The Mac Effect

Chapter 13

I've spent the last few days just trying to ignore Mac at school. Every time he would head in my direction, I would disappear into the sea of students. I know what I'm doing is childish, but I can't help it. My trust was gone the second his lips touched Marcy's. A knock on my door frame pulls me out of thought in my current position on my bed.

"Hey babe. How are you feeling?" Carson speaks as she walks through the doorway and rests on the end of my bed, legs criss-cross.

"I'm honestly just so torn and confused. I love Mac so much but I just feel like I can't trust him anymore." I groan out, my hands tugging at my hair out of frustration.

"Maybe you should give him another chance to explain?" Carson hesitantly suggests.

"I don't know, Car" I trail off as she gives me a stern look.

"Listen Stell. Toph said that Mac is in rough shape. He's been falling asleep in class and can barely throw the football. Toph said he even went by his house the other day and just cried. This wasn't his fault, Stell."

"I thought you were supposed to be on my side." I murmur out.

"This is me being on your side. Mac is good for you and I know for a fact that this was all just a huge misunderstanding. You and I both know that Marcy is a coniving witch," I look up at her and let out a small chuckle as I nod and she continues. "I'd do anything to see you happy again and the only way for that to happen is for you and Mac to get back together."

After our conversation, we sit and watch movies but I can't get what Carson said out of my mind. She's right. I need to give Mac a second chance.

"Carson?" I call out breaking the silence between us with the murmur of the tv in the background.

"Hmmm?" She hums in response, eyes still focused on the tv.

"You're right. I need to give Mac a second chance." Her head snaps as the words leave my mouth and a smile spreads across her face.

"Yes! Thank you! Mac and Toph should be finishing up with practice soon. You should be able to catch him coming off the field."

I quickly change into a pair of leggings and Mac's football long sleeve and rush out the door. Carson gives me a wide grin and thumbs up as i hop into my car and she walks to her house. I know she'll be waiting for a play-by-play when I get back. Every minute that goes by, my nerves get worse and worse. I know he said he would always love me and wait for me but did he really mean that? Now that I made him wait, did he realize I'm not worth it? I finally pull into the parking lot and see people walking out of the locker room. Did I miss him? But a few spots away, I spot his car. I hop out and lean against his car, waiting for his tall body to emerge from the building.

"Stella?" My heart skips a beat as the familiar voice pulls me out of my thoughts. I turn and my eyes meet Mac's which are sending me a longing look from behind his freshly washed hair.

"Hey Mac. Think we could talk?" I question, his eyes glimmering with hope.

"Yeah, yeah of course." He opens his passenger door for me and I hop in. He jogs around the front and hops in the driverside.

We start to drive and his hand subconsciously lands on my inner thigh. Once he realizes his automatic action, he twitches and his hand begins to move. I quickly lay my hand over his, letting him know that it's okay. My thumb slowly circles the top of his hand as we drive through the darkening roads. He finally pulls into a familiar parking lot and stops. As I look around and realize where we are, I am extremely confused. How does he know about this place? He notices the confusion on my face and chuckles.