Wow, it's only been five days since I last updated. Aha, so I didn't get many reviews for the last chapter. Maybe because you guys are ignoring me for not updating so long. HAHA. But yeah, I think I'm developing new readers because of the emails I've been getting that say that someone has added this story to their story alerts and stuff. So yeah, if you could just leave a review on your way out, I'll be motivated to update faster! Enjoy. :D
P.S. I once again didn't read this over so don't mind the mistakes.
Masquerade
Chapter Seven
"What is it?" Macy questioned.
Stella held up a gift bag full of tissue paper. She continued to smile.
Macy motioned for the two to come in. They entered the living room. Frankie and Stella sat on either sides of Macy.
"Open it," Frankie urged her.
Macy looked at Frankie, then Stella, then at the gift bag in front of her. Her eyes seemed suspicious, but she was also curious to what it could be. It could be anything. There was only one way to find out. Open it!
She opened the bag and discarded the tissue paper inside it until she reached to the bottom, revealing this surprise. Macy just stared in the bag, not knowing what to say. She was speechless, and appreciated it, but she very much so didn't want anything to do with it.
"This is amazing, Stella, but I can't wear this," Macy sighed. "To be honest, I'm rethinking about going to the dance."
"But why?" Stella's face fell. "All our hard work, gone to waste."
"I know! I helped with this amazing dress," Frankie chimed in.
"It really is amazing," Macy took the dress out from the bag and examined it in front of her. It's exactly the dress she had pictured in her mind. Stella Malone is a miracle worker.
"Go try it on!" Stella pushed me off the couch. Not wanting to disappoint, I went up to my room with the dress and tried it on. Stella and Frankie rushed into my room. They brought me to my full length mirror and stood behind me.
"It looks beautiful on you," Stella's eyes sparkled. She had done it again.
"I know, too bad I'm not going to the dance," Macy told her.
"It's a shame this dress would be put to waste, though," Frankie thought aloud. "And not just anyone can wear this."
Macy stared at herself in the mirror. She's having even more thoughts about going to dance. Make up your mind already.
"I know what you guys are doing," Macy said.
"Yeah, but you shouldn't just not go to the dance because of Joe, he's an idiot," Stella reassured her.
"I know, but I don't have a date anyway," Macy tried to reason with Stella.
"Do not forget, Macy, there are no dates for this dance, so there's no reason you shouldn't be attending," Stella pointed out.
"That's true," Frankie agreed. "My brothers have been talking about this dance for the past few days."
"Right now, Frankie, you are my favorite brother," Macy announced and gave him a hug.
"Thank you," Frankie grinned. "And you look beautiful in that dress. You have no reason not to attend the dance."
"Yes, Macy, listen to the boy," Stella encouraged. "People are begging to see you in that dress, you were made for it! Well, actually, the dress was made for you, but you get the point."
"Fine, for you guys, I'll go," Macy gave in.
"Good!" Stella and Frankie answered in unison.
"I wish I could go to the dance with you two," Frankie sighed. Isn't he just the cutest thing?
"You're nine, Frankie, you'll have a chance to go to dances when you enter high school," Stella assured him, ruffling his curly hair.
Macy glanced at herself in the mirror again. She did look beautiful in that dress.
"Go change out of that dress, Macy, we're going out," Stella suddenly said. "We're going to the mall. You need to forget about what happened at the Lucas house earlier."
"Alright."
Macy pushed the two out of her room and quickly got changed into the decent clothes she was wearing before. She grabbed her wallet and cell phone and stuffed it in the pockets of her sweatpants. She headed downstairs into the living room and saw the pair watching television.
"'Kay, I'm ready," Macy smiled.
They headed out the door and entered Stella's car. Macy obviously locked her house doors first, though.
Stella drove, while Macy was in the passenger seat and Frankie sat in the back seat.
They got to the mall in a matter of fifteen minutes. The trio got out of the car and walked towards the mall's entrance. Once they were in the coolness of the air conditioning, they hit up some clothing stores first. They had a small shopping spree, and even bought Frankie some clothes as well.
"Can we go to Game Stop?" Frankie requested.
"Okay, and then we can go to the food court to get something to eat," Macy replied.
They went to the second floor of the mall, where they knew Game Stop was. The girls let Frankie look for video games while they were in Forever 21 right beside Game Stop.
When Frankie had finished with the games, he found the girls outside the store sitting on a bench, possibly gossiping.
"You bought a game?" Stella gestured to the shopping bag in Frankie's hands.
"Yup," He answered.
"With whose money?"
"Mine. Well, actually Kevin's, he gave me money," Frankie explained.
"Alright then," Macy said, "let's go get something to eat."
They took the escalator to get to the first floor, where the food court was.
"Uh, what do you guys want to eat? I'll buy," Stella offered, as the three sat at a vacant table in the middle of the food court. "Oh, you want to go to Taco Bell?"
"I can't go to Taco Bell," Macy said, "I'm on an all carb diet. God, Stella, you're so stupid!"
"Aha, Mean Girls moment," Frankie stated.
"Yup," Stella agreed, "but seriously, what do you guys want?"
"Um, would you like McDonald's?" Macy questioned the curly haired little boy.
"Sure," He smiled.
"Okay, so what would you like?" Stella asked.
"I'll have a double cheeseburger without pickles," Macy answered.
"And I'll have a Big Mac," Frankie replied.
"Alright, and I'll just get a regular cheeseburger," Stella said. "And drinks are two Cokes and one iced tea?"
"Yup," Macy and Frankie nodded. The two Cokes were for Macy and Frankie, while the iced tea was for Stella.
Stella left the table and stood in line at McDonald's, leaving the other two to talk.
"I know my brother's a jerk," Frankie told Macy. "But there's a reason for it."
"What's the reason?" Macy asked curiously.
"I can't really tell you, I overheard him on the phone with Stella the other day. Let's just say, he's acting like a jerk on purpose not to hurt you, but protect you."
"Protect me from what? It seems like he's purposely hurting me for his pleasure."
"Oh, Macy, only if you knew his side of the story…"
"But tell me, Frankie, what is he protecting me from?"
"Himself."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't say much. I already told you a lot."
"Okay."
"And to be honest, he was never a jerk, until this week."
"Well what's so special this week?"
"I don't know, but it probably has something to do with the masquerade."
"Don't lie to me, I know that you know."
"Okay?"
"But I'm just saying, I didn't do anything to him, so why should he be acting this way towards me?"
"Actually, yes, you did do something to him."
"But what? I've been nothing but a nice fan girl since the day I met him and your brothers."
"Well I know that, but," Frankie paused and grunted. "Ugh, you don't get it."
"Why don't I get it?"
"Like I said, you don't know the whole story. He's not a bad guy; I'm telling you the truth."
"I know he's not a bad guy, but the way he's acting gives that message across."
"I'll talk to him, and get this straight. But I can't promise that I'll tell you."
"Alright, fine."
Silence followed for a few moments until Stella got back with a tray of food. She sad down at the table and distributed the food each person specifically wanted. Same with the drinks.
"Well, let's talk about the dance for a while," Stella suggested, munching on her cheeseburger.
"Well, I still really want to go," Frankie said, sipping from his Coke.
"Stella told you, you'll get to go to dances when you're older," Macy reminded him.
"I know, but still."
"Stella," Macy began, "are we car pooling?"
"Mhm," Stella answered, "my brother will be driving us. I mean, I can't drive us to the dance. That's just… weird."
"Haha, at least you can drive," Macy replied. "I still don't have my license. Only my permit."
"Well, if it makes you feel better, I had to take three road tests before I passed," Stella confessed.
"I know that, you already told me," Macy smiled at her best friend's honesty. "But yeah, I've never took a road test yet, so I'll probably take it a week after the dance."
"Well, good luck to you and hopefully you'll get it on your first try," Stella smiled back.
"Thanks, maybe you could help me with my driving sometime," Macy suggested. They were best friends, weren't they?
They continued to converse and finish their food. When they were done, they threw away their garbage, walked around the mall some more before heading home.
They went to the Lucas home to drop Frankie off first. Stella and Frankie got out of the car and went into the fire house. Macy, on the other hand, decided to stay in the car and look over her receipts from the clothes and other items she bought that day.
Stella took about fifteen minutes in the house before she exited the firehouse and entered her car once again.
"Are you doing anything tomorrow?" Stella asked as she started the engine and went on the road on the way to Macy's house.
"No, probably just going to finish up on some homework, why?" Macy replied.
"I was going to have a movie marathon, but since you have homework, I'll postpone it to next week."
-x-
"Honestly, Joseph, you had to be that rude?" Nick yelled at his older brother.
"I didn't know she was there!" Joe defended himself.
"Oh, so you talk about people behind their backs?" Nick reckoned.
"No, but—" Joe tried to explain.
"But what?" Nick interrupted.
"Ugh, I can't explain it," Joe said. "And I don't think you'd understand anyway."
"Well, what Kevin and I understand right now is that you hate Macy for no apparent reason," Nick answered.
"Hey! I have a reason," Joe defended himself.
"Oh, so you do hate Macy," Nick said.
"You don't get it!" Joe yelled.
"Joe, stop yelling," Nick advised calmly.
"I can't stand you right now, Joseph," Kevin said.
"Can't stand me? Then sit down," Joe retorted.
Kevin went down a fire pole and probably got something to eat. He couldn't handle his brother right now.
"Look, Joseph, you need to control yourself," Nick said calmly.
"I know," Joe sighed. "I need to be totally honest right now."
"That'd be nice. I'd like to know why you're so mean to Macy. I mean, you don't usually act like this around her. You usually enjoy her presence."
"I have a huge confession to make."
"Go on…"