Hey everyone, I'm sorry it's been so long since my last update. I'm trying. Oh well, here's the continuation to that last, terrible cliffhanger, lol. Oh, and just so ya'll know, if I describe something about Mackenzie as fat or ugly in third person, it's basically just a representation of what she thinks of herself, not the way everyone else sees her. I'm trying to lead up to her deciding to make a change and I want to be able to relay Mackenzie's unhappiness with herself, so that ya'll understand that the change she makes is for herself. So, hope that helps to clarify.
Chapter Three: The Night Out Part 1
Mackenzie shook her head to regain her composure, "Closing time?" She looked around to find the cafeteria empty, save for on last frowning kitchen hand. She smiled nervously at the man before looking back at John, "Oh. Right. I must have lost track of time."
John just continued to smile down at her, making her very uneasy. 'What the Hell does he want,' she asked in her head. She let out a nervous, half-laugh, half-sigh before she turned to gather up her papers, "So…where did you come from? It's well past eleven. Why are you still here?"
John shrugged, "I always stay late. I take my time showering and stuff. 'Sides, I ain't got no where else to go," he explained. "I was walking by and the door was open 'an I saw you in here 'an was wonderin' why you was here so late too."
Mackenzie gave the 'Oh' look and then spoke, "Well, I would have been gone sooner, but I-"
"Lost track 'uh time," he smiled, "You already told me."
Mackenzie blushed, "Oh, sorry." She picked up her gathered papers and stood, "Well, thanks for snapping me out of 'work mode.' I better get going."
John Shrugged, "'Ight. I'll see ya around." He followed behind her and they both headed out the door as they said their goodbyes.
"Yah," Mackenzie smiled shyly as she made it to the door when she suddenly stopped, causing John to bump right into her. She turned to face him, embarrassed that she had caused him to make contact with her huge ass, "Sorry."
John looked at her strangely, not understanding why she was apologizing, "For what?"
She let out a small laugh, "Nothing…I just don't know where to go. Stephanie led me in here so quickly, that I don't know remember how to get back to the exit." She looked out the door and down the hallway on the left, "Maybe it was down this way…it looks kind of familiar…"
"Oh yah?" he chuckled, "Look to your right. I bet you a million bucks, that hallway looks familiar too. They're exactly the same, Mac."
'Mac,' she repeated the use of her name in her mind. She sighed as she looked left, "You're right." She was about to declare the hallway a good place to set up camp when she felt someone lightly take her elbow.
"C'mon, I'll walk you to the exit," John gently pulled her out the door and to the right.
'Der,' Mackenzie thought. Why hadn't she thought to ask him to do that? Because she was too nervous. No other member of the opposite sex had ever talked to her this long in one setting before. Well, not one this attractive anyway. Not one worth remembering.
'Why is he talking to me?' Mackenzie wondered as he guided her though the maze of hallways. 'Surely he realizes he has better things to do than to talk to someone like me. Clearly this is some kind of act of pity. He's just being nice. I mean, if any of his buddies were here, they'd no doubt ridicule him for this. That's it. I'm just a charity case in his eyes. Maybe someone dared him to be kind.' It wouldn't surprise her. It had happened several times in the past. Mac had grown used to it. She had grown used to the whispers and the pain. She was numb these days. Yet, when she thought about it, her eyes still stung with impending tears. She was rescued from her thoughts when John asked a question.
"So, what kind of music are you into?" John asked as they turned yet another corner. Mac really would have been lost had she not been helped.
"Um…uh…music?" Mackenzie stuttered at first, "I'm into a little bit of everything, actually." It was true too. Mackenzie liked everything from Neil Diamond to Fifty Cent. Her car and suitcases were stashed with cd's from all kinds of genres. She really loved music, however, her least favorite was country, not that she didn't have a Kenny Chesney cd in her car as well, because she certainly did.
"Cool. I like hip hop mostly. Obviously, right?" John continued to guide her.
"Yah. I kinda picked up on that," Mackenzie let out a nervous laugh. When she looked up they were turning another corner, and the double doors to the exit were in sight.
"Well, we're here," John pointed out the obvious as they reached the doors.
Mackenzie faced him and gave him a smile, noticing that his hand was still wrapped loosely around her elbow. "Great. Well, thanks for helping me get out of here. I guess I'll see ya next week." Mackenzie turned and pulled out of his light grip as she did so.
John gently reached out and friendlily took her elbow again, turning her to face him once more, "Yah, we'll probably see each other next week, but why not tomorrow night instead. Are you busy tomorrow, Mac?"
Mackenzie furrowed her brow and took a step back. She didn't know what his motives were, but her suspicions were up ten fold, "Listen, I don't know who put you up to this, but I'm not going to fall for this kind of stunt again. You can tell your buddies what ever you want but I-"
"What are you talking about?" John really just wanted to get to know her. He didn't understand, "Look, I dunno what you're thinkin' but nobody put me up to anything. Why would you think that?"
Mackenzie's throat went dry. He was telling the truth, he had to be. She attempted to explain, "I…it's just that…" she broke up and swallowed hard. She would not cry. She would not cry, "It's just that you came out of nowhere tonight and you were so nice and you helped me. It's just that I hardly know you and things like this have happened before, except they were just cruel jokes. I mean I'm used to it, but I want to try and prevent that from happening again." It came out shaky and fast, but it had come out none the less.
John stood there, holding in his contempt for the kind of people Mac had just described. "I didn't know, Mac." He took a step toward her, and she stepped back a little. This time he reached for her and pulled her into a hug. She tried not to get comfortable, but she couldn't help it. He was so warm and soft. It was like being hugged by a blanket. Besides, it had been so long since Mackenzie had last been hugged so well. She desperately needed it and that admission caused silent tears to slide down her face. She could hear John's voice and words rumble in his chest as he spoke.
"Look, I just wanna get to know you, okay?" he paused as he rubbed her back comfortingly, "I'm not asking for anything, just to be your friend. I mean, tomorrow night was just…Friends hang out, don't they? I figured we could get to know each other better, or somethin'-you don't have to come though."
Mackenzie swallowed her tears. She felt like such a fool crying in the arms of someone she barely knew. She figured she owed it to him, "No, no. I do like to make friends. I just-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions," she pulled away and shook her head in apology.
"It's ah-ight. Why don't I pick you up at your hotel? We'll go see a movie or somethin'. You like action movies?"
"Love them. Have you seen Hellboy yet?" Mackenzie tried to be more cheerful.
"No, but I was thinking the same thing," he smiled. That same sexy smile that caused Mackenzie to think of some very un-friend like things.
She cleared her throat, "Alright. Um, I'm at the Ramada in room 212. So, I'll see you around nine tomorrow night?" she was backing away toward the door.
"Yah, we'll catch the late show," he followed her. He was parked outside too, after all.
"See you then," she called from her blazer.
"See ya," he called back as he got into his white, Honda Civic rental.
The next day passed by too quickly for Mackenzie. She had been trying to get all of her work done by seven to give her two hours to get ready. She had to find out how she was going to dress casual, but look nice at the same time. After all, they were just going to hang out. They were just going to be friends. That's all it was. Then why did she feel so nervous and apprehensive?
She took a deep breath and calmed herself, then she made the mistake of looking up at the clock on the wall: 6:45. "Where did the time go?" Screw calming down, Mackenzie had to hurry up and fax the rest of these plans to Vince McMahon.
Thirty minutes later, Mackenzie had finally made it back to her hotel room. She ran to her suitcase and opened it up. What did she have…Kakis, jeans, polyester? She pulled out a pair of flares, "These will work for the bottom half, now what about the top?" She started rummaging through her luggage, looking for something slimming and comfortable, but something that also said casual. She came across a lacy pink number. She put it on and immediately took it right back off. Yes, it was comfortable and yes it was casual, but slimming, it certainly was not.
Mackenzie pulled out a dark blue tank and decided against it as well. It clung to her fat and it showed off her huge arms. No way could she wear that. She continued on like this for a good twenty minutes before picking a black lacy, long sleeved number. It was frilly and it looked kind of Goth, but Mac could counter that effect with her make up. She picked out a pair of black fuzzy flip flops and then headed to the shower.
Meanwhile, John signed his last autograph at 7:45. When the place closed, he said his goodbyes and headed out the back to his rental. He was stopped mid stride when Paul White caught up with him. "Hey man, you want to go get some drinks with me and couple of the guys?"
John shook his head, "Nah, man I can't. I already made plans, dawg."
"Oh yah? Got a hot date?" Paul laughed.
"Sorta. We're just friends though," John shrugged nonchalantly.
"Do I know her?"
"Maybe. Her name's Mackenzie Moore. She's one of the writers."
"Oh yah. Is she that fat chick?" Paul said, not really knowing he was being a jerk.
John's face got hard, "You must be talking about some other chick, because I ain't seen nothin' fat about Mackenzie."
Paul put his hands up in defeat, "Chill. I was trying to match a face with a name, that's all. She's got brown hair, right? Just started yesterday?"
"Yah, that's her. Look, don't be saying shit about her like that no more, alright? Mac's my friend, and people don't dis my friends. We cool?"
"Yah, man. We're cool. I'll see you Monday at the meeting?"
"Yah, I'll be there. Later," John walked away and got into his rental. He had to go take a shower and change his clothes. The guys had squirt him with Ketchup earlier. They'd pay for it later.
Thirty minutes later, John was stepping out of his shower and drying his hair. He picked out a pair of baggy jeans, some tennis shoes, and one his throw backs. He left the giant chain on the dresser and grabbed his keys, a hat, and sunglasses. He switched off the light and walked out the door, locking it behind him.
Mackenzie jumped when she heard a knock at the door. She was just slipping on her flops. She grabbed her purse and headed to the door. When she opened it, no one was there. She stepped out onto the sidewalk and looked left. Just as she was about to look right she felt two had grab her sides from behind.
"Boo!" John scared the Hell out of her and died laughing at her. She spun around and slapped his arms.
"You jerk! You scared the shit out of me!" Mackenzie yelled as she continued to attack him.
John shielded himself, "I'm sorry, don't hurt me!"
Mackenzie laughed out loud for the first time in a long while. This was easier than she thought, and to think, not moments ago she had been berating herself for acting like such a fool yesterday. She had been worried that she would be embarrassed and things would be awkward, but he had made it easier. He had broken the ice before it even had time enough to solidify.
Mac had finished beating him and now they stood there laughing. John was the first to cease, "You ready?"
"Yah. I just need to grab my purse and my keys," Mac said as she walked back inside, "You can come in for a minute if you want to. It might take me a minute to find them."
"Ight," John had followed her in anyway. He watched her as she bounded around the room in search of her keys. She talked as she did so.
"I've got the hotel key, but I can't find the ones to my rental," Mackenzie explained as she searched through her purse. John came up behind her and took her purse, then tossed it aside.
She looked at him with that 'What the Hell' look. He just shrugged, "You don't need 'em. I've got a car too ya know?"
"Okay, just let my grab my wallet-"
"You don't need that either," he said as he guided her to the door.
"But friends pay for their own stuff-"
"Blah, blah, blah. Not my friends," he countered as he switched off her light and locked her door. He pushed her out with a chuckle and shut the door as he exited.
Mackenzie just shook her head, "Well my friends aren't expected to pay for me, and they don't expect me to pay for them. Unless we've already talked about it-"
"Well, I usually pay for my friends, but if it makes you feel better, I don't expect you to pay for me," he smiled as he led her to his car. "C'mon, we don't wanna be late."
Mackenzie sighed with a smile as she got in on the passenger side. The white color of the car's interior clashed with the color of her shirt. However, her outfit complimented his dark blue jersey and that made her feel a little more comfortable. She sat back as he put the car in reverse and backed out. She paid close attention to the way he shifted gears and watched as her hotel became smaller and smaller in the distance.
Mackenzie was brought out of her stupor when John leaned over and sniffed her, "What perfume are you wearing? Smells good."
She started laughing, "You just sniffed me!"
"What!?!" he shrugged. "You smell good."
"I bet you say that to all the girls," she batted her eyelashes. "It's called Garden Blu, and it's cheap, fifteen dollar Avon perfume."
"Hey, fifteen dollars is a lot of money," John teased. "I didn't even wear any cologne because I'm too poor to buy any, you know? It's like, you go to Wal-Mart in search of affordable cologne and everything's over five bucks."
By this time, Mackenzie was out right rolling. Between laughs Mackenzie gave a good Hurricane impression, "What's up wit' dat?"
"We're here," he chuckled as he pulled into the parking lot of the drive in movie. He gave the machine his money and found a spot. Mackenzie was sitting beside him with a stunned look. "What's wrong?"
She smiled, "Nothing. I've never been to a drive in movie before, that's all."
"Yah, well…I try not to go anywhere that'll have a whole buncha people there."
"At least here, if someone recognizes you or draws attention to you, you can just speed off, right?" She laughed.
"Pretty much," he admitted. It was, for the most part, very true. "Here," he leaned over her when he noticed her trying to figure out the speaker. "Just pull it over this way. You can turn it up on this side."
"Oh." Mackenzie tried not to notice how close he was, or the heat that radiated off of him. She tried not to smell the light scent of his fabric softener or the soft smell of his soap, but she couldn't help it, and she found it dizzying. When he backed away the sudden chill brought her out of it. Thankfully.
"Looks like it's starting," John pointed at the screen as the previews started to roll.
Throughout the movie they exchanged comments on the scenes or joked around about Hellboy's tail. John said it must make for some interesting foreplay, and Mackenzie blushed and said, "I'll bet, but I'm not much for the Dominatrix stuff."
He laughed, "You wouldn't want to be tied down by a big red dude with his tail? Why not? I thought that was every woman's dream."
"Shut up!" she slapped his arm. He obeyed with a smirk and they continued to watch the movie in comfortable silence. When it was over, they pushed speakers out and pulled away. Mackenzie spoke up when he passed her hotel, "Hey, you missed the turn."
"Nah. I'm hungry and I figured you might be too. Wanna grab something before you back to your room?" he asked a little too late, on purpose.
"Well, it's not like I have much of a choice," she said with her almighty sarcasm.
"'Ey, you always got a choice. I mean, it ain't like I can't turn around, ya know?" he smirked.
"It's alright. I am a little hungry. Besides, we're supposed to get to know one another right? Since we're friends and all that happy crap."
John chuckled, "Yea. All that happy crap."