a?m?b?i?v?a?l?e?n?c?e? - espresseleine au

Espresso and Madeleine have a ball

Latte scrunched her eyebrows. "The last time you were this chipper, though, was when you had a crush on... I think it was Chocolate Crinkle Cookie?" she asked. "So if it's not him, and I don't think anybody else works for him on that level except..."

Her face lit up. "Espresso Allongé Cookie. Do you like Madeleine?"

My cheeks immediately turned the color of a ripe tomato. "N-no."  She raised an eyebrow at me. 

Then I thought about the picnic, the amusement park, and lots of other small moments. Looking around to make sure Madeleine wasn't about to come in, I realized I couldn't lie to my sister. I sighed. 

"Yes."

She squealed so loud I had to cover my eardrums. "That's amazing! Good for you!"

No, it's not. I thought while she jumped around and continued jabbering. He honestly probably just thinks of me as a friend.

espresso that cuddle session you had says otherwise

When Latte finally calmed down, she looked over her shoulder and frowned at me. "Sorry, I gotta go. Bye!" I waved back at her, and she ended the call.

After the call, I got a text from a username I didn't know.

ByTheDivine

Hey!

sleepdontknowher

Who are you?

ByTheDivine

Madeleine, of course! I thought you recognized me!

sleepdontknowher

Oh, I thought you were a random number. What'd you text me for?

We can talk about the dubious methods of how you likely obtained my number later.

ByTheDivine 

I would never! I am a knight, after all.

And I wanted to tell you that I can't come back to the suite, I'll have to meet you at the dance.

sleepdontknowher

Alright, see you there!

I put down my phone, sighing. This man is going to be the death of me. One way or another. I thought, my cheeks heating up.

888888888

I glanced at the clock. Oh damn, it's almost five! Better get dressed. I pulled on my suit and ran outside to hail a cab.

I was nervous and fidgety the whole way there.

Mostly about Madeleine.

When the cab stopped, I hopped out, thanking the driver, and went up to the front door. I waited there for a bit, but when Madeleine didn't show up I decided to go inside and look for him.

I reasoned he would probably be either by the snack table or dancing with a pretty girl (God knows it wouldn't be hard for him) and I decided to go search the snack table since it was the shortest course of action.

On the way to the snack table, I heard his voice and another that sounded vaguely like his. As I headed toward the voices, the words got clearer.

"Have you started a 'business venture' with Cottage Cheese Cookie yet?" the other voice was asking.

"His name isn't-"

"Did I ask you to talk back? Or did I ask you a question?" the woman snapped back, fire in her eyes. 

When I finally broke through the crowd, I saw that Madeleine was there, with his head bowed, surrounded by four women and one man, who was holding on to the tallest of the women. Probably his parents.

Madeleine seemed to shrink. "No, I-I haven't." It broke my heart, seeing him like this. He was usually so tall and strong, the tallest person around. Now, he looked smaller than me, and I felt that if I would touch him, he would shatter into a billion pieces and I could never put him back together.

The mother sighed. "What are we ever going to do with you? You're such a useless heir."

That did it. I couldn't stand by and watch this any longer. "No, he's not!" I burst out, and everyone looked at me.

Madeleine's eyes widened. "Espresso? What are you doing?"

The mom sighed again. "So you need someone to fight your battles for you?" Putting a hand to her forehead, she said "We'll be leaving now. If you haven't at least made her blush by then, we're disinheriting you."

They left, and Madeleine, blinking away tears, turned and ran. I chased him through the crowd, and he led us to a balcony overlooking the gardens.

As I tentatively walked toward him, he sighed, leaning on the railing. He turned to look at me. "Why'd you have to do that? Now my mother hates me!"

I was confused. "But she was talking about you like you don't matter! What if you get emotionally scarred from this?"

He rubbed his eyes. "Who cares if I get hurt? I'm just some rich figurehead who only exists to continue the family line!"

"I care if you get hurt, Madeleine!" I said, now tearing up myself. Why doesn't he see that?

He straightened up. "Do you- do you mean that?" he said, stepping closer.

I gulped. "Yes."

He leaned ever closer. "Espresso, I'm going to kiss you in about five seconds. If you don't want that, you can leave, but..."

I shook my head. "Madeleine, you're an idiot."

Then he kissed me. I pulled him closer, and he kissed me like I was the only thing in the world.

When we finally broke apart, he looked at me. "So...."

I sighed. "Madeleine, this is unlike anything I've ever had before. I'm scared of falling for you, and... and not coming back out."

He wrapped his arms around me, pressing my head to his chest. I inhaled the scent of him, content. "I'm scared too, 'Spress. But if we fall, we'll fall together."

so i may or may not have been watching willow with my family recently

WHOOOOOOOO BIG KISS SCENE! sorry this took so long, I had a TON of hw last week! I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Fi, this one goes out to you.