"Mackenzie?" Ben said in his most fatherly voice.
"What?" Ben stared her in the eye. Mack finally gave up. "Alright so I turned the water on. But I had a good reason to."
"And that is?"
"To see what color water is."
Ben had to smile. It was quite humorous. "Why did you do it? Really?"
"I told him I was going in next and then I went into my room to get my things. When I came out he was already in there. So I had to get him back."
"Mack if you would just put that intellect to something important."
"Yea I know." Mack had heard this before from both Ben and her father. She spent her time doing things less than constructive.
A few minutes later, Riley came out of the bathroom, his clothes still sticking to him.
"Geez Mack."
"Hey I told you I was next. So you get what you deserve." Riley knew she had a point so he didn't press the matter. "I guess it's my turn now."
Mack picked up her things then went into the bathroom. She didn't bother threatening Riley, because he wouldn't take any form of pay back. Riley knew if he tried to, she would come back with vengeance. Mack had a gift for getting people back. After Mack finished her shower and dressed, she helped the boys load her bronco with their things. Once they were done, Mack drove them to the airport to meet Ian.
Ian, Shaw, Victor, and Phil were all waiting outside of a small private airplane.
"Wonderful day for a plane ride. Everything is all ready. Phil's brother, Keith, is flying." Ian said welcoming them.
"Good. When do you think we will be getting to Ontario?" Ben asked.
"Tomorrow morning. Now let's unload your car and get everything stored away." Ian and the others came to help Ben, Riley, and Mack carry their luggage and equipment onto the plane. Mack was carrying two large bags, large but manageable. The bags were her personal things such as laptop, cd player, and clothes.
"Here let me help you." Shaw said trying to take one of Mack's bags.
"No I can handle it."
"I insist."
"Shaw, let it go. I am fine." Shaw was about to force the bags but Ian intervened.
"Shaw, take these bags and get onto the plane. Mack is strong she can manage her own things." Shaw looked disappointed but followed Ian's orders.
"Hey I could use some help." Riley called from the back. He was carrying four large bags and having difficulty. No one seemed to pay attention. Once all the bags were on board, Mack went back to lock up her car. Ian was waiting for her at the base of the steps when she returned.
"Mack I must apologize again. I am truly sorry about not considering your thoughts. I didn't mean to cause problems. Please forgive me."
Mack thought it over. If she forgave him the journey would be easier and the tension would be lifted. But if she declined, things would be complicated. Her gut was telling her something was going to go wrong but for the sake of the others, she decided to accept.
"Okay, Ian."
"So we're okay?"
"Yea."
"Good. I would hate to have you mad at me all the time." Ian clapped a friendly hand on her back and they entered the plane. Ian thought everything was fine but Mack knew better. There was a specific reason he hired new people at the last minute. And she was going to find out why.
"What was that all about?" Riley asked as she took a seat across the isle from him.
"Nothing. Just making apologizes."
The airplane appeared small on the outside. But once Mack settled into her seat she took in her full surroundings. The aircraft was finished in wood paneling. The seats were tan leather and there was a large flat screen TV to the front of the plane.
"Only the best money can buy?" Shaw said noticing Mack's admiration of the aircraft.
"Yes. It's nice but its still a plane."
"What do you mean?"
"You can dress it up any way you want but in the end this thing has to leave the ground."
"Oh. I take it you don't like flying."
"Absolutely hate it."
"Well I'll sit next to you and keep you company." Shaw smiled hoping Mack would accept his offer.
"No I prefer to be alone. I am going to listen to my cd player and work on my laptop."
"Yea but the company might be better."
"Shaw I believe she turned you down so leave her alone." Mack was surprised to hear someone stand up for her. Even more surprising was who the comment came from. Riley stood up but his height did not compare to Shaw's.
"What are you going to do about it?" Shaw went to strike Riley but Mack intervened by grabbing his arm.
"Shaw calm down. Now look we are all friends here. So don't go getting into an argument over something stupid." Shaw relaxed but was still upset. Then Ben and Ian came from the cockpit to inform everyone they were ready to go. Shaw was about to make a second attempt to sit beside Mack but Ben beat him to it. Ben knew his sister hated flying and he wanted to make sure she was going to be okay.
"Are you okay Mack?"
"Just fine. We are in a plane ready to set off and the only thing I can think about is that movie Final Destination."
"Everything will be alright little sis." From over the loudspeaker, Keith made the announcement to take their seats and buckle up. To Shaw's dismay he had to sit beside Victor during take off. Once the plane had left the ground Mack went into her own world. She had her headphones on loud enough to block out everything else. She also stayed concentrated on her laptop. Eventually, Mack noticed Ben left her side. She glanced up to find Riley on his laptop and the others playing a card game. The plane ride only took several hours, but it felt like eternity to Mack. Since they were arriving late in the evening, Ian had arranged a one night stay in a nice hotel. Sometime in the late afternoon, Keith informed everyone to take their seats again because he was preparing to land. Mack did not hear because of her music. This time Ian sat beside her. It startled her when she glanced up to see him right beside her. She could faintly hear him yelling something. Finally she removed her headphones.
"We are landing." Ian yelled forgetting Mack could hear correctly.
"Okay." Mack yelled back. Everyone laughed. Mack then put her music back on but she put away her laptop. The plane finally landed. Mack was the first one out the door.
"you did good this time sis." Ben said as he passed her bags to her.
"What happened the last time?" Ian questioned.
"She took what she thought to be sleeping pills, but they were caffeine pills so she was wise awake the entire time. And paranoid to the point the stewardess had to give her several alcoholic drinks to calm her down."
Riley, who was trailing behind, laughed. "The great Mack scared of a plane ride."
"Riley remember we aren't on the plane now. So I would have no problem kicking your butt." That shut Riley up.
"So Ian where are these new crew members?" Ben asked.
"Over there." Ian directed their attention to three men standing beside two vans. "This is Shippen, Stewart, and Carmine. They specialize in artic weather and digging. Gentlemen this is Ben, Riley, and Mack." Everyone shook hands and then loaded into the vans. Shippen and Stewart drove the vans to a nice hotel.
It was eighteen storied high and very elegant. A swan fountain stood in the lobby. Ian checked in for the group then passed out the keys.
"Shippen, Stewart, Carmine take room 318. Victor, Phil, Keith room 319. Ben, Shaw, Riley, and myself will be in 320. Mack I figured you would prefer a room to yourself so you have 321."
"Ian I can bunk somewhere else. You don't have to get me my own room."
"I wanted to and I already did." the group found their rooms to be emasculate. Mack's room was a pale lilac color. A large TV face opposite a queen bed. Under the TV was a small couch. To the right wall was a door leading to Ben's room. On her left was a large bathroom containing a Jacuzzi tub.
"Oh my. This place is amazing." After Mack finished looking around she headed over to the others room. The room was quite similar except there were three single size beds.
"Ian this place is beautiful."
"Only the best. Now if everyone's ready, let's go eat."
Everyone piled back into the vans and went to an Italian restaurant.
"I hope they have normal food." Riley said.
"What kind of food do you think it would have? We're in Canada not some place where you eat bugs."
"I don't know. I just thought things would be different." Mack rolled her eyes. If he was going to complain the entire time, she would kill him. The restaurant was very nice but casual. The group had a nice time. Mack got to know Shippen, Carmine, and Stewart a little better. They use to be oil drillers but decided to open a private business. During dinner, Mack sat in between Ben and Shaw. Shaw tried to flirt all evening but Mack just ignored him. After dinner everyone returned to their rooms. Mack hung around with Ben and the others until everyone decided to get some sleep. Mack noticed Riley getting set to sleep on the floor?
"Why are you on the floor?"
"I'm not sleeping in the same bed as one of them." Mark returned to her room and felt bad. She had such an enormous bed and someone had to sleep on the floor. Mack then went back to the others room.
"Hey since I have such a huge bed and a couch someone can come share my room with me." Shaw's head nearly twisted off. But before he could reply Ben answered.
"Who do you want?"
"Riley can have my bed. I'll go with Mack." Shaw said trying to hold his excitement.
"No since Riley was going to take the floor her can just stay in my room."
"But." Shaw wanted to continue but Mack had already returned into her room.
A few minutes later Riley came into her room. "Thanks. I hate sleeping on the floor."
"No prob."
"It's funny."
"What?"
"Last night you were about to kill me for sleeping in the same apartment as you . But today you were fighting to get me into your bed."
"Don't flatter yourself. There are a lot of other guys I would rather have here now. You just happen to be better than Shaw."
"Oh you know you want me."
Mack laughed and went to do herb bathroom routine. When she came out, she found Riley laying coves on the couch.
"What are you doing?"
"Getting ready for bed."
"Oh come on. We are friends. As long as you don't sleep naked, why don't you take the left side of the bed."
"Are you sure?"
"Come one." Riley was cautious but grateful. Riley was his friend and he knew nothing would happen. Yea Mack was hot but he knew she would never go for a guy like him. Mack's type of guy had tattoos, drove fast cars, and did dangerous stuff. Riley was the complete opposite.
Mack and Riley crawled under the covers. Then there was an awkward silence Mack finally broke.
"I forgot to thank you for earlier. So thanks."
"What did I do?"
"You stood up to Shaw. I really appreciate it."
"I should thank you for keeping him from pummeling me." There was more silence. Then Riley asked. "Do you really hate him?"
"You promise that you won't tell Ben this."
"Yea what?"
"Swear."
"I swear."
"Shaw tried something a couple months back. Nothing serious just tried to force me to kiss him. Luckily, I kicked him where the sun doesn't shine."
"Mack why didn't you tell anyone?"
"I dealt with it. It wasn't serious and I figured it would only cause problems."
"Geez, Mack I think Ian would have even fired Shaw for something like that."
"Ri, it was nothing please don't make a big deal about it."
"Okay but if he does anything else tell someone okay?"
"Alright. Well um goodnight."
"Night." Both turned on their sides facing away from each other. Even though they were just friends, Mack felt incredible safe and comfortable with him. She never told anyone about the thing with Shaw. It wasn't a big deal but since then she didn't want to be alone with Shaw. Mack trusted riley, she knew he would never tell. But it helped her a lot to just get it off her chest. Mack fell asleep thinking about the next day and dreading the plane ride. Riley lay awake thinking about Mack and their relationship. Was there anything more than friendship?
Well I'm going to stop here. Thanks to Jousting Elf with a Sabre, I get left out too. I hope everyone likes this chapter. PLEASE REVIEW!