Mac Vs PC: Infected

Control and Drag

"Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected." —Steve Jobs (Macintosh & Apple))

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The days had passed sluggishly; days as long as nights, hours dragging along like the hands on the clock indolently ticking by. Madison High School was set in panic mode, each student knew a misconstrued look, a slight bump or a near whisper would set of the scholar athletic, PC Ward. The tears of juniors were still fresh on the soccer field.

Today was Mackenzie Tosh's first day at Madison High. Everyone was on alert.

Piper tugged at her white v-neck tee; it was smaller then usual. It was the first shirt she picked up in a rush to beat her mother out of the front door. She could see it now: her mother's big blue eyes begging her to escort the cripple to his first day of class. It wasn't happening. She tugged on some basketball shorts, grabbed a piece of toast, snatched up her duffle bag and hopped in Casey's car, leaving behind any responsibility to Pamela's son.

Staring out the foggy window, Piper crossed her legs underneath her, curling herself as small as she could. The morning sun tinted the lost sky a fresh orange; the wandering moisture glistened the tips of the grass blades. The sight didn't calm the turbulence shaking Piper's foundation.

"We're not family y'know?" Her head rolled along the headrest as she faced her closest friend. "I loved his mother, but I have no connections to her son."

"I know, Piper. You've been telling me this for days." Readjusting the grip on her steering well, Casey faced Piper head-on. "You've been ranting and raving for days."

"Oh." Her eyes fell back to the oblivious sky, sitting high without any regrets—without any doubts. "I didn't tell you. He wants to have my scholarship."

"Yes, you did. Grand larceny, such a thief he is." Casey let out a breath as the school came into view. A few minutes on the field and her best friend would feel at home. A few minutes away from reality and her best friend would shut up about Mackenzie's plot to destroy her athletic career.

"Oh." The wind blew a candy wrapper from the busy road to the quiet of the tall grass bordering the residence across from the school.

Casey reached over to grasp Piper's fingers finding them cold to the touch. With no hesitation she brought their combined hands to the center of the console, squeezing tight as Piper tried to yank away. "There is no way that he can take your scholarship away from you. It was made for your talent, your drive and your perseverance. It's already yours."

Uncharacteristically, Piper shied away from the praise as she turned her head back to the window. Where did her friend go? What was she hiding?

"He was never a threat to you before. Why now?"

"He's better than me." Her confession nearly got them killed as Casey's foot missed the brake swerving from the entrance lane to the stadium. "Not at sports obviously, but he'll have more recommendations and a better interview. And he has a dick."

"Piper—" Casey ignored the honking blaring around her stalled car.

"There's never been a female recipient of the Madison Scholarship." Sliding her hand away, Piper doubled over hiding her face from the window.

Casey's stomach dropped as the chill spread out from her heart chilling her every movement as she shifted the car into reverse. Watching the strongest person she knew cradle her face in such capable hands broke something in her.

"Piper—" The car shifted into park.

"People like him win. He has a dick and people like him." Like a child, Piper didn't resist Casey slid her arms around her.