Escape | Updated Weekly

27

Two weeks. 

It had been two weeks and I hadn't heard anything from Mac. I was trying my best to stay out of it just like Chloe said. I was trying my best to wait for him to tell me when he needs me, but he hadn't text me or called me. I was getting worried. 

I couldn't help but try and reach out to him first. It felt weird to be living the best moments of him, feeling so much love from him to then be in a place where I wasn't even talking to him. 

It was the day of the band's 'summer' gig and the last week of our summer leave for uni. I was excited for it, but now I'm just too worried about Mac. I had tried to ask Tom if he'd heard from the others in the band without directly asking about Mac. I had to guess that he hadn't as he never mentioned him whilst he told me what Brandon and Dani had been up to. I was going to have to wait for the gig and speak to Mac then. 

Chloe and I got ready together, she even went as far as painting the band's logo on the side of her cheek. I could tell she was excited, not just for the gig but also just to have one last summer festival, before returning to the reality of preparing for our future. 

Tom's Dad offered to drive us there so that we could all 'enjoy drink and party with the other kids' as he'd put it. When we arrived there wasn't people there yet. It had only been open for an hour so my guess that everyone would start arriving when the band's start to go on. 

We went behind the stage where the band would be playing. I ran to Brandon and Dani. "I've missed you guys" I said as the both crowded round to give out the hugs. "It's only been three weeks" replied Brandon. "That doesn't matter! I'm used to seeing you all everyday". I glanced around at the other people who were back here, preparing. "Where's Mac?" I had to ask. He was no where to be seen. I was surprised that no one else seemed to be concerned with the fact that no one had heard from him in so long, and no he wasn't even here. 

A look was exchanged between Dani and Brandon. They knew something. Tom and Chloe had caught up with us now. "Erm. Some stuff happened with Mac"

Oh no.

Was he talking about what happened at  the cabin? Or did something new happen? But then if something new happened, why hadn't Mac told me. 

"Mac called a little while ago, he's gonna come for the show but he can't stay". They both clearly knew what had happened. Even Tom wasn't that surprised as he listened. Does he know too? Why would Mac call them and not text me like he said he was going to?

A million thoughts clouded my mind. 

"What happened?" I blurted it before I even realised I had said it, but I had to know. I had to know why he was distancing himself from me all of a sudden. Brandon took a breath as he thought about what to say next. "I don't know if he would want me to say". 

So he did know. Mac had been talking to them. Just not to me. 

"He's fine tho, he doesn't usually stay after gig anyway" said Tom, he set his guitar case down and changed the subject, talking to the others their plan for the show. 

Chloe looked at me, trying to reassure me everything would be okay. I wondered if Tom would have told her what was going on with Mac, and maybe she didn't want to tell me. Or I was be incredibly paranoid. I couldn't tell. 

The band's part of the show was an hour later. There was still no sign of Mac and the boys still didn't bat an eyelid. It must have been a usual occurance. When I think about it, the band would have formed right after Mac's parents separated. God knows how many times he would have not shown up, or left it to the last minute to arrive. I was dying to see him, I just wanted him to get here. 

"Aren't you gonna go find a spot?" asked Tom, Chloe had already left to go find Sarah and Paul, I hung back in hopes of getting some answers. "I've never seen the show from the back before. Might be exciting". Tom gave me an odd look "You won't see much but sure. Why not?". He very rarely ever questioned my odd thinking, that's why I had always felt comfortable to be around him all these years. 

Tom, Brandon and Dani stood at the stairs waiting to be announced. I had so much anxiety. Not just because I didn't know if Mac was okay, but also because if he didn't show up it was gonna affect the boys. 

At that moment I saw Mac sprinting up the rest of us, I met him as he stopped just a few feet away and trying to get himself ready for the show.

"Where have you been?" I asked, trying to keep my voice quiet. "Why haven't you text me?" he took his hoodie of and he was breathing heavily. "I don't have time, Eve" he replied. He brushed past me and joined the others just as their names were announced. They took to the stage and began their show. 

I watched Mac intently the entire time, he seemed so normal. He was singing like he usually did, dancing around the stage, joking with the other boys, Why did he seem so different though? I just couldn't put my finger on why or how, but that wasn't the same Mac I was with two weeks ago. 

The crowd cheered and danced along. The boys came of the stage all of them laughing and hyped. All except Mac. As soon as he had descended the stairs, his face changed. He no longer looked happy  like he had on the stage. He was closed off again, not talking. I tried once more to talk to him. He picked up his hoodie, brushing off the grass that had clung to it. "Seriously what's going on?" I didn't attempt to keep my voice low anymore. I was too annoyed to even try. 

I saw Tom glance over but he stayed where he was. Mac slowly turned to me. "I just don't wanna talk about it Eve". He tried to walk away but I stopped his path. "You've told everyone else. Mac... What's changed?". He looked down at the floor. I had thought I was the person he could open to. I must have been wrong. "Can you just give me until after summer?". I stared at  him. I didn't understand how he could stand there and not give me answers. I was clearly getting no where with him. Without saying a word I just step aside. Mac didn't even look at me as he walked away, leaving me standing there on my own.