"What's the matter with you?" asked Annie while she eyed Maddie in amusement.
"Nothing's wrong with me, I'm just tired." replied Maddie as she climbed into bed.
"Hmm, I don't believe you at all Maddie, something's bothering you, what is it?" asked Annie.
"Well if you must know, I don't like how excited the blondie is for tomorrow's picnic, it better be spectacular." replied Maddie with a scoff.
"Awww, you know that you're going to love it because he's really trying to please you, anyway, I don't think that's what's really bothering you." said Annie, her eyes fixed on Maddie who scoffed.
"That is true, but I don't want to upset you by saying what's on my mind, it's not important at all." replied Maddie while stretching her neck.
"Well if you don't want to tell me, then I'll just guess." replied Annie smiling.
"Go ahead, let's see if you'll have any luck." replied Maddie laughing.
"Hmm, okay, I think you're thinking about Artrovan, or at least us going there." said Annie causing Maddie to frown.
"I hate you." she said as Annie laughed.
"You see, I know you too well." replied Annie laughing.
"No, you just happen to know too much." said Maddie in annoyance.
"And that's a good thing." said Annie as she smiled.
"I'm not so sure about that, anyway, I don't want to talk about it, it will ruin the mood, I've already accepted my fate." said Maddie.
"You know you can tell me anything right?" asked Annie as Maddie looked at her.
"I know, but it's no big deal, anyway, you would think that we would have an answer by now from Artrovan, what the heck is taking them so long to mark that stupid test?" asked Maddie in annoyance.
"Oh just relax Maddie, you know the reason we decided to go on this break was so we don't have to think about anything that might, or will stress us out." said Annie as she smiled.
"Whatever you say, I just have a problem with their tardiness, for such an esteemed, prestigious school, they sure are slow with things that actually matter." replied Maddie.
"Oh Maddie, don't stress about it, just go to sleep and wake up tomorrow ready to enjoy the picnic that Ollie is working so hard on to please you." said Annie with a smile as Maddie scoffed.
"Oh hush, that blondie will never please me, never ever, he's just wasting his own time, I will never like him." said Maddie assuredly.
"Oh, never say never my friend, anyway goodnight." said Annie with a smile as she laid her head on her pillow and Maddie scoffed turned to the opposite side and closed her eyes as she drifted off into sleep.
...
The next morning.
"Good morning guys." said Maddie happily as he walked into the little dining area.
"Morning Matt." replied Annie beaming with joy as she smiled at him.
"What's wrong with her?" asked Matt as he sat down beside Annie while eyeing Maddie who had been extremely silent since he had arrived.
"I have no idea, she just woke up this morning extremely silent, I though she was sick, but she's fine." said Annie.
"Hey Maddie, earth to Maddie, what's the matter with you?" asked Matt as he leaned forward and waved his hand in front of Maddie's face expecting her to respond but she did not.
"Gosh, she really is quiet." said Matt as he popped a piece of toast into his mouth.
"Oh I don't know, she's actually starting to worry me now." said Annie worriedly.
"Don't be, I am sure she will be back to normal soon." said Matt as he did not seem worried at all.
Meanwhile Maddie had just remained silent watching the two of them talk about her as she barely touched her breakfast.
"I am sure that it's the picnic we are going on later today that's making her sad." said Matt as he chuckled.
"I don't think it is, that is something so small it shouldn't cause her to just be silent like this." replied Annie.
"You hear that Maddie? You shouldn't change over something so small." said Matt and yet still Maddie just looked at him, emotion void in her eyes.
"Gosh, now you're starting to creep me out, luckily for us, the only person that can change your mood is on his way." said Matt with a happy smile as his ears twitched.
"In three... two... one..." he said, his countdown instantly followed by Ollie's arrival.
"Good morning everyone." said Ollie as he walked in with a bright smile on his face.
"Good morning Ollie." replied Annie and Matt with a smile as Ollie sat down on Annie's right.
"Sorry I'm late, I had to take care of some important things." he said with a smile.
"It's no problem at all." replied Annie as she smiled.
Ollie proceeded to dish himself some breakfast when he was quick to realise that Maddie had been dead silent, more silent than usual. He was used to her ignoring his greetings, but there was just something very different about her this morning.
"Maddie... is everything alright?" he asked immediately and not surprisingly he did not receive a reply.
"She's been like that all morning." said Annie while frowning causing Ollie to frown.
"Why? What's wrong? Is she feeling sick or something?" he asked in concern.
"I don't know, she won't say what's wrong." replied Annie.
"If you ask me, I don't think it's important, if it was, she would talk to us about it." replied Matt rather calmly, it seemed like he did not really care.
"I don't think so, Maddie what's wrong? You know that you can tell us." said Ollie in worry.
"Maddie, say something, you're worrying us. Do you feel alright? Are you feeling sick?" he asked in deep concern as Maddie blinked and her once neutral face slowly contorted into a frown.
"Can you relax blondie? Why do you look as if I am dying or something?" she replied with a scoff.
"I can't relax, you're a guest here, and if you get sick it's going to be my responsibility, so tell me, do you feel sick?" he asked still with deep concern.
Ollie could not help it, he had to be very alert, especially when it came to Maddie. It was no secret that almost all the workers in the Castle disliked her, and Ollie was aware that it would not be impossible for any of the maids to have attempted to poison Maddie and if that happened, he would feel so guilty that she was not even safe in his own home.
"The only thing making me feel sick is you acting as if you really care!" she replied angrily.
"But I do really care, what makes you think that I don't?" he asked as she scoffed.
"Please, save it, we all know that the only thing you're excited about is your picnic." she said.
"Is that it? Is that why you're upset? If it's the picnic, it doesn't matter, I can cancel it if it makes you upset." he said, and yet for some odd reason, his willingness to please her pissed Maddie off even more.
"No, I don't want you holding it on my head that I was the reason you didn't get have the picnic you want." said Maddie.
"I just want to be alone right now and no one should follow me." she said as she pushed her chair back got up and walked away.
"Now I am really worried about her... what was that for?" asked Matt in shock as Annie looked at shocked as he was.
"I think she's upset with me." said Ollie as he looked down sad.
"It's not you, she's always upset with you, this time it's different, there's something else bothering her and the problem is she won't share it." said Annie as she sighed.
"I don't know about that Annie, Maddie has been really upset with me lately, more than usual." said Ollie with a frown.
"Dude, I agree with Annie, it's not you, it's something else. I am sure Maddie will calm down soon, she just needs some time." said Matt as he carried on eating.
"That's easy for you to say, I might just cancel the picnic." said Ollie with a sigh.
"No, don't do that Ollie, I am sure Maddie will come around soon, so don't cancel it." said Annie quickly, she knew that Ollie genuinely worried about Maddie, but she hoped that he would stop allowing himself to be greatly affected by her opinions, if he did, Maddie would never change, and she knew that for a fact.
"You're right." he said with a sigh.
"Yes, so when are we going on the picnic?" asked Annie happily in an attempt to lighten the mood.
"Since we're already eating breakfast, we will leave in the afternoon." said Ollie.
"Great, which means I can eat some more of this delicious toast." said Matt as he laughed and Annie shook her head.
"I'm glad that at least someone is enjoying breakfast." said Ollie as he sighed his head towards the direction of the exit.
"I'm sure Maddie didn't eat anything, she's going to be starving." said Ollie in worry.
"Yeah, and that's going to add to her grumpiness." replied Matt as Annie hit his shoulder.
"What was that for?" he asked as he chuckled.
"Stop being so inconsiderately mean Matt, I think Maddie is actually going through something serious, we all know how much she loves food, so for her not to eat, there's something seriously wrong." said Annie as Matt nodded acknowledging how truthful that statement was.
"Yeah..." said Ollie as his voice trailed off.