Mackenzie

Chapter 7

I shut the door lightly as I walked back into the house.

"I'm back, mom!" I announced.

"Thank goodness! I was starting to worry about you," Mom said.

I chuckled, "I was only gone for minutes.."

"I know, I know," Mom said as she got out a napkin and started cleaning the counter.

"No,mom.. please. I'd do it," I said as I walked to her.

"What is wrong with you? C'mon," She pulled my cheek.

"Mom. I'd do it.. please , go rest. I'd take care of it." I said as I took the napkin from her. She looked at me, and I shrugged and said,"Please, mom..."

"Fine," she sighed then left the kitchen.

As I cleaned the counter, I couldn't help but replay the conversation with Tanner. Why was he drinking? He sounded like a whole different person.. Less than a jerk.

He sounded concerned and caring and-

Hold up one second. He was still a jerk. From calling me insensitive to saying he didn't usually apologize.. so why would he still apologize to me?

And what the f**k was it with Edward? What did tell Tanner, anyway?

By the time I was done in the kitchen, I went into the living room and mom was on the couch, I walked up to her and tapped her lightly.

"Mom?" I called,"Mom.. are you asleep?" I couldn't help but ask.

"MZ.. yes, I was asleep," she said as she sat up on the couch, knowing why I had asked her that.

I sighed, "Okay."

She looked at me for a while, then said, "I'll go to my room now." She kissed my head, "Good night, baby."

I watched her as she left. She actually was leaner.

...................

"C'mon! Tell me about yesterday's party," I said to Bambi as she kicked off her shoes and sat cross-legged on my bed.

"Can you believe it?!" She asked.

"What?" I looked at her while I tried to clear the books away on my reading table.

"Jesse was making out with another girl!" She said.

"Really? What happened to the girl he was making out with the other day in the cafeteria?"

"She sat in one corner looking like a lost puppy."

"She is a lost puppy," I corrected.

"And then he chose another girl to play truth or dare with," Bambi said.

"He must be living large," I said.

"Ryan was also there... But he left really early."

"What was wrong?"

"I don't know. He didn't say," she replied, "And then, I have no idea where Tanner was-"

I started coughing all of a sudden.

"Kenzi? Are you okay?" Bambi asked me.

"Yeah.. yeah, sure. I'm fine"

"Are you sure?"

"Of course.. why would you think I'm not?" I asked.

"Because, when I mentioned Tanner's name, that's when you had to cough."

"Mere coincidence," I said, throwing my hair back. It usually caused me a lot of heat, and that was why most times, it was thrown back in a bun.

"What happened?" Bambi was able to see through me. I wasn't able to lie to her... Sometimes.

"Look, it wasn't actually anything-"

"Alright, so just tell me."

I sighed,"Fine. I met Tanner."

"What? Where?!" She looked amused.

"I was going to my spot and then, I saw him."

Her eyes widened,"Oh?"

"Don't get any funny thoughts in that fine head of yours. He was still an asshole to me."

"Tell me about it," she looked excited.

"No, wait... Can you believe Edward?!"

"What?"

Then, I told her about what happened with Tanner.

"Why would he even tell Tanner about my dad? He knows I don't talk about him!"

Bambi looked at me closely.

"What?" I asked her,"Why're you staring at me like that?"

"Are you angry with Edward?"

"The f**k, I am... I mean, maybe he should just learn to-"

"No.. I meant, before that.."

I moved uncomfortably in my seat,"Why?"

"I'm just asking."

"He's Tanner's best friend, and I want nothing to do with any of them."

"That's unreasonable," Bambi said.

"Yeah. I know," I bit my lip.

....................

Monday morning, I flew downstairs as I held my jacket in my hand.

"Bye, mom!" I shouted.

"Bye, MZ!" Mom called from her room.

I walked out to see Bambi waiting for me.

"How do you manage to make it here on time?" I asked as I sighed and sank into the passenger seat.

She shrugged, "How are you?"

"Fine... I feel so dead inside, though. I wanna sleep. You know, I've been thinking, I'm ditching school one day."

"What?" Bambi laughed.

"School just gets really annoying, and it doesn't help when your seatmates a personal friend to the devil."

"Hey! He was nice Friday night!" Bambi said.

"Yeah. He probably took that day off from being a jerk."

"You should try talking to him or something," Bambi said as she pulled up to her parking spot.

As I got down from the car, I saw that blue Hyundai I saw Friday night. I waited to see who would come out. The door opened and I saw Tanner come out. Of course he was the owner of the car!

'He's got a few others too'

Bambi and I walked into the building and to our lockers. Tanner wasn't at his locker and relief flowed through me.. why was I so tensed? Was it because of what happened on Friday night? What even happened?!

"Where's Ryan?" I looked around.

"I don't know," Bambi said as she grabbed her texts. "You'd probably meet him in class," she told me then added," And.. I'll catch you later." She said as she walked to her class.

I sighed. I really dreaded going to class today...

The bell rang and I grabbed my bag and walked to class, hoping to see Ryan, but when I got inside, his seat was empty. I was glad when I didn't see Tanner on his seat, I'd rather get to the seat before him.

He strolled in shortly after Mrs Martinez came into the class.

"Morning, class!"

The class turned to face her.

I looked at Tanner. I did want to talk to him, he should talk to me, so I turned to him.

"Hey." I smiled at him, and then it disappeared shortly. I expected him to smile back or probably say hi, but then, he looked at me with the normal look he gave me.. Get it? The jerk look, then looked back at Mrs Martinez.

What?

SCUMBAG.

"I was gonna give y'all an assignment due in exactly a week, but I came up with something better.. a short test tomorrow!" She smiled.

Everyone groaned, saying an assignment was better. Just then, Ryan walked in.

"Smith!" Mrs Martinez called.

"What's up?" He asked casually and walked to his seat.

"Listen up, guys.. I won't tolerate any more strolling in into my class while the lessons are going on.. I've been smiling at that and that's not happening again.. Ryan, maybe you would like to share why you're just coming in." She looked at Ryan, and sighed, "I was just saying there's a short test tomorrow."

Tanner told me himself on Friday night that he wanted the lessons.. but now that he was a jerk again and probably for always, I had no idea what to do.

I turned to ask him about it, but immediately, the bell rang and he got up. I was left looking like a total i***t.

"Kenzi," Ryan called.

"Hey Ry," I smiled at him.

"What's up? Are you okay?"

I sighed,"I am.. but, you tell me. Are you okay?"

"Yeah... sure I am."

"You're lying. Just tell me."

"It was dad, okay?"

"What happened?" I knew whatever it was, it wasn't good.

"He just tried to take my money, the bastard," he smiled.

"Did he hurt you?" I asked him.

"He was going to, but he was too drunk, so I pushed him and he fell asleep on the floor."

No matter how hard I tried not to, I burst out laughing, surprisingly, he joined me.

"I'm so sorry for laughing, but that was.. I don't even have a word to describe what happened!"

"It's okay.. how's mom?"

"She's holding up," I nodded and we walked out of the class.

"How was studying on Friday? Covered the Pre-Calculus text yet?"

"No, I couldn't finish studying.. I went to my spot."

Of course, only Bambi and Ryan knew my spot. Sometimes it was our spot, we'd meet up there, talk and laugh.

I then told Ryan what happened with Tanner.

"And now, he's acting like a... argh!" I said and Ryan laughed.

"C'mon.. Tanner is a really cool person," he said.

"Well, I haven't seen that side of him.. anyway, I don't give a fuck.. I'm not the one in need of the lessons. If he's serious about it, he'd come tell me himself."

"About Edward, you should just leave him-"

"There's no way I'm doing that. For all I know, he could have told Tanner my dad was a serial killer."

"You know that's impossible."

I rolled my eyes,"Well, whatever he said, I don't appreciate him talking about my dad."

"Or are you mad cos he told Tanner?"

"I don't know," I sighed as I rubbed my temples.

"Look, Kenzi, you're just over thinking this," Ryan looked at me.

"I guess..."

"C'mon.."

"Alright, but can I tell him I don't appreciate what he did?"

"Okay. If it makes you feel better."

"Thank you, Ryan," I smiled.

"You're so stubborn," he pulled my cheek and I laughed, slapping his hand away.

..............

Tanner still didn't say a word to me. Maybe he didn't want the lessons after all.. damn, I even forgot he was drunk. I closed my locker as I hung my bag on my shoulder.

"Mackenzie."

I turned to see Edward. Great, perfect time.

"Hi," I said.

"Uh.. First off, are you mad at me or something?" He asked.

"Yes. Yes I am... you know I don't like talking about my dad, so I'm really wondering why you would go tell Tanner about him." I rolled my eyes.

"Oh.. that, see-"

"Yeah. That. I really don't appreciate that"

"Right. I'm really sorry, it was just that he cared to know."

"Oh, that should have been another Tanner cos I'm sure he cared to know," I shot.

"Well... I'm sorry about it. I really am."

I sighed, "Its okay.."

And then, I saw Tanner walking our way.

"I'd see you tomorrow, Edward."

"Wait, Mackenzie-"

"It really is fine, Edward.. I just have to head home," I said, walking away.

..................

The test really was short. Just two questions. I finished with mine five minutes after Mrs Martinez dropped my paper in front of me. Immediately Tanner got his paper, he didn't bother going through the questions, he rolled his eyes, slid in his seat and drifted off to sleep. I felt bad he didn't know anything, the questions Mrs Martinez set were things I could have taught him in a few minutes, but it wasn't my fault he was a total i***t yesterday. Too bad Edward wasn't doing Trig, maybe he'd have been the one to teach his friend.

..............................

"Did you start tutoring Tanner yet?" Mrs Martinez asked me the next day.

"No.. not yet," I answered.

"He said so. Explains why he failed his test. It was something you could have taught him even this morning," Mrs Martinez told me.

What? Was he trying to blame me for making him fail his test?

................

"I don't give a f**k what you think I'm trying to do," Tanner said as soon as I asked him that.

"Why are you always so difficult?" I sighed in frustration,"I remember clearly yesterday, I greeted you and you acted like the jerk you've always been! I also wanted to talk to you after the class, but you-"

"And I remember clearly yesterday, I was coming to meet you and then, you walked away like some retard," he shot back.

"If you really wanted the lessons-"

"Goddamit, I already told you I did!"

I sighed,"Where's your test script?"

"It's in the trash," he replied curtly.

I shook my head, "Look, can we just talk about this whole stuff, right here and right now?"

"I'm still standing here, aren't I?.. What do we have to talk about?"

"We can't have the lessons at my house," I said.

"Why?"

"Nothing. We just can't," I moved uncomfortably.

"Is this a way of you trying to come to my house? Get close to me?"

"I'd see a pig and prefer to get close to it. Get over yourself already, Tanner. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't have to. I have other things to do."

"Really? Like what?"

"Things that are none of your business."

He raised an eyebrow in surprise, then looked at me.

"I don't know if you would want me to come everyday," I said,"And you have to give me a particular time to be there. A time that works for both of us."

"I honestly don't give a f**k about that."

"Please. Be smart..or serious."

"Probably four," he rolled his eyes.

"It is okay. What about my coming?"

He shrugged,"Whenever you feel like."

I shook my head,"Alright. Starting tomorrow."

"Whatever."

"Mackenzie!" I heard Jesse call.

I turned to look at him as I smiled at him, "Jesse!"

"What's up?" He asked as he wrapped me in a hug. I don't think I'd ever be afraid of Jesse in that way..

I noticed Tanner stare at us for some time, then roll his eyes. What was with him?