Part 3
Clark grabs the horse and leads it outside all the while Mackenzie keeps back 100 feet. Finally the horse if outside and when Clark looks to see Mack she isn't there. "Mack?"
She appears out of the barn., hands still in her back pockets. "yeah?"
Ducking under the horses head to talk to her, "Where'd you go?"
"No where I'm keeping 100 feet back," she says as if its normal.
Clarks laughs and pets the horses, "And why is that?"
Mack shifts her weight from side to side, "Standard…Operating Procedure?"
"Keeping 100 feet back while walking a horse out is standard operating procedure?" Confused but equally amused.
Standing up straight, "Yeah for horses and ……." she looks to the side and bits her bottom lip.
Clark tried to get her to look at him so he cocks his head to the side, "And?"
"And ….Fire trucks," with that she digs her Dr. Martens heel into the dirt and looks up at him like a 5 year old would look at their father when they've done something wrong.
"Your too cute.." Suddenly Clark realizes what he's sad and doesn't know what to do, " I mean your too pretty … I mean funny." He looks about bewildered and Mack who has a even wider eyes then when she got out of the car.
'Ok, Mack play this one off' She bits her lip, walks over to him, places her hand on his arm looks up at him meaningfully "Clark I…"
Clark doesn't know what to do, "Yeah" he says with the tone of a horny teenager that talks a big game but when it comes right down to it he's scared shitless.
She starts cracking up and loops her arm around his, "I understand so stop tripping over your words man and lets get this get on the horse thing over with."
Relieved and embarrassed Clark un hooks there arms and put his hands on her waist.
Jokingly Mack looks at his hands then looks up at him, "I don't get dinner first?"
Noticing she's joking he responds, "Nope, horse then dinner.," with a serious tone eyebrows pointing down at her, "Standard operating Procedure you see."
Mack points her eyebrows down as well looks up at him, "Yes Sir."
::::The two are so lost in their banter that they've failed to realize Chloe pulled up is watching and can hear everything:::
"Ok, now I'm just gonna left you up and on, ok? I have the horse Mack so he's not going anywhere." He says concerned and caring.
"You don't have the horse your hands are on my waist."
Clark lifts an eyebrow and to Mack's surprise she can read that look, 'Mack shut up and get on.'
"Ok, go for it but im closing my eyes…." shutting them real tight.
Clark lifts her without effort. Mack feels weightless and ::plop:: her ass lands on the horse. IN response the weight the horse moves.
"Ok Ok this isn't so bad," she says as she moves her hands around to feel the horse.
Smiling, "Yeah it would be even better if you opened your eyes."
Shaking her hand, "Not until your on."
::By this time Chloe is leaning on the stable suspicious of this scene that lay before her:::
"Ok, I'm coming. Now the horse is gonna move a little but I'm right there ok?" he says rubbing her leg.
::Which Chloe takes note of::
"OK Ok just get on seriously I'm getting my palpitations."
Clarks laughs and heaves himself on. Just as he warned the horse moved and turned away from the stable.
Clark grabbed Mack's hand and threw it around him, she does the same with her other hand.
"You got me?"
"Got you? Clark I'm suffocating you." Still closing her eyes with such force that it looks like she's trying to push them into her nose.
"No your not. Now try to open your eyes…trust me its ok," He looks back at her in order to see her face. He smiles a huge smile at the sight of he crunched up face then looks back to see her reaction when he opens her eyes.
Mack opens them and the first thing she sees is Clarks face. She smiles a smile that is most commonly scene when you wake up to a loved one. Clark smiles, "ok?"
She looks around and down and nudges Clark to the side to see the horse's face. "Yupp I think so… ok."
"Can we start moving?"
Mack smiles and takes note of how caring and patient he his. 'Wow Lana can pick 'em' "Yeah ok..im ok now."
::Cough: Cough:: Clark spins the horse around to see Chloe.
At the same time both Clark and Mack say under their breath "Shit" having heard each other they glance at one another then back at Chloe.
"Oh hey Chloe," Clark says awkwardly.
"Hey," Mack pokes her head out from behind Clark.
"Hey you two," she says walking up with that annoying look-what-I've-found smile.
"Um how long where you there?" Clark asks still concerned for some reason. 'why do I care I wasn't do anything'
"Pretty long time… you two seem to be getting along great. You're a good coach ..Clark." Clark knows she added his name at the end to make a point.
"I'm scared of horses," Mack hears herself say and then thinks 'you're a tool Mackenzie.'
"I see that, anyway Clark I just stopped by to remind you about Pete's birthday tomorrow night." Crossing her arms.
"Chloe I don't need to be reminded. He's my best friend I wouldn't forget," Clark says annoyed.
Mack just looks the other way.
"Ok well did you forget you have to pick up the decorations and balloons at Party Palace," Chloe cocks one eye rowing knowing she'll win this one.
"Well…." Clark stumbles.
Mack saves him, "Yeah you did," look at him then to Chloe, "We were going to go right after this. You know so he wasn't rushing around tomorrow."
"Exactly," Clark smiles as if he came up with it.
"Well ok then," defeated, "ill talk to you later Clark. Later Mackenzie."
"Later Chloe," waving to her.
Chloe gives her a cutesy smile and retreats.
Clark feels guilty for some reason but shakes it off. He's on a horse with a really awesome girl, who he is becoming fast friends. And he is not dating Lana or Chloe. Nothing to feel guilty about…'then why'
His thoughts are interrupted by Mack's John Wayne, "Wow that was awkward…Ok, partner let get a move on."
Without a word, Clark turns the horse around and heads for the fields. He starts slow and as he speeds up he feels Mack's arms wrapped tightly around him. To his surprised he loved it. Someone needed him again and depended on him again, it was great. As he got even faster he felt her bury his head in his back, which made him smile. The two road along the main road for a little bit, which wasn't a good idea being that Lana happened to drive by at just the right time. Noticing Clark she slowed down then noticed Mackenzie holding on a little to tight to the man she loved…Needless to say she was pissed and as she drove by she noticed the smile on Clarks face. Her accelerator got its ass beat all the way to the Talon.
They road up and down hills, through a bit of woods. Clark still feeling her head tight against him slowed down so she could open her eyes and take a look at their surroundings.
Slowing down, "You ok there?"
Mack scared and sounding like a 5 year old, "uhh huh."
"Open your eyes Mack. Come on your missing an awesome sunset.." looking back at her.
"O..ok," opening her eyes, "Omg, Clark."
"What?" concerned.
"Its amazing.. For the first time in a long time I'm at a loss for words."
"Then what were those things you just said?" He says sarcastically. Not a side The rest of his friends see very often but there was something about Mack that told him he could be and say whatever he felt like and she'd be cool with it.
She hits his back, finally comfortable to let go, "Wow the more time we spend together the more sarcastic you get. Why is that?"
Completely honest with her, "I can be me with you. I mean I've known you for what a few hours but I can be me."
"Good I'm glad Clark I feel the same," she wraps her arms around him and gives him a quick squeeze.
Eyebrows up, "What's that for?"
"For bringing me here, for letting yourself be you." She smiled up at him and at the exact moment Clark saw just how beautiful she was. He didn't know what he was doing but, he started leaning in for a kiss.
Mack looked at him and then his lips and for some reason leaned right into it. They kissed…
"Holy Shit..H..HH,,Shit," Mack starts rambling right afterward. She's so frantic she falls backward off the horse.
Worried Clark jumps off the horse and goes to her, "Jeese, Mack are you ok?"
She rushes to push herself back up and away from Clark, "This…this …this isn't good.," Still backing way while Clark is still wondering what's going on.
"Not exactly the reaction I was going for.. What going on, Mack?" as he walks towards her she keeps walking backwards finally stops and puts up her hands and blurts out, "LANA!"
"Lana?" Clark is confused.
"I can't I mean Lana and you and Lana," this entire time her eyes are darting back and forth as if she's watching each reason this isn't good run across the grass. "Lana loves you, she loves you so much," throwing up her hands and now turning around walking in circles, "And you love her too," turning to him with angst in her eyes. "I just got here I am not making enemies, not here, not so quick."
"It's Ok," Clark walks up to her with his arm out.
"You love her right Clark?" running both her hands through her hair now.
"I cant…" Clark starts.
"No man. No I can't.. yes or no??!?"
"Yes!" He says.
"With everything you are?" putting her hands in her pockets.
"Yes of course."
Mack starts laughing which confuses Clark even more.
Clarks walks up closer, annoyed, "What's so funny?"
Still laughing, "Dude then why are you here kissing me?"
"It's not funny. Its confusing.. Not funny." Clark rubs his neck nervously.
"Come on laugh."
"No.. I don't know. I don't have to have up my guard with you. I can be sarcastic and not always on my guard. I like being around you and I've only been around you a few hours….."
Mack realizes she has the opportunity to do what she promised Lana should would, "and Lana?"
Clark started walking to the horse, "Lana.. She's always questioning me. I love her so much but, I promised I'd never leave her and I did. I've hurt her so much," he punches the saddle lightly and rests his head on it.
Mack walks up quietly leans her head on the saddle next to him so he can see her face, "Clark your hurting her more and yourself more being apart don't you see that? Go to her tell her everything. Not just for her sake but yours Clark."
At this Clark turns away from her so she walks around him and makes him face her. "Listen to me, don't tell me it doesn't kill you to have to double think entering the Talon. When you used to do it with such ease. Don't tell me when you hear footsteps in the barn you don't hope against hope its her. Don't you dare stand her eand tell me when you see her cry or just see her you don't want to scope her up and kiss away everything you've done wrong. You can't tell me you don't Clark!."
"Now with tears of anger and frustration in his eyes he stand up to face here, "And what do I say Mack huh? I'm sorry doesn't work!"
Yelling back so it will penetrate, "No Clark but the TRUTH WILL! You want to be a whole person huh? You want to wake up in the morning with a sense of purpose, with your soul intact? YOU GO TO HER and YOU tell her everything she wants to know. YOU OWE HER THAT CLARK!."
"God I do.. I'm just scared. The truth isn't really normal.."he looks down then at her.
"Clark you could have a third eye and she'd love you just the same," putting her hand on his cheek and rubbing away the tear that escaped the asylum of lies and fear in Clarks brain, "Well hun maybe not a third eye..but a 11th toe." She smiles and hopes he joke got him to do the same.
Clark smiles and sniffles, "Your right lets go.."
"Where?" she says as he lifts her up the horse (she doesn't think twice about it anymore.)
" I'll drop you off at the Talon," he answers getting on to the horse and turning it around to head for home.
"Then? I mean what about Lana?"
"I have to shower before I tell her everything.. Its got to be perfect Mack. Hold On."
Mack grabs on and with that Clark goes full speed ahead to the farm.
::The Talon::
Clark drives the front, " See ya later Mack."
Lana heard the truck so she's watching from behind the doors.
"See ya Clark," with that she leans over and hugs him, "Good Luck!" She gets out of the car and leans into the window, "Remember man the truth, tell the truth and you'll be fine."
Clark slowly closes his eyes and nods in compliance, "Lets just hope it's as easy as you put it."
"Man. No worries you look into her eyes and you'll want to tell her your mother's secrets too.. Haha." She starts to walk to the door and sees Lana standing there looking pissed. Stopping dead in her tracks.
Clark yells, "Mack!"
Mack breaks her awkward stare with Lana and turns to Clark, "Yeah!"
"THANK YOU!" and with that he drives away.
Mack waves and enters the Talon. Lana isn't at the doors anymore and has retreated behind the counter.
Mack walks up with a smile, "Hey kid!"
"Hey?" Lana say with her stern-I-have-something-bitchy-to-accuse-you-of-face (anyone reading this knows that look lol)
Mack tucks her hair behind her ear and looks to the side, "Um yeah I said Hey."
"So how was your.." Lana made sure she articulated this word, "D_A_T_E?" she rounds the counter to deliver coffee to a table.
Following her with concern, "Date? Lana I just getting to know him so I could help you guys out. I don't know what your talking about! Did Chloe say something?"
Lana drops the coffee off and turns around into her forcing her to get out of the way. Lana returns to the back of the counter. "Bullshit!" she says a bit to loudly and realizes it, lowing her tone, "I saw you two on the horse looking really comfortable. And Yeah Chloe told me who much you two were flirting so much so that you didn't even notice she was there.."
Mack didn't have a rebuttal and she didn't no why……
"You say a lot when you keep your mouth shut!" She throws down a cleaning cloth and retreats into the back.
Mack follows and slams the door. Lana turns around, "Your not allowed to be in here! Get out."
Mack standing her ground, "Hell No Lana we are going to sort this out. Now If you stop being such a miss-trusting selfish bitch and hear me out. We wouldn't be causing a scene. I mean Christ Lana your customers come here for coffee. Not coffee and a reenactment of the latest O.C. episode! So sit and listen because, I'm going to tell you everything that happened this afternoon….."
::To be Continued yet again::
Previously on "New Perspective: Part 3"
"You say a lot when you keep your mouth shut!" She throws down a cleaning cloth and retreats into the back.
Mack follows and slams the door. Lana turns around, "Your not allowed to be in here! Get out."
Mack standing her ground, "Hell No Lana we are going to sort this out. Now If you stop being such a miss-trusting selfish bitch and hear me out. We wouldn't be causing a scene. I mean Christ Lana your customers come here for coffee. Not coffee and a reenactment of the latest O.C. episode! So sit and listen because, I'm going to tell you everything that happened this afternoon….."