Chapter Eight: Momma
Mackenzie bit her bottom lip as she walked through the hall of the arena in Norfolk. She kept thinking back to the encounter she had last Tuesday with Jackie and Rene.
Flashback (I'm just going to write this like I normally do, and hope that I'm doing it right, lol. If not, then I apologize ahead of time).
Mackenzie watched the monitor with growing interest. She knew what the outcome would be, but she didn't like it. She hated seeing John…err…any of her friends get hurt or beat up. When Undertaker delivered the tombstone that ended the match, Mackenzie distorted her face. Taking a long sigh, she decided go and do a damage check.
On her way there, she bumped into Rene and Jackie. "Hey, Mackenzie! Where are you going in such a hurry?" Rene had asked.
"Oh…um…I'm just going to check on John. That's all," Mackenzie tried to sound indifferent.
Rene shrugged, "He'll be fine. His head is harder than you think." Jackie nudged him in the shoulder. "What was that for?"
"You shouldn't insult him in front of his girlfriend!" Jackie stated incredulously.
Mackenzie could feel her face growing red, possibly purple, because she couldn't seem to breath, and her throat constricted so that her words were a croak, "We're not-I mean-" she broke off trying to gain back some grounding, "John and I are just friends." She finally managed to sputter out her argument.
Jackie's eyebrows knit together, "Really? But you guys spend so much time together…"
"John's her trainer, babe," Rene budded in with a save.
"Oh, sorry about that, Mackenzie. I guess I don't know as much as I think I do sometimes," Jackie dropped the subject although she didn't believe one word of it. John may be her trainer, but that didn't explain all the time they spent together outside of the gym. Jackie kept seeing them around whether they were eating together in catering, talking in corners of the arenas, or walking each other to their cars-which were parked right beside one another all the time-she had witnessed for herself the chemistry between them. How could they not be an item? Unless…they were avoiding it…but why? Jackie looked up from her thinking trance when she thought she heard someone talking to her, "What?"
Mackenzie smiled, "I just said it's okay." She looked at both of them with curiosity, "So how long have the two of you been an item?" Mackenzie successfully changed the subject.
Jackie looked up at Rene, who was about to open his mouth in response, "Hey Rene, why don't you go get John. It's time for girl talk! You don't want to be here for it, trust me." Rene smiled and nodded his response as he headed down the hall toward John's locker room.
Jackie returned her gaze to Mac, "Well, in answer to your question, we've been together since yesterday morning. I wanted Rene to see some pictures we had taken together in England so I called him to meet me here. When he came in the door, he grabbed me by the waist and told me he was tired of pretending. Then he kissed me…a lot." She added the last two words with a wink.
"Wow," Mac tried not to laugh. She had known that something like that was bound to happen that morning, "That's great."
"Yah, I know. The funny thing is, we both wanted to get together for such a long time, and well…I guess I just finally got tired of fighting it, you know? I mean we both tried to avoid it for our own reasons, but when it came down to it-well, let's just say it was totally worth putting everything I feared on the line, you know?"
Mac's smile faded as she thought about herself and John, "Yah."
Jackie had picked up on it immediately, "What's wrong, Mac?"
"It's nothing-"
"C'mon. I know we haven't known each other that long, but I'd like for us to be friends. Tell me what's going on. Maybe I can help."
"It's just that I really wish that I could be that way with-"
"Hey Mac!" John's voice called out as he and Rene approached from the end of the hall, "Want to give a tired wrestler a back rub?"
Mac knew that Jackie could see her blush and was watching her very carefully as John enveloped her in a hug. Mackenzie forced herself to speak, "Well, I was coming to check on you, but you don't seem hurt at all."
John immediately jumped into an act as he faked a lower back pain, "No, really…it hurts. Ouch, and my neck too. C'mon, Mac, what do say? Do I get some therapy?"
"Only if you pay me."
"Friends don't make friends pay!"
"Who told you that crap! And besides, who ever said I was your friend?"
"Oooh, that hurts," John put a hand up to his heart. He then turned to Rene and started talking about something. Mackenzie had no idea what, because she and Jackie were too busy staring at one another. Jackie was putting it together in her mind as she read Mackenzie like a book.
The guys continued to talk as Jackie gave a slight glance toward John's direction, as if to announce the unspeakable truth. Mackenzie, needing to tell someone, gave a quick nod then slowly shook her head. Her gaze then became pleading, as if begging Jackie not to say a word.
Jackie let out a sigh and nodded in response. Right afterward, they returned their attention to the conversation between John and Rene just in time for them to hear them say they'd see each other later.
End Flashback
Coming back to reality, Mac looked up to see where her feet had taken her. What she found didn't surprise her. She looked on the door and read the names, 'John Cena, Rene Dupree, and RVD.' Shaking her head, she thought out loud, "Damn subconscious."
Deciding she might as well congratulate John, she raised her hand to knock on the door. Before she could actually knock, however, she rethought it. They both knew he was going to retain the title. It would seem like she was just making up an excuse-and she was-she realized. So, instead of knocking, she turned the other way and just kept on walking.
Stephanie had told her that she didn't have to stay tonight so Mackenzie decided, right then and there, that she wouldn't. She turned the corner just as John opened his the door to his locker room, bag in hand. He saw Mackenzie whip around the corner and decided to follow. He thought she was going to come by, but she looked like she was just going to leave. Oh well, maybe if he caught her they could hang out. "Maybe I could grow some balls…" he thought out loud as he reflected on last Monday night.
Mackenzie didn't notice John follow her out to the parking lot. She got into her car, and instead of starting it up like a normal person, she laid her head forward onto the steering wheel. She began to talk aloud to herself, "What should I do, momma? I'm so stupid. There's no way he…that we could ever…" she let out a sigh and inserted her key into the ignition, she now knew exactly where she needed to go: Home.
Her head shot up and she let out a scream when the passenger door opened and John sat down beside her, "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." When Mackenzie just stared at him with wide eyes, he shrugged, "So, where are we going?"
Finally coming out of it, Mackenzie just shook her head at him, "Nowhere you want to go, and besides, where do you get the idea that you can just sneak up on people and get into their car! You scared the shit out of me!"
John threw his hands up in defense, then tried to counter, "Yah, well, what about you?-Sneaking off without even congratulating me or saying goodbye. I mean, what the hell, Mac?"
Mackenzie sighed, "I'm sorry."
"It's alright. I'm not really mad," he smiled at her, "Now tell me. Where are we going?"
"I'm going to visit my mom in Virginia Beach," she smiled at his widened eyes, "I told you so."
"What do you mean? I still want to come," he shrugged.
Mackenzie looked aghast, "Why?"
"Why not? Might as well meet the woman responsible for raising such a wonderful daughter."
"That's it. Keep talking like that and I'm going to-"
John covered her lips with his index finger, "Shh. No more idle threats. Just shut up and drive, because I'm coming, and we both know you're not strong enough to force me out of this car."
Mackenzie shot him a look, "Okay, but my mom's a little crazy…especially when it comes to me and men. So don't say I didn't warn you."
John gave her a strange look, "Wait a minute. What about you and men?"
Mackenzie turned on the ignition and backed out, "She's always looking around for someone to hook me up with. Apparently she doesn't think I can do it on my own."
"Are you saying she'll think that we're…"
"Well, it's definitely a possibility. I mean, I've told her about you and that we're just friends and all that, but-"
"You told her about me, huh?" John cocked an insinuating eyebrow in Mac's direction.
Mackenzie pulled onto the freeway, "Well, I wasn't going to-I mean, because we're just friends, but she bumped into a friend of mine and…" Mackenzie continued to tell him all about her mom getting one of her best friends drunk and then pumping her for information.
"Whoa…is it too late to turn back?" John asked playfully.
In reply, Mackenzie locked the doors and shot him and evil look, "It's way past too late now, buddy."
Forty minutes later, Mackenzie was pulling onto Indian River Rd. John didn't catch the next road they turned onto, but the house number was 1024. Mackenzie turned to him before getting out of the car, "John, don't leave my sight unless you want my mom to corner you and ask all about your intentions…friend or otherwise."
John shrugged, "Well, since we're both going to be in the same place at all times…"
"I promise nothing," Mackenzie said with a small laugh.
"In that case, I'll take care of myself," John smiled, "and don't worry. I won't tell her anything about the hot sex we had on the beach."
"If you feed her any bullshit like that, I'll kill you!" Mackenzie promised.
John put his hands on her shoulders, "Mackenzie, calm down. I'm only kidding. I'll be good, I promise."
Mackenzie shook her head, "I'm sorry. I know you're just fucking with me. Just be yourself John. You've got no reason to try and impress her anyway."
John thought to himself, 'Maybe I don't have a reason yet…' He didn't say it though. Instead he simply nodded before they got out of the car and made for the door. Mackenzie rang the doorbell twice and just before she was about to ring it a third time, the door swung open.
At first, Natalie Moore was a bit more than just speechless. She was happy that her daughter was home, and then speechless at the man she had brought home with her. She blinked once then found the words, "Mackenzie! I'm so glad you came. I didn't know if you were serious about coming by or not. I see you've brought the Doctor of Thuganomics with you as well."
John tried to keep from smiling as he watched Mackenzie's face turn the brightest of reds, "He just came with me because he…" "Why had he come?" Mackenzie wondered as she glanced in his direction, "he wanted to meet the woman responsible for raising such a wonderful daughter." Mackenzie quoted him with a smirk. It was her turn to see him turn a fond shade of pink.
"Well, come in," Natalie unlocked the door and headed toward the kitchen, "Are you two hungry?"
John leaned close to Mackenzie's ear, "That wasn't funny."
Mackenzie let out a little snicker, "What was I supposed to tell her? I don't even know why you came."
"I came because I-"
"Hurry up you two! You're going to let all the Mosquitoes in," Mac's mother chirped from the kitchen as she scavenged through the refrigerator.
"Come on," Mackenzie led him to the living room which was basically adjoined to the kitchen. Mackenzie's mother smiled secretly at the two as she watched Mackenzie lead him to the couch. By the time Mackenzie joined her in the kitchen, she was beaming, but not for long.
Mac reopened the refrigerator door and used it as a shield incase John decided to look over. She pulled her mother close to her and spoke in hushed tones, "Mom, this is NOT what you thinking or hoping it is."
"What? You mean to tell me that you two haven't fallen madly in love and come to announce an engagement?" She asked her question while peering out from behind the refrigerator door and giving a huge smile and a wave to a very curious John Cena.
Mackenzie pulled her mother back behind the refrigerator door, "Exactly, and I'd appreciate it if you'd please reframe from embarrassing the hell out of me, okay?"
Natalie rolled her eyes, "Yes, dear. Now, help make something to eat. I mean, we have been 'looking' in the refrigerator for the past ten minutes. If we don't come out of it with something he might be crazy enough to think that it was all just a farce so that we could talk about him behind his back."
Mackenzie held back a laugh, "Alright. What do we have?"
Three hours later
Natalie Moore gave John a hug farewell and told him that he was a welcome guest and to come by whenever he felt like it. Mackenzie then turned to him and told him she'd be just another minute and that he could wait in the car if he wanted. She then handed him the keys and watched him get in the driver's seat.
Her mother turned to her, "Looks like he wants to drive."
"Yah," Mackenzie rolled her eyes then looked her mother straight in the eyes, "Mom?"
"Hmm? What is it, dear? I could tell, ever since you walked in that door, something was up."
"I'm worried."
"What about? You seem to be doing a great job at the WWE. You've made an excellent friend in John…"
"I know, but that's just it." Mackenzie let out a sigh, "I really don't want to be just John's friend. We've grown so close after these past few months, and it's constantly on my mind."
Natalie's face lit up, "Honey, that's great!" she said in a hushed whisper.
"No, mom, it's not 'great' at all! I mean, it's making me feel awkward about everything. I'm constantly paranoid that I'll do something to make him notice it or that I'll say something and he'll get suspicious, or-"
"Mackenzie," her mother interjected as she put on her serious, mother face, "Have you ever wondered why it is that you're even trying to hide your feelings from him in the first place?"
"Of course I have."
"Well, then you know that the worse thing that could happen is for him to not reciprocate those feelings."
"It might ruin our friendship or make things awkward-"
"No it won't. From what I've seen, he's a pretty easy-going guy. I don't think he'd be immature enough to let that happen. Besides, don't you want to know for sure?"
"I pretty much know for sure that there's no way he could ever feel the same," Mackenzie bit her lip.
"Why? Is he with someone?"
"No. It's just that he's so perfect. Mom, compared to him, I'm dog shit. Look at me. I've lost weight, but I'm still one-hundred and eighty-five pounds of flab."
"Honey, the scale may say that, but you don't look it."
"Mom-"
"Mackenzie, listen to me. You can look at yourself in a mirror all you want, but you'll never be able to see what everyone else sees. If you looked past your reflection, and into yourself you'd find out just how beautiful you really are. I'm not saying it because you're my daughter or out of sympathy, Mac. I'm saying it because it's true."
"Mom, I really don't think-"
"No. You're going to hear every word I have to say before you leave this porch," Natalie stared hard at her daughter before continuing, "You may weigh some one eighty-five, but you carry yourself well. Looking at you, I'd only guess at one forty, and besides, have you ever considered that John might not be that shallow? Maybe the Dr. of Thuganomics could be interested in you-not your stupid weight."
Mackenzie nodded her head, "You're right, mom. John isn't shallow, but I can't help but feel this way."
"I know, and I'm sorry for all that you've had to endure, but honey," she paused to move the hair out of Mac's face, "It's time to get past that. Leave all those dirty pranks that those bastards pulled and all of your insecurities in the past where they belong. If you let those things hinder you in your life then you allow them to win. Mac, for the sake of my sanity and yours, please, just let it all go and get that man that's waiting for you in that car."
Mackenzie cracked a smile, "Alright. I promise I'll tell him…when I'm ready."
Natalie gave her daughter one final hug and sent her on her way, "I'll see you next time you're in town, won't I?"
"Yes. Definitely. Bye, mom. I love you!" Mackenzie said as she opened the passenger door.
"I love you too, honey," and with that, her mother went inside and Mac sat in the car. She turned to face John and was met with a smile.
"You and your mom look alike," John spoke his observation, "but you're prettier."
Mackenzie blushed, looking away and out the window, "Thanks," she mumbled.
John started the car. He had noticed a lot about Mackenzie and her mother while they were there. He learned that Mackenzie had a dog, Max. He was a puppy and had come into the family after they had Mac's other dog put down for biting one of their houseguests. It had run away and got rabies, then came home that night, consequently at the same time the guy was leaving.
He also observed that she and her mother were an awful lot alike. Mackenzie had definitely inherited her sarcasm from her mother. Mackenzie was a bit softer spoken than her mother in some respects, though. John viewed that as a good thing. They also looked a lot alike.
Mac's mom had dark brown hair and brown eyes like Mackenzie, but she was shorter and kind of bony. Mackenzie on the other hand was fairly tall and filled out with curves in all the right places. John shook his head as he continued to drive. He stole a glance toward Mackenzie's direction as she stared out the window. He saw an exit for the beach and took it. Mackenzie didn't even notice. 'Good,' he thought. She did notice, however, when he pulled into a parking lot and stopped the car.
She looked over, "Are you tired? Do you want me to drive the rest of the way?"
"No, that's not why I stopped. It's only a thirty minute drive," he continued as he opened his door and got out.
Mackenzie stayed put. 'Maybe he has to pee,' she though. It was quickly cancelled out when her door was opened for her. "What are you doing?"
"Going for a walk. Want to come?" John offered his hand.
"I guess…" she said strangely as she took his hand and let him pull her up. They stood there in silence for a few moments before he shut the door. He didn't let go of her hand though, as he led her through the parking lot, over the security rails, and onto the beach.
DUN DUN DUN!! What will happen next???