Dante hadn’t tried to lie to her or tell her she was overreacting, which she appreciated.
“What do you want to do tonight?”
“You want to watch a movie?”
“Yeah. That might be nice.”
“I’ll play one of my favorites.”
“Does it have a lot of explosions in it?”
“I’ll let you see for yourself.”
Madison smiled. They would be ok, for as long as they lasted. And she would enjoy every moment of it.
****
Madison went back to her place. She needed to put some finishing touches on her project.
They were doing interviews that week, and hers was scheduled for Friday at noon.
Her phone rang. It was Henry. They hadn’t talked since the Sabrina encounter. “Hello.”
“Hey, I wanted to let you know they scheduled surgery.”
“Oh, that’s great, Henry. Let me get my calendar and add it to the schedule. When is it?’
“This Friday at ten in the morning.”
“Oh no. I have my interview with the fashion house that day. Let me see if I can switch with someone. Either way, I’ll be there.”
“Let me know if you can’t switch, and I can see if they can reschedule.”
“No, don’t do that. We don’t want to push it back. I’m sure they’ll understand.
Madison got off the phone with Kristy. They didn’t understand. It didn’t matter that she was donating a kidney. They told her it was a prime, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and that if she didn’t make it, it would count against her in the running.
They did say she could switch with someone else if they were willing, but they wouldn’t open up any new dates or times for her.
She knew Sabrina would be her best option, especially since she and Henry were dating she would want him to get the kidney and would be willing to switch with her.
“Hey, Brina, Did Henry tell you his transplant was scheduled?”
“Yeah, for Friday. What are you going to do? isn’t that your interview date?”
“I’m going to do it. I can’t not give him the kidney.” That would be selfish if she were to do the interview instead of being there for Henry. What would people think of her?
“Wow. I can’t believe you’re going to give up the opportunity to work at AS house of fashion.”
“Well, I was hoping to switch with you. I talked to them, and they said I’m not out of the running, but it will knock me down if I can’t interview. It all counts for points.”
“I can’t switch. Sorry.”
“Why not? It’s just one day earlier. If it has to do with work at the club, I can talk to Dante.”
“I’m sure you couldtalkto Dante, but it isn’t that. This is a competition, and I’m in last place. I need anything I can do to get ahead. Sorry.” Sabrina hung up. It had irked Madison more the way she had stressed talk as if she would just sleep with Dante to get him to do what she wanted, which wasn’t the case.
Even though it sucked. She got where Sabrina was coming from. It was a competition and it was everyone for themselves, but she figured because her and Sabrina were friends or at least had been friends outside the competition and she was dating Henry that she would do it for her and for Henry. She should have known. Sabrina had already showed Madison her true colors the night she wouldn’t leave the changing room. Now it was time for Madison to believe what she was seeing. The friendship was dead.
