It had been a month since the assignment in drama class had ended and Mackenzie had noticed that Jeff was acting a lot differently. After the slumber party she went to the library after school that Monday but he wasn't there and since then she hadn't really noticed him. She knew something was going on with him, but she didn't know what. She always tried to find time to get him by himself, but he was always around Dawn or the group. One day her wish came true and she got him after she came out of the bathroom during lunch. She walked up to him and stopped him.

"Jeff what is wrong with you? You told me to meet you in the library a month ago and you weren't there."

"Mackenzie I can't talk to you."

"Well why not?"

"Because we're not supposed to."

"Oh that bullshit rule? It's dumb."

"No, it's not."

"Well were you faking when you were talking to me a month ago?"

"No, but I just don't want Matt to find out."

"Oh my god."

"Bye."

He walked off and Mackenzie just stared at him in shock and walked back to the cafeteria and sat down and acted like nothing happened. After lunch she and Lisa went to their next class, which was math. Lisa noticed that something was wrong with Mackenzie, but decided to not press the issue. She knew how girls could get if pressured about something.

During class, Mackenzie passed Lisa a note. Lisa read it and it basically said that Mackenzie wanted to walk home by herself. She wrote back asking why and Mackenzie wrote back saying she needed some time to herself. Lisa understood and wrote back saying okay. When class got out Mackenzie went to her locker and got her sketchbook, the books she needed and left the school after saying goodbye to her friends.

She left the school and started walking and she didn't even notice the preps watching her. Jeff was watching her the most and she didn't even realize it. She left the school grounds and walked back to her house. When she walked in, she went straight to her refrigerator and pulled out some chocolate and went up to her room and started to eat it, while watching movies. She did her homework eventually and then ate dinner with her mom later that night and then went to bed. She didn't understand how she got through her life doing the same things over and over again. She would figure it out though.

Christmas Break had come and gone and it was January and everyone was back in school with new classes and things to tell their friends about. Mackenzie had spent her break hanging out with Lisa and the others and drawing in her sketchbook and talking with her dad in New York City. She really had nothing to tell them except with what happened with her and Jeff over the break and she wasn't about to tell them that. She didn't mean for it to happen and she was sure he didn't but it just happened one day. She had finally gotten the courage to go talk to him, so she went over to his house and lucky for her he was home alone. He tried to ignore her while she was talking to him but what she was saying to him made sense. He didn't have to pretend to be someone his brother wanted him to be just to fit in. Obviously Jeff had had some problems when he was younger fitting in and Matt took him in and told him what to be, how to dress and how to act. Jeff had gotten use to it, but in his heart he knew what he was doing wasn't him. Well during this conversation somehow Mackenzie lost her virginity to him but she didn't get pregnant. Since then they had stayed clear of each other.

"Hey Mackenzie come here," Lisa yelled across the hall.

Mackenzie walked over to her and they started talking and they looked at each others schedules. Yet again they had all of the same classes and Mackenzie swore it was a coincidence or fate or something of that nature. They went to their first class and sat down and Mackenzie was shocked to see Jeff and Dawn were in the same class too. Dawn was talking to one of her friends and Mackenzie looked at Jeff who was writing in his notebook. The late bell rang and the teacher walked in and everyone sat in his or her seats and looked at the teacher.

"Welcome back students and I'm happy to see that nothing happened to anyone. Now today we're going to get syllabi and the classroom expectations and rules. I want you all to take the syllabi and read it over with your parents and have them sign it and bring it back by the end of this week. Is that understood?"

"Yes," the class said in a monotone voice.

"Alright."

He handed out the papers and all of the students just crushed them into their binders and continued to pretend to listen to him talk. When he finished he let them do whatever they pleased and Mackenzie talked to Lisa.

"Man, I'm so glad to be back in school," Mackenzie said.

"You are," Lisa asked with a shocked face.

"Yeah. Being at home with my mom drove me up a wall. I wanted to go to New York to visit my dad but she wouldn't let me."

"Wow. I'm glad I got you out of the house as much as I could," Lisa said with a smile.

"So am I. I think I would've killed her if you didn't."

They started to laugh and Jeff and Dawn looked at them and Dawn turned her head and continued talking to her friend. Jeff kept staring at Mackenzie and she turned her head and continued talking to Lisa. When the bell rang, everyone got up with his or her books and left and went out to the hallway.

"So I was wondering did you want to go to Twilight Mournings after school," Lisa asked Mackenzie as they walked to their lockers.

"Sure. I've been dying for something sweet and a milkshake and some ice cream is right up my alley," she said with a smile.

"Cool. We're all going after school."

"Cool."

They went to their next class and when school got out they all met in the lobby and talked for awhile. Twenty minutes later they went to the parking lot and got into Lisa's car and drove off to Twilight Mournings. When Lisa parked, they all got out and walked in. Twilight Mournings was a hangout for everyone in the town, but only non preps went there. Twilight Mournings was covered in black, purple, and red satin and velvets. There were matching pillows on the floor in what looked like a communal living room where everyone could hang out. Mackenzie went straight to it and fell on the floor and everyone started to laugh at her.

"Hey Mackenzie you okay," a girl with short, curly blonde hair asked.

"I'm fine, Sierra. It's that school and all of those preppy people."

"Hey, it's our senior year so we don't have to worry about them next year," she said.

"Yeah you're right."

"Here Mackenzie," a girl with light brown hair said as she handed her a vanilla milkshake.

"Thanks Roxi."

"No problem. You look like you needed that. Besides Lisa told me you've been totally stressed out."

"Stressed out isn't the word. I don't know what it is."

"Hey, it'll get better."

"I highly doubt that."
Roxi just chuckled and walked away back to the counter she was behind. Mackenzie sat up and started to drink the milkshake and talk with Sierra and some other people she knew.

Two hours later, Matt, Jeff, Stephanie, Amy, Stacy, Torrie, and Dawn walked in and everyone looked at them. Roxi was in the back getting something and didn't realize that they had walked in. They all sat down on the stools and looked around.

"Hey Roxi you got some customers," Lisa said as she looked at them.

"Alright." She walked back to the front and looked at them. "How can I help you?"

"I ordered three gallons of ice cream a week ago. I'm here to pick it up," Matt said as he handed her a paper.

"Okay. Hey Shawn!"

"Yeah!"

"Come here for a minute."

"Alright." A boy with red hair walked to the front and looked at Roxi. "What do you need?"

"I need to go to the freezer and get some ice cream. Stay in the front while I go look okay?"

"Alright."

Roxi went to the back and Shawn looked at them.

"Hey, I want a milkshake," Stephanie said.

"Me too," everyone else said.

"Alright what kinds," Shawn asked.

"We all want vanilla and make it the right way, Shawn. Last time you fucked it up," Dawn said.

He just ignored the comment and got seven cups and Mackenzie and Lisa decided to help him. When they finished they put the tops on and gave them straws and Mackenzie gave three to Jeff, Matt, and Amy and Jeff looked at her as she did. As soon as they got their milkshakes, Roxi came back with three boxes of ice cream.

"Here you go. That'll be $29.50."

He handed her the money and they all left. Eventually Lisa, Nidia, Mackenzie, Ivory, David, Bubba Ray, and Devon left thanking Roxi and they all piled into Lisa's car. She dropped everyone off and when Mackenzie got dropped off she got out of the car and said she would see Lisa tomorrow and that she would call her tonight. Lisa drove off and Mackenzie walked into her house. She walked past the TV room and saw her mom sitting on the couch with a guy.

"Mom?"

She and the guy turned around smiled.

"Hi Mackenzie. This is Michael." Mackenzie stared at him and he got up and put his hand out to shake her hand and she just stared at him. Mackenzie looked at her mom in shock and shook her head and went upstairs to her room. Her mom looked up at Michael and he said he understood. He left and she went upstairs to Mackenzie's room. She knocked on the door and there was no answer. "Mackenzie are you alright?"

"What do you want?"

"Can I come in?"

"No."

"Let me just explain to you."

The door opened and Mackenzie looked at her mom with blazing green eyes. Mackenzie was fuming and her mom didn't understand either.

"How could you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You couldn't even wait could you? How could you do this to dad?"

"Your dad and I aren't even together anymore."

"You're separated but the divorce isn't even final until April. You couldn't wait until then? How long have you been seeing Michael?"

"Since your father and I decided to get divorced."

"And I'm now just finding out! That was over seven months ago!"

"Don't yell, Mackenzie."

"How could you? I hate you!"

"Mackenzie don't say things like that."

"I really do. You're disgusting."

"Well Michael and I are getting married in April."

"You mean he's going to be my step father?"

"Yes. Besides he's so much better than your father."

"NO ONE IS BETTER THAN MY DAD!"

Mackenzie slammed the door and her mom walked back to her room. That night everything was tense. Mackenzie, her mom and Michael went out to eat and Mackenzie didn't get dressed up. She just stared at Michael and thought of things to do to him to get him out of her life.

"So Mackenzie what do you like to do?"

Mackenzie just stared at him evilly and said nothing. Her mom looked at her and she just rolled her eyes.

"Mackenzie say something."

"Don't talk to me," she said.

She got up and walked to the nearest payphone and called Lisa. She picked up after three rings.

"Hello?"

"Hey Lisa it's Mackenzie."

"Oh where are you? My caller I.D. said payphone."

"I'm at a restaurant. Can you pick me up?"
"Sure what restaurant are you at?"

"Black Eyed Pea."

"I'll be there in ten minutes."

"Alright bye."

"Bye."

She hung up the phone and walked outside and waited for Lisa. She pulled up exactly ten minutes later and Mackenzie got in and she drove off.

"So what's up," she asked.

"My mom's getting married."

Lisa looked at her like she was joking. "Are you shitting me?"

"No. She's been seeing this man since my parents decided to get divorced seven months ago."

"Damn that's harsh."

"And now she expects me to become buddies with him like I've known him for the entire seven months."

"Well aren't you going to NYU after school gets out?"

"Yeah. My dad's already saved me a spot so I'm guaranteed to get in."

"Cool."

"And I'm not going to the wedding. You can forget that shit." Lisa chuckled and Mackenzie looked at her. "I'm serious."

"I know and no one says you have to."

"My mom will see to that. I'm not going."

"Okay girl. Chill. Hey why don't you stay at my house tonight?"

"Will your mom care?"

"She's on a business trip."

"Again?"

"Hey that's the life of a business woman."

"Okay."

"It's settled then," Lisa said with a smile.

They went to Mackenzie's house and she got all of her things and packed it in a bag and got back in Lisa's car and they drove to her house. When they walked in, Mackenzie put her stuff up and she and Lisa watched TV until they decided to go to sleep around eleven that night.

They woke up the next day at six to get ready for school. When they finished, Mackenzie was wearing a knee length skirt with a black tank top and some combat boots and Lisa had woven some flowers into her hair. Lisa was wearing a pair of big, baggy jeans with chains on them, a white tank top, and some DC's.

After they finished breakfast they left the house and went to go pick up the others. They drove to the school after that and chatted before the first bell rang. Mackenzie had told all of them and they all said some input their own opinions and how wrong it was for her mom to do that.

The first bell rang and they all walked inside with the rest of the school and went to their lockers. Lisa and Mackenzie went to their first class and sat down and went through the regular school day.

When school got out, they all decided to sit down in the lobby as usual and just talk. Mackenzie got up at one point and went to the bathroom. While she was washing her hands, Dawn walked into the bathroom and looked at Mackenzie. She had Stephanie, Torrie, Stacy, and Amy with her.

"What do you guys want," Mackenzie asked.

"Listen here, Mackenzie. You better stay away from Jeff," Dawn said.

"Yeah. He's off limits," Torrie said.

"Okay? I don't like Jeff and I hate his guts anyway."

"Sure you do, but listen you better stay away from him. He's mine and besides I'm having his baby," Dawn said.

"Congratulations."

"Don't be smart or sarcastic, Mackenzie."

"Who said I was? I'm serious. But… um… just to let you know, Dawn. With a baby come stretch marks, weight gain, pain, no sleep, and no time for yourself. So if you're serious about this baby, then you might wanna become less selfish. Or are you having this baby to trap Jeff, not that I would care what you do with his baby. Excuse me."

She walked off and Stacy, Torrie and Amy looked at Dawn as they let what Mackenzie said sink in. As soon as Mackenzie got back to her group, Dave looked at her.

"Are you okay," he asked.

"I'm fine."

"Well I saw Stacy, Torrie, Amy, and Dawn go to the bathroom. I thought they did something to you," he said.

"Nope, well they tried to but they didn't scare me."

"Oh."

"Thanks for looking out for me though. You're like the big brother I never had," she said.

"Hey I'm like that with everyone."

They all started to laugh and Mackenzie saw Dawn take Jeff over to a corner and started talking to him. They eventually got up and got into Lisa's car and drove off. When Mackenzie got to her house she looked at it and sighed. She walked in and her mom was talking on the phone and she sounded hysterical.

"Well I don't know where she could've gone. She never came back into the restaurant and she hasn't been home since last night. Oh, my God here she is. She just walked in. Okay bye and thank you." Her mom hung up the phone and looked at Mackenzie. "Where were you last night, young lady?"

"I had Lisa pick me up and I spent the night at her house and if you want I can gladly do it again too."

"Mackenzie, why didn't you tell me?"

"Like you would've understood anyway."
"Is this about Michael?"

"No, it's not about Michael," she said sarcastically.

"Why are you so upset about him?"

"Mom you decide to tell me seven months after you're going out with him that he's going to be my step father and you want to know why I'm so upset about him? What kind of question is that? And I'm not going to the wedding either and when I go to NYU don't be expecting any visitors at all. And you better not visit me either."

"Mackenzie you're overreacting. When Michael and I get married you'll change your mind."

"And you're living in a fantasy world, mom. I'm not going to change my mind about a guy I don't even know and probably don't like."

"Oh I give up, Mackenzie."

Mackenzie walked up to her room and two hours later she heard a door close and her mom's car drive off. She sighed and got the phone and called her dad. He picked up after two rings.

"Hello?"

"Hi daddy."

"Hey Mack. How are things going?"

"They're okay."

"How are your friends?"

"They're good."

"That's good," he said.

"Yeah I guess so."

"Mackenzie what's wrong? You sound upset."

"Did you know that mom has a boyfriend?"

"Yeah I knew. I know she's marrying him too after the divorce is final."

"Why didn't you tell me daddy?"

"I don't know sweetheart. I didn't want you to find out that your mom cheated on me."

"She did? With him?"

"Yeah. She's never really been that caring about anyone else. I'm just glad you didn't come out that way."

"Do you know why she cheated on you?"

"She told me that she felt trapped and…"

"And what?"

"Mackenzie your mom never wanted you. We were newlyweds when she became pregnant with you and we didn't have a lot of money at the time. So she wanted to give you up for adoption but I told her that I couldn't do that to my first child so I convinced her to keep you."

"Well then why did she bring me here if she never wanted me?"

"Your mom's a weird woman. I never understood it myself. I wanted to keep you and get full custody but since your about to turn eighteen it won't really matter."

"Yeah."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm glad you told me. She wouldn't have told me anyway."

"Yeah. Okay but enough of this misery what about you? Have you found a boyfriend yet?"

"No. I'm just trying to get through school and then I'll worry about those. What about you? Any new girlfriends?"

"I've been going out to dinner with this one woman. I think you'd like her. Her name's Quinn."

"Wow cool. What does she look like?"

"She's got curly hair just like you and she wears it just like you do. She's into vintage clothes just like you. Basically she's just like you."

"Oh I hope not. You don't want two Mackenzie's running around."

"Wouldn't bother me one bit," he said with a smile.

"How long have you guys been going out?"

"Almost a month."

"Is it serious?"

"I think so," he said.

"Do I get to meet her?"

"Yeah. When I come out for your graduation."

"Oh great. Well I'll let you go because I have to call Lisa."

"Okay and you tell her I said hi."

"I will. Bye daddy and I love you."

"I love you too, sweet pea."

She hung up and smiled to herself and called Lisa and they talked for an hour. After that she got off the phone and at the same time her mom walked in. Her mom walked into her room and looked at Mackenzie.

"Can't you knock," Mackenzie asked as she put the phone on the charger.

"Who were you talking to?"

"Lisa. I talked to dad earlier and I found out a lot of stuff about you."

"What did he tell you?"

"That you never wanted me. You wanted to put me up for adoption. If you didn't want me mom why did you bring me here?"

"I wanted to get you away from your father."

"What? Why?"

"Because he's a bad influence on you."

"A bad influence? Like how?"

"When I found out I was having a girl I wanted to show her things that I experienced as a little girl. But your father was so into this vintage thing that he turned you onto it."

"So basically he's a bad influence because of the style of clothing he liked? What kind of lame excuse is that mom?"

"That's not entirely it, Mackenzie. He use to do things to his body and I was afraid that you would pick up on it."

"Like what?"

"When we got married I noticed that he would cut and burn himself. Like it was an adrenaline rush for him. So I convinced him to get some counseling so he would stop. I told him if he didn't then I would give you up for adoption. He couldn't bear to see his first child go to another family so he did it."

"Mom I'm not going to cut myself if that's what you're afraid of. God you can be so stupid, you know that? You make me sick to my stomach literally. Oh I can not wait until I graduate because you'll never see me again."

"Mackenzie please don't say things like that. Can you at least come to the wedding? I would really like for you to be there. It would mean a lot to me and Michael."

"Oh who cares about Michael?"

"I do and he's a good role model."

"Whatever." Mackenzie looked at her mom and then something came to her mind. "Alright, I'll go the wedding as long as all of my friends can come too."

"Your friends?"

"Yeah. Lisa, Nidia, Ivory, David, Bubba Ray and D-von. If they can come I'll go."

"Sure. As long as it gets you there."
She walked out of the room and Mackenzie called Lisa and told her what she had done and she told Lisa to relay the message to everyone.