Dear Maddy

[Kailen Irving]

Dear Maddy,

So there's this party at Chloe's place, and I was wondering if you'd. Did you get an in D'you wanna come with me? I think Maria's coming.



Kailen

Because boys don't write love in letters.

[Madeleine Ashcroft]

Dear Kai,

I know, I got an invite too! I'm trying to decide what to go as... Have you got a costume yet?

With you? D'you mean I'd love to go with you, that would be great!

Does this mean you're my date or?

Love Maddy

Because I'm not a boy.

[Kailen Irving]

Dear Mads,

See, I told you Chloe knows you and likes you! And I'm not telling you mine - it's a surprise, although I doubt it's something unexpected. I bet you're going as... a librarian, or a fairy. (But I don't see you as a fairy.) Maybe... yeah, I'm out of ideas. A forest outfit? Dunno aha.

Awesome, shall I go over to your house first or d'you want to come to Kayce's? How are you getting there?

Erm. Yes? I suppose so If that's how you wanna see it, then yeah, why not?


Kai

I kind of knew that; I wouldn't have asked you to come with me to the party if I didn't, silly.

[Madeleine Ashcroft]

Dear Kai,

But I don't think Chloe decided the guest list, because the invitation was from her brother and Rose Weasley, and said not to tell her.

I'm not coming as a librarian. Who would come as a librarian? And I'm not coming as a fairy either. Or a tree. But if you're not telling me yours, I'm not telling you mine.

I don't know how I'm getting there actually. Could be a bit of a problem. I wonder if I could get my house connected to the floo network temporarily...

You're just saying that because I asked, aren't you? Oh. Okay. Well I don't know how I see it, that's why asked. I mean, this is just a friend thing right?

Love Maddy

Oh well. Glad you noticed. Just making sure.

[Kailen Irving]

Dear Maddy,

But if Chloe didn't know or like you, d'you think Rose and Sebastian Nott would have invited you? Seeeee.

I dunno, Mads, maybe some mad crazy person who didn't have any idea what else to go as? Or they could go as a sexy librarian? Not implying that you would, of course.

Well, you could always come to Kaycee's? I know the way from Muggle London, so if you can get your parents to drop you off at the Leaky or something? Then you can sleep over at Kayce's too because it might be a bit late. Or we could sleep over at Chloe's with Maria?

Um, no? Depends how you want to see it Well, aren't date things sort of between dates? But if it feels weird to you then yeah, just friends is cool. Maddy, See here, I kind of


Kai

I've kind of always known? Seriously, Mads, it's not really that hard to miss. Seriously, Mads, it's not really that hard to miss.

[Madeleine Ashcroft]

Kai,

They probably invited me because Actually, I don't know why they invited me, because Chloe does at least know who I am (I think!) but I didn't think the others did...

How would you dress as a sexy librarian? That's just disturbing. And no, that's not what I'm coming as.

I'll have to smile really nicely at Mum and Dad. It's a six hour drive to London, or else three hours on the train, and then we'd have to get from King's Cross to the Leaky, and they won't let me come on my own... They even complain about it when I'm going back to school, because they don't get why I have to go three hours south to get the Hogwarts Express, which then comes all the way north again practically past my house... But do you think Chloe or Kaycee's mum and dad would mind? Because even if I can get there, I don't know how I'd get home, and I'd get into trouble if it was late.

Kai, I don't understand. What d'you mean? Because the only weird thing is not knowing what you mean. Well no, being your date would be weird too, because you're one of my best friends, but not weird in a bad way, I don't think.

Love Maddy

I was joking...?

[Kailen Irving]

Jesus Christ, I didn't get a 'dear', something must be wrong
Dear Maddy,

It's because they know you and like you, duh. I'm sure Camden's told them about me, and by extension, you, because you were my only friend back then...

I know you weren't coming as one - I'm not that stupid, Mads.

Oh, yeah, that's really far. Well, if you like, you can tell us where you live and we'll come pick you up. Kaycee's got his Apparition license and he can do it. Or if your mum and dad don't trust him (which I can understand completely, promise) we can get his mum to pick you up. She won't mind, she doesn't work so she's free any time. And then I suppose she can Apparate back with you if we're not home too late and she's still up. Or else Kaycee can if he's not too drunk. If no one can, then we'll just stay over - no one minds, both Kayce and Chloe have big houses. Anyway, we'll figure it out.

Fuck it. See here, I freaking li I kind of have this If it's weird for you and you don't like that we're going want us to go as more than friends, then we won't. Simple as. It's all up to you how you want to see it. I'm fine either way.


Kai

Yeah, I'm just

[Madeleine Ashcroft]

Dear Kai,

You mean I annoyed the heck out of you back then, don't lie. :-P

Well, you never know. I have to make sure of these things...

D'you really think they wouldn't mind? Maybe Kaycee's mum would be better though, because my mum and dad think everyone going to the party's like our age. Only if she's okay with it though. They want to know in advance if I'm coming home or staying over though, and if I'm coming home, I'll have a curfew... I'm sorry I'm so awkward. They just worry about me, it's stupid but I think it's mostly because they don't know any of my friends from school apart from you, so they don't really know who I'm with, you know? They won't mind if I say I'm staying at someone's house though.

I didn't say that, Kai. Don't pretend I said things I didn't. I just didn't know how you meant it and Maria said. Do you want us to go as more than friends? Because if you're fine either way, that means you'd be fine with us being more than friends which means. Don't keep telling me it's however I see it, like how you see it doesn't matter, because it obviously does. I've never really thought about you as more than a friend, that's all. I still said yes to being your date though, didn't I? At least I think I did. If not, I'm saying it now.

Love Maddy

[Kailen Irving]

Dear Maddy,

Okay, I won't. But you were still someone who talked to me, so that has to count for something.

You have to make sure I'm not that stupid? Really, Mads. Unimpressed.

And I'm guessing you're not going to enlighten them that we'll probably be the youngest people there? I'm pretty sure Kaycee's mum will find it a bit dodgy that he's going to a party where we're invited, so she'll probably come with us for a bit to find you a chaperone. Anyway, she's really cool though so she shouldn't embarrass anyone but Kaycee. Well, say you're staying over just in case. If they ask, say at Chloe's. If their house is full of people then we'll stay over at Kayce's. At least you won't get caught out.

If you're askin Well, this is kind of Well, if you're asking me, and you won't get freaked out get weirded out run away mind, then yeah, I guess I am. If that's alright by you, of course. You only think of me as a friend? Well, if you only think of me as a friend I don't want you to feel obligated is all, Mads. Don't think like you have to say yes just because I want to, you know? It's up to you, too.


Kai

[Madeleine Ashcroft]

Dear Kai,

I suppose. It obviously worked anyway, seeing as we're friends now...

Of course I have to make sure.

Well obviously not. They wouldn't let me go. Hey, how come I need a chaperone and you don't? I don't think they'll mind me staying over, so long as they know where I am. But thanks!

I know I didn't have to say yes, Kai. But I still am. And that's fine with me. I just wasn't expecting it at all. I don't feel weird about it, but I don't completely know how I do feel. I'd like to go with you and maybe find out though. Is that okay? Because i think you're lovely, but it's all just really sudden...

Love Maddy

[Kailen Irving]

Dear Maddy,

Exactly, see, I was right when I told you Chloe and Rose and Sebastian Nott liked you.

Really unimpressed, Mads.

Because I'm a guy? Seriously, Mads, she knows about my street past and I'm sure she'll think it's a bit of an insult to me if she gets me a chaperone. Yeah, just say you're staying over at Chloe's.

Okay, well, you're always kind of really nice, Mads, and I didn't want you to feel like you were obligated to because you might hurt my feelings or something. And yeah, that's okay - it's not like I've ever been on a date, either. Wait, you think I'm lovely


Kai

PS. Oh, and I also met this guy today. He was a cousin of Kaycee's, but he... I dunno. Felt like he recognised me from somewhere was a bit unfriendly unsure about me, which wouldn't make sense unless he was traipsing around Muggle London and saw me, although I suppose Kaycee did tell him about my street that. Still

[Madeleine Ashcroft]

Dear Kai,

Wait, how did you work that out from what I said?

:-P

Well, that's a bit sexist. Anyway, we're still the same age, and I'm more sensible than you, so it should be you getting the chaperone. I told them and they were okay with it, especially when I told them Chloe and Seb's mum and dad would be there. Which wasn't a complete lie, because I don't know that they won't be there...

Well, I want to, okay. It'll be fun. We can't leave Maria by herself though... I wish she could have a date too, but all the other boys going are way older, aren't they?

Love Maddy

PS - Kai, that made no sense, you crossed too much of it out! Kaycee's cousin wasn't sure about you? How do you mean, not sure? And Kaycee told him about what?