Attention What If

Chapter 46

POV: Darleen

I know I have to say or do something but I don't know what. My therapist said I have to give Skylar space and that I shouldn't try and control the situation. But I just feel so dumb. Did I make a mistake inviting Kenzie into my house without thinking?

Skylar's laughter raises the hairs on my neck. This was supposed to be our weekend, and now we have a third wheel named Mackenzie. I sigh and stare out into the woods. I rented a cabin for our weekend getaway... it was supposed to be perfect.

"Okay but seriously, how else was I supposed to answer!? I panicked." Kenzie giggles.

Right when Skylar and I started packing for our trip, Kenzie had a full-on panic attack. I'd never seen her, or anyone, get like that before. She just fell apart. Was literally on her hands and knees begging Skylar not to leave her alone. She was hyperventilating, uncontrollably sobbing, and she even threw up on herself before passing out. It was scary, super scary, I called an ambulance but by the time they got there, Kenzie was back to normal. They still checked her out but determined it was just a panic attack.

We tried talking to Kenzie and getting her help but that went nowhere fast. She refused and basically shut down when we brought it up again after the panic attack. After that Skylar and I got into an argument which ended in me caving and inviting Kenzie to come with us.

If I wanted to play babysitter, I would have adopted a child.

"You say hello, or introduce yourself, don't just blurt out stuff." Skylar laughed.

"I'm so embarrassed, kill me now," Kenzie whined.

They both laughed.

"Darleen, I'm putting up the coco, are you sure you don't want any?" Skylar asks me.

"I'm good," I force a smile.

She frowns but gets up from the couch to put up the coco.

I sigh and turn back to the woods.

"Hey," Kenzie walks over to me, shutting the screen door behind her.

I turn to her and force a smile.

"Hey," I say.

"Look, I know I sort of spoiled your weekend plans, and I'm sorry."

"Kenzie it's okay." I lie.

"I just... really need a lot of support and comfort right now, and I know I've been getting in your way. I'm sorry okay, I really am. I'm trying." She explains.

I don't respond, I just turn to stare out into the woods again.

I don't know what to do.

On the one hand, if I bite her head off, who knows what she'll do or how she'll react? On the other hand, if I leave it alone and let it sort itself out, who knows how long that will take or how it will end.

"Are you mad at me?" Kenzie asks after we stand in silence for too long.

Skylar hasn't come out to check on us, probably hoping the two of us will come to some sort of happy resolution.

"I don't know," I answer honestly. "I don't know what to feel or how to react in this situation. I don't know Kenzie."

"You know... when I was with Jean, the first time I thought about running away from her, I thought about you. Not Skylar, not Jade, you." She moves to stand right next to me, also turning to look out into the woods.

I turn to look at her.

"I remembered how in high school you were always so nice, and generous, how you would do anything for your friends without questions. I used to fantasize what it would be like... if you came and rescued me, if... you remembered me and realized our friendship meant more to you. For a while, I would play those delusions on a loop. It used to be what got me through it. I imagined that at the end of that road was a knight in shining armor waiting to whisk me away to a castle. It was pretty pathetic actually." She forces a sarcastic laugh and looks down as tears fill her eyes.