The Life of Nathaniel

Chapter 6

I follow Mackenzie downstairs and out to her car. I had only rode in a car once and that was to find the store.

I stand in front of her Mustang, not knowing what to do. "You pull the handle and the door will open." MacKenzie smiles as I go to the passenger door and I pull the handle. The door swings open. I get in and pull the door shut.

MacKenzie puts her bag in the back and then gets into the driver seat. "There is a strap by your right shoulder." I find it. "Pull it down across your body." I do that. She grabs the buckle and clicks it into position.

"Is that all?" I ask hesitantly.

"Now we can go." She buckles in herself and starts the car.

There was a deep vroom and I let out a small scream. MacKenzie laughs as she backs out of the driveway.

"How far away is the school?" I ask.

"Its on the other side of town." She says as she drives.

We reach the main streets when MacKenzie puts in a CD. What played was a song that made me feel hopeful.

We arrive at the school and Mackenzie parks. "Press the button to unlock the seatbelt." I do that and the belt unbuckles. I open the door and step out. MacKenzie grabs her bag and locks the car.

I follow her. "Hey! MacKenzie!" A couple girls call out.

"Come on." MacKenzie tells me as she walks over to the group. "Hey." She says when she's gets there. I stand behind her, unsure of what to do.

"Who is he?" One of the girls ask, slightly disgusted by my presence.

"This is Nathaniel. He is -"

"I'm her cousin." I interrupt.

MacKenzie had to fight back her surprise. "And Nathaniel, these are my friends," she points to each in turn. First was a girl with blond hair and wearing a cheerleader uniform, that was Marcie. Next was a black haired girl with no glasses. Her name was Aubry. The last girl had glasses and had textbooks in her arms, she was called Alexi.

"So MacKenzie. Are you going to the party tonight?" Marcie asks.

"I dont know." She replies.

"What do you mean you don't know? You've been invited for weeks."

"You're having a party?" Alexi asks, "Why wasn't I invited?"

Marcie sighs softly, "Your invite must've gotten lost in the mail. And its too late to RSVP."

"Was I not invited either?" Aubry asks.

"No. We weren't." Alexi says angrily. I move closer to them incase a fight starts.

"I sent out your invites," Marcie says, "But its past the RSVP deadline."

"You just asked Mackenzie if she was going, so its obviously not past the deadline." Alexi says.

"That's because she always comes to my parties."

"So we haven't been invited to a single party of yours?" Alexi steps threateningly towards Marcie.

"I'm not coming." MacKenzie tells Marcie. She turns to Aubry and Alexi, "Lets go get Nathaniel signed in."

"Fine." Alexi says reluctantly. She turns and walks away.

"Lets go Nathaniel." MacKenzie says leading me. Aubry follows us.