The Chase

3 | Mackenzie

3 Mackenzie

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I WASN’T LOOKING FORWARD to school on Monday, but it was nice to be driving my own vehicle. As cool as Kara had been about giving me rides, I didn’t want to be a burden to anyone. It was seriously liberating to know that I could jump into the truck and go wherever I wanted, whenever I wanted.

Before walking out the door that morning, Grandma Rae mentioned that it was colder than usual, only twenty-three degrees.

“Dress warmly,” she insisted.

“I will.”

I grabbed my black wool coat from the closet and left for school. On my way, I picked up a warm mocha coffee from Starbucks, grateful that I now had tips to help pay for such luxuries. McDonalds was cheaper, and closer to the school, but I hated the lines.

When I arrived at the school parking lot, it was still early so I took a back-row spot and sat there for a while, drinking my coffee. Of course, I started thinking about Chase again, which made me both angry and frustrated.

Closing my eyes, I told myself to quit dwelling on what had happened. He wasn’t worth feeling so upset about.

Move on.

Sighing, I opened my eyes and turned on one of the local morning shows to take my mind off of everything.

After a few minutes, the lot began to fill up, so I got out of the truck and headed toward the front doors. On the way, I noticed Mattie getting out of a white BMW. I kept my head down and pretended not to see her.

“Hey, Mackenzie!” she called out.

Dammit.

Coffee or not, I wasn’t in the mood to deal with her. I knew she was involved with the asshole from Jason’s party who’d threatened me. She’d even tried texting me over the weekend, asking how I was doing. Pretending that nothing had happened. I couldn’t believe she had the audacity that she did.

Sighing, I turned around and studied her as she caught up to me. She was carrying a large cup from Starbucks and wore a red Canada Goose parka, which I knew wasn’t cheap.

“Damn it’s cold this morning,” she muttered, taking a sip of coffee. “I freaken hate Minnesota.”

I didn’t say anything. I almost didn’t trust myself to speak.

“So, that was some party, huh?” she said as we headed toward the school together.

I nodded.

“I don’t remember anything, honestly. I was so trashed.” She chuckled. “Sonny and his strong-assed drinks. I knew I shouldn’t have let him mix me anything.”

As drunk as she might have been, I didn’t believe for a minute that she’d blacked out and couldn’t remember squat.

I cleared my throat. “Were you sick the next morning?”

“Oh, hell yeah. I had a nasty hangover. I’m lucky my parents weren’t around. My mom is still flying all over the country, which is why I took her car this morning.”

“You don’t have your own?” I was a little surprised, considering how spoiled she was.

“No. My parents are planning on giving me a new one for graduation... if I keep my grades up. I get to pick out whatever car I want, within reason. I can’t wait.”

“Lucky you,” I replied, hiding the sarcasm from my voice.

“Yeah. I’m just pissed that he hardly ever lets me drive anywhere. I had to lie and say I had a test to make up after school, so I could drive my mom’s car.”

“Why doesn’t he want you to drive?”

“He’s a cop. He’s paranoid. He must think I’ll crash it or something.”

“Oh.”

Her face became serious. “Anyway, I heard you were attacked at the party by some freak show. What happened?”

I snorted.

Like she didn’t know all about it...

I gave her a rundown.

Her eyes widened in shock. “Oh, my God... you must have been so scared.”

Watching her pretend to be concerned was irritating. “Not really. I was more pissed off than anything. See, it’s someone from this school. Someone who doesn’t want me around Chase.”

Her jaw dropped. “Is that what they said?”

“Oh, yeah. And... more. But you already know that, don’t you?”

She frowned. “Excuse me?”

I glared at her. “Oh, cut the bullshit. You’re the only one who’s really had it out for me since I arrived.” Noticing that people around us were beginning to stop and stare, I lowered my voice and moved closer to her. “Look, I know this has everything to do with Chase... but I can assure you that there’s nothing going on between us. In fact, he can f**k off for all I care. And, honestly, I don’t want to have anything to do with you or the A-squad. So, tell your alien-masked buddy to keep the f**k away from me.”

She stared at me with a dumbfounded expression. “I had nothing to do with whatever happened to you,” she replied coldly. “But it’s obvious you don’t believe me. As far as Chase goes, I don’t give a s**t about him either. You know, I was trying to make amends with you, but it’s obviously not worth it. I really don’t appreciate you accusing me of something I didn’t do and if you dare start spreading rumors, that I was somehow involved, you’re going to regret it.”

“Spreading rumors is your area. Not mine.”

“Whatever, bitch.” She stormed away.

Shaking with anger, I ignored the gawkers and headed inside to my locker. As I was grabbing the stuff I needed for first hour, Jason appeared.

“Hey, how’s it going?” he asked, leaning back against the locker next to mine.

I snorted. “It’s Monday. What do you think?”

He smiled. “Yeah. I know. I thought about ditching school, but my parents are supposed to be home sometime today.”

“Did you get everything cleaned up from the party?”

“Yeah, but they knew I was having a get-together, so it’s no big deal.”

“They sound pretty chill.”

“Yeah. We have an understanding. I just need to make sure I always have my parties under control. They don’t want any cops showing up.”

As far as I was concerned, Friday night had been pretty out-of-control; not only had a lot of people gotten wasted, but there’d been the fight in the kitchen. Not to mention a lunatic in an alien mask threatening one of his guests.

“Anyway, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out after school? Maybe grab a bite to eat?”

I was about to decline when I noticed Chase walking down the hallway and watching us. He didn’t look too happy about it.

Jealousy?

Still feeling a petty need to strike back, I changed my mind. “Yeah, sure.” I smiled sweetly at Jason. “Why not?”

He grinned back. “Cool. I’ll meet you at your locker at the end of the day. We’ll go from there.”

“Sounds good.”

As he walked away, I stole another glance at Chase before he passed by. His jaw was tight and he looked grumpier than ever. I almost expected him to stop and comment, but he kept walking.