The Known (On Hold)

23

Charlotte watches on nervously as Mal flips through the final pages of The Known. 

Mackenzie pokes her head in, "C.J. can I talk to you for a minute in the office?" Charlotte looks at her sister and gets up following her across the hall and closing the door behind them. 

"What do you want, Kenz?" 

"I haven't been around a ton lately, so I thought I would just check in with you and see how things are going with you, got a problem with that?" 

"No." Charlotte shakes her head and takes a seat on the couch. Mackenzie takes a place beside her, "You know you can tell me anything, right?" 

"It's just really getting to me that soon I'll be heading to Stanford and leaving everything and everyone behind and I'm concerned about Mal and I's relationship not surviving the distance." 

Mackenzie smiles, "You do realize those are perfectly normal concerns, right? It's going to be extremely difficult off the start for you to move across the country and get situated, but I'm sure that you will learn to adapt very quickly and immerse yourself in the learning experience like always. Mom and I will always be around if you need to talk as will Finn, I'm sure, you aren't in it alone, Sis. Now, as for Mal, that's really something that you need to talk to your girlfriend about, but I'm fairly certain that the two of you will be able to find ways to make it work, not to mention it's not like Denver is a super long flight from you." 

"She's hoping to be recalled by the US team and play in some friendlies, though." 

"And you will play the role of the supportive girlfriend and encourage her to continue working towards her dream." 

"I will, I just don't want her to forget about me if she gets all famous, you know?" 

"I'll say again, talk to your girlfriend about what you're thinking and feeling. Now changes topics, are you excited about the book drop?" 

"Excited and terrified at the same time. I just don't want them to flop, I know everyone has invested so much time and energy in me and them and I want to prove to them that it wasn't all for naught." 

"Stop overthinking everything C.J. we all believe in you and the books and regardless of whether they sell one copy or a million copies that will never change." 

"A million copies, huh? That would be awesome!" 

"Yeah, it will be."

They hear a knock on the door and Mal opens it, "I hope I'm not interrupting, I just wanted to let you know that I finished it." 

Mackenzie moves over and pats the space between her and Charlotte indicating for Mal to have a seat. Mal closes the door and sits. Both of the Gordon sisters look at her, "Well? don't keep us waiting any longer, Pugh. What did you think of it?" 

"Kenz!" 

Mal laughs, "It's okay, Babe, and I really, really liked it aside from that girl Jody a few times I wished I could have smacked her across the head, like seriously think before you speak, woman!" 

They all laugh. "Anything else?" 

"Yeah, I really need to know if Dr. Richmond and Sarah end up together, so can I borrow the copy of Into The Unknown, you have on your bookshelf to read, please?" 

"Of course, but you don't need to borrow it, you can keep it if you like; I have a few more around the house." 

"Sweet!" 

"Hey Mal, can we talk about us and the future?" 

"And that's my cue to leave." Mackenzie gets up and leaves the room.