Madison paced in front of her mirror critiquing herself at 7:30. "Ugh..my hair is totally flat..," She grumbled as she ran her hands through her hair trying to get it to do anything.
Finally, she sighed, grabbed her purse and started downstairs and to her car.
Once at the restaurant parking lot, she checked herself once again. Why was she so nervous?? It was just Kevin.
Okay, the was it. It was just Kevin.
She was just wearing a simple, sleeveless black dress that feel just below her knees. On her feet were comfortable black sandals. She took a deep breath, got out of the car, and walked towards the entrance.
She gave her name to the man at the front and he led her to the back room. He opened the door for her and she walked in, Kevin was seated at the two-person table glancing over the menu. The waiter pulled out her chair for her, Madison smiled at the man and sat down. He handed her a menu and left the room, shutting the door behind him. "I was afraid you wouldn't show..," Kevin said after a moment of silence.
She opened the menu and smiled a little, "I was afraid you wouldn't show."
He grinned, "Me?? I invited you.."
She shrugged, "I know, but you'd be surprised at the things running through my mind just before I got here."
"Like??"
"Like....my hair wouldn't do a thing and I look fat in this dress."
"You're far from fat Mads..I mean, Madison, and your hair looks fine...you look wonderful."
"Thank you..so do you...you can..call me Mads or whatever if you want..."
He nodded, "Okay..I just..wasn't for sure..you know."
She nodded too, "Yeah..I understand."
They drifted into silence as they each looked over the menu. A waiter came in a few minutes later and took their orders.
"Soo..you wanted to talk...so talk Kevin.," Madison said smiling.
Kevin leaned back in his chair a little, "When...when I was back in Lexington I was having a real tough time dealing with the fact that I might not of walked ever again. Everyone was trying so hard to act happy and like everything was perfect around me but it wasn't. Everything was falling apart. And you didn't do that, you knew exactly what I was going through, what I was feeling like and for some reason that..that just didn't sit well with me. So, I took it all out on you. And I know it was wrong..I was wrong and I'm sorry for putting you through that. You had every right to walk out that day and never come back. And I don't blame you..and I don't want you to feel sorry for me or anything like that.."
Madison leaned forward, "You did make me feel useless. You made me feel like whatever I said was wrong. That wasn't you in that hospital, that was some other person who I didn't know. And for some odd reason I put up with you yelling and screaming and throwing things at me day in and day out. I don't nor did I ever feel sorry for you Kevin. I stayed with you because I loved..love you...no matter what."
He nodded and said quietly, "I know. I felt a peice of me die when you left and didn't come back...."
"But the real you came back."
"Yes..with a lot of probing from Brian and my mom and brothers."
Madison smiled, "I figured they'd knock some sense into you."
Kevin laughed, "That doesn't even begin to descibe it. I don't know how many times I started to pick up the phone and dial your number and then chicken out. For some reason, I thought if I was forced to be in that wheelchair for the rest of my life, you wouldn't want to be with me.."
"Kevin..you know thats not true."
"I know..I know it's not.....I was coming to Orlando to hopefully get engaged....and I blew it...big time.."
She smiled, "So I heard...and you might not of blown it mister."
"Really??"
"Yes..."
He raised his eyebrows playfully, "So this means...???"
Madison laughed as the waiter arrived with their food. After he left Madison looked at Kevin who had his eyebrows still raised. "It means I want to get back together with you Kevin...but I don't know with the whole marraige thing yet..let's wait awhile?"
He nodded, "Thats good enough for me."
After dinner, Kevin walked Madison out to her car. "I'm so glad you're not angry at me."
She smiled and ran her hand through his hair, it felt so good and so normal to do that. "I can't stay mad at you forever, now can I?"
He smiled down at her, "Guess not...wanna come with me and the guys to the studio tomorrow?"
"Sure..you pickin' me up?"
He nodded, "Yep. Be there about 11?"
"Sounds good."
He kissed her gently on the mouth and sighed, "I missed that."
She leaned up and kissed him a little more forcefully, "I missed it too."
He grinned, "I'll see you tomorrow Madi.."
She nodded as she unlocked her car door and got in, "I'll see you tomorrow Kev."
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