Misery Company

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Dean considered himself a pretty smart guy who could figure people out, not even on his best day could he figure out Mackenzie Ashby. He waited in the hallways of the school as she finished talking with Coach Scott. It didn’t matter that he lived next to her and was bound to see her again that day, it couldn’t wait. He cornered her after she stepped out of the gym. “We have to talk.”

“I don’t know about you but I’ve had more then my share of this place and you.”

Dean was too angry to let it go that easy, he pulled her into an empty classroom and blocked the door. “You let me win.”

Mac scoffed. “I would do no such thing. I hit my head but you have the concussion.”

“I’m not stupid.”

“That hasn’t been decided.”

Dean wanted to pull his hair out, dealing with a baby was easier then talking to Mac. “I’m not letting you go until you admit it.”

The challenge rose to her eyes, if Mac wanted to leave she was going to. “Why the hell would I let you win?”

“Exactly what I want to know.”

“I don’t know what to tell you but I have to go so move.”

Dean wanted answers, he wanted her to stop playing games and lying but he knew damn well it didn’t work like that with her. The more he pushed the more she’d shut down. “If you keep acting nice toward me I’m going to become suspicious.” More then he already was. 

“Hah, ha, you’re funny really.” Mac’s voice was the definition of flat. “Bang your head on the floor and see how well you play.” She muttered as she walked out of the class room.

Dean didn’t believe that excuse, he knew there were moments she let him take the ball, moments she over looked. He could take her in a game but that hadn’t been the game, she hadn’t given her all.

IIII

A box sat on the porch that peaked Mackenzie’s interest. The small card on top revealed it was from Jake. What was this guy up to? That questioned plagued her all night and day.  She was willing to admit solely to herself she liked him and also agreed after tonight’s date she’d never see him again, it worked out best that way. The card read  ‘see you tonight.’ With a little reminder at the bottom ‘my terms remember.’ Inside the box was the dress she was supposed to wear.

Mac didn’t pull the dress out of the box until she was inside. She laughed, shaking her head. “Yeah this guy is nuts.” It was a little black dress, in her size but a dress none the less and that made her uncomfortable. After some mental math she remembered it had been about twelve years since she last wore anything besides jeans.  At the bottom of the box were matching shoes.

Mac didn’t like to back out of her end of a deal but she was seriously considering coming down with the flu and dealing with Jake knocking at her door at all times.

At a quick glance at the clock she saw that it’d be eight o’ clock in two hours. She had barely an hour to consider this and make a choice.

IIII

Dean stood at his cousin’s door. “And dad thinks you’re smarter then me.”

Jake reached for his tie. “I am.”

“I wouldn’t be stupid to date Mackenzie and I certainly wouldn’t shell out all of this money for something she’s not even into.”

“And how do you know she’s not into it?”

Dean wrinkled his brow. “Have you seen her?” Mac had always been worse then a tomboy, she dressed more mainly then half the guys he knew.

“You can be such an asshole.”

“What? That was an honest question.”

“Look I get you don’t like her but I do, leave it at that and mind your own business or is there another reason this is bothering you?” Jake asked, sitting down on the empty chair. “If you have feelings for her tell me and I’ll step back.”

“Have you heard anything I’ve been saying?  I borderline hate the girl, the last thing I have for her is feelings like that.” Dean shook his head and left; he was really starting to question his cousin’s brain because the guy was losing it.

A laugh was always good for a person. As eight that night rolled on by Dean sat outside on the porch to watch the start of his cousin’s disaster of a date, if there was even going to be one. He had seen the dress Jake had bought for Mac and heels, ha like that was happening. He knew she was probably coming up with ideas on how to cancel as soon as she saw the stuff.

“You really need a life cousin.” Jake said as he passed him on the way down the porch. He walked across the lawn and knocked on Mackenzie’s door.

Dean moved to the bottom step, the best place to see across to her porch and waited for his cousin’s nightmare to start. A minute passed and Jake knocked again. Mac wasn’t even going to cancel to his face, ouch.

To Dean’s surprise, and Jake’s, the door opened.

Mac stepped outside wearing the dress and the shoes. The skirt of the dress stopped a hair above her knee revealing shapely legs, the top of the dress wore tight across her chest and more to Dean’s surprise she had a chest. She made an effort with her hair; the long brown locks fell across her bare shoulders in soft curls.

“You look beautiful.” Jake said.

Dean brought his mind back to real time. She was actually going on the date; she got cleaned up for the damn thing. Jake didn’t just like Mac, she liked him back. That wasn’t good.