ACHILLES HEEL • TWILIGHT •

🐺 CHAPTER TWO 🐺

Mackenzie hated how quickly fall break had past, for two reasons. One, it meant going back to school, where she only cared about her theater class, and getting to see her friends from Forks High. Two, it meant that much closer to Christmas, and Mackenzie was not a Christmas girl. She much preferred Halloween, but her mother was big into Christmas, from what she could remember. She did however like winter break, since it meant more time with Sienna and Matt.

The Beach Boys played on the radio as Mack drove her 1998 Volkswagen Beetle into the school lot. It was painted a baby blue shade curtesy of Jacob Black, who helped Mack fix it up. Even after the car had been turned off, Mack continued singing Wouldn't It Be Nice as she walked over to the her group of friends. Her friend group from Forks High consisted of Angela Webber, Jessica Stanley, Mike Newton, Eric Yorkie, and Tyler Crowley.

"How are you so cheery in the morning?" Jessica groaned as she watched Mack come up to them.

"I'm not sure, I didn't even sleep great last night." The red head said with a shrug. She didn't sleep so great, but even the few hours she did, was enough to keep her energized.

"Today's the day the decide what we're doing for our fall / winter play." Jessica said as she and Mack began walking to their first period, theater.

"I'm still hoping it's a musical." Mack said, as they went to the stage and sat on the edge.

The day had passed quickly, and soon enough it was lunch time. Mack had her head on the table as the others began to sit down. She let out a huff each time she heard a chair scrape against the floor.

"What's wrong, Mack?" Angela asked, the group of friends used to the girl's dramatics.

"We're doing Mamma Mia." Jessica said, translating for the red haired teen as she had mumbled something incoherently.

"You'd be a great whatever that is." Mike said, patting the girl's shoulder causing her to whine.

"She got Sophie, but now since she wanted it so bad, she's stress thinking that she'll tank." Jess said, knowing that's what the girl was worried about.

Mack raised her thumb, agreeing with Jess had said, before going back to worrying. The rest of the day went by fairly quickly, Mack's mood seemed to turn around as she realized it was tutor day. She tutors Mondays, Wednesdays and some Fridays over on the Rez. She headed straight over after school.

The red haired smiled as Seth, Brady, Jacob, and Embry were all sat at a table at the rec center. She sneakily scared the two younger boys, who pouted and blamed the older boys for not saying anything. She had remembered to bring down her speaker and IPod, and began playing her playlist that consisted of 70's and 80's music.

And like any other tutor day, Mackenzie made the boys dance silly with her. She told them it helped their brains focus, and it always worked. And like clockwork, Mackenzie stayed until 7, making sure each boy understood their homework.

"You'd make a great teach, Mack." Seth said, causing her to laugh.

"Oh no, I don't have the patience for that. You boys are just my favorites." She said grinning at the young boy.

Mack waited until each of the boys had left, before she headed back home to Charlie. Her uncle had ordered take out from Diner and let the teen know it was in the oven. The red haired teen had heated up the food, and ate some before heading to bed.

~~~

It was the weekend before the musical opening night, and a week before winter break kicked off. Mackenzie sat at La Push, with Sienna and Matt, just watching the waves. She looked down at Sienna who was laying on the picnic blanket.

"So Charlie said Bella wants to come and live with us. He asked how I felt, and I said I'm okay with it." Mack said, looking back at the waves.

"But you're not." Sienna stated, glancing at her friend.

"I miss Bella, she and I were close growing up, but it's Charlie I'm worried about. I don't want him to get hurt." Mack said, biting the inside of her cheek in worry. "But he's so happy she's coming, I don't want to ruin that."

"That makes sense, it's always been touchy between the two." Matt said, knowing how awkward Bella gets around Charlie.

"Enough of the worries, are you excited for opening night?" Sienna asked, not wanting her friend to dwell on something she couldn't control.

"If Tyler can get over his stupid cold, everything will go spectacular." Mack said.

"Who's his understudy?" Sienna asked, knowing that if it was Mike, Mack would never hear the end of it from Jessica.

"Emmett Cullen." Mack said glancing at her two friends, watching them tense.

"Of course." Matt muttered, like most of the people on the Rez, he hated the Cullens.

"He's only the understudy, Matt. He's just there to help with set building." Mack said, a bit defensive. She never understood the hate they received. The people at Forks say its cause they're weird, but she's weird too, so she wonders if she gets hate behind her back. The people on the Rez say its ancestor thing, but hate shouldn't be traditional.

"We'll still be there regardless, Mack." Sienna said, glaring at the male, knowing he hurt Mack's feelings.

~~~

And the following weekend, opening night was going as planned, with Emmett as Sky. Tyler hadn't recovered his voice from the cold, meaning the Cullen boy had to step up. Despite her worries in the beginning, Mackenzie killed it a Sophie, as did Jessica as Donna. The girls giggled and hugged after the curtains fell.

"Good job, pipsqueak." Emmett said, ruffling the girl's hair.

"Thanks for having a good voice, giant." Mack said, laughing as she said her goodbyes.

She ran straight to her friends and Charlie. Matt and Sienna hugged their friend, before she moved on to Charlie.

"I'm proud of you, kiddo. You're so much like her." Charlie said as he hugged his niece.

Mack hugged him back silently, but was so thankful to hear that. She always was. She loved hearing that she was just like her mother, even at times she can't even remember her.