"Let's have another toast to the bride and groom." This was now the third toast that was being given. Mackenzie clapped but made sure to say nothing. It was the least she could do. She had forfeited her chance at giving a speech. If she had she would have cursed out the bride. While she would have loved having a repeat of what happened at the rehearsal dinner the night before she decided it would be better interest to bite her tongue. The seat next to her was empty, a reminder of her non-existent date. She was positive Sarah purposely left it that way. Mackenzie had informed her of the change two weeks in advance. There was more than enough time to adjust the seating plan yet here she sat with an empty chair beside her. Her mother would say that maybe Sarah was being nice and thought that she would find a date in the short time span but Mackenzie knew better.

Looking around she saw the hall was packed. There were more people at the reception than at the actual ceremony. Sarah and James had opted for a small ceremony and a large reception. Once the final toast was given dinner was served. Mackenzie sat there staring at her plate disappointed that she was not going to be able to eat the appetizers that were currently being served. She had loved seafood but her shellfish allergy made it impossible to enjoy. She looked around the table at her fellow bridesmaids and their dates and felt a pang of loneliness. She wished she didn't have the constant reminder of how truly alone she was, not only that night but in life in general. Sure her family, more specifically her mother would be there for her but as she got older they grew apart. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her of a new emptiness and she hoped that the next course would be something she would be able to eat.

The appetizer plates were cleared and the main course was brought out. Another home run sat in front of her. Salmon in a pineapple glaze with a side of steamed vegetables. She had a piece of fish she could eat slathered in sauce that would cause her windpipe to close in a split second. She feared to eat the vegetables in case they happened to have touched the glaze at any moment. Her stomach was grumbling and she just wanted to get out of her dress and go to bed but that was only a fantasy.

It was time for the first dance between the bride and groom and everyone gathered around to watch. Mackenzie stood back and let everyone else fawn over the happy couple. She felt like she should be waiting in the rafters with a bucket of pigs blood but she couldn't do that to her brother despite how stupid he was being. When the dance was done the floor was opened for anyone to join in but Mackenzie went outside to sit in the front of the venue where there were a few benches designated for smokers. She never smoked or drank and couldn't see the point of anyone doing so but no one else was outside. She appreciated the peace of being alone and away from the crowd. Mackenzie laid across the bench and closed her eyes hoping that the time would fly by and she would be able to leave.

"That dress looks gorgeous on you." Mackenzie turned to the source of the sarcasm filled compliment to find Phil standing in front of her, arms crossed over his chest, a smirk plastered on his face.

"What the hell are you doing here? You're starting to cross the line from friendly acquaintance over into creepy stalker territory." Mackenzie joked but in reality she was happy to see him.

"I was on my way to visit my sister. Her house happens to be a block away from here. I can't help it if your dress acts as a reflector in the night. I was attracted to it like a moth to a flame."

"I told you it's hideous. It looks like a hundred reject traffic cones that have been crushed and molded into the world's ugliest dress and then embellished with as many ruffles and bows that could fit on it."

"At least you can burn it after this." Phil said trying to look toward the bright side.

"That doesn't change the fact that the image of me in this dress will forever be preserved in photographs." Mackenzie took a pause for emphasis before adding "Hundreds of photographs."

"Do you really want to make it memorable?" Phil had a manic glint in his eyes. Mackenzie couldn't resist.

"What did you have in mind?" Excitement built in the pit of Mackenzie's stomach.

"Follow me." Phil led her around to the back entrance. He turned the knob and found that the door was unlocked. He peaked his head in and saw his target. The wedding cake was sitting in the far left corner of the kitchen out of the way so the staff didn't accidentally knock it over. It was a classic wedding cake with columns separating each tier making his plan even easier. He scanned and saw there were only two workers in the kitchen at the moment. Phil turned to Mackenzie.

"I need you to go distract those two guys over there." Phil pointed them out.

"How exactly am I going to do that?" Mackenzie asked thinking she was not as devious as Phil.

"I don't know, recite them poetry or blind them with that so called dress."

"I resent that. It was not my choice to wear this monstrosity."

"Just do it." Phil said starting to get agitated. The longer they stood there arguing the less time he had to pull off his plan.

"Fine, you are so bossy." She pushed past Phil and figured the best way to distract them would be to flirt a bit. Neither guy was her type but she had to try. She glanced back and saw Phil making his way toward the cake. She hightailed it to the workers and tried her best to be seductive. She shifted so the back door was in her peripheral vision and she could see when Phil had left. All she was getting were complaints that she shouldn't be in the back and that she had to make it back to the party. She continued arguing until she saw Phil leaving out the back door, the top tier of the cake in his hands. She glanced at the cake and saw the columns standing erect with nothing above. She wanted to jump for joy but instead finally listened to the workers pleas for her to leave the kitchen.

The only drawback was that she was now back in the trenches of the wedding reception. She walked along the border only to be stopped by her mom.

"Sweetie, where have you been?"

"I was busy socializing. I really have to go to the bathroom, I'll be back." She took her opportunity to bolt back outside. She scanned everywhere looking for Phil who was nowhere to be found. She heard a whistle coming from her left and looked to see Phil hiding in the bushes gesturing for her to follow. Phil started jogging and Mackenzie hiked up her dress and attempted to keep up even though she was in heels. They stopped at Phil's car and Mackenzie really wanted to get in and drive off but a realization hit her.

"If I leave they'll know I had a hand in this. I have to go back."

"Is Jiminy Cricket whispering what you should and shouldn't do in your ear?" Phil taunted her As he put the cake on the car roof.

"No, but I do have to see Sarah and James for the rest of my life. I don't want this being brought up all the time. Take the cake to your sister and share it or throw it at an unsuspecting passerby."

"Fine I'll take it but you are no longer a part of this mission."

"Hey I helped in the heist."

"You have to be there to enjoy the spoils too and since you aren't I will repeat, you are no longer considered a part of this mission." Phil grabbed the cake and walked off in the direction opposite from which they came. Mackenzie stood there dumbstruck and confused as to what to do. Against her better judgment she followed him.

"What do you mean I'm not longer considered part of the mission? If it weren't for me you wouldn't have been able to get the darn thing."

"You must be a terrible professor if you didn't understand what came out of my mouth. It was a coherent sentence in the English language." Hearing Phil say that caused Mackenzie's anger to flare. She grabbed him by the arm forcing him to stop and turned him to face her.

"Don't you ever criticize my ability to do my job. I am the highest rated professor at NYU. My class is the first to be filled to maximum capacity every semester for the past three years. My social life is non-existent because of my job and the fact that I take it so seriously and I will not have some tattooed man that I have just met make fun of and belittle it." Before she could think it through Mackenzie grabbed the cake and smashed it into Phil's face. It was only after she had done it that she regretted her outburst. It was hard to hold onto her regret as she looked at Phil, cake slowly falling off his face. It looked like a scene from a comedy movie. She stayed silent waiting for an angry outburst but she had received none.

"You have anger issues. I suggest anger management, the sooner you start counseling the better." Phil wiped the cake from eyes and looked at Mackenzie, a smirk plastered on his face.

"That'll teach you to comment on my job in the future." Mackenzie said in hopes that it would make her message stick. If she was going to completely ruin whatever chance she had of forming some sort of friendship she might as well go full tilt.

"I can see that. You believe you're the best in the world and no one can tell you different." There was lightness in his voice that left Mackenzie confused. She thought he would be furious, instead he seemed to be making light of the situation and treating it as if it had been done by a toddler.

"Not the best in the world but definitely the best at the school." She said carefully, hoping not to provoke an outburst she knew she would fully deserve. Phil stayed calm.

"Well you need to go back to the wedding and I need to go take a shower now thanks to you." A bit of bitterness was thrown into the end of the statement.

"I'm so sorry. I will make it up to you, I swear." Guilt was really starting to eat away at her.

"You have a pretty big debt already." Mackenzie knew it was true. She was slowly piling up on favors and graces he had given her.

"I promise I'll make it up." Phil said nothing back. He just turned and continued walking. This time Mackenzie didn't follow him. She turned around and made her way back to the reception, praying that they hadn't informed Sarah of the missing cake tier yet.