Misery Company

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Mackenzie stayed with Megan in her room watching TV. Mac held the little girl in her lap. "They all look so happy and that's all a lie. No one is happy at school." They watched a commercial for Old Navy. "There's always someone who wants to be a bitch and that causes the everyday problems. At least Christy isn't your mom; if she was I might have to run away with you. She really can't watch an egg she tried for a project at school and let's just say that egg became breakfast. I don't get what guys see in her, must be the big boobs." She looked down and found Megan sleeping. "You're a cheap date kid but I like you anyway."

IIII

Dean sat in his room and for the first time that week he could breathe. There was no homework, baby screaming or his father giving a lecture of a disapproving look. He laid back in his bed and enjoyed the moment while it lasted. The world must be ending, he thought, Mackenzie Ashby was actually good for something.

He used the next few moments to veg without anymore thoughts or worries. It was twenty minutes later when he left to pick up Megan. If it got any later his parents would start asking questions and no one wanted that.

Dean knocked on the front door twice, after no answer he tried the door to find it unlocked. "It would be so easy to rob this place." He shook his head and looked around as he walked upstairs. The rest of the house looked like the living room; simple, colorless and clean.

The door to Mackenzie's room was open, her room was the complete opposite of the house, the walls had color; dark purple and music posters scattered around. The room was pretty clean, must be a rule, he mused. Mackenzie laid in bed asleep with Megan tucked securely in the crook of her arm. The scene surprised Dean, Mac actually looked like a human being when her face wasn't twisted in that scowl she wore every moment of the day. "Do you have a death wish or something leaving your door unlocked?" he asked when she started to stir awake.

"Yeah, damn you're not the axe killer? You didn't have to come in and sneak around." She sat up and carefully pulled her arm out from under Megan.

"I knocked and you didn't answer so I came in because after all you have my kid with you."

Mac gasped. "You hear that little one? He said you were his, maybe there's hope after all." She turned her head back to him. "It hasn't been long so she should keep on sleeping."

"Were you just being a bitch then switched to something like nice? Don't freak me out like that."

"I wasn't being nice to you, jerk. I'm trying to give you some tips so you don't completely screw up her life. Babies need to be taken care of and knowing their habits is a good way to start."

Dean thought about that and while it made sense it didn't all fit. "No you just slipped and you were being nice." He teased.

"Go drop dead and please get out of my house."

"I need Megan first."

Dean was in for a surprise when he got home, and like the last surprise it wasn't a good one. "Your cousin Jake is coming to stay with us." Greg informed his son when he returned.

Dean made a face, while he liked his older cousin, Jake wasn't someone you liked around a lot, small doses were best. "Why?"

"I got him a job at the office and I wouldn't mind someone else keeping an eye on you." The deep disappointment returned to his voice.

"Jake is worse then I could ever be."

"Yet he hasn't gotten a girl pregnant. He'll be here tomorrow morning, end of discussion. Why isn't she in bed?" he asked next.

"We went out for a walk." He didn't need to get into anymore hot water by bringing Mac up. "Goodnight dad." He scoffed as he walked upstairs, Jake keeping an eye on him? That was funny considering Jake was like a twenty three year old kid who didn't believe rules existed.

IIII

Mackenzie was home alone for the next week without any supervision, any normal teenager would be happy and grinning through the halls of school but she wasn't. Mac actually found that morning to be more depressing then the last. Waking up alone wasn't a dream come true, Kate's presence even if laced with disappointment let Mac know there was someone who cared.

"Hey." Kira greeted, falling in step with her friend. "Bad day?"

"I'm here aren't I?" They continued to walk to their first class. "My Aunt is out of town and I'm bored as hell, wanna stop by later?" It wasn't breaking any rules, Kira was one person not a party.

"Hmm." Kira thought it over, a mischief grin played along her lips. "Sure, beats hanging out with my little brother."

Mac drifted through the rest of her classes, not really hearing anything the teachers had to say, it was simply one of those days were life sucked and she couldn't pinpoint why and that made it furthermore depressing. She tried to crack a smile for basketball practice; the love of the game was worth spending time with a group of boys that didn't like her. She bumped into Christy on the way to the gym.

"Watch it." The blonde snapped. "You," her voice turned to disgust. "Dean and I got into a fight over you and next thing I know we're breaking up."

Mac groaned, she didn't need a Christy meltdown on top of everything. "And? As you put it I'm the scum of the earth so it's not like I'm really the reason he left you. He probably was just sick of the headaches your voice gives."

Christy stopped her from walking by. "If you so much as look his way too long-"

"Oh blow me are you serious? Go jump off of something very high, I'm busy." She pushed Christy back a few steps and continued into the gym.

Christy wasn't giving up easily; having a bad day of her own she followed Mac into the gym and jumped on her back. "Bitch!"