Mackenzie

WEDNESDAY STARTED OUT fairly well, especially after learning that Mattie was out sick. It certainly made first hour more bearable.

Second hour, I walked into the classroom and noticed Chase was back. Feeling a little more relaxed, after yesterday, I headed over and sat down next to him. We exchanged quick hellos.

“How is your eye? Doing better?” I asked, needing to break the awkward silence as we waited for the teacher to arrive.

“Yeah.”

“Good.”

He pulled out his phone and began scrolling through it.

More awkward silence.

I looked around the room and noticed almost everyone else chatting with their lab partners. I decided to try again.

“So, how do you like the studio?”

He smiled. “It’s great.”

“Good.”

Crickets...

Since he wasn’t contributing to the conversation, I went silent. No matter how nice he’d seemed around my grandmother, apparently, Chase didn’t have the time of day for me.

The hour went pretty quickly, fortunately, and when the bell rang, I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Just as I was leaving the classroom, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Chase holding up the pen I’d been using during class.

“You forgot this.”

Our fingers brushed as I took it from him. “Thank you.”

“Yep.” He turned and walked away.

I watched him move down the hallway with that now-familiar swagger. My eyes traveled from his broad shoulders down to his low-riding jeans.

Maybe Chase wasn’t as bad as I thought he was.

He could have just as easily left the pen. It was almost as if he were offering me an olive branch.

I snorted.

Yeah, right.

I was definitely way overthinking this, for obvious reasons—he was hot, and I was still panting after him. Even after his rude behavior the other day.

Turning around, I headed toward my locker. Whatever I felt toward Chase was a waste of time. We hung out in totally different crowds, not to mention that his was filled with the biggest assholes of the school. I decided the best thing I could do for my sanity was to stay as far away from him, and his crowd, as much as possible.

AT THE END of the day, Kara gave me a ride home from school and we talked about my date with Gus.

“Did you tell anyone else about it?”

“No. Honestly, I doubt we’ll go out after the dance, anyway. I’m really not into Gus.”

“Really? I think he’s kind of hot,” Kara admitted.

“I guess I just don’t think of him that way.”

“Really? Do you think anyone in our school is hot?”

Chase’s face filled my head. “I guess I haven’t really thought about it.”

Kara started talking about some guy in her Graphic Arts class. “I think he has a girlfriend, but I don’t know. He’s so cute.”

“Is he an A-squader?”

“No. Simon is too smart to fit into their clan. I mean, you might even think he’s geeky if you saw him, but I think he’s adorable.”

“Do you think he’ll be at that party this weekend?”

“I don’t know.”

“You should ask him.”

She smiled. “I might.”

We stopped at Starbucks for frappes and then she brought me home.

“Send me a text after your interview.”

“I will. Thanks for the ride,” I replied, grabbing my backpack and coffee.

“No problem. Good luck.”

“Thanks.”  

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AFTER DOING MY HOMEWORK, I made myself a grilled cheese sandwich and then took a shower. Afterward, I pulled out a pair of black slacks and a dressy blue blouse my grandmother had given me last Christmas. I dried my hair, did my makeup, and then practiced answering possible questions they might throw at me in interview. Although I was nervous, I was also excited about getting a job and really wanted the one at Herschel’s. It seemed like a fun place to work and I really needed the money.

My interview was at seven and I was on pins and needles by the time my grandmother arrived home.

“You look very nice,” she said, nodding in approval. “And I love that shirt. Someone with very good taste must have picked it out for you.”

I laughed. “I know, right?”

She pulled her car keys out of her purse and handed them to me. “Good luck, dear.”

“Thanks.”

“Just remember to breathe and be yourself. If you do that, you’ll get the job for sure.”

I leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Grandma.”

“Drive safely,” she said as I headed to the door.

“I will.”

Twenty minutes later, I found myself seated across from one of the managers at Herschel’s, a heavy-set woman with brown hair and pencil-thin eyebrows named Margie. It was so busy and hectic in the diner, I could see why they needed help.

“It’s crazy here until about eight-thirty,” she said when I commented on it. “In the summer, it’s busy here until after nine, with all of the tourists.”

“I can imagine.”

“So.” She looked at my application. “Tell me about your previous job experience.”

I explained how I’d been working at my grandmother’s bait store. “I mostly cashier, but have helped out with some of the bookkeeping.’

“Oh, you’re Rae’s granddaughter,” she said, smiling. “I don’t know why I didn’t figure that out from the address on your application.”

“You know her?”

“Oh, yes of course. Everyone knows her. My mother went to high school with her.”

“Oh, wow.”

“Not only that, but she’s done so much for the community. She’s always volunteering for events and has made a lot of donations to local charities. Does she still do taxidermy, too?”

“Yeah.”

We talked about her for a while and then, after a few more questions about my job experience, Margie hired me on the spot.

“I’ll get you a uniform from the back. Do you have roller-skates or roller-blades?” she asked, sliding out of the booth.

“No, but I can get some.”

“Can you skate?”

“Yeah. It’s been awhile, but I used to when I was in elementary school. All the time.”

“Okay. Well, they sell them over at the sporting goods store up the road. Sports Mania. We’ll reimburse you, so keep the receipt.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Also, we’ll need you to sign a waiver, since you’ll be serving food on roller-skates.” She lowered her voice again. “The owners don’t want to be sued, you know.”

“I understand.”

“When can you start?”

“As soon as I can get some roller-skates, I guess.”

“How about tomorrow?”

“That sounds good.”

“Are there any days you won’t be available in the following week? I’ll add you to the schedule.”

“I can’t work this Saturday. I have a dance to go to.”

She grinned. “Oh, how fun. No problem. You’ll work tomorrow and then...”—she tapped her pen against her thigh—“how about Sunday afternoon?”

“I’m available.”

“Good. I’ll pencil you in and then be right back with your uniform.”

“Okay.”

Margie left the table and I pulled out my phone and texted Kara.

Me: I got the job!

Kara: Congrats! I knew you would. When do you start?

Me: Tomorrow.

Kara: You don’t work Friday do you?

Me: No.

I’d forgotten all about the party.

Kara: Cool.  

Margie returned to the table a few minutes later with some paperwork for me and a fifties-style uniform.

“You can fill that out and bring it in when you start, tomorrow,” she said, handing me the forms.

“Okay. Thank you for hiring me.”

She smiled. “You’re welcome. Oh, don’t forget to bring in your social security card and state ID.”

“I won’t.”

“So, we’ll see you at four?”

Crap.

Four p.m.?

I didn’t know how I’d get there. My grandmother’s shop closed at six. There was always Uber.

I smiled. “Yeah, for sure.”

“Great. See you tomorrow.”

AFTER LEAVING THE diner, I called my grandmother.

“I got the job,” I told her.

“Congratulations! I knew you would.”

I told her about Margie.

“Yes, I know her very well. She’s a sweet gal. So, when do you start?”

I told her.

“I’ll find you a ride tomorrow. Don’t worry.”

I sighed in relief. “Okay. Oh, I can’t bring the car to you yet. I have to go and buy some roller-skates. They’re going to reimburse me for payment.”

“That’s nice.”  

“I’m going to check out Sports Mania. I’ll be home afterward.”

“Sounds good. Drive safely.”

“I will.”

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FORTUNATELY, I WAS able to find a pair of skates that fit fairly comfortably. As I headed toward the checkout counter, I noticed a familiar face over by the fitness gear.

Chase.

He was looking at some hand weights and talking with a store employee. When I noticed who the employee was, I groaned inwardly.

Bruce.

Not wanting either of them to see me, I kept my head low and hurried to one of the checkout lanes. As I was waiting to pay for my skates, I saw Bruce and Chase walking to another register with a full cart. Bruce turned and saw me. Our eyes met and he smirked.

“Well, well. If it isn’t the new girl,” he said.

Chase looked over at me.

Ignoring them, I turned away.

I heard Bruce laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Chase asked.

He murmured something and then both of them laughed.

Gritting my teeth, I waited anxiously for the cashier to ring up my skates. When she was finished I hurried out of the store.

“Mackenzie, hold up.”

I stopped and turned to see Chase heading in my direction with a cartful of weights.

“What?” I muttered, still angry that the two had been laughing at me.

He stopped the cart and frowned. “I was just going to ask if we were supposed to have that assignment turned in tomorrow or Thursday.”

“Tomorrow,” I replied stiffly.

He swore.

“Guess you’ll have to find another night to get swol.” I briefly glanced at his weights and continued toward the Volkswagen.

Chase caught up to me as I was about to get into the car. “What’s your problem?”

I turned around and glared at him. “My problem? Are you serious right now?”

He looked genuinely surprised. “What in the hell did I do to you?”

“It’s not what you’ve done. It’s how you’ve acted.”

“Okay, I admit that I was short with you the other night. That was my bad. But, you’re being a little dramatic about everything.”

I laughed harshly. “Dramatic?  God. You know, you and your friends are really something else. Especially Bruce. And, of course, there’s bat-shit-crazy Mattzilla—who has made it a point to make my life hell at Diamond Lake.”

“Hey, I’m not responsible for whatever it is they’ve done to you. But, you shouldn’t be pointing fingers. I heard you’ve been gossiping and spreading rumors about her. About me.”

“Oh, now I’m spreading rumors about you now, too, huh? I haven’t heard that one yet,” I said angrily. “Funny thing is... I don’t even know what I’ve supposedly said about her.”

He frowned. “So, you’re denying it?”

I snorted. “Of course I’m denying it. I mean, who has time for that bullshit? Not me.”

Chase’s frowned deepened.

“I literally just want to be left alone. You and your crazy, entitled, holier-than-though, good-for-nothing friends don’t seem to get that.” I raised my index finger. “And you tell Bruce that if he ever threatens with me again, he’s going to wish he’d never met me.”

He cleared his throat. “He threatened you? What did he say?”

“Ask him. I’m sure he’ll love bragging about it.” I dragged out the word ‘love’, got into the car, and slammed the door.

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