The Other Half

Chapter 1

BEEP BEEP BEEP!  Running blindly through the dense forest, I attempt to reach the sound. I can't tell what it is, I just know I have to get there. I trip over a tree root that's sticking out of the muddy ground. As I fall on my knees, I start realizing the ground seems to be sucking me lower into the ground. Quicksand. And if my luck couldn't get any worse, I feel cold, sharp droplets of rain pelt my face.  BEEP BEEP BEEP! Mackenzie...Mackenzie...? My vision starts blurring. I start grasping whatever I can in hopes of staying alive.

I open my eyes to find a blurry Christy standing in the doorway of my room. I glance up at the alarm to see it's 6:20. Just a dream I reassure myself. It's my last day at this hellish place. Next year, my senior year, I'll be in Delaware anyways, not Florida. I just need to get this day over with...if I can find the energy to start. Rolling over, I try to hide my face in the pillows and go back to sleep. 

"Mackenzie, seriously. You have to get up. Your alarm's been ringing for 20 minutes! You'll be late if you don't get ready," she speaks urgently.

"Noo...I don't care," I mumble into the pillows as I grab my blanket and throw it over my head. As weird as the dream was, I try to go back to it. I'd rather be escaping quicksand than be going to school. 

"Look, your dad will just get angry if you don't get up. And I already made breakfast. I want you downstairs in 10 minutes." I hear her footsteps walk out the room and a gentle click of of the door before I sit up. Stretching my hands over my head, I arch my back and twist to the right and left. I drop my feet over the side of the bed and get up, heading towards the bathroom. Washing my face, I grab the towel and dry it off. I look at my reflection in the mirror and stand up to my full height of 5'6. Leaning my hands on the sink, I watch my long chocolate brown hair fall in natural waves around my face, framing my cheekbones and light grey eyes. Despite what Christy says, I never really considered myself as pretty. I'm just...average. 

"You can do it Mackenzie. Just walk in, and get through the day. Ignore what they all say, they won't matter after today." I've been trying out the cliche pep talks that supposedly improve your mentality, but honestly, they don't help as much as everyone thinks they will.  Standing back up, I head towards my room. My room's nothing special with the blue bed sheets and plain walls. Then again, I never really had a boyfriend or friends that I had to impress. Actually, I'm lying. I did have friends a long time ago, but that's a different story. 

I sift through my closet looking for something different than my usual outfit of shorts, t-shirt and converse. I pause in my search and laugh to myself, knowing there's really no point in trying to look any better than I usually do. I grab a pair of black shorts and a faded grey Reel Big Fish t-shirt. Slipping them on, I grab my black converse and head downstairs. 

"Pancakes are on the counter and apple juice is on the table," Christy says without turning around from the pancake on the stove. I grab two pancakes and head over to the table. Sliding the pancakes around on my plate, I look up at her. Her blonde hair gracefully flies behind her as she heads over to the fridge. Christy's my dad's long term girlfriend, but I basically consider her as my mom. Not going to lie but I actually didn't like her when she first came. But honestly, who does when they're not your real mom? Christy grew on me though, unlike my dad's past girlfriends. She didn't hate me and she actually wanted to be my friend. 

Swallowing the last bite, I get up and put the dishes in the sink. "Thanks Christy," I tell her heading towards the stairs. 

"What do I always say about thanking me? No thanks, we're family, remember," she replies with a smile across her face. I smile back and run up the stairs, grabbing my backpack and car keys. 

***

I walk to the table at the end of the cafeteria, my usual spot for lunch, and set down my lunch bag. Other than me, the only other occupant for the table is Brian Senako, 3 time world chess champion. "Hey Brian," I say as I take a seat across from him. He's not really a friend, but he's the closest I've got to one, regardless of the fact that he ignores me 90% of the time.