Second Chances for Tyler Landry

The Worst Realization

Mackenzie had a battle in her mind. For about 30 seconds, she thought about the consequences and exactly how masochistic it was of her to say.

Did she actually like torturing herself?

Because it seemed to be becoming a full time job.

But, it really wasn't about her. It wasn't about what she wanted, because what she wanted was blurred between wanting to be with him and wanting to do right by herself. For the first time in a long time.

Quit being so selfish. she scolded herself in her head.

Tyler continued to look at her expectantly. Waiting for the answer he knew would come, because he can't remember a single time when Mackenzie said no to him. About anything.

"Yeah, I'll sleep on the couch again." she said, even though she still had a back issue from the last night.

Just than something went off in Tyler. Something that told him to sleep on the couch. Something so strong he couldn't bite back the words.

"No, I'll sleep on the couch this time." he said.

Mackenzie looked at him in surprise. Her eyebrows raised to her hairline.

"Uh, no Tyler, you deserve the bed this time." she replied.

"No, you always deserve the bed." he said before he could stop the words.

She looked at him wordlessly. She didn't know what to say. She was beyond speechless, in fact she forgot how to speak.

Tyler just looked at her. His eyes glowed seriously in the dim lighting of his desk lamp. He realized the truth in his own words, and didn't make any attempt in taking them back.

He just got up and moved over to the couch. Sitting on it, so that Mackenzie couldn't fit herself on it.

"Tyler..." she said

"No. I'm sleeping on the couch and you are sleeping on the bed." he interupted.

Mackenzie knew there was no use in trying to fight with him on this. Tyler had that gleam in his eyes that told her that he was going to sleep on the couch whether she liked it or not.

She sighed and pulled the covers down, throwing Tyler a pillow on the little cramped couch.

"You won't be able to fit." she said, frowning.

Tyler took a step toward her.

"You worry too much about me." he said bluntly.

Mackenzie's eyes widened "Is that a bad thing?" she asked self conciously.

"For you it is." he said, realzing his own selfishness. It hit him like a brick wall. How much he had taken everything Mackenzie has ever done for him for granted. That's just how it's always been though.

He never even thanked her.

Tyler and Mackenzie both absentmindedly made their beds. Mackenzie's mind on Tyler, and Tyler's mind on Mackenzie.

Tyler's mind swirled with different occurences when he took Mackenzie for granted. And than his mind reached Jolee. How much he now hated her. As he thought of these buried memories, he remembered the look in Mackenzie's eyes he had never noticed.

Pure pain and burning anger.

As they both laid down in their beds, Tyler asked a question that burned in Mackenzie's mind and hurt in her throat.

"Mack, did you ever even consider Jolee a friend?" he asked. He lied down on the couch, his feet over the arm rest. Facing the ceiling.

Mackenzie's mind went into shock. "Um. I don't know."

"C'mon Mack, I know you. You have an opinion on everything. You put everyone in categories. Was she a friend? An aquaintance? Did you like her?" he asked.

The questions hit the answer mark in Mackenzie's head. The true answers hit the tip of her tongue, begging to be spoken.

"I felt like me and her could have been friends but..." she said. Not making any attempt at finishing her statement.

"But, what? You found out she was a dirty whore with a reputation unknown by me?" Tyler said in mocking sarcasm.

"Something like that." Mackenzie said with a chuckle.

"I feel so stupid." he admitted, his voice turning soft and serious.

"Well, you just have bad taste in women Tyler. It wasn't your fault though."

"Why didn't you tell me?" he pleaded in a quiet voice.

Mackenzie's mouth went dry. "It wasnt my place to say anything. You wouldn't have wanted to believe me anyway."

Tyler thought for a minute. His heart hurt too much to continue talking about it.

"I'm going to bed Mack." he said

"Alright, Goodnight Tyler." she said, and he heard her turn to her side.

"Goodnight. And Mack?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank You."