the boy next door

3

MACKENZIE ZIEGLER
saturday, december 9

group chat with lauren, johnny, and maddie.

lauren
hey y'all! me and john are about to walk down to the market and we were wondering if u guys wanted to come

you
that sounds fun!! i think i can go let me just ask my mom real quick

maddie
aww i wish i could but i've got plans! next time for sure tho :)

lauren
aw ok!

you
my mom said yes!

johnny
cool, come over in 10?

you
see u thennnn

i place my phone down and glance down at my sweats. it was moving day number two, so i'm surprised my mom is letting me go at all. i've got to get ready. but first...

"what plans?" i ask, barging into maddie's room. "liar."

"nate plans. not that it's any of your business!" maddie crosses her arms.

"nate plans?" i squeak out. "what?"

"we've been texting, and he asked me if i wanted to get ice cream today, so i said yes. mom said i could." maddie shrugs.

"aw! are you excited?" i smile.

"im a little nervous." she confesses, her 'i don't care' attitude collapsing.

"hey, it'll go great. it's just ice cream, and you're great at talking to guys."

"yeah but, kenzie, he's so cute." maddie groans. "i'm gonna freeze up like you do when you're nervous."

"you never freeze up." i reply. "and fuck you."

"anyways, speaking of you being nervous. are you gonna clam up today?" maddie shifts the conversation, a snarky grin coming over her features.

"why would i?"

"hmm, i don't know. that johnny kid was pretty cute." she takes in my reaction with amusement, practically bursting with giggles.

"i- shut up!" i go beet red and storm out of her room.

"you'll do great!" she calls out, still laughing.

"bitchass." i mutter under my breath.

now for the outfit.

i rummage through my closet and decide on a cheetah print tank over a black short sleeved top and my favorite (and way overworn) pair of ripped mom jeans. i pull my hair back into a high ponytail, far too lazy to do anything else with it, and put on my hoop earrings. for makeup, i quickly swipe on mascara and lipgloss and a little concealer. i check the time– 10:01. right on time! i run downstairs and pull on my nike air forces, shouting to my mom that i'm heading to lauren and johnny's.

a few minutes later, i'm on their doorstep, playing with the belt loop on my jeans nervously as i wait for someone to answer the door.