Madison smoothed down her dress as she looked in the mirror. It was always strange to her how different she looked when Candace dressed her all up. Candace and Jess milled about behind her, chattering animatedly. It felt like a terrible deja vu moment to the turnaround dance, how ever many years ago that was now.
"You okay Mads?" Jess inquired, coming to stand behind her in the mirror.
"I don't know why I'm so nervous," Madison sighed.
Maybe it was all that talk about how they were going to be the 'hottest couple'. She knew he was joking, but maybe it was the suggested pressure?
"Nervous about the after party," Candace giggled, winking at her.
It took a minute to register what she meant, and then Jess and Madison were both making disapproving sounds.
"What?" Candace defended, "That's what all the boys are thinking of."
Jess and Madison scoffed, but sent each other a look. Not to out the poor girl, but Candace wasn't a virgin anymore - Jess and Madison on the other hand, were definitely. And now Madison had a whole new reason to be nauseatingly nervous.
"Don't stress yourselves out about it, it's not that big of a deal," Candace dismissed, slipping on her sparkly heels.
"Thanks Can, I'm no longer nervous," Jess deadpanned.
She was starting to sound like Madison.
The three girls were finally finished - their outfits perfectly put together. Candace wore a frilly pink tiered dress, with no straps, and sparkly silver heels that increased her height by 3 inches. Her hair had various silver butterfly clips in it to keep her braids out of her face and her lips were highlighted with a sparkly gloss. She looked ethereal. Jess wore a dark blue shift dress, with a strappy back, and black kitten heels. Her hair was down, a rarity for her, and stick straight. She looked gorgeous.
"You know, even though you always wear black, you always kill it," Jess complimented.
Madison smiled, proud of her choices. Her black evening dress was covered in small little stars, just sparkly enough to catch the light but not blind anyone (like Candace's shoes). Her hair was pulled back into that usual up do, and was littered with matching small stars. She was, surprisingly, wearing the same height of heels as Candace, but hers were a sparkly black. The highlight of the look, at least in her opinion, was her vintage star and moon earrings - that dropped just past her chin and had hints of purple within them. They were a present from her grandmother.
"Our dates should be here any minute," Candace mused, gesturing to her clock.
Candace was going with Troy, Jess with a different friend from track (Caleb), and Madison, obviously, with Eric. Madison and Candace had been worried that Jess would be going alone for a bit there.
"Let's do this thang!"
--
"Madison Chirley I still can't get over how beautiful you look," Eric complimented over the thumping music.
Madison's blush was hidden by the darkness of the ballroom as Eric led her into the dance. Everyone was looking at them, causing Madison's face to contort into an annoyed one.
"Did you eat a lemon?" Eric asked, chuckling.
"Hardy har har, I just don't know why everyone is looking at us," Madison snarked.
"Because Mads, we look fantastic," Eric answered, startling her out of her annoyance by spinning her.
A laugh escaped her lips, Eric's spin pulling it out of her. He somehow always did that.
The music was blaring loud as Eric dragged her all over the dance floor. It was something out of a teen movie, the pair of them slowly but surely taking the floor over. Madison felt goofy, something she normally didn't feel or want to feel, as Eric attempted multiple times to dip her. Candace and Jess and their dates occasionally passed by their vision but for the most part it was just them.
Three hours passed by quickly, and the party was already starting to wind down - kids disappearing into the hotel or to another party - and Eric felt anxiety start to fill up his chest. It was nearing the end of the night and the room key in his jacket pocket felt heavy. The group, girls and their dates, were now sitting at a table close to the exit, Eric's arm lazily placed on the back of her chair. He was abnormally quiet as Jess, Candace, and Madison all chatted quickly and laughed loudly. Movement out of the corner of his eye pulled his attention. He watched Jason begin to leave with his date, giving Eric a thumbs up, and a surge of confidence went through him.
"Mads, you wanna get some food?" Eric shouted over the talking and music.
"Yes please!" Madison shouted back, "See you guys later!"
Eric lightly pulled Madison along with him as she continued to talk to her friends. The pair sauntered out of the ballroom, Madison complaining about her heels the entire way. He was trying to act normal and laugh along with her, but felt stiff. As they neared the elevators, Eric was waiting for her to clue in or make a comment... but she didn't. She just chattered along, elated. Was she drunk or something?
It was only when they were in the elevator did she finally hush up, and look up at him.
"You got a hotel room?" she inquired, no anger or edge to her voice - just curiosity.
"Yeah, we can get room service," Eric answered nervously, "And... I don't know... hang out."
She only hummed in response, and he felt the nervousness increase in the small space. Great, now he had freaked her out.
The doors slid open and allowed the two teens to exit the elevator, Madison allowing Eric to lead her in the direction of the room. Her heart was beating so loud she swore she could hear it in her ears. This is exactly what Candace had warned her about.
But it was Eric. Sweet, loving, caring Eric... who would never force her into anything. But did she need to be forced? Did she want to?
"Here we are," Eric said quietly, opening the door.
It was dead silent as they entered the room. Eric allowed Madison to enter first, and she nervously wrung her hands. The room was nice, for a local hotel. One queen bed with a dark red sheet set, two nightstands, a small tv, a closed door she assumed led to the bathroom, and a small table with chairs. She vaguely wondered how much it cost.
Eric sighed as he plopped down on the bed, slipping off his shoes. He was grateful when Madison plopped down beside him, also beginning to fight with her shoes. It showed him that she wasn't mad or upset with him. To give him something to take his mind off the raging nerves, he reached over to grab the room service menu. That was what he promised her.
"Mmm, they have some-" Eric began.
"Eric," Madison interrupted.
Eric's head snapped up from the pages and he was startled at what he saw. Madison was sans shoes, sitting on her knees facing him. She looked absolutely beautiful.
"As much as I would love some food, I know that's not the reason why you brought me here," Madison said plainly, and when he went to protest, "I'm not an idiot Eric Matthews."
He bowed his head sheepishly.
"And I... I think we should," Madison whispered.
"What?" Eric responded, shocked.
"I think we should, umm, go farther..." Madison mumbled, face bright red, "I don't know I just feel..."
"Mads, I don't want to pressure you into anything, we can leave right now and just forg-" Eric protested.
The end of his word was cut off by a pair of warm lips pressed against his own. He had never felt Madison kiss him like that - so full of passion and certainty. The food menu was quickly dropped to the floor as he grabbed her face with his free hands. They had made out multiple times but never at this pace or level.
Eric disconnected his lips to try and shrug off his jacket, prompting Madison to let out a light giggle at his struggle. Once the jacket was removed from the equation, hungry hands reached for buttons and zippers and straps. Eric's fingers shook as he fumbled with her zipper, exposing her back to the air and his warm hands. When most articles of clothing were loosened or removed, they shifted their position to lay down - Eric hovering above her. His heart was beating so fast he thought he might pass out.
"Are you sure? Do you want to do this?" Eric asked once again, nervousness coursing through him.
Madison looked up at him from underneath her eyelashes, a breathless smile on her face.
"Yes."
--
Oooooooh I'm getting more spicy in this new year. On that note, Happy New Years everyone!!!