Misery Company

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Mackenzie wanted to scream. For the last ten minutes that annoying guy next door, Jake, was knocking on her door. She had hoped he’d take a hint and give up. She couldn’t take it anymore. She pulled the door open. “What?!”

“Took you long enough.”

Mac blocked the door, no way in hell was she letting him in. “Has it entered your mind that I didn’t answer because I didn’t want to talk to you? Why are you bothering me?”

“I wouldn’t call it ‘bothering’ it’s more like pursuing. You should go out with me.” Jake said all as a-matter-of-factly, flashing a grin.

“Really?” she returned the smile. “I think hell no.” she closed the door in his face which felt pretty good. As sadistic as it was it made her feel better to put her anger on someone else. Mac stood in the living room and remembered what he said, go out with him? He had to be playing some kind of joke and stupid Dean was probably in on it.  He was a jerk that way, a world class jerk.

The phone ringing jarred her out of her latest mental Dean rant. “Hello?” she tried to sound normal after seeing on the caller ID it was Aunt Kate.

“Hey, how’s it going?”

“Same ole same ole, what about you? How’s the trip and the job?” she leaned into the sofa and waited for the shoe to drop, something always went wrong.

“Ok so far. I got a call from your coach.”

And there was the shoe, kicking her in the face. “About that---”

“You got into another fight?” she started yelling. “Mackenzie you are on the verge of being suspended and then what? You have to graduate and do your own thing.”

“I know and if you would listen for one second I could tell you it wasn’t my fault this time. I really didn’t start it but I had to defend myself. The coach wants me too bad to let me get suspended, just like last time. It’ll be fine.”

“What happens when it stops being fine?”

“You’re stuck with me again? I don’t know.” The knocking started back up on the door. “Someone is here, I gotta go.” Mac hung up on her knock and stood to yell at Jake some more, it was becoming a form of relaxation.  “You’re not playing fair.” Jake stood on the other side with Megan in his arms.

“Maybe now you’ll hear me out.”

Mac stepped outside, still not wanting him to come in and think that was an invitation to keep annoying her for days to come. She grabbed Megan, she missed the kid. “Ok fine spill it.” 

“I say we make a deal and if you win I never bother you again.” Jake proposed.

“I like the sound of that.”

“Good. You go out with me, tomorrow night, and if you have a miserable time I leave you alone and if you have a good time---”

“Not happening.”

“I get to kiss you.”

“Really not happening.” She bounced Megan in her arms. “Your family members all seem to be a little slow. Maybe it’s because they’re guys and guys are slower then girls.” The funny tone she used gained a giggle from the baby.

“Deal or not?” Jake asked. “Before you answer you should know I have free time that I wouldn’t mind using to knock on your door until you say yes.”

Mac looked at him and just knew he was being honest about continuing to push the subject. “Alright fine I’ll do it but why? Is this some sick joke to kill time?”

“No, I like you.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

“Because of that huge chip on your shoulder? I think there’s more then that and I’m curious how you are once you let down some barriers.  Plus I think you’re cute.” Jake said as if it was obvious, shrugging his shoulders.

Mac wasn’t sure she believed him, in fact she was sure he was lying. “I want you to know if you don’t keep up your side of the deal and leave me alone and if you try and hurt me in anyway I have no trouble hurting you in a very violent way.” That was a promise, outcast or not Mac refused to be made fun of as a joke.

“I believe you and maybe by the end of tomorrow you’ll believe me.”

She was going to have to go out on a date with him, Mac decided to take a good look at the guy. He was tall, black short hair and green eyes that seemed to run in his family except Jake’s were a shade darker. Judging by what see could see with the t-shirt and jeans he wore, he was also in pretty good shape. “Don’t you have anything better to do then to ‘pursue’ me?”

“Is that your way of asking me what I’m doing here? My Uncle offered me a job at his office and I’m going to be staying here through the summer to see how it works out.” That was a long time from now.

“You should get her back inside.” Mac handed Megan back.

“I’ll see you tomorrow at eight.” Jake flashed a smile and walked away.

IIII

“Next time you take my kid, mind telling me?” Dean had spent the last ten minutes wondering who had Megan; it wasn’t possible for her to wander off yet.

“Sorry but it worked, that baby is golden. I got my date for tomorrow night.”

Dean felt his stomach twist at the news; he did not need his enemy dating within the family. “What? She just said yes?”

“After she saw things my way yeah.”

Something was up, Dean thought, Mackenzie had never been seen on a date. “Good luck, you’re going to need it.” Feeling strange he carried Megan upstairs. So what if Jake was stupid enough to like Mac, and what the hell was there to like? Dean was sick of being surprised that day. Mac was standing in his room. “So you’re dating my cousin?”

“Not really, it’s a date fueled by some blackmail. It’s making its way around, I blackmail you and he blackmails me. You’re getting better with her.” Mac hitched her head toward Megan.

Dean held his daughter around her legs, her cheek rested against his. “Blackmail how?” Looking at Mac he noticed something was different and it was her eyes, they were dark with emotion and a little red.

“With annoyance. You annoy me enough so I figured get him out of the way, I came for a reason.”

“Good I was wondering. It’s kinda gross having you up here.”

A small sad smile tugged her lips. “Fuck you. Can I?” she reached for Megan, he let her go. Mac sat on the bed with the baby in her lap and spoke to her. “I found this and thought of you. It was the last and only thing I got from my mom.” She held a little baby bracelet in her hand.  “It’s funny how things work out because it says MAC which are you’re initials, I know big word for little ole you. Megan Ann Chandler.” She closed the clasp around her wrist, perfect fit. 

Dean stood back watching the scene, again noticing the sadness from Mackenzie. A small, very small part of his heart thought it was sweet for her to give the bracelet to Megan.  “Are you dying or something?” another very small part of him was curious about her current state.

“You wish.” She said tightly.

Better, he thought, it was normal for her to be bitchy and normal for him not to care. “I do.”

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