Mackenzie

Chapter 4

"You okay?" Bambi asked me during lunch.

"No," I said as I dropped my fork in anger.

"Hey... Take it easy on the poor thing. What happened?" She asked me.

"Mrs Martinez wants me to tutor Tanner," I said.

"Wow! That's awesome!" She squealed. I shot her a look and then she said as she faked a cough,"Sorry, that was a slip of tongue.. that's totally horrible!"

"Just stop it. You're terrible at acting." I told her.

"Actually, I know... but—"

"Hey girls!" Ryan came and took a seat behind Bambi,"How come we aren't sitting on that table?" He looked at the table where Tanner and his friends sat. There were more guys and girls there today.

"Because Mackenzie wouldn't sit there," Bambi said.

"Hey, I told you I was perfectly fine sitting alone." I looked at Bambi.

"I know... But that's the point, I don't want you to be alone," she said.

"By the way, thanks for my Trig note." I told her.

"Yeah. Took you long enough," she smirked.

"I know... I saw it yesterday, it totally skipped my mind."

"Anyway, Mackenzie, what did Mrs Martinez want to see you and Tanner for?" Ryan asked me.

"She wants me to tutor Tanner," I said as I sighed.

"Really?" He looked at me.

"Hey, I have other things to joke about. I'm serious," I said.

"Well, it can't be that bad."

"Don't ever say that again. You said that the last time and I ended up at the nurse's."

Ryan sighed, "Then tell her you don't want to do it."

"Oh you think I didn't object? In fact, we both did.. but she said he was below average and needed to graduate," I said.

"Then just help him," Bambi said.

"What?" I whispered.

"Yeah. He really needs it." Ryan nodded to me.

"He doesn't want a tutor," I told them.

"He should realise this isn't what he wants, it's what he needs," Bambi said.

I rolled my eyes, "Like his brain would ever tell him that."

"Really, you should just talk to him," Ryan told me.

"But what did I do to him?! Why does he hate me so much?! Look at the way he's laughing with those girls on that table!" I looked over to the table he sat on. His smile was really knee-bending... And I realised I had never actually seen him laugh or smile.

*****

When school was over, I walked up to my locker to put my books in it. I felt a presence step beside me and I was sure it was Tanner's. I should just ask him about the whole tutoring thingy.

I took a deep breath and turned to him.

"Loo—"

I stopped when I saw him walking away. I walked up to him as I stopped him, grabbing his elbow.

"Wait!" I said.

"Why are such a b***h?!" He growled as he turned to look at me.

I felt the hallway go silent. I felt like squirming into a tiny, tiny hole. How could he say that in front of everyone?

"Look," I said quietly, "I just wanted to talk about the tutoring thing."

Despite the fact that I spoke quietly, he shouted back at me, "Oh, awesome. Let me just write that on my list of things I don't give a s**t about."

I sighed, "Please, can you... Can you not make a scene?"

"Okay, but listen to me. You are not gonna tutor me.. I don't want you. You're... you're useless, okay?!"

"And you're so conceited! You're a f****d up jerk—"

"You don't have to tell me about your father, nitwit," he said as he stormed off.

I stood there, my lip quivering. I turned to everybody looking at me, "Mind your damn businesses!" I shouted and walked out of the building, tears blinding my eyes.

Why would he say that about my father? He took this too far, and if he wanted to continue this with insulting my family, then I was ready to give up. I didn't want anybody talking about my family like that.

I furiously wiped my tears away.

"Mackenzie!" I heard my name... it wasn't Bambi's or Ryan's voice so I kept on walking, but then someone touched my arm to see Edward.

"Hey... Hey," he said, looking at me

"Hi," I replied, blinking hard to push back my tears.

"Look, I'm sorry about Tanner, he—"

"Yeah. It's fine." I turned to leave.

"Wait, Mackenzie."

I looked back to him, "Yeah?"

"He isn't usually like that."

I looked at Edward.

"Yeah, I know that too... I'm the only one he's like that to," I sniffed.

"No, Mackenzie.. it's—"

"I just wanted to talk to him about the tutoring, and—"

"There you are.. Kenzi!" Ryan ran up to me and hugged me "I didn't see what happened but Bambi and I heard about it.. we're so sorry."

"Where's she?" I asked him.

"She got called back."

I looked at Edward, who looked back at me.

"It's okay, Edward," I said as I shrugged.

"Wait, Mackenzie.. I want​ to—"

"I understand." I smiled then I looked at Ryan, "I wanna go home."

"Alright.. since Bambi's not here, I could take you."

I nodded, "Please."

I looked over at Edward as he looked back at me. I could tell he was really sorry about what his best friend did.

I waved at him and he gave me a small smile as he nodded and turned to walk back into the building.

*****

When I walked into the school building with Bambi the next day, I was grateful because nobody had their attention on me, nobody was making any snide remark... well, maybe some were, but, at least I couldn't see them. What you don't know won't hurt you, as the saying goes.

Yesterday, when I got home, mom was making some blueberry muffins. I went to my room and cried for a while... it wasn't up to a minute, really. Just that some tears needed to escape. And it really was okay to cry, so I let it out. After that, I was back to my normal self. Mom noticed the distance in my eyes and I told her I was so stressed out from school. She laughed and said I'd just started.. I joined her too. She made me a cold fruit punch and told me to take a night off from studying.

"Remind me why we're in school again," Bambi said.

I laughed, "What do you think?"

She chuckled, "To graduate?"

I shook my head, laughing.

"Bye, girl," Bambi said to me.

"You get to class so early," I told her.

"Not really. I have to get seated with my Literature texts."

"You left Trig for Literature?" I asked, surprised.

"Makes more sense to me," she said and we laughed, "I'd see you later, Kenzi."

"Okay," I nodded.

As soon as I pushed my books in my locker, I noticed three guys walking together. Of course. Edward. Tanner. Jesse.

Before they got to me, I did myself the honour of walking to class already.

Things weren't meant to be this way. Jesse and Edward were meant to people, I'd run up to meet, but instead, I was running away from them. Thanks to Jerk Asshole Proud f****d Tanner.

No way, that was too long. Tanner, it was.

I got into class and settled down. I waited patiently for Ryan to come in. He might come late, he didn't like Trig anyway. I distracted myself with my phone.

"Alright, good morning, class!" Mrs Martinez came in.. she was quite early today.

I couldn't help but wonder where Tanner was. Why was I even concerned, anyway?

She'd started teaching when Tanner strolled in,

"McCann! You're late!" Mrs Martinez said.

"I can see it," he said mindlessly, then took his seat beside me

Mrs Martinez sighed and shook her.

head.

Immediately Tanner took his seat, the hair on my arms stood up and I stiffened. I was sure he noticed because I saw that he looked at my arm, then looked back.

Yeah. He was a keen observer...

I know that from the day he didn't use his cologne excessively. Even up till today, he didn't use so much.

That meant he knew what caused the attack.

Keen observer.

*****

Immediately the bell rang, I saw Tanner's mouth open. I could swear he wanted to say something, but I didn't want to know whatever he had to say. After all, it was only insults he had for me. I got up quickly and walked up to Mrs Martinez as she left the class.

"Mrs Martinez?" I called.

"Yes, Mackenzie.. do you need something?" She smiled at me.

"Yes, Mrs Martinez."

"Alright. What is it?"

I bit my lip nervously,"Uh... About this whole tutoring stuff. Tanner... I can't tutor him."

"Why?"

I shrugged,"I don't know... But I really have a lot of stuff to do. I really can't do it.. maybe you could find another person for him?" I looked at her.

"No, Mackenzie. You're the best person for him.. his grades are really low."

I smiled awkwardly, "Mrs Martinez, I don't think he really cares about that." I told her.

She nodded,"I know.. but he has to graduate."

"I totally understand that, but ma'am, I'm so sorry. I really can't tutor him." I said.

She sighed, "Alright, Mackenzie.. I understand."

"If you don't mind, I could help look for another person that's ​really good." I said.

"Don't bother, Mackenzie. You wouldn't find."

Her words made me smile sadly. I nodded, then, walked away.

"Kenzi, what's up?" Bambi asked me as I walked into the cafeteria.

"Nothing much... I told Mrs Martinez I couldn't tutor Tanner," I replied.

"So you're actually not gonna tutor him?" Ryan looked at me.

"Of course not," I answered, taking a bite of my sandwich.

"Just take a look at that," Bambi said to us.

"What?" I asked as I followed her gaze.

It was Jesse making out with a girl on their table. I looked at the others on the table. Tanner was talking with Edward and Lenore.

I shook my head,"Things have sure changed.. say, what's up with Ryan?"

"I know, right!" Bambi smiled.

"I don't understand you guys." He shot us a confused look.

I sighed as I rolled my eyes, "Who's the girl?"

"Wha—" He started to say.

"Look, Ry, I know we haven't had that time to talk since I got back, but I promise we will."

"No! I m-mean, there's n-nothing to talk about," he said.

I looked at him closely and he squirmed under my scrutiny. Bambi was focused on eating her sandwich.

"What?" Ryan asked me in discomfort, "It doesn't look like you're interested in your sandwich again, though"

"No... I'm done with it."

"I'd take it," he said as he took my plate.

I couldn't help but look at Tanner's table again. Now, Jesse was looking at the girl, talking to her.

"Wait. Doesn't that girl know that after that make out, he's done with her?" I asked.

"Funny you," Bambi looked at me, "You really think Jesse's gonna stop at a make out?"

My eyes widened,"Hold up... Is what I'm th—"

"If you're thinking he's gonna bang that girl, you are right. He is gonna bang her."

"And they're done after that?" I looked at Ryan who was too busy eating my sandwiches.

"Yes, they are done," Bambi answered.

"So, when will he bang her?" I asked.

"Why? You wanna go cheer for them?" Bambi chuckled and I laughed, "Ew. No"

"Definitely, he'd have time to bang her. They could do it at his house or her house or the toilet here in school or—"

"At the party on Friday night." Ryan chimed in as Bambi nodded.

"Wait... there's a party Friday night?" I asked.

"Ryan just said that," Bambi replied.

"Oh, there is."

"Are you coming?" Bambi asked me.

"No.. no, I'm not," I shook my head.

"Why?" Ryan asked me.

"Nothing. I'm studying."

"Oh, right," they nodded.

I loved both Bambi and Ryan very much. They knew how important this scholarship was to me and didn't try pressuring me into coming to the party.

"Who's party is it anyway?" I asked.

"Kevin's," Bambi answered.

I was guessing it was the basketball team organising the party, then. There was no doubt the party would be fun, but I'd be home, studying and focusing on getting a scholarship... Or two.. and if I wasn't being too greedy, all three.