Trouble is his Middle Name

chapter 2

MACKENZIE'S POV

"Kenzie, get off your phone and come hang out with us!" I heard my mom call from the living room. I sighed and started in the direction of the other room while shoving my phone into my pocket. I stopped at the long mirror in the hallway to make sure I looked okay. My long, naturally straight brown hair that was mid back looked a little tangled, so I ran my hands through it. My mostly green eyes with a little brown were perfectly outlined with black eyeliner and my mascara wasn't clumpy. My high wasted denim shorts with the American flag printed on the front were a little high so I pulled them down, my white tank was tucked in perfectly and my red high top converse were tied, so I sighed again and continued down the hall into the living room. I could already tell this was gonna be a long day. 

 ...

It was almost dark now, and my mom and her best friend, Sydney, decided to go outside and wait for the fireworks that always go off from the local high school. Sydney and her family live close enough to the high school that we can sit outside on her front lawn and watch the fireworks, so we took a few chairs and sat down. While we were sitting around, I took out my phone to check my texts and right as I did, it vibrated.

Look up. was all the incoming text said... so I did. And there he was: Carter Grant. Even at dusk he looked sexy, with his arm muscles and tousled brown hair. The closer he walked towards me, the more attractive he got. He smiled and waved when he saw me looking at him, and I waved back. 

"Mom, I'm gonna go talk to a friend, okay?" I looked at her, but she was too engrossed in a conversation with Sydney's neighbor, Tim, to notice me, so I walked over to Carter.

"Hey." I said with a smile. "What are you doing? I didn't know you lived around here." 

"I don't." he said. "My grandparent's do, though. I'm just here hanging out with them because my parents are with friends. And it helps I have friends in this neighborhood, too." he laughed and nodded to the boys next to him. I waved smiled, and they all gave me a head nod or a wave in return.

"So, what high school are you starting in September?" I asked. "I'm starting at Jefferson and only have maybe three friends." 

Carter laughed, and boy was it attractive. "I'm at Jefferson, too. So now you have four friends. You're welcome." He winked, and I tried not to notice the butterflies that began to erupt in my stomach as I laughed.

"Awesome." I smiled back. "Mind if I hang out with you guys? My mom's.... busy." I turned and looked at Amanda, totally all over Tim. I rolled my eyes. It's not even weird for me anymore, my parents were never together in the first place so it's not like this is anything new. My mom being all flirty with guys, I mean. 

"Yeah, sure. I don't mind." Carter said. He sat down and patted the ground next to him, indicating for me to sit down as well. When a boy as hot as Carter tells you to sit down, obviously you sit down. You'd be crazy not to take up that offer. 

"So, how do you know Aiden?" he asked out of the blue. 

"I met him at a concert for his friend.. I can never remember the name. Connor maybe? I went with my friend cause she asked me to.. I was bored the whole time and Aiden came up to me and started talking. This was 2 years ago when I was living with my mom. I switch between parent's every year. But it's getting really difficult doing that now that I'm in high school, you know? Starting off a new year at a different high school every other year has sucked. I'm hoping that my dad will be okay with me staying here with my mom another year so I can finish out high school in one place." I explained. "Oh God, I'm sorry. You didn't ask for my whole life story, just how I know your girlfriends brother." I tried to laugh it off, but it came out really forced.