Never go out of style. [Madeline]

This woman was becoming his everything. She was all he could think of, dream of, and even mention to people. Torsten Trickett always tried to stay away from relationships that would be able to break his heart, but he lost it to someone. He wanted to shield himself already, but he could not. He feel down. Whenever he crashed, he crashed hard. It was Valentine's Day. He convinced Madeline to go to dinner at his place. He just hoped he did not fail at cooking. He attempted to cook spaghetti only because it was the easiest thing in his mind that he would be able to do. The garlic bread was in the oven. He made sure that his loft was actually decent. Usually when it was Quidditch season he did not really clean much. He had to make sure it was decent for this girl though. He did not want to make it seem like he was a pig.

As he pulled the garlic bread out of the oven, he was at least wasn't burnt. He heard a knock on his door. He instantly went to the mirror to check out his outfit. He straighten his red tie with little hearts on it and made sure everything was perfect. He really just wanted to make this a special night. He really liked Maddie.

Torsten opened the door with flowers in his hands. He had them set up by the front door so he wouldn't forget them. He was not sure what her favorite flower was so he ended up just getting a couple roses with a few other flowers with them. He had no clue what kind they were. He was bad with romantic things. At least he did not burn or break anything yet. "I got these for you." Did he just not even say hi? Wow, his mind was out of it. He cleared his voice, continuing. "Sorry--- come in. You look lovely!" He smiled at her. Motioning for her to come into his apartment. He put his hand out for her coat and whatever else she brought. He had wine and chocolates in the room for her to give later, but he was waiting. He was horrible at this thing. Maybe he should cancel the romance and stick to pizza and beer? Girls like that right?

Uh-oh.

A boy had never cooked her dinner before. She was excited, though. Being let into someone's home was a special and intimate thing and she was flattered that Torsten felt comfortable enough with her so early on in their relationship. Maddie didn't really know how to date. She'd only had two boyfriends and both times, it had ended in total heartbreak. First Logan and now Ernie. What if the rules had changed? This was a fresh start, though. Torsten was lively and exciting and she was game to go into his head first.

In her dinky little apartment, the tall blonde frowned at her reflection. She needed to look good, damn good. She'd already powdered her nose but her childish freckles were still peeking through so she just gave up. Madeline tied her long blonde curls back into a ponytail, deftly tying a length of red ribbon in a bow to get into the festive mood. She'd agonised over what to wear. What if she turned up over dressed? Awkward.

There was a red dress left hanging in her wardrobe but she'd changed ideas. It was good to keep things casual. She adjusted the sleeve of her heart print blouse, fixing the sleeves under her blazer as she tucked her blouse into the waistband of her jeans and slipping on her shoes. Adding a slick of ruby lipstick and a spritz of her floral perfume, she took a deep breath and headed out.

So far, Torsten had been lovely. She liked him. He was fresh and exciting and nothing like Ernie which was exactly what she wanted and needed. He'd given her address but she'd arrived at his door a few minutes late. Holding her breath, she knocked on the door and her eyes widened in surprise to see him already there.

"Hi," she said with a sunny grin, taking a half step backwards in surprise as a bouquet of flowers were thrust in her face. Taking them gratefully, she held them up to her face and inhaled. "They're gorgeous, thank you," she told Torsten with another smile. Once allowed in, she entered, grappling with her flowers to remove her coat and hand it to him. Politely, she removed her heels and set them by the door, her toenails painted a scarlet red as she wiggled them excitedly against the wooden floor. She sniffed the air delicately. "It smells amazing," she told him, already starting to salivate. Italian? Her favourite. Well done, Mr. Trickett.

"These are for you," she told him, extending a small pale blue box which contained a dozen pink velvet cupcakes that she'd made that morning. "I thought it was only fair that I bring dessert," she said with a smile, following him through the hall and her jaw dropped.

"Wow," Maddie whispered, her honey coloured eyes wide as she looked around. The place was huge! Without waiting for his invitation, she headed directly to his kitchen and ran a hand over the work surfaces. "Stainless steel?" She asked, getting serious kitchen envy. Her kitchen in Paris was described as "bijou" which was French for "not big enough to swing a cat". "Sorry," she said with a laugh, stepping back to him. "I always go to the kitchen," she told him with a blush, looking around again. "It's gorgeous," she told him genuinely, looking up the wooden staircase. That must mean his bedroom and bathroom were upstairs. Funny, she immediately felt right at home here.

"Can I help with anything?" She asked the Quidditch player quickly, wanting to be made useful. She offered Tortsen another bright, sunny smile. She was well and truly impressed so far. What was this now? Their third date? Wasn't the third date the date where it was socially acceptable to sleep with one another? Maddie blushed faintly, looking away and trying not to make her mind wander. "Shall I set the table?"

"You are probably a way better cook than I am." He grinned at her. "You might need to give me some pointers, I burn almost everything I cook." He was great at quidditch, but not cooking. He really needed to put some of those quidditch skills in the kitchen. Most of his meals consisted of take out or begging his brothers to give him something. They were better cooks than him. Their mother was not around long enough to teach them. Torsten was to busy playing quidditch and flirting to pay attention to his father's kitchen skills. As he seen the cupcakes a huge smile formed... "Well I am going to hold back eating these before dinner." He chuckled gently. He held the box as they walked into his kitchen. He set the box on the table as she spoke up about his kitchen.

For not being to cook he did have everything he needed to cook and some things he did not know how to use. Some of the kitchen items were floating around enchanted to do the work for him. At least he was handy with the wand. "Well, you can use my kitchen whenever you wish ma'am. As long as I get to snack on whatever your cooking." He chuckled. He loved food, a little to much.

She was offering to help. What could she help with? She mentioned setting the table, he nodded. "The plates are located right behind those sliding glasses." He pointed to the wall. "Then silverware at at the very end close to the window in that little cupboard- first drawer to the left." He smiled. He went over to the pot with the noodles to check. They looked done. He grabbed the closest pot holders he had. One was a snitch from his brother and the other was some burnt one that looked like it used to be a cat. He forgot it on the stove one day. He grabbed the handles and took the pot to the sink where he strained the noodles. Rinsing them quickly with cold water he put the strainer in the pot to sit. He went back to the sauce tasting it, still needed a little more time.

"Oh- wine!" He chuckled. He went to his fridge and pulled out a bottle. He had not a clue if it went well with spaghetti but he thought it was a good idea. It was a 1985 Merlot. Placing it on the table he looked at Maddie and smiled. "Can't get over how pretty you look." He smiled at her. "About five more minutes for the sauce and then we will be good."

"Not a chance," Maddie laughed, her honey coloured eyes looking around. "I'm good at desserts but give me a steak and I panic," she replied honestly. She had a delicate touch for sugar work but she didn't have a particularly refined pallet that was needed for fine dining. The tall blonde laughed again, feeling instantly at ease in the spacious but warm apartment. "I know the address of a really great take away that delivers?" She joked with a smile, trying to ease his nerves.

"I'm sure one or two won't spoil dinner," she told Torsten brightly, nervously turning up the sleeves of her heart print blouse. Should she have worn a dress? Maybe made more of an effort? Being invited over to a boy's house was a pretty big deal. Huge, really. He obviously liked or trusted her enough to show her his inner sanctum. The thought both impressed and terrified her at the same time. Out of habit, she slipped off her shoes. She'd hate to dent or scratch his lovely floors with her footwear. The action made her feel instantly more at home after he'd taken her white blazer. Great.

"Oh no," she said, eyes as wide as dinner plates as she protested. "I couldn't do that," she said softly, biting her full lower lip as she wistfully touched one of the expensive, chef-quality knives. Torsten's oven was huge. So much bigger and better than her ancient, dinky one back home. And the space! So much room! He had everything she'd ever need right here. Big fridge, all the utensils, massive oven, all fancy gadgets. Gently, she ran her fingers over one of the counters as she sighed softly. "I think I'm in love with your kitchen," she told the Quidditch player honestly.

"Sliding glasses," Maddie told herself, turning in a neat little circle as she tried to familiarise herself with her friend's kitchen. Was he a friend? A boyfriend? They'd kissed a couple of times but she wasn't one to put labels on things. Shaking her head, she leant up on her tippy-toes, just about able to reach the plates. She could tell that this was a man's apartment; everything was too high. Maddie was willing to bet that she wouldn't be able to see herself in the mirror correctly, either. Carrying them to the table, she neatly set them down, adjusting them before following his instructions.

Grabbing cutlery, she set them out like her grandmother had taught her. Fork on the left, knife on the right with the blade turned towards the place and the spoon above it. She figured they wouldn't need multiple forks and stuff. Thank goodness, too. She was horribly cack handed. Next, the glasses. Placing two tumblers she found for water, she set them above the knife with a wine glass opposite before her pale fingers deftly folded the napkins into a more pleasing shape. Perfect.

Wine!

Maddie liked wine but she was more of a beer kinda girl but she'd never turn down a glass. Walking back to him, she located a corkscrew and was about to pop the cork before she stopped in her tracks. 1985 merlot. "Torsten," she said gently, just loud enough to catch his attention. Her eyes were wide as she looked at him. "This…is insanely expensive," she informed him. She recognised the label from the many wine shops in Paris and even in Muggle money, this particular one often ran into the hundreds. She chewed on her lower lip. "I really don't think you should be opening this for me," she told him, holding the bottle back out for him to take. "You should save this for a special occasion. Winning the World Cup for example."

"Oh," Madeline said before she flushed a deep pink with pleasure. "You too," she added before wincing and instantly regretting it. "It smells great," she told him honestly. "Spaghetti Bolognese with actually one of my favourite things," she told him honestly. Maddie was enamoured with the fact that he wasn't trying too hard. He was just…being himself. Torsten had no idea how refreshingly sexy that actually was. She'd not touched the wine, terrified to ruin a beautiful bottle of it.

Still flushed pink, the baker dropped into her seat, her mind swirling. How had she been so lucky to even end up in his apartment like this? She smiled as she watched him cook, wondering if he'd add a touch of basil to the tomato sauce. She loved basil in spaghetti. "How long have you lived here?" She asked Torsten as she sat, placing her elbows on the table so she could cup her chin in her upturned palms, happy to just watch him potter about in his own space. "Thank you so much for inviting me over," she told him honestly.

"You are probably way better than me... unless you want burnt. I am still scared about ruining this dinner- so please give me one of those numbers if I mess this up." He smiled at her gently. "I am really trying not to mess this up." He was not going to say he was trying to pull out all the stops for her, but he really was. She was perfect in his eyes. It was hard to find someone like Maddie in this world... As she mentioned the cupcakes, he smirked. "Don't give me any bad ideas..."

"My house is your house... whenever you want to use it. Just not large parties without my publicist invited - and wait- me invited too." He chuckled gently. Torsten always seemed like a playboy but he really wasn't. He loved hanging out at home on his couch and relaxing. He hated parties- except if they thought it was best for his image. How were they going to sell Torsten posters if he just sat at home all day? Usually he would make a quick entrance and then disappear with a girl... then it would his tabloids in the morning. Torsten would feel bad, but he got his name out there and was never traded to another team yet. He worked hard to stay on the Magpies. He just really wanted to settle down though.

When she said she was in love with his kitchen, in his mind he felt he was in love with something- or someone else. He was not going to say that to her. How creepy would that be? As she finished setting the table, he put the finishing touches on the dinner. As she mentioned the wine, he shook his head... "I have about three more bottles. This is a special occasion anyways... having you over." God that was corny... "Yeah- I just played a dorky card... please excuse why I show off my nerdiness." He chuckled gently at her. Well at least he did good with making spaghetti.

He pulled out the chair for her to sit down. Then pushed her in. He then served her and poured her wine, thus continuing with himself. As she sat at the table with her. He took a bite. "Ok-  I did not mess it up. That was a save." He chuckled gently. He was feeling awkward. He planned this dinner because he actually wanted to ask her to be his girlfriend. He had no clue how to do it. He stood quiet, then chugged his wine. Time to try something. "So- you know how I said you can use my kitchen whenever you want... the only thing you have to do is--" He was trying to sound smooth... but he was feeling like he was sounding creepy. Maybe he should back out... no he was in for the long haul already with how he felt about her. "Do you want to be my girlfriend?" He smiled at her. "Sorry- I am really bad at this... " Hopefully she did not throw the spaghetti... or even worse- throw up the spaghetti.

"Nope, don't mind burnt," Maddie said brightly. She honestly didn't much. She was an accomplished and able baker but she was a bit shit at actual cooking. She worked with sugar, not actual food. It was a matter she survived on anything other than cakes. "Why so nervous?" The blonde asked with a laugh, watching him with wide honey eyes. His agitated state seemed foreign and confusing to her. Why was he stressing so much? Food was meant to be fun!

Bad ideas? Rather than replying, she just wiggled her eyebrows at him comically, as though her cakes were the very temptation he was sworn to avoid. Maddie laughed again, feeling really wonderfully at ease in his swanky apartment. Nothing needed improving at all. Absently, she looked around, her arms folded over her chest without thought. "I'm not really one for parties," she told Torsten swiftly. At least not mental parties. He was used to the hectic, champagne-soaked lifestyle but she certainly was not at all. Nope.

"Three?" She blurted out, her eyes wide. Goodness. How rich was he? She stated at him, her mind  boggling. "Is it?" Maddie squeaked, terrified. She winced as the cork was popped. Well, too late to do anything with it now. Nervously chewing  her lower lip, she couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. He really was very sweet. "No," she told him quickly, shaking her head so her bouncy curls whipped the sides of her cheeks. "It was really very charming of you to say," she added, flushing pink with pleasure.

"Thank you," she said, smiling brightly as Torsten kindly settled her chair for her. Maddie brushed her hair behind her ear casually, crossing her legs at the table and was keen just to watch him potter around his kitchen. She liked this. Seeing people in their natural environment. Swiftly, she picked up her cutlery. Not a delicate little flower, she got stuck in. Maddie twirled the spaghetti around her fork like a pro and took a bite, nodding quickly and politely covering her mouth with her hand. "It's really good!" She gushed.

He might think that it was just spaghetti but inadvertently cooked her her favourite meal and it was clear that she was enjoying herself. Sipping her wine, she took another mouthful, happily wiggling in her seat.

"Clean up after myself?" The tall blonde asked with a grin. She was kidding. She'd never use his kitchen unless he was here with her. How rude would that be? It was a great space and probably underused but that didn't mean that she needed to ruin it for him. He looked a bit peaky. He seemed a bit distracted, twitchy. "I'm only kidding," she told him swiftly, eyes wide in case he thought that she might actually turn up and ask to use his spaces.

Then the wine came out of her nose.

Coughing, she grabbed a napkin and pressed it to her nose to stop the flow, her eyes stinging with the acidity of the wine. The question, though innocent, came totally out of the blue and side-swiped her completely. Her mind was spinning. After Ernie screwed her over royally, she was a bit hesitant to get involved. She didn't think she was healed yet. She couldn't take another betrayal. She wasn't sure if she could let someone in. Maddie and Torsten knew very little about one another but…he did seem nice and kind so far.

Then there was his job. He'd be busy. There would be no time to see one another. And girls would be pawing at him but no. No. This was good. She couldn't let one failed marriage stop her from ruining the rest of her life. She offered him a shy smile and nodded. "Sure," Madeline finally decided, cracking a grin. "I expect more spaghetti in the future."