<div class="floatleft">(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd315/Kali_83/HaydenPantierre.jpg)</div><div class="floatright">(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd315/Kali_83/nicole-kidman_4.jpg)</div><br/><br/><div align="center"><strong>Name:</strong> Madison Eldridge (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=129137.msg5723759#msg5723759)<br/><strong>Location:</strong> Madison's Home<br/><strong>Tagged:</strong> Open<br/></div><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><hr/><br/>After dinner, their tummies stuffed with deliciousness, Madi and her mother remained at the table. Her mother sipped her red wine while Madi played her fork in the spaghetti left on her plate.<br/><br/>"So, how are you acclimating to your new school?" Laura cocked her head, wrapping an arm around her waist and leaning back in her chair. Madison poked a meatball while she thought. She'd known her mom would be asking this question soon, as she always did every year. What was she supposed to say? Tell her mom the truth? That she was seen as an outcast, coming in during senior year when most everyone had already known each other for years prior? That she walked through the halls guarded, alone, and praying for an end to the day? No, she couldn't tell her mom that. It would just upset her.<br/><br/>"Fine," Madi said, sitting up with a smile. "It's fine."<br/><br/>Laura's gaze narrowed, "And your job at the diner? How is that going?" Oh that was great! She was prime age and looks for a good doling of sexual harassment from her boss and the strangers she encountered daily. Madison sighed.<br/><br/>"That's fine too," she kept the smile.<br/><br/>Laura had lost her own, though. "Madison, why can't you be straight with me? Why do you have to lie? If school isn't going well, talk to me about it. And you know if that job isn't treating you right, you can quit."<br/><br/>Damn, she had never been very successful at lying. "Mom, quit worrying. It's my last year of school and I can't quit my job. We need the money."<br/><br/>"No we don't, Madi. I got that job at the Quickimart and I go in for that second interview at the law firm tomorrow. The doctor's office filing position might not have worked out but I'll find something. I'll make this work," she was pleading with her daughter. Madi knew the sound, though. It was her mom more pleading with herself than with Madi to believe.<br/><br/>"Mom, seriously. Even with a job as a cashier and a secretary, you still can't afford this house," Madison began.<br/><br/>"Madison Eldridge!" Uh oh. Her mom's smile was completely gone now. "Do not tell me what we can and can't afford. I will work this out!"<br/><br/>"Oh what, Mom?" Madison retorted. "Like you did last time? We lost power a month before we left for Grammy's! A MONTH!"<br/><br/>Laura stood up with such force that she knocked her chair over. "You are excused from dinner! Go to your room young lady!" Laura pointed to the stairs with a stern look on her face.<br/><br/>"Fine! I don't want to talk anymore anyway!" Madi bolted from the table, up the stairs, and slammed her bedroom door. The sound of the door slamming snapped her out of her anger. A sadness took hold and she looked down at her hands. She was trying hard to keep it together for her mom. She packed her messenger bag with all her school books, changed into her pajamas, hit the lights, and crawled into bed. The coldness of the sheets calmed the tears that threatened to pour. She stared out her window at the stars before finally drifting off to sleep.