Cindy Mackenzie has a problem.

Because Mac spent basically all of high school invisible to the male eye, she has always had trouble not developing crushes on the few boys that have shown interest in her over the years. It wasn't something she was proud of. She wasn't desperate, but she loved the feeling of being wanted. It's not that she didn't truly like any of the boys that had liked her. There had been...Cassidy, Bronson, and Max. The whole Cassidy thing really hurt her self-confidence because he never truly wanted her in the way she wanted him. Of course, she couldn't blame him for that now...and it probably had nothing to do with her, instead it was about the abuse he suffered at the hands of Woody Goodman. Nevertheless, Mac had some issues that stemmed from the fact that the only boy she had ever loved turned out to be both a murderer and a rapist. Plus, she had just broken up with Max. She couldn't deal with his lack of motivation to channel his talents into something that was actually legal. So, now, as she lay down on her bed, her head was filled with the face of a certain blonde surfer. She needed to give her mind a break, and thinking about Dick had become a fixation in her mind recently. A few months ago, at the beach, Dick had told Mac that he saw what Cassidy saw in her. She thought that he had tried to kiss her too, but now she couldn't be so sure. Dick had a strange appeal and she wasn't sure what to make of it.

Seriously Mac, why are you obsessing over Dick Casablancas?, she thought to herself.

Mac sighed as she waited for Veronica to arrive. She figured that she could blame her recent fixation on her brain simply romanticizing the memory of that day on the beach. There was nothing to read into. He wasn't interested in her. He couldn't be. Maybe he just wanted to make amends.

She was going to see Dick that day and she couldn't wait. Veronica had pleaded with Mac to spend a day with her at Logan and Dick's place. Veronica, after her internship with the FBI, had realized that during the time away, she didn't miss Piz as much as she thought she would. All she could think about was Logan. Veronica told Logan that they should try being friends- the type of friends that can sit all day, play video games, and eat junk food. But Veronica and Logan didn't trust themselves. They had asked their best friends, Dick and Mac, to try and spend time with them so they could stop themselves from completely jumping into a relationship yet again. Mac protested, but as she gave in she knew she actually did want to go. Dick was going to be there and she was simply curious. What is wrong with that?

Mac heard a knock on the door. Veronica.

"Hey, Mack-attack? Ready to go? ...You look really great, Mac. Got a hot date with Dick?" Veronica quipped.

"What, no?!" Mac said a little too suddenly. For a second, she was afraid that Veronica could see directly into her soul and find a little figment of the crush that she had on Dick. Truth be told though, Mac did dress up for today. She skipped her usual t-shirt over a long-shirt combination, and instead put on a floral tank top with little blue fabric shorts. Mac had also picked up a workout routine over the summer. She was never overweight, but she thought that working out could help her take her mind off things once in awhile. She felt good, to be honest.

"Well, you look nice. Really. Maybe this summer has done you good. You don't have to dress up though to play video games with Logan, Dick, and I. I assure you."

With that, they headed to the Neptune Grand. When they arrived, Veronica lightly knocked on the door.

"Hey! Ronnie and her hot friend have arrived!" yelled Dick in the direction of the living room.

Hot? He can't really think I've gotten hot over the summer, thought Mac. There's no way. She was stunned by Dick and how little effort it took him to look flawless. Today he looked like he had just gotten back from surfing and he glowed.

Mac proceeded to plop down on the big and expensive coach. Logan and Veronica had settled closely together on the chair and Mac begun to wonder why she had to come here in the first place. They were a couple already, who were they trying to kid? When Dick entered the room, he handed Mac a coke, plopped down next to her, and swung his arm over her shoulders. "Hey, Mac. I figured maybe we should get closer, since you know, our best friends are dating again."

"WE'RE NOT DATING!" yelled Logan and Veronica.

"Probably not, Dick" Mac said. She knew she should be meaner, to keep up appearances. But she didn't have it in her. She wanted to get closer to him. Had she gone insane? She didn't even shrug off his arm.

"What's the matter, don't want the Dick?" Dick said with his trademark cheesy grin.

"Yes, that's what's the matter". Mac said sullenly.

They played video games all afternoon and now everyone was becoming bored.

"Hey, want to switch things up a bit? Want to watch a movie or something?" Dick said. He looked in the direction of Logan and Veronica, instead they were gone. "It looks like we've just gotten the room to ourselves, Mackie". Dick had his eyebrows raised.

Mac just sighed. "Dick, I know you're just trying to raise my confidence of something, because you think how you treated me before hurt me. Well, I don't need you to. I know you're joking, but I've always been the girl that guys "joke" about being with because I'm geeky and smart and don't look like a model. So, really, it would be nicer if you could just stop it".

Dick said nothing.

After a few moments, Dick took on a rare serious tone and said, "Look, Mac...I think I might actually be...flirting with you because, like I told you before, I see what Cassidy saw in you. And there's nothing wrong with you. I want us to...like hang out? Can we hang out, even when Logan and Veronica don't make us?". Dick popped open a beer can. He didn't want to admit to Mac any of this, but it seemed necessary. Ever since Cassidy's suicide, he has thought a lot about Mac. He wanted to know more about Cassidy and truthfully, he thought that maybe Mac and him could help each other to heal.