Chapter 54 – Girls’ Night

As dinner wound down, the clinking of cutlery and soft conversation gave way to the rustling of dishes being cleared. Madelyn and Sarah, now full, gathered the plates and cups, carrying them to the sink. Emily smiled at their teamwork, noting how Sarah’s bubbly energy seemed to lift her daughter’s spirits even after such a heavy day.

“Thanks for helping, girls,” Emily said as she rinsed a plate and handed it to Jack to dry. “It’s nice to see the two of you working together.”

“Of course, Mrs. Roth!” Sarah chirped, stacking plates with a flair that made Madelyn roll her eyes. “Gotta earn my keep, right?”

“You’re such a show-off,” Madelyn said, but her tone was light, her tail swaying slightly despite her failed efforts to hide her amusement.

Once the table was cleared and the kitchen tidied, Sarah’s energy seemed to reach new levels. “Okay, so… what are we doing now?” she asked, bouncing slightly on her toes. “We could play some games! Board games, card games, video games—what’ve you got?”

Jack chuckled, setting the last dish on the rack. “You still have plenty of energy left, don’t you, Sarah?”

“Always!” she replied with a wide grin.

Emily dried her hands and gave Sarah a knowing look. “You two go ahead and have fun. Jack and I are going to relax for a bit. We’ll leave the chaos to you.” She winked at Madelyn, her expression warm and amused.

Madelyn’s cheeks heated at the subtle implication, but Sarah didn’t miss a beat. “Chaos is my middle name!” she declared dramatically, striking a pose. “Come on, Mads, let’s see what games we can play!”

Madelyn shook her head, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. “Alright, alright. Let me see what we have in the living room.”

As they moved to the living room, Sarah nudged Madelyn playfully. “Your mom totally thinks we’re adorable,” she teased.

Madelyn groaned, her face heating further. “Sarah…”

“What? She’s not wrong.” Sarah grinned, winking at her.

Madelyn decided not to dignify that with a response, instead leading Sarah to the cabinet where they kept their board games and video games. “You can choose something,” she said, pulling open the doors to reveal a collection of colorful boxes and neatly coiled wires.

“Let me think for a bit, though!” Sarah exclaimed, scanning the selection. “Okay, let’s play something easy and fun. Uno? Or do we go all-out chaos mode with Mario Kart?”

Madelyn raised an eyebrow. “You just want to destroy me again, don’t you?”

“Obviously,” Sarah said, grabbing the Mario Kart case and handing it to Madelyn with a grin. “Let’s go, Mads. Show me what you’ve got.”

As they set up the game, laughter and friendly banter filled the room.

The game loaded up, the familiar energetic music of Mario Kart filling the room. Sarah immediately navigated to her favorite character, Daisy, her movements confident and quick. “Gotta stick with my girl,” she said with a grin. “She’s the princess of the track.”

Madelyn smiled, scrolling through the character selection screen. Her finger hovered over a few options before settling on Cat Peach. She felt a small surge of pride at her choice. “I mean, it’s kind of fitting,” she said, glancing at Sarah, her tail swishing playfully behind her.

Sarah burst out laughing. “Oh my gosh, it’s perfect! You are totally Cat Peach.”

Madelyn blushed slightly but couldn’t help the grin spreading on her face. “Let’s just see if I can live up to the name.”

“Alright, CPU on hard mode,” Sarah said, her tone daring. “Because anything less is boring.”

Madelyn raised an eyebrow but nodded. “Sure. I’ll just… try not to embarrass myself.”

The first race began, the countdown ticking down. Sarah was laser-focused, her fingers moving with practiced ease as Daisy shot out of the starting line with a perfectly timed boost. Madelyn, not quite as precise, started in the middle of the pack, scrambling to dodge shells and bananas as the chaos unfolded.

“Come on, Mads!” Sarah called, her competitive streak on full display as she zoomed around a sharp turn. “You can’t let the CPUs beat you!”

Madelyn laughed, her eyes narrowing in determination as she narrowly avoided a green shell, completely by accident. “I’m trying, okay? They’re ruthless!”

By the end of the first race, Sarah crossed the finish line in first place, raising her arms triumphantly. “Boom! Daisy reigns supreme!” she declared, practically bouncing in her seat.

Madelyn, who had managed a respectable fifth place, shook her head, smiling. “You’re way too into this.”

“And you’re not into it enough,” Sarah teased, nudging her with her elbow. “Next race—step it up, kitty-cat!”

The next few races played out in a similar pattern. Sarah consistently finished first, her competitive energy filling the room as she cheered or groaned at near-misses. Madelyn’s performance was… mixed. Sometimes she managed to secure second or third place, other times she fell victim to an unfortunate string of items that hit her, leaving her in the lower half of the rankings.

But despite the varying results, Madelyn found herself laughing more than she had in weeks. Sarah’s enthusiasm was contagious, and the playful banter between them made every race feel like a win, no matter the outcome.

By the time the final race ended, Sarah was sitting cross-legged on the couch, a victorious grin plastered across her face. “And that, my dear Maddy, is how you dominate the Mushroom Kingdom.”

Madelyn chuckled, setting down her controller. “Sure, sure. But you know what? I still had fun.”

“That’s the spirit,” Sarah said, nudging her again. “And hey, fifth place is respectable.”

“I got second in that one race,” Madelyn pointed out with a mock-defensive tone.

“And I’m super proud of you for that,” Sarah said, smirking. “You’re learning.”

Madelyn couldn’t help but smile, the warmth of their easy camaraderie making her heart feel lighter.

Madelyn stretched her arms over her head, a content smile on her face. “That was fun,” she said, glancing at Sarah, who was still buzzing with energy.

“It was more than fun,” Sarah replied, grinning. “It was legendary. Admit it, Maddy—you had a blast.”

Madelyn laughed softly. “Okay, fine. I did.” She stood, brushing crumbs off her dress. “I think I’m going to take a quick shower before bed. You can use it after me if you want.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Sarah said, flopping back on the couch. “Take your time. I’ll just be here, basking in my victory.”

Madelyn rolled her eyes playfully as she grabbed her things and made her way to the bathroom. Once inside, she turned on the water, letting it heat up as she slipped out of her clothes. The sound of the running water filled the room, a calming backdrop to her swirling thoughts.

As the warm water cascaded over her, Madelyn leaned against the tiled wall, her mind drifting to Sarah. She thought about the way Sarah had reacted from the moment she first saw her as Madelyn—the unflinching acceptance, the excitement, the unwavering support. It was something she hadn’t realized how much she needed until it was there.

Madelyn closed her eyes, letting the water stream over her face. Every moment with Sarah felt so… safe. Comfortable. She thought about how much she enjoyed Sarah’s company, the way her friend’s laughter could light up a room and dissolve even her worst anxieties. It wasn’t just their shared history or the fact that Sarah had been her rock through all of this—it was something more.

She caught herself smiling as she recalled Sarah brushing her hair earlier. The feeling of Sarah’s hands on her, the soft teasing remarks, the way she made Madelyn feel warm inside—it all lingered in her mind. The realization hit her like a splash of cold water: She makes me happy. Really, genuinely happy.

Madelyn let out a soft, nervous laugh, shaking her head. “Get it together,” she muttered to herself. “She’s just Sarah… right?”

But the thought didn’t feel convincing. There was something different now, something she couldn’t quite put into words but couldn’t ignore either.

She sighed deeply, rinsing the last of the shampoo from her hair. “Maybe I’m just overthinking it,” she murmured. But even as she said it, she wasn’t sure if she believed herself.

Turning off the water, Madelyn stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself in a towel. As she dried off, her thoughts still lingered on Sarah—her smile, her laugh, the way she always seemed to know exactly what to say to make everything better.

By the time she was dressed in her nightgown and heading back to the living room, her cheeks were still warm. She found Sarah sprawled out on the couch, scrolling through her phone.

“All yours,” Madelyn said, her voice a little softer than usual.

Sarah glanced up and grinned. “Thanks, Maddy. I’ll be quick.”

As Sarah disappeared into the bathroom, Madelyn sat on the couch, her hands clasped in her lap. She stared at the empty space beside her, her thoughts racing. For better or worse, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her friendship with Sarah was beginning to change—and she wasn’t sure what to do about it.

Not five minutes had passed when Madelyn heard Sarah shout from the bathroom, her voice carrying a slightly sheepish tone. “Maddy!”

Madelyn’s ears perked up as she sat on the couch, Lyra perched comfortably on her shoulder. “What is it?” she called back, setting aside the book she had been pretending to read.

“Uhm,” Sarah replied, her voice muffled by the bathroom door. “I forgot I don’t have clothes here… or anything to wear for the night.”

Madelyn facepalmed, a sigh escaping her lips. “Of course,” she muttered under her breath. Lyra, who had been unusually quiet, suddenly burst into laughter, her tiny voice like the tinkling of bells.

“You two really are hopeless sometimes,” Lyra teased, fluttering up and twirling in the air. “It’s adorable.”

Madelyn rolled her eyes, though her face warmed at the thought of Sarah waiting in the bathroom, likely wrapped in a towel and trying to figure out what to do next. “Alright, hold on!” she called, getting up and heading toward her room.

She rifled through her drawers, searching for something Sarah could wear. After a moment, she pulled out an oversized shirt and a pair of soft pajama shorts—comfortable and simple. “This should do,” she murmured to herself before heading back toward the bathroom.

Standing just outside the door, she knocked lightly. “I’ve got something for you to wear,” she said, holding the clothes out.

The door opened a crack, just enough for Sarah to peek her head out, her golden hair slightly damp and sticking to her face. “Thanks, Maddy,” she said, her tone genuinely grateful. She reached out, taking the clothes from Madelyn’s hands. Their fingers brushed briefly, sending a small jolt through Madelyn’s chest.

Sarah’s bright smile widened. “You’re a lifesaver.”

Madelyn quickly looked away, hoping Sarah wouldn’t notice the heat rising to her cheeks. “It’s no big deal,” she said, her voice a bit higher than usual. “Just hurry up before you catch a cold or something.”

Sarah laughed softly before closing the door again. Madelyn leaned against the wall for a moment, letting out a long breath. Lyra flitted over, a knowing grin on her tiny face.

“You’re blushing again,” Lyra pointed out, her tone sing-song.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“I am not,” Madelyn whispered back, though her reddening cheeks said otherwise.

Lyra giggled, settling back on Madelyn’s shoulder. “You’re too easy to read, Maddy. But don’t worry—it’s cute.”

Before Madelyn could respond, the bathroom door opened, and Sarah stepped out, now wearing the borrowed clothes. The oversized shirt hung loosely on her, and the pajama shorts looked a bit big, but she somehow managed to pull off the look effortlessly.

“Comfy,” Sarah declared, spinning around once. “Thanks, Maddy.”

Madelyn smiled shyly, her tail swaying slightly behind her. “It suits you.”

Sarah grinned, grabbing Madelyn’s arm and pulling her back toward the living room. “Come on, let’s get back to hanging out before your parents think we’ve fallen asleep in the bathroom or something.”

Madelyn followed, her heart still fluttering as she tried to focus on anything other than how much she enjoyed having Sarah here.

As they entered the living room, Madelyn’s parents were seated on the couch, sipping tea and chatting quietly. The warm light of the room cast a cozy glow, but the moment Jack spotted Sarah wearing Madelyn’s oversized shirt and pajama shorts, he raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement playing at the corners of his mouth.

“Oh, by the way, Sarah,” he said, his tone light. “Did you message your parents to let them know you’re staying over?”

The playful atmosphere shifted instantly. Sarah’s face fell, her usual vibrant energy dimming as she muttered, “I did send them a message, not that it matters, they don’t care anyway.”

Madelyn’s heart sank at the response. She glanced at her parents, who exchanged a knowing look. It wasn’t a new revelation; they all knew about Sarah’s strained relationship with her family. But it never got easier to hear. Emily, ever the nurturing presence, gave Sarah a soft, understanding smile.

“Well,” Emily said gently, setting her teacup down, “you’re always welcome here, Sarah. You know that.”

Sarah’s lips quirked up in a faint smile, though the sadness in her eyes lingered. “Thanks, Mrs. Roth. I appreciate it.”

Jack nodded, his expression softening. “You’re part of the family when you’re here, Sarah. Don’t forget that.”

The words seemed to ease some of Sarah’s tension. She straightened slightly, her usual bravado creeping back as she gestured at her borrowed outfit. “Besides, how could anyone resist my stunning fashion sense in Maddy’s clothes?”

Madelyn let out a small laugh, grateful for Sarah’s attempt to lighten the mood. “Yeah, stunning is one word for it,” bumping her friend’s shoulder lightly.

Sarah grinned, the sadness retreating behind her usual mischievous demeanor. “Exactly.”

Emily stood, collecting the empty teacups. “Why don’t you girls get comfy in the living room? Maybe pick a movie or something? We’ll head upstairs soon and let you have the space. Just don’t make it too late, okay?”

“Okay, sounds good,” Madelyn said, already feeling the mood lighten.

As her parents retreated to the kitchen to tidy up, Madelyn and Sarah flopped onto the couch. Lyra, who had been perched on the mantel, flew over and settled on the armrest.

“Movie night sounds fun,” Lyra chimed in. “Do I get a say in the choice?”

Sarah laughed, her spirits noticeably lifted. “Sure, Lyra. As long as it’s not some boring documentary.”

Madelyn leaned back, her tail curling comfortably beside her. “What are we thinking? Action? Comedy? Something completely ridiculous?”