Always Sunny: Mac Finds Love

The Art of Winning Hearts (And Losing a Few)

"Noon...Thursday...Philadelphia, PA"

Kira found herself walking down the streets of Philly alone, her footsteps echoing on the cracked sidewalk as she made her way to Dee's apartment. After the mess with Dennis, Mac, and Alexis, she needed someone to talk to—someone who wouldn't judge her, but also someone who might actually have some useful advice. And, for all her faults, Dee had always been a straight shooter. When Kira knocked on Dee's door, she hesitated for a second, wondering what kind of reception she'd get. It wasn't like they were best friends—Dee had never really been nice to her, but at least she didn't completely hate her. She had to be better than talking to Dennis or Charlie, and the last person she wanted to face right now was Alexis. Dee opened the door, a mix of surprise and curiosity crossing her face. "Well, well, look who's here," she said, her tone light but not unfriendly. "What's up? Came for more of my wisdom?" Kira gave a tired smile. "I need to talk. Can I come in?" Dee stepped aside, allowing Kira to enter. The apartment was nothing special—decent, but cluttered, with stacks of old magazines, half-empty glasses, and a few broken picture frames scattered around. Dee led her over to the couch, motioning for Kira to sit. "So, what's going on? I know you're not here to compliment my interior decorating skills," Dee said, settling into an armchair across from Kira. Kira hesitated, her eyes darting to the floor as she tried to collect her thoughts. "I don't know what to do anymore. I messed everything up... with Dennis, with Mac, with Alexis. I don't even know where I belong anymore." She shook her head, feeling the weight of everything crash down on her. "I just feel so lost."

Dee studied her for a moment, then let out a sigh. "Okay, here's the thing," she started, leaning forward. "You're here because you want answers, right? You want someone to tell you how to fix this mess. And, lucky for you, I'm really good at solving problems." Kira gave a weak smile. "You think you can help me fix it?" "I know I can. But you have to listen to me," Dee said, her tone firm. "First off, let's talk about Mac. You've got to stop thinking he's some kind of white knight. He's not." She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Mac's a mess of emotions, and the guy's emotionally stunted. You've got to show him that you're more than just the girl he hooks up with, okay? You can't just be 'Mac's girlfriend.' You need to get into his head. Do something bold. Do something unexpected that'll make him sit up and go, 'Wow, she's got her own life going on.'" Kira blinked, processing Dee's words. "You mean... get him to notice me again by, what, showing off? Playing hard to get?" Dee smirked. "Not exactly. I mean, Mac's got a thing for power plays. You need to do something that messes with his sense of control. That's what will get him back in your corner." Kira thought about that. "So, make him feel like I'm the one in control?" Dee nodded, her lips curling into a satisfied grin. "Exactly. You've got it. Now, as for Alexis... that's a little more delicate. She's gonna be tough to crack, and you really need to show her that you can be the partner she needs, not just the one who makes mistakes. If you're serious about making things right with her, you need to prove you're loyal and willing to work for it."

Kira nodded again. "I can do that. I just... I don't know if I can fix it with her." Dee's expression softened, but just for a moment. "You can. But you have to be patient. You've messed up, but Alexis is stubborn as hell. If you show her you're willing to fight for her, she might just see you're worth it." There was a brief silence as Kira absorbed Dee's words. For the first time in days, she felt a flicker of hope. Dee was right about a lot of things—maybe this could work. Maybe she could get things back on track. But then, as if her brain had just skipped a few gears, Kira couldn't help but ask, "And, uh, what about Dennis? How do I deal with him?" Dee froze. The air in the room seemed to go still, like the weight of the question itself had caused the universe to hold its breath. Dennis. The source of so much of the chaos, the guy who had swept her into a whirlwind of emotions only to drop her without warning. Kira had no idea what to make of him anymore. Dee let out a short, humorless laugh. "Dennis? Dennis is the problem." She looked Kira dead in the eyes, her voice suddenly colder, sharper. "Look, Kira, I don't know what you thought you had with him, but let me tell you: Dennis is toxic. He's charming, he's manipulative, and he'll twist everything you thought you knew about him. You're better off pretending he doesn't exist."

Kira's heart sank, and for a second, she wondered if Dee was just being bitter. But the look on Dee's face wasn't one of spite—it was one of hard-earned truth. "Trust me," Dee continued, her voice firm. "If you go back to Dennis, you're just setting yourself up for more pain. He doesn't care about you the way you think he does. He'll use you, then toss you aside when he's bored. I don't care how good looking he is, or how charming he seems. He'll break you. Don't let him." Kira swallowed, the reality of Dee's words hitting her harder than she'd anticipated. It made sense, though. Dennis had done it before. Maybe he would do it again. And this time, she wasn't sure if she could handle it. She took a deep breath and looked up at Dee. "Okay. So, no Dennis. I get it. I'll focus on Mac and Alexis." Dee smiled, a little more satisfied now. "Good. You've got your head on straight. Now just... keep your cool, and don't let anyone walk all over you. And whatever you do, never let Dennis back in your life." Kira nodded, feeling a mix of resolve and apprehension. Maybe things were still fixable. Maybe Dee was right. Maybe this wasn't the end for her. As Dee stood up to grab another drink, she threw one last piece of advice Kira's way: "Oh, and by the way? If you ever let Dennis back in your life, I'll personally hunt you down and smack some sense into you." Kira couldn't help but laugh. Maybe Dee was crazy, but at least she was giving her a fighting chance.

"Thanks, Dee," Kira said, standing up to leave. "I really needed to hear that." "No problem," Dee replied, waving a hand. "Now go out there and do something. But don't do anything stupid." Kira gave her a grateful smile before stepping out of Dee's apartment. The weight on her shoulders felt a little lighter now, and for the first time in a long time, she felt like maybe, just maybe, things could get better.