Mackenzie

Chapter 27

I walked away from Tanner, hurt and confused. I didn't think I'd ever get used to his attitude. Clearly, he wasn't the type to calm down easily, after all, Bambi told me to meet him when he had calmed down.

I got to my locker, grabbing my bag and looking around for Ryan. Now, where would he have gone to?

"Hey, Kenzi... Sorry, I'm here. You ready?" Ryan asked as he walked towards me.

"Yep." I nodded, pulling on the strap of my bag.

"You okay?" Ryan asked me as we walked out of the school building.

"Yeah, I am."

"I know you're lying."

I rolled my eyes and sighed,"It doesn't really matter."

"Fine, but if you want to talk about it, I'd be here."

"I don't want to ever talk about it." I said

*****

"I want to talk about it." I blurted out as soon as Ryan pulled away from the school's parking lot.

Ryan laughed, "I remember vividly that few minutes ago, you weren't willing to talk about it at all."

"Ryan..." I rolled my eyes.

"Okay, okay," his laughter reduced to small chuckles, "What's up?"

"Tanner needs help. Really." I said seriously.

"What? Why would you say that?"

"He told me to walk away. He freaking told me to walk away! Right after I'd thanked him for the ride and the lunch he'd saved me.. Can you just imagine?" I shook my head in disbelief.

"Well-"

"He even asked if I was dumb!" I threw my hands in the air.

"Kenzi-"

"I know, right! I didn't deserve that."

"I didn't say anything. In fact, you wouldn't let me talk."

I sighed as I leaned into the seat,

"Right. I'm sorry, it's just that I'm tired trying to get used to how he operates.. this attitude of his is.. is," I waved my hands in the air,"It's crazy, and I've never met anyone like that before."

"Yes, you have.. but first off, maybe he's just going through the motions.. I mean, he says them because he has to.. it's not like he actually wants to."

"And that is a problem. It sounds like a mental disorder to me."

"It's not. He probably has reasons-"

"And whenever I ask him what's wrong, he snaps at me. He always snaps at me. And wow, he does a good job getting stuff out of me, considering I told him about mom's cancer."

"You did?" His eyes widened.

"Well, he forced me to."

"Yeah, he's pretty persuasive."

"And I'm not?" I asked.

"I think you are. I mean, you make me try stupid stuff, well, you force me to, so maybe Tanner's not just one to talk about his devastations." He shrugged.

"Well, then, he could at least keep from being rude." I sighed, "Anyway, who's the person like that I've met before?"

"Remember the day you, Bambi and I went to grab some ice cream-"

I burst into laughter and Ryan joined me,"The lady behind the counter?"

Ryan nodded.

The lady had been extremely nice at the beginning, calling us 'love', 'sweetie' and all that, but before Ryan, Bambi or I could decide what flavour of ice cream we wanted to get, her eyes had turned red and she was practically steaming. When we finally decided, her red eyes disappeared and she put on a very wide smile. Before we left, her eyes had gone red again, snapping at Bambi for staring at her.

"Honestly, I thought she was sick." Ryan said and we laughed again.

When our laughter had died down, I turned to look at Ryan. "How would Brooke get home?"

"She's riding with Bambi."

"Oh." I nodded and soon, Ryan pulled up to a diner. It wasn't all that large, neither was it small.

Joyce's Palace. I read the words which shined on top of the roof.

"Let's go." Ryan said as we got down from the car and walked into the diner.

The people eating in the diner at that time looked a little scanty, maybe it was because it was also a work day for everyone.

"Hello. Can I see the manager please?" Ryan asked a lady behind the counter.

"Sure." She smiled at him, looking at him from head to toe, before she chuckled and walked away.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say she was checking you out."

"Yeah, I was a bit uncomfortable under her scrutiny, but what can I say? The ladies love Ryan." He smirked.

"Oh, please." I rolled my eyes

"Good afternoon, may I help you?" A man walked to us, smiling lightly.

"Uh, yes sir. You may." Ryan smiled back.

*****

"I resume tomorrow. I'd work Saturday nights from 6pm to 10pm, and week days too.. same time." I told Ryan what I'd discussed with the manager as we walked to the car.

"Great. What's the pay?"

"Five dollars per hour"

"So that's, like, 25 dollars in a day?"

"Yep." I nodded

We got into the car and I couldn't help but think of how to balance my new job with tutoring Tanner.

"Earth to Rumpelstiltskin." Ryan snapped his fingers in my face and I snapped out of my thoughts as well,

"Rumpelstiltskin? Really, Ryan... Really?" I said in disbelief

"What's on your mind?"

"Just thinking of how to balance working with tutoring Tanner."

"Oh that's true... Uh, you could just move the time or something.. or you could just tutor him in school, during a free period or something."

"Right." I nodded and looked at him as he tapped on the steering wheel as he drove. "Thanks a lot, Ryan. I'm so happy​ I finally got a job." I flung my arms around him.

"Accidents are real, Kenzi, I hope you know that." He said, trying to wiggle out of my hold.

"Better stay in my arms, Ryan." I laughed, then pulled away, "Really, thanks"

"Hey, it's okay... But I'm not sure I feel comfortable with you walking alone at ten in the night, it's not safe."

"I'd be fine, Ryan."

"Right, just call me whenever you get home."

"Yes, father." I rolled my eyes.

"I mean it, Kenzi. If I don't get a call by 10:40-"

"Ryan, c'mon!" I chuckled,"Gosh, I can't wait to see your kids."

"What? Girl, that's like in how many years? But anyway, they'd be lucky, especially if I have girls.. I'd spoil them."

"Yeah, and be overprotective."

"No, I won't. I'd just make sure she calls me whenever she arrives at where she's going to. I'd also have to make sure no one touches her too much when she's​ a baby, well, except for me, my wife, you, Bambi and Brooke, of course. I must also meet her boyfriend, warn him about trying s**t with my daughter, because, if he does, I'd deal with him, I'd also-"

"Yeah, I see it, Ry... Not overprotective." I nodded.

"Of course not." He smiled.

He didn't get it, did he? He'd be overprotective as hell!

"So, home now?" He threw a quick glance at me.

"I wanted to tell mom I got a job." I said to myself as I remembered.

"Hospital, then?"

"Yeah." I nodded, figuring that I'd said that out a little too loudly.

After a few minutes, Ryan made a turn into the hospital and he found a good place to park.

"Thanks a lot for the rides today, Ryan." I said as I opened the door to step out of the car.

"I'm not leaving." He turned off the engine,"I'm coming in with you."

"You know, Tanner asked to come with me the next time I was coming to see mom"

"He did?" Ryan looked surprised.

"Yeah, but too bad. He was an asshole to me know that day. C'mon, let's go in."

*****

"Mom!" I smiled as I looked at her, drawing a seat to sit beside her.

"MZ.. how are you?" She talked like she was choosing her words. Like, she didn't want to make a mistake while talking and I felt terrible at the thought of her doing that.

"Hey mom." Ryan smiled at her.

"Aw, Ryan..I'm glad you came." She smiled another weak smile.

Ryan stood beside me as we both looked at her.

"How has school been for you two? Where's Bambi?" Mom asked

"She's​ probably still in school." I answered, "Mom, Ryan has a sister," I told her, smiling excitedly.

"A sister?"Her eyes widened, a smile playing on her lips as she looked at Ryan who was smiling. "That's beautiful. What's her name?"

"Brooke." Ryan answered

"Your mom just gave birth?" Mom asked

"Oh no." He cleared his throat, "She had her years ago, I just found out."

"Wow." Mom smiled, "That's great, yeah?"

"Yeah. It's great." Ryan smiled, looking concerned about her health more.

Mom looked at me, "What's up?"

I smiled widely, "I finally got a job"

"Yeah?" Mom smiled a little.

"Yes, and if I keep saving it, we'd get enough money for your treatment."

"MZ.." mom's voice trailed off

"What, mom? You're not happy about it?" I glanced up at Ryan who looked confused as well.

"No.. it's not that", her voice was still measured,"It's just that... Baby, no matter how much you get from that job, it would take a very long time for it to grow into the treatment money..."

"So, what are you suggesting, mom?" I asked, my voice shaky.

"Look, I... I want you to use the money to take care of yourself.. get stuff you need... For school, to eat.. anything."

"And what about you?"

She hesitated for a while,"Baby, I've never believed in treating cancer, I mean, chemo and all that, I believe it's the time to just live your life, y'know last days and all..."

"Mom, stop!", I put my hands over my ear as tears from my eyes fell on my jeans,"People survive cancer, and you will be one of those people."

"No, MZ..." She sighed as she looked up at Ryan,"Ryan.. you understand me, right?"

I felt Ryan's hand rest on my shoulder as he gave it a light squeeze.

"Mom, I'd make sure you get treatment, I will." I said as the tears pushed harder and I rested my head on the bed as my body shook.

*****

Ryan looked at me hopelessly as I cried. I knew him well enough to know that the reason why he wasn't talking was because he couldn't trust his voice. Finally, he cleared his throat as he put an arm around me.

"Kenzi, I know this is really hard for you, and trust me, I feel terrible about mom, but you've got to stop crying, please."

I didn't say anything, I just kept crying and he waited patiently for me. When I was tired, my cries reduced to sobs, and then,to sniffles.

"It's okay." He whispered and I nodded, resting my head on the window as I fell asleep...

*****

"Kenzi." I woke up from Ryan tapping me lightly. My eyes opened and I looked out the window. I was home. I looked at Ryan. "Thanks, Ryan."

He nodded, "I need you to go rest, okay?"

I nodded as I grabbed my bag and opened the door.

"Wait. Do you want me to stay with you?"

"No, it's okay, Ryan. I'm very sure you're tired. I'd be fine."

He nodded,"Right. I'd see you tomorrow, then?"

"Yeah." I got down from the car and watched him drive off, before slowly turning to walk into the house.

Hungry, I walked to the counter and grabbed a bowl and milk as I poured some cereal into the bowl of milk. I had no choice, considering it was only cereal I had to eat.

I took my time in eating, mind wandering to the events of today.

After eating, I cleared the counter and threw my plates in the sink, heading to the bathroom to take a shower. It wasn't one of those long baths I usually had, this was just to make me feel extremely refreshed and relaxed.

I stepped out of the bathroom and got into my pyjama shorts and a tank top, before getting into bed. I stared into space for a while, before I started to battle sleep. I couldn't sleep now, the sun was just setting and if I slept now, I wouldn't have enough sleep at night. After a few tears fell from my eyes and I was tired battling sleep, my eyes closed slowly and I fell into a dreamless sleep where I didn't have to worry about anything.

*****

My eyes opened sharply and I sat up in bed immediately. My eyes did feel a little swollen, and I was just about to go back to sleep when I wondered what woke me up, and then I knew​.

The doorbell rang.

I got out of bed and walked to the kitchen in my toes, scared and when the doorbell rang again, I literally jumped. I hesitated for a while, I was obviously scared for nothing. It could be Ryan, but why would he want to come back? And then I remembered Bambi saying something about coming over to get something and I started to walk to the door, but I stopped. As they say, one can't be too careful. And so, I went back to the kitchen to grab a wooden spoon.

When I heard the doorbell ring again, I finally walked to the door and opened it.

My eyes widened.