Mackenzie

Chapter 16

I got out of the janitor's closet, carrying a straight face. I looked around and walked to my locker. I packed a few textbooks I needed at home. Really, I needed to stop taking books home, because I never read them. I'd tell myself that I'd study four textbooks before I go to bed, I'd open the first text and after three or four pages, and next thing I know, Bambi is waiting for me to go to school.

I peered into my locker and reached for the place I kept the money Bambi had given me. I got out some money, tucked it in the pocket of my jeans. I slung my bag on my shoulder and locked my locker.

"Where does she think she's going to?" I heard Ryan say, looking at me.

"She's pretty sure school's over. She has things to do.. by the way, where did you appear from?" I chuckled.

"Some place, I guess.." He shrugged,

"What're you doing after school?"

"I wanna get to the store. I realised I didn't have anything to eat for breakfast. I also need to see mom.. haven't seen her since she got into the hospital... and then, prepare for the lesson with Tanner. That's about it," I shrugged.

"Wait. Was it today you said you wouldn't tutor Tanner or was it the first week of the month when you just got back from Spain?" Ryan pretended to think.

I rolled my eyes as I flushed

"Ryan!" I remembered telling he and Bambi sometime today that I'd no longer be Tanner's tutor.

"What changed your mind?"

Everything that happened in the janitor's closet came rushing to my mind.

"Uh.. Tanner... He apologized for what happened on Friday, then asked that I still tutor him."

"You're kidding." Ryan's eyes lit up in excitement.

"What are you so happy about? He didn't ask directly, though"

"If you ask me-"

"I'm not ready to hear it, Ryan. Have you seen Bambi?"

"She's here!" Bambi announced and I jumped a little, "Where the f**k are you guys appearing from?"

"Some place, I guess," Bambi shrugged.

"If I remember clearly, that was the same thing Ryan said."

"You see?" Ryan and Bambi said in unison and my eyes widened.

"Alright. You guys are acting like f*****g twins.. stop it!" I closed my eyes and they laughed.

"Bambi, guess who Tanner's tutor is," Ryan smiled to her.

Bambi was about to say something, and then her mouth hung open as she looked at me, "You found another tutor for him? That was quite fast."

Ryan shook his head, "No, Bambi..."

"Well then, help me out because I'm lost!"

"Kenzi is Tanner's tutor," Ryan rolled his eyes.

"So? Who didn't know-" She stopped,

"Hold on one motherfucking second." She turned to looked at me again, "I thought you were gonna resign?" She laughed at her own joke.

"Yeah, well...."

"Tanner apologized to her! And he asked her to be his tutor!" Ryan said.

" Indirectly," I added.

"Really?" Bambi squealed.

"You two have problems. What makes you so happy?" I rolled my eyes.

"I don't even know..." Bambi looked down.

"What's wrong, Bambi?" I asked.

"It.. it's just that.. ugh, never mind," she waved her hand in the air.

"C'mon, Bambi..." Ryan nudged her.

"It's just that Jesse didn't say anything to me today," she sighed, "He probably thinks of me as some-"

"I don't understand. What's happening?" Ryan really looked confused.

I sighed. "Right. Remember this morning when I told you some awkward things happened at the party?"

"Yep," he nodded.

"I told Tanner off and told him I wasn't gonna be his tutor again, meanwhile, Bambi almost kissed Jesse," I said

"What?" His eyes widened at Bambi who nodded like a child.

"Well, I always knew Bambi liked Jesse," Ryan said

"That's a f*****g lie."

"Or not," Ryan smirked, "I knew the day you saw him kissing your used to be archenemy, Cindy, and you couldn't stop talking about it," Ryan said.

I laughed, "When was that?"

"You were in Spain, then," Ryan laughed too, while Bambi whacked his arm.

"Quit it, guys!" Bambi looked from me to Ryan who was rubbing his arm.

"Anyway, speaking of Jesse.. he asked me to give you something," I said, suddenly remembering Bambi's box of chocolate in my locker.

"I don't wanna see it. It's probably a letter of condemnation," Bambi said, rolling her eyes.

"I don't think so," I smiled as I turned to my locker and opened it. I got the packaged box out, patted it, then turned back to Bambi,"Here." I handed it to her

"What's it?" She asked curiously.

"I don't know," I shrugged, smiling.

"Can I open it?"

"I guess," I shrugged.

"No, don't. I mean, if I had a girl, I'd prefer she opened it when she's home, not in the open," Ryan said.

If I had a girl? I was tempted to say out loud. He already had a girl! And I remembered to ask him soon.

"Right. I'd open it at home," Bambi said, but she still looked over excited.

"Okay, guys, I really have to go. I have to get to the store, then the hospital," I said.

"I'd take you to the store," Ryan said.

"Right. Say hi to mom for me," Bambi said, still excited about the package in her hand.

"I will," I nodded.

"Shall we?" Ryan looked at me.

"Sure," I smiled.

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

"Here we are," Ryan said as he pulled up to a supermarket.

"I asked for a*****e, not a supermarket," I looked outside the window.

"I know. It's just that a supermarket's better, don't you think?"

"Well, a*****e is cheaper," I said.

"Sometimes, they sell used stuff, Kenzi."

"I didn't know when they started selling used milk," I rolled my eyes

Ryan chuckled, "Right. A supermarket's better, anyway."

I sighed and Ryan looked at me, "Is it the money? Because I could add to what you have."

"No, no.. it's okay. Thanks," I opened the door.

"Right. Be careful.. give me a call when you leave the supermarket and the hospital. Say hi to mom for me," Ryan said

"Yes, father," I rolled my eyes again. There was no doubt Ryan's girl was a lucky one, but if she had a headache, he could call 9-1-1.

Ryan's girl. It was probably that girl!

I pushed the door of the supermarket open and got out the small list I'd made in class today. I grabbed a basket and walked to the section were Cereals were put up for sale. Apple Jacks, Froot Loops and Cheerios were my favorites, but I went with Cheerios and Apple Jacks. I threw them into the basket and looked over to where people stood, selecting what milk to get. I had no idea how mom chose the milk to buy. I was never one to take notice of the brand name of the milk I drank or ate with my cereal. I wished mom was here. I walked over to the rack. I saw different gallons of milk, but I picked two that read Organic Valley and Shamrock Farms. I looked at another on the rack. Amul. Safeway Inc.

I sighed and looked back at the gallons in my hand. I finally went with the Shamrock Farms, I picked another gallon and turned to leave.

"You might not want to go with Shamrock Farms if you've got peanut or tree nut allergies," I heard a deep voice say behind me and I stopped in my tracks as I turned around.

My eyes widened. It was a guy with a light tan, he looked 5'8. His hair was dark and his nose was straight, his lips were parted slightly.. He looked at me with emerald eyes. His broad shoulders and chest carried on a jacket which he pushed up to below his elbow just to free his hand. He was darn cute!

I was scared instantly, the last time I took time to look at a guy like this, he had turned out to be the biggest jerk I'd ever met. And, yes. It was Tanner. For sure, Tanner was hotter, but this guy was also close to perfection! He couldn't be a jerk.. didn't seem like one.

"Uh.. I.. oh?" I looked at him

He chuckled a little, "Yeah. My sister had it once and she woke up feeling like crap the next day.. we found out it's got a lot of peanut and tree nut in it."

I nodded, "Oh.. okay. Well, I.. What milk do you suggest, then?" I looked at him.

"Organic Valley is way better," he smiled and his emerald eyes sparkled.

"Right.. thanks," I put the gallons of Shamrock Farms back on the rack and took two gallons of Organic Valley milk instead. Not that I had peanut allergies or anything, but Ryan did, and there were times he came over and was craving Apple Jacks, so I had to go with something all of us could eat. Bambi did take peanuts​, but she did so moderately. So, yeah. Organic Valley.

He smiled, nodding.

I went to the counter as soon as I had bought a few loaves of bread... I didn't forget to get mom a Chicken Tortilla soup.

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

"MZ!" Mom hugged me, not tightly though and water welled up in my eyes. It was showing even in her hugs that she was so weak.

"Hey mom," I greeted as I took a seat beside her.

"How have you been?"

"I've been okay.. what about you?"

She simply shrugged, "Sometimes there's just so much pain I wish I could die-"

"Stop!" I put my hands over my ears as tears fell from my eyes and dropped on my jeans. "Don't say that! Have you thought about what will happen to me if you die? Have you thought about dad?-"

"Your dad doesn't even love me."

"He.. he.. Mi padre te extraña mucho," I managed to say, wiping my tears quickly.

(Dad misses you)

"You can't say that... Forget it, MZ... What did you get for me?" Mom asked.

I sighed, "Soup. Chicken Tortilla."

She smiled, "Great.. I'd have it later. So, tell me everything that's happened to you in school."

"Uh... School's been okay, a lot of drama, yes, but that's the fun of school, I guess... Bambi and Ryan say hi."

She nodded, "Those two," she smiled,

"You said drama, though... Mind telling me what's​ up?"

"Can you believe Edward? I overheard he and his girlfriend talking... About me!"

"What did they say you did?"

"It was all because he gave me a tied, mom. Not twice! Not thrice... A wimpy one time!"

Mom chuckled,"I kinda miss high school."

"Really?"

"A lot. Anyway, are you sure Edward and his girlfriend were talking about you?"

"Very. When I was trying to say it indirectly, he already got what I was trying to say and he looked guilty."

"Aw, that sucks."

"Big time," I nodded

"How's Tanner?"

"I told him off Friday and he apologized today.. I told him I didn't want to tutor him again and he asked me to... Well, indirectly," I didn't forget to add.

"Wow. Where did you get that mighty confidence to tell him off?"

"I was dr-" I stopped abruptly. I really, really wanted to tell mom I was drunk, but I didn't want her worrying too much about me to the extent that it'd affect her health, so I said, "Drifting off to sleep in class and I eventually did. He woke me after the class was over and empty and said horrible stuff, so I just got angry and that was how I told him off"

"Wow.. I-" she stopped talking and let out a cough, "Sorry, it's just-" she coughed again.

"Mom?" I got up, and this time, she didn't stop coughing. "Mom?!"

I ran out to call a nurse, and we ran back to the ward. By the time we got back, mom was clutching the hospital bed, coughing up blood.

"What's happening to her?" I screamed, crying.

"Please calm down-"

"Don't tell me to f*****g calm down! What is wrong with her?"

Just then, a few nurses ran in and moved mom out of the room.

"Why me?!" I screamed louder, kicked the wall, then fell to the bed as my body shook uncontrollably.

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

Somehow in the next hour, I was seated opposite Tanner in the study room in his house. He had opened the door in frustration. His eyes weren't bright, in fact, he rolled his eyes, huffing when he saw me. I'd decided to let it go. I should just ignore him. During the lesson now, none of us smiled. I talked sternly, clearing my throat when I remembered mom. He replied, rolling his eyes, clicking his tongue in his lower lip. I wanted to leave here. I wanted to run home, cry my eyes out and be okay. I wanted to stay in bed and just think of what would be happening to mom in the hospital right now.

"Do you understand?" I asked Tanner. I waited for a reply, but didn't get any. I looked up to see him looking down at his phone.

What?

"Look. If you don't understand, you can do better than​ just looking down at your damn phone. I can explain to you, but I can not understand it for you."

"Of course you can't," he said, not looking up.

I sighed,"Why do you do this?"

"Why are you so insensitive?" He shot back.

I gasped as I got up, "You know, just when today I was thinking maybe, just maybe you weren't so much of a jerk, I just realised​ you will never stop being one-"

"Maybe, I tolerate you."

"If you tolerate me, you wouldn't have been desperate enough to send a f*****g jobless thing to distract me when I was gonna tell Mrs Martinez I didn't want to tutor you. Why are the way you are? I hate so much about the things you f*****g choose to be!" I packed my things, not looking at him to see the expression on his face. He remained quiet, though. And with that, I briskly walked to the door.

"Tanner?" I heard the cute girl call, and for the first time, I didn't stop to hear whatever she had to say. I could only hope that mom was okay enough to have her Chicken Tortilla Soup.