Misery Company

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Mackenzie was nearly giddy when practice rolled around. Any day Dean Chandler made a fool out of himself was a good day. She sat on one of the bleachers and waited. He was one of the last to arrive, he looked her way and she smiled. Dean began to look nervous.

“Alright let’s get to work.” Coach Scott announced.

“Hold on Coach there’s something Dean wants to say.” Mac’s smile grew wider.

“What is it Dean?” Coach asked, his arms crossed and waiting.

“Uh.” Dean sighed and decided it was like a band aid, he had to do it fast. “I was unfair yesterday to Mackenzie. She’s a good player and won fairly yesterday. I think we should all give her a shot.”  He felt his stomach heave.

Coach smiled. “That’s the spirit. There’s only two more weeks to our first game and we need help and it doesn’t matter where it comes from as along as it helps us win.”

Throughout the rest of practice one by one each guy questioned Dean, wondering what the hell was wrong with him. He dodged the question, with Mac’s watchful eyes on him Dean didn’t want her to get anymore ideas on how to embarrass him.

Mackenzie cornered him outside the gym. “There’s more one part to our deal. You have to tell Christy what a bitch she was for bringing up my mom. You can say it a little nicer then that since for reasons beyond my ability to comprehend you want to keep dating her.”

His jaw tightened. “I want to strangle you.”

Mac smiled sweetly. “Is it really the first time?”

“I told Christy at lunch what she did was wrong.”

“So?” she crossed her arms. “I wasn’t there and you’re a liar so why would I believe you?” she moved closer, nearly touching him. “The way I see it you can do this and we co-exist or you bitch and moan, still do this and I make your life hell for the next six months.”

Dean looked at her, eyeing from head to toe. How could someone so small and sweet looking until she spoke be so damn evil and conniving? “You’re enjoying this.”

Mac chuckled. “Yeah, I am. You don’t have to do it in front of the whole school; I just want to see her pissed. You need me to swing by your place to help with Megan, desperate as she is Christy always stops by, do it then.”

He looked down into her yes. “You’re going to regret this.” Dean walked away and felt her smiling behind him. The girl was sadistic.

He continued with his earlier plan, he had to turn the tables on Mackenzie, it was the only way he was going to survive the rest of the school year. Dean needed to learn everything he didn’t know about her, where to start? He gave it serious thought all the way home. The sitter was ready to go when he arrived, his parents weren’t letting him have any help even for a second.

Megan was in her playpen sleep in the living room. He watched her. “I’m sorry, I was a jerk when I found out about you and I can’t blame your mom for getting fed up with me. You cry and you’re messy but you’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever met.” He sank into the sofa and pulled out his homework.

IIII

Mackenzie snuck into her own bedroom by climbing the gutter pipeline. It wasn’t the first time and probably not the last. As grateful as she was to Aunt Kate for taking her in she liked to avoid the woman at most costs. She dumped her bag on the floor and laid back in bed. She stayed there for a moment, one needed to mentally prepare to spend time with Dean. Mac thought about their exchange at school, she didn’t feel guilty but she did regret Megan being the pawn in their little game.

“Mac!” Kate wasn’t stupid, she must’ve heard the footsteps.

“Yeah?”

“Get down here.”

“Shit.” Mac rushed down the staircase. “What did I do?”

“I don’t know, what did you do? You look guilty and I haven’t said anything.”

“Ok I confess I’ve been turning tricks behind the school to pay for lunch.”

Kate’s lips twitched but she didn’t smile. “I wonder where you get your sense of humor from.”

“It comes from being an orphan.” The air turned serious, as much as they both tried to forget it never happened. The loss was too raw for Mac to push it aside. “What can I do you for?”

“I have to go out of town for the next week, it hinges on a big proposal.”

“Ok.” Mac said, dragging the word out.

“What do I do about you?”

“I’m eighteen and a social nightmare, how much trouble can I get into? Go and work your ass off, I’m be a good little girl and you give me a cut from your raise, win, win.”

Kate smiled that time. “You are a nightmare but I love you.” Mac’s face fell. “I don’t say that enough, huh? I know known of this has been ideal but we make it work.”

“Yeah.” Mac said softly. “When do you leave?”

“Tonight, is there anything I have to tell you?”

Rolling her eyes Mac repeated what her Aunt had told her in the past. “No parties, no boys and no drinking. I think you’ve got it set. I have to go help Dean, I’ll be back before you go.” she turned toward the front door.

“Wait, tell me about this more. Help Dean with what?”

“His cousin is going to be staying with them for awhile. His parents feel he needs more responsibility and it’s his job to watch her until they get home. She’s a cute kid who shouldn’t have to suffer from his stupidity so I offered to help.”

“That’s…nice of you.”

“I can be nice, don’t look so shocked.” Mac turned and left. It was things like that Kate did that bothered her, always willing to point out her shortcomings. Jogging the short distance to Dean’s she knocked on the door.

“Come in.” Dean called out. “She’s asleep.”

“Yeah, well.” Mac sank into the empty chair. “I have to kill some time.”

“For what?” He kept his focus on the math book across his lap.

“My aunt’s leaving town in a few hours.”

“So you’re hiding from her? Do you get along with anyone?”

“No not so much.”