Disclaimer: If you recognize it, I don't own it.

A/N: These are responses to the Ars Amatoria Romance Themes. I've read other responses to the challenge and I thought it would be fun to write my own. It's still early in the series, but Xander and Madison are quickly becoming my favorite pairing. I don't know how far this will go, but I hope everyone enjoys it! And of course, reviews and constructive criticism are always welcome.

One Moment I

Sometimes it only takes one moment for a person's feelings towards someone else to change.

Madison Rocca had discovered that to be true about Xander Bly, a student from Australia. He had lived in the States for seven years, but their paths never crossed. He was a grade above her and they didn't have classes together in junior high. They had different friends and hung out at different places. She quickly learned who he was - he became popular almost overnight - and while she wasn't oblivious to his good looks, she didn't chase him, either. Besides, he was busy flirting with and dating the popular girls in school, and Madison wasn't one of them.

But on the first day of her sophomore year, he sat next to her in anatomy class, a course designed for all grade levels. She wasn't sure why he picked her as his lab partner, and she didn't ask. They became friends through idle chatter before class and during dissections although they never hung out after school or on weekends.

The first time Madison saw him outside of school surprised her with an unusual but pleasant discovery.

She was at the food store late one afternoon, picking up some ingredients for her mother, who was going to cook a homemade dinner that night. She had been walking down the spice aisle, looking for garlic, when her cart bumped into someone else's. Looking up, she was stunned to see her Australian classmate pushing the other carriage. A petite old lady with curly grey hair and glasses was holding his arm.

"I'm sorry," Madison apologized, color rising in her cheeks. "I wasn't looking."

"It's okay, Madison," Xander reassured her with a grin. "We were distracted, too. This is Mrs. Doherty, by the way. She lives next door to me."

The two teenagers chatted for a minute before Xander walked away to find one last item on Mrs. Doherty's shopping list. The woman stayed behind and spoke with delight in her voice, "Your friend has been taking such good care of me since my husband passed away. He's come over to my house every day after school to keep me company. He's such a sweet young man."

Madison's heart completely melted at Mrs. Doherty's explanation. Xander was a flirt, a sweet-talker. He didn't strike her as the type of guy to give up free time to keep elderly people company, yet here he was, food shopping with Mrs. Doherty.

The shy teen turned around and saw Xander approaching them. He offered his elbow to the old woman, said good-bye to Madison, and guided Mrs. Doherty to the front of the store. He exuded gentleness, politeness, and patience. She was sure no one at school saw this side of him.

From that point on, Madison saw Xander in a new light. She had developed a crush on him in the month or so that they were lab partners, but it grew deeper that day. It wasn't love, but it was an affection, a sense of respect and admiration, that she had never felt for any other guy before.

And one moment in the food store was all it had taken.