Behind the Looking Glass

Confrontation

  The next day I was all sunshine and rainbows. I wore one of my favorite sun dresses (that only wear on special occasions). A smile occupied my face the entire day. Scarlett and Addie were confused about my sudden attitude change. And as usual, we discussed it at lunch.
"Spill!" Scarlett bellowed setting down her tray of food. Addie sat down next to her and nodded.
"Yeah, what's up with this sunshine rainbow version of you. You're Mackenzie right?"
"Nothing is going on," I replied. Remembering yesterday's encounter with Mr. Milkshake, my cheeks flushed but tried to hide it my coughing and covering my face. Scarlett caught on immediately and started her interrogation.
"Is he cute?" She asked.
"Ummm"
"He is!" She squealed. I blushed more.
"Are you guys like, together?" Addie pressed.
"Guys!" I complained. "Do we really have to talk about his now?"
"I can't believe I am actually witnessing Mackenzie's first crush since... 9th grade!" Scarlett hinted. My jaw dropped and I slapped her arm.
"Scarlett Britt!" I yelled between my teeth. "You said you would never bring up-" I looked around to make sure no one was listening. "Peter, again."
"Who's this Peter?" Addie asked, curiosity shone through her eyes.
"Peter was Mackenzie's first actual crush-" Scarlett began before I cut her off.
"He was one of my brother's friends. He's in college now. It was a stupid crush and didn't go anywhere." I finished for her. Then I gave Scarlett a warning look. She sent me her "my bad" look in return with a hint of mischief in her eyes.
"Just one more question though." Scarlett continued. "Does he go to this school?"
"Gosh no!" I exclaimed. "And again, no, I am not letting you guys meet him. We've only met once and... It's nothing serious."
"At the moment" Scar added. I rolled my era as Addie and Scar giggle together.
"I already know you aren't going to tell us his name so... What so you want us to refer to him as?" Addie inquired. I thought of saying Mr. Milkshake, but that was our little thing.
"Just call him A" I shrugged.
"Mysterious," Scar purred. "I like it!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aspen texted me after school asking if we could meet up. Maybe this will become serious... It was time to get over my feelings, and Peter. But... the memory came flashing back at me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FLASHBACK 

 "Hey Mackenzie!" Peter called to me, flashing a charming smile. I felt my hear melt.

"Yeah?" I asked as he ran over to me.

"What do you mean 'yeah?', you texted me to come meet you," He replied with a huge grin on his face. "I think I might know what you want to talk about."

"Really?" I said with a glimmer of hope. "Then you want to join-"

"Of course I do!" He interjected. "I've been waiting all summer for this."

"Really?" I giggled again trying to contain my excitement. "So, can you pick me up at 6?"

"What?" He asked confused. "Why do I need to pick you up?"

"For our date," I tried.

"What date?" 

"The one you just agreed to silly!" Was he really playing with me or...

"I thought... wait a second... you don't think that I like you.. right?" He said slowly. The air rushed out of me. What did he just say?

"I mean, I thought you were telling me I made the football team. Since, you know, your brother is the captain and everything." He said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck looking for what to say next. Then it dawned on me. He was using me, to get on the football team. All of those flashy smiles, silent hellos, quick waves, and cute winks meant nothing to him. How could I have been so stupid? Of course he was being nice to me to get on the team. I am the captain's weak and innocent little sister. I wouldn't have suspected a thing. And I didn't. Well I wouldn't make that mistake again.

"Excuse me," I choked out pushing past him. He tried to grab my hand but I ripped myself away. That was one benefit to being the football team's captain, I wan't weak. He must have called after me because people were looking our way, but everything was just dead noise to me. Forming tears clouded my vision and I rushed to a secluded place. I hated crying in public.

After about 20 minutes of solitude and crying my eyes out my big brother found me. I was to depressed to feel humiliated. After a bit of convincing, Jay got me to tell him everything. And I poured my heart out.  Then after silently cursing to himself, he wrapped his arms around me and let me cry until I had no more tears to give. Leaving a perfectly horrible stain on his shirt.

That weekend, Scarlett, Addie, and I bought new clothes and I vowed that I would show Peter everything that he could have had. And that I was totally over him. 

"Show him what he's missing," Scar had said. 

And I did. But it was a bit hard for him to see it at first, since he had a black eye. 

I wonder where he got that from...

~~~

I'm not the same girl I was back in the 9th grade. I texted Aspen back,

"See you at Ben & Jerry's ;)"