Can True Love Survive High School? Read Free Page B

the way an artist works.”
    “Artist?” Mads said. “You mean a big fat slice of ham! Oink oink!”
    “Mama! Papa! That young 'un is picking on me!”
    “Don't tease her, Mads,” Russell said, but the twinkle in his eye told her he was on her side.
    “I appreciate your enthusiasm for my play, Audrey,” M.C. said. “I wish Madison could muster up a little more interest.”
    Mads scowled and took a bite of ratatouille. It was scalding hot. She spit it back out on her plate and reached for her water glass.
    “Mads can't act,” Audrey said.
    “I could if I wanted to,” Mads said. “I just don't want to at this time.”
    “I think you'd be wonderful,” M.C. said. “If you'd just try out for the part, I know you'd catch the acting bug. What harm could it do?”
    “It's embarrassing,” Mads said. “I don't want to do it.”
    “I wish you'd at least try,” M.C. said.
    “No.”
    M.C. frowned. “I don't like this new attitude of yours, Madison. You never used to be so stubborn!”
    “Honey, don't push her,” Russell said.
    “It's just—she's being so unreasonable!” M.C. cried. Her blue eyes were moist behind her red cat's-eye glasses. “It's the very first production of my very first play. I'd think she'd be proud of it! All I'm asking is that she try out. That's all.”
    Mads felt bad. She knew this play meant a lot to her mother. And she'd be happy to go to opening night and clap louder than anybody. But why did she have to act in it?
    “Don't cry, Mama,” Audrey said in a twang that was more Alabama than Minnesota. “Don't you see? The sun will rise again tomorrow, same as today, same as always …”
    “Mom, I just don't see what the big deal is,” Mads said. “Audrey will be in the play. Isn't that enough?”
    “All I'm asking you to do is try out.” It wasn't like M.C. to be this fixed on something. But the play meant so much to her, and the harder she pushed, the more Mads resisted. She couldn't help it; it was like a reflex.
    “No.”
    “Madison, I insist you audition for the play. If you don't get the part, fine. But you must at least try out … or I won't let you go to Stanford with Holly and Lina.”
    “What?!?” Mads was outraged. “This is blackmail!”
    “Honey, do you think that's fair?” Russell said.
    “It's just an audition,” M.C. said. “It's not that much to ask.”
    “I don't believe this!” Mads cried. “Dad! Pull your Dark Overlord thing and overrule her!”
    Russell glanced from his daughter to his wife. “It means a lot to her, Mads. It won't kill you to try out. I mean, it's not as if you've got crippling shyness or anything.”
    Mads let her fork clatter against her plate. It was so unfair! But when she weighed the two choices, M.C. won. There was no way Mads was going to miss the Crazy College Weekend. Even if she had to get on a stage and completely humiliate herself. She'd been embarrassed before and lived; she could survive it again.
    “All right,” Mads said. “You win. I'll audition. But that means I definitely get to go to Stanford, right?”
    “Yes,” M.C. said.
    “Actually, honey, I thought we were going to discuss that tonight,” Russell said.
    M.C. shot him a sharp look. Matter settled.
    “Guess not,” Russell said.
    “Mom, don't make her audition,” Audrey whined. “She'll ruin everything.”
    “That's enough, Audrey,” M.C. said. “It's a chance for you two to learn to get along. Would you rather go to couples therapy?”
    “She'll suck!” Audrey said.
    “I thought you were staying in character,” Mads said.
    Audrey pushed away from the table. “I'll be in my dressing room.” She went upstairs.
    “Audrey!” M.C. called. “Come back and finish your ratatouille!”
    “I'll go get her.” Russell wearily got up from the table.
    M.C. rubbed her frizzy yellow hair. “You girls … Why can't you get along?”
    “Can I be excused?” Mads asked. “To practice my lines?”
    M.C. nodded, but she looked pained. “Go ahead,