I say that I have no clue of what to wear..." said Annie as she groaned, looking at all the clothes in her closet as Maddie walked out of the bathroom and chuckled.

"Now you know how I feel every other day." replied Maddie as Annie turned to look at her with an unimpressed expression on her face.

"What??" asked Maddie as Annie frowned.

"I don't know why you're looking at me like that, I don't get what the big deal is, it's usually my thing to complain on not knowing what to wear, you usually just throw on anything you feel is comfortable." said Maddie as she brushed her hair.

"I know but it's different this time, all those other times we barely leave the Palace, now we're going out to the Palace to write one of the Realm's most difficult admissions test, so yes, I need to look good to feel good, to write well." said Annie as Maddie chuckled at Annie's logic.

"Yeah... I don't really see the application there, but okay." said Maddie as she laughed.

"Maddie you're not helping!!" said Annie as Maddie laughed.

"Okay, okay gosh, what would you have me do?" asked Maddie.

"At least try to help me find something to wear." said Annie as Maddie walked over to her closet.

"Okay, okay, move aside." said Maddie as she looked through Annie's closet as she moved aside.

"Alright, you are stressing too much over this, so go take a bath and when you came out wear whatever I pick out for you, no questions asked." said Maddie as she looked at Annie who looked at her with a doubtful expression plastered all over her face.

"Maddie, this better not be one of your tricks." said Annie.

"It's not." replied Maddie playfully.

"Maddie, I'm being serious, don't you dare mess with me, don't pick out something unwearable or so help me Maddie you'll see another side of me!" said Annie as she was really serious about this.

"Geez Annie, don't you trust me? I am being serious as well? I promise you I won't play a trick on you, trust me." said Maddie as she smiled sweetly as Annie who narrowed her eyes at her.

Blame her for being untrusting all you want, but Maddie could barely be trusted in serious situations, and she was just freaking out about everything this morning.

"Alright, fine, but my warning still stands Maddie, play with me and you're dead." said Annie in a threatening tone as Maddie just smiled, unaffected by the words at all.

"Enjoy your bath and try to relax." replied Maddie as Annie walked into the bathroom and Maddie started to look through Annie's closet as her eyes gleamed when her eyes landed on a particular top.

...

Annie was skeptical, she was wondering why she decided to trust Maddie with something so important to her like this. She had tried so hard to calm down and yet she was still stressed.

Annie sighed as she was done getting ready, she stepped in front of the mirror and saw the outfit she wore that Maddie had picked for her and she instantly felt better.

She was so glad to admit that Maddie was right, she did pick out something nice and simple for her, just the way she liked.

She was wearing a puff sleeve casual peplum top and dark jeans. She looked formal and yet so simple.

"So... how do you like what I picked out for you?" asked Maddie as she smiled knowingly and Annie turned to face her.

"I love it Maddie, thank you!" said Annie as she happily gave Maddie a hug.

"I knew you would like it, see you should have trusted me more." said Maddie as Annie giggled.

"Yes, yes, I especially love that you decided to go with my favourite colour." said Annie as Maddie smiled.

"Of course I did, that's your signature look, anyway, you're ready, I'm ready, let's go eat breakfast." said Maddie as she smiled.

"Okay." said Annie as she smiled, excited to leave and for once she did not feel as stressed as she was moments ago.

As Annie and Maddie were getting ready to leave their room, they were interrupted by a sudden knock on the door.

"Are you guys awake yet?" came Matt's voice from outside the door, he did not mean to disturb them, but he did not want to take the chance that they were still sleeping, after all, he was sure that they had stayed up to talk some more after he had left.

"Oh ha, ha Matt, we are wide awake, come in." said Maddie as Matt opened the door.

"You can't blame me for thinking you were still asleep, after all, you guys did go to bed very late last night." said Matt.

"And I don't see how that concerns you." replied Maddie rudely as Matt ignored her.

"Good morning Matt." said Annie as she smiled happily at Matt and he smiled at her.

"Good morning Annie." he replied.