Misery Company

Chapter 10

 Chapter 10

It was sad but Mac was going to have to kill the only friend she had. Kira showed up with nearly a dozen people for a ‘party’ and a few cases of beer. “I’m already higher on my aunt’s shit list because of the fight, what do you think she’ll say about this?” Mac demanded as she and Kira stood away from the crowd.

“Nothing because she won’t find out, it’s perfect and you need to let go some anyway.”

“Yeah with people I either don’t know or don’t like. You got two hours, have fun and then after that leave or I’m kicking everyone out in a way that would embarrass you for years to come.” Mac promised, her face hinting at just how serious she was.

“Ok, I can work with that.”

Mac walked away out the back door to be alone. She sat on the porch and hoped for her and Kate’s sake nothing major would happen until she returned. Mac didn’t like disappointing Kate but some things couldn’t be controlled. She owed Kate and one day she hoped to repay her. Maybe with an all paid vacation, that was a good start to repay the only person who had been willing to take her in. Mac sat on the porch with a note pad in her lap. She never used the thing to write but rather scribbled on the pages and something would form, sometimes pretty and other times ugly.

“There’s a party in your house and you’re out here?” Jake was back.

“It’s not my party, what do you want now?”

“Since we’re both alone.” He sat beside her.

It was Mac who grew uncomfortable with the silence. “This date thing, where are you dragging me off to tomorrow?” her hopes for the night changed as she started to wish for the flu, anything to get out of this damn date.

“Somewhere nice.” He wasn’t big on speaking a whole lot.

“I don’t do nice, I don’t wear anything nicer then this.” She motioned a hand to her jeans and over sized t-shirt.

“I’ve got that taken care of and it’s my date, my terms. I only get one chance right? So I have to make the most of it. Don’t look so ugly, you agreed remember?”

“Without having all the facts.”

“Too late.” Out of the blue he brushed her hair behind her ear.

Mac noticeably backed up. “Do you just get bored and start stalking girls?”

“No, most are willing to go out with me.”

“So go find them.” Mac challenged, wanting badly for him to go away.

“You’re trying very hard to push me away even after agreeing to this. Is it about Dean?”

That surprised her. “Dean? Why would I care what he thinks? I’m trying to get out of this because I don’t like you.”

“I think you do.”

Mac rolled her eyes. “I have a party to get to.” She stood, planning to lock herself in her bedroom, he couldn’t bother her there. He stood right after her, putting them in a very close distance. Mac understood what sexually awkward now meant and the fact it also meant she did like him. Crap that wasn’t good.

Back in her room Mac weighed on the pros and cons to liking Jake. The fact she wasn’t sure she believed him and being Dean’s cousin made for pretty big cons. Being extremely cute and the first guy she ever felt a romantic connection to was a pro, except again he was related to Dean. Dean was evil, how was it possible she was drawn to his cousin?  Mac sat down and gave it some thought, maybe she was confused and she really didn’t like Jake but just the way he pursued her. She vowed to go on tomorrow’s stupid date and stay away from him. That was best for everyone involved.

IIII

Travis Moore was a computer genius and someone Dean kept in contact with since meeting as basketball camp years ago. Barely a day from when he called Travis emailed Dean a whole lot of information on Mackenzie Ashby. Dean knew there had to be something to turn the tables on Mac. Before becoming his neighbor Mackenzie lived with her aunt in the city. Kate became her legal guardian when Mac was four. There wasn’t much more but Travis made a little note that he was still looking. Dean was going to do some of his own investigating in town, someone had to know something Mac didn’t want getting out.

Megan started to cry, Dean picked her up. “You don’t agree huh? If you could talk you’d probably be yelling at me since you like her. But I’m doing this for you too, if we use something against Mackenzie that ensures she’ll keep our secret.” She looked at him with red eyes that were also a little accusing. “Yes you’re right I’m also doing it to get back at her because I really hate her.” The light shined along her bracelet.  “I will not feel guilty; she’s had this coming for a long time.”

Guilt wasn’t something Dean knew much about, that was until Megan was dropped in his arms. He felt tons of guilt for not knowing her sooner, for not being there when she was born. Mac was another story, it wasn’t really guilt, he also didn’t know what it was he felt. He was thankful she helped when he had no one but that didn’t change their past, how they both disliked each other for years. And how they would continue to dislike each other for years to come. She was probably planning a counterattack right now for what Christy did.  The fight wasn’t his fault either but Mac didn’t care about something like detail. She blamed who she blamed and that person was screwed.

Dean refused to be that person, whatever Mac had planned he was going to be ready to strike back and harder.