Mac
Love and chocolate

Mild chatter fill the classroom as we wait for exams to be given out. Christmas break, or the politically correct 'winter break', will start for me the moment this test is over and I can go home. Now, however, I spend this spare time looking over the various doodles scrawled on my desk. My ears managing to block out the conversations fluttering about the room. Most of them, anyway.

"God, I'm not ready for this test. I swear, I think I'm gonna fail," the blonde in front of me whines for the umpteenth time.

"I told you to study instead of hanging out at Brad's all night," is her red haired friend's reply. The blonde gives her an angry look while I gave little of my attention to them. Was it bad that we've been in this class together all semester and I didn't even know their names? I shrug to my own question. I doubt they know my name either.

"Don't say it like that. You make it sound like we did something!" the blonde huffs.

"Oh, stop acting all innocent. Everyone knows you two are fooling around. Just make sure you don't end up preggers."

"Yeah, yeah," the blonde waves her friends words off. "Hey, wasn't that weird chick pregnant?"

"Weird chick?"

"Um…you know, the black girl with the really long hair. Had braces when she was in our Algebra class…"

"That was freshman year! You can't expect me to remember so far back," the red-head sighs in frustration. The expression on her face showcasing how hard it was to remember the fore mentioned girl. Meanwhile, I think I might just go into cardiac arrest.

"She…uh…She talked a lot and wore that ridiculous rainbow shirt," the blonde's nosed winkles as she talks about the mystery girl's attire, "I mean, how kindergarten is that?"

The red-head laughs in agreement. The glint in her eye showed she knew who they were talking about now.

"Oh, her. She was kind of a weirdo, but she's okay. Wasn't that her that gave the class those little chocolate crumble thingies?" the red-head says. The blond shrugs. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure that was her. But why do you think she was pregnant?"

"I dunno. I just heard some things…"

"Like what?"

"That she got pregnant and her boyfriend dumped her. I heard that she was so depressed that her parents had to send her to some psychiatrist in Virginia."

"Or she could have just moved," the red-head rationalized as she rolled her eyes at her friend. "Seriously, how do you swallow all this crap people feed you."

When I realized their conversation was no longer connecting to Goo, I stopped listening. Don't know why I do this to myself. It's not like they could have said anything I didn't already know. How many times have I heard the rumor? How many variations have I heard of it? How many times did I awkwardly sit behind gossipers, waiting for them to speak her name? How many times did I have to sit uncomfortably next to some idiot bold enough to ask me whether or not there was any truth to it?

It didn't happen consistently. Just every once in a while. But that didn't mean I wasn't sick of it. Then again, I kind of looked forward to it. Deep down, I guess I do kind of like hearing what they had to say. Many didn't have the story straight. Few cared. We attend a pretty large school. It was easy to be forgotten. Goo wasn't widely known, but just memorable enough for a nice little tale to be told. For most, it was like she just vanished into thin air. No one knew what really happened. They barely knew her. They didn't even realize that I, the guy sitting right behind them, was 'the boyfriend'. But I guess someone out there just needed to tell a story about a girl, one they barely knew, just for kicks. A simple little rumor produced by the imagination of some teenager. I might not even pay it any mind, if it wasn't for that small bit of truth. I did get her pregnant. She did have to leave because of me. Taking a deep breath, I try to ignore the bobbing of my Adams apple and calm down. I hate how easy I upset myself. I really shouldn't even be thinking about this. I have a test in a matter of seconds.

"Mac, are you okay? You look like you're going to vomit," came Tzu's raspy, yet feminine voice. I turn towards her, and it's now I realize that I've been sitting like a statue for at least three minutes.

"I'm fine."

She gives me a skeptical look, but it quickly shifts into that friendly smile of hers. She digs into her jacket pocket and pulls out a small bag of fish shaped gummies. "Do you think you'll do okay on the test?" she asks in an attempt for small talk. I shrug. I had studied a little last night before bed, but I guess I'm not as prepared as I need to be. At least I know I'll do better than the blonde.

Tzu nods, pulling out a blue gummy shark out of her bag. "Want some?" she offers and I turn it down. After years of not being allowed to have sweets, my response is automatic. I don't think I had a sugar episode in years. Unless you count this April when one of Bloo's schemes went awry and Goo ended up covered in melted chocolate.

Best. Sugar. Rush. EVER!

A smile creeps its way to my face as the heavenly memory clouds my brain. The only thing snapping me out of my spell is the teacher's voice as he states that the exam is about to begin.

No school for two weeks and to sleep comfortably in one's bed is definitely one of life's simple pleasures. I don't want to get up, but my growling stomach says otherwise. I slowly rise with the vague memory of the dream I had. I roll out of bed and slid on a pair of pajama pants before heading towards the kitchen. When walking into the living room, I spot Terrence on the sofa. In his boxers, he sat watching Love and the Loveless before he takes notice of me and hurries to change the channel. I pretend I didn't see him watching the soap opera and he thanks me by not bothering me with an insult or greeting. A silent compromise.

I step inside the kitchen, but I don't feel hungry anymore. I frown at myself. I'm already here, so I might as well force something down and go back to sleep. I open the refrigerator doors and went over my options. I don't feel like cooking anything. I don't want to make a bowl full of cereal and waste it. I guess this apple can do. I pull one out of the bag as someone knocks on our door. Biting into my apple, I look over at Terrence to see if he is going to get the door. The knocking continues and I roll my eyes at him. Could he be any lazier? I make my way to the door, not forgetting to send my brother a look on the way.

"Who is it?"

"Kari."

I open the door and she takes a step inside. "Hey, Mac. Is your brother ready?" she asks with a small smile. I answer her question by pointing over to him. Terrence's eyes went wide when he saw her. Obviously, he forgot he had to work today. It wasn't anything unusual. It happened all the time in his past employments. Back then, however, Kari wasn't around. Her face instantly turns dark. "You better get your ass dressed. I'm not about to be late because of you!" she yells at him. He jumps up and quickly dashes to his room. I couldn't help but smile. "Idiot," Kari mumbles under her breath.

I loved the way she talks to Terrence. It's the way I wish I could. No fear. Even though he towers over her in height, she didn't seem afraid of him in the least. I also love the way that he seems to be a little bit afraid of her. It's kind of funny, actually.

A soft sigh escapes her lips. She turns to me and ruffles my hair. She's only a year older than Goo, but she makes me feel like a little kid. When hanging around her, it was more like I was with a young aunt. Someone I could relate to, but respected.

"Does anyone wear any clothes around here?" she smirks, pointing to my bare chest.

"Only on Tuesdays," I reply and she lets out a small laugh. "So, um, how's college?"

"Okay, I guess. I'm not failing or anything. Just need to pay for it all," she answers plainly. She ran her fingers through her black hair before letting out another soft sigh. "Hurry up, Terrence!" she yells out to him. She turns back to me and says, "My cousin got me this really cool fighting game where you can play as a comic hero or a Mortal Combat character and fight. I thought you and Terrence might like it." I nod enthusiastically and she smiles. "Cool, I'll drop it off later."

Kari is indeed a giver. After having to sit in Julio's the past month and a half, we've had our share of conversations. She's nice and down to earth. She has a bright future ahead of her. Why she's spending her spare time with my deadbeat brother and me, I'm not too sure about. Though I do know she's trying to make Terrence and me become closer. It was the only thing that I didn't like about her. Not because she was being nosy or being pushy about it. No, it was because of how sly she does it. Also, it's because it was kind of working. Sure, we weren't the best of friends, Terrence and I, but a bridge has been made. An old, rickety wooden bridge over a gator pit, but a bridge nonetheless. And to be honest, I'm a little afraid to cross it. A friendship with my brother is something completely foreign to me. It just seems weird, and I'm sure Terrence feels the same way. We may not be enemies, but we aren't friends. Just…brothers.

Kari bends over to tie her shoe as Terrence hops into the room, stomping his shoes on. He pauses and I watch as his eyes check out her butt. I roll my eyes at him as she stands back up. For a split second, Terrence met my gaze. I pretend I didn't see him checking out Kari's ass and he thanks me by not sending me a good bye punch in the arm. A silent compromise.

"Lets go already," an unknowing Kari says, speeding out the door. Terrence follows his ride to work out the door, and I'm left alone. I turn off the TV in the living room before I toss my half eaten apple into the trash. I walk to my room, and I'm no longer sleepy. I sit at my computer desk and decided to check my email. I open my inbox, ignoring all other new messages as I search for a certain address. I smile when I see Goo's reply to the email I sent her a few days ago. I quickly open it as my stomach began to flutter.

I'm so so so sorry that it took so long to reply. The computer at my grandma's don't have the internet so I got to go to the library to check emails and stuff. Her house is so anti-technology. She doesn't even have a phone. I mean, even Amish people have phone's…at least I think they do. She even took my cell phone. Oh, that's also why I haven't called. Sorry. I love her though. Its not that bad here. Just wish it was a family vacation thing and not a sentence. I miss you too and I'm doing okay. I LOOOOOOOVE You!

I must have reread the message a million times before clicking the 'reply' button. I stare at my computer screen, mulling over what to say. Three minutes went by and not a word had been typed. I thought over the days since she's been gone. First couple days, I was depressed and miserable. Some more days pass, I'm not as depressed, but still miserable and a little on edge. Recently, I'm not miserable or depressed. I'm just coping. Just wishing she was here. Though, I don't think I'll type that. I don't want her upset because I'm letting this eat away at me. Instead, I type in how I love and miss her the way I did in the original message I sent. LOL-ing to the fact her grandma has a computer, but not a phone. And then, I add on a simple question.

Do you remember the chocolate bunnies?

I smile, knowing she would. I click the send button and let my mind go back to that April afternoon. Madam Foster had bought chocolate Easter bunnies for the house and, of course, Bloo wanted them all to himself. He did somehow managed to get them all down to the basement before Easter. I remember him explaining his plan to me afterwards, but can't recall what it was exactly. I just remember him patting himself on the back for the little detail of bringing them to the basement instead of the attic, since lots of imaginaries still go up there to play inside that toy box. Apparently, it was taking too long, for him anyway, to eat them all, so he started melting them by the bucket and slurping them down. The inevitable happen, Mr. Harriman noticed the bunnies were gone. He had us search high and low for them before Goo ventured to the basement. I was told that they ended up wrestling and knocked over some of the buckets, spilling chocolate all over them. They came back up drenched in it. Frankie sent Goo up to wash off as Harriman started to lecture Bloo, who was too busy licking the chocolate off his arm to care. I helped Goo up the steps and walked her to one of the bathrooms with an arm around her waist. She stepped inside the bathroom, pulling away from me. I had looked at my arm and saw that chocolate covered my hand and sleeve.

"Sorry, Mac," she had said to me.

"It's okay," I'd told her, wondering if licking it off my hand would turn into chaos. I hadn't had sugar since that Halloween when I was eight. She must had been able to read me mind because she took my hand and licked off the chocolate. The feeling that surged through me was incredible. I took her lips, wanting her to feel it too. The door magically closed behind me as we felled to the floor. My tongue licked her lips and then her cheeks. It was so sweet. So delicious. I couldn't get enough of it. Her shirt vanished and mine did as well. I wanted more. I needed more. My tongue had ran over the chocolate on her arm before tugging down her bra. It didn't matter that there wasn't really any chocolate there. Her skin was just as sweet. Suckling her breast, my hands find their way to her shorts. I unbuttoned them and moved to kiss her lips as I yanked them off her. After only two minutes inside the bathroom, I'd already had her in nothing but her underwear. But it was definitely the sugar that caused me to rush my actions. I peeled off her pink panties and lowered myself. I'd sucked the chocolate off her legs, hurriedly going up it. I'd kissed her inner thigh a few times before taking her in. Her sticky finger griped my hair, pushing me in closer. I can still remember how sweet she smelt.

"Maaaac," she had moaned. And damn if it wasn't the most addicting sound. I'd wanted to hear it again. I wouldn't mind hearing it now.

"Mac?"

My eyes pop open as my mom enters my room. I quickly scoot closer to my desk to hide the desire in my pants.

"I got off a little early. Did Terrence have to work today?" she says with a smile. Still embarrassed by my previous thoughts with her so near, I simply nod. Her hand caresses my cheek and her smile fades for a sec. "You're a little warm. Are you feeling okay, honey?" her voice is full of concern as she speaks. I nod again and she gives me a quick kiss. "I'll be in my room if you need me," she calls as she left my room. I let out a heavy sigh of relief. I let myself relax before hopping out the chair and falling into my bed.

I'm very tired, all of a sudden.