a/n P&P still not mine, VM still not mine

Chapter 5

Within a short walk of Veronica's house, was the home of her best friend Cindy "Mac" Mackenzie. Sam Mackenzie had been formerly in trade in Neptune, where he had made a tolerable fortune selling recreational vehicles, atvs, and other expensive outdoor toys. The distinction of having done so well locally had perhaps been felt too strongly. It had given him a disgust to his business and instead of inspiring him to regional or national prominence, he instead quit the business entirely and had removed with his family to a house 90909 adjacent, and not too far a drive from the country club and beach. Unshackled by business, Sam occupied himself solely in being civil to all the world. And so, while not as rich or as ambitious as the standard '09er resident of Neptune he and his family were welcomed by them, for he was by nature inoffensive, friendly and obliging.

Natalie Mackenzie was the type of women to be the perfect neighbor to Mrs. Mars. Of similar station, and clinging to the edges of Neptune's high society, while Mrs. Mars was more effected and more often drunk, Mrs. Mackenzie was pretty without being beautiful, gracious, and generally welcomed in every social scene. They had three children. The eldest of them, a sensible, intelligent young woman, about twenty-four, Mac, was a computer prodigy and had just returned home to work on developing her own start up having lived several years in Austin, Texas working for thriving internet tech companies.

That the Mackenzie daughters and the Mars sisters should meet to talk over the start of the school year was absolutely necessary; and the week following the start of the semester, the girls found themselves all relaxing by the Mackenzie's pool.

"Your tech company may be getting a leg up, Cindy," said Mrs. Mars with civil self-command to Miss Mackenzie. "You were Mr. Kane's first choice to dance at Carmen's party."

"Thank you, but it is far too soon for me to discuss my business plan with anyone of Mr. Kane's ilk. Besides I think enjoyed his second partner better." Mac swam to the other side of the pool and under the water fall to escape the sun and Mrs. Mars. Veronica and Meg shortly followed her, leaving their mother opining to the air and her margarita.

"Oh!—you mean Meg, I suppose—because he danced with her twice…."

Meg frowned prettily. "Don't mind mama Mac, she means well."

"She means no such thing, and you know it," scolded Veronica, "she means for us to all be married, housewives, popping out babies and behaving like we were in Stepford. That said, Mac, are you sure we shouldn't learn more about the young," Veronica stole a quick glance at Meg, "and handsome, Mr. Kane? His father's company might be just the launching pad you need."

Mac shook her head, a bright pink streak escaping from her ponytail and landing in her eyes, she pushed it back with some vexation. "No, in start-up tech circles, Kane Software has a very bad reputation. While they pay their programmers decently enough, no one that works there is entitled to any share of their own intellectual property, and stories about how they have cut bad business deals and other shady goings on with start-ups are all over the place. I think I am best staying at home, and saving money, while I work out the kinks in the code…"

"Well, if you are sure, then of course I will not push the issue. How about we talk about something more interesting? Did you see who attended the party with Mr. Kane? Dick Casablancas." Veronica's blue eyes watched Mac sharply, she remembered before the Casablancas brothers moved away in high school Mac had a secret crush on Dick, while Cassidy had a not so secret crush on Mac.

Flushing Mac sought to quickly change the topic. "What about your own treatment at the party, Ronnie?" said Charlotte. "Mr. Echolls stating that you may be only just tolerable."

At this point Madison burst through the waterfall and sat on the ledge between the friends. "I beg you would not put it into Ronnie's head to be vexed by his ill-treatment; for he is completely hot, and completely rich, but if Ver-on-i-ca," Madison elongated her elder sister's name in sarcasm, "sees fit to not like him, then we shall all be forbidden to pursue his company. It is always that way with her. Oh no, Madison, you can't go to that party, Ram is failing English and got a DUI, you simply can't make out with him." Madison pretended to imitate Veronica and tilted her head, delivering her last statement in a sing song voice. "Ronnie you try to ruin all my fun, don't mess this up for us."

"Madison is not there a little mistake?" said Meg. "Ronnie was not stopping you from going to a party, she was stopping you from getting into a car with Ram, after he had been drinking, when he is a known risk." Meg, ever the peace-keeper, returned the subject to Mr. Echolls. "Mr. Echolls is our age, and already a celebrity in his own right, being a bestselling author, on top of his family's notoriety. I think it is perfectly reasonable for him being a little reserved in the face of so many strangers. Besides I did see him talking to Mrs. Bishop."

"Yes, because she asked him at last how he liked Neptune, and he could not help answering her; but she said he seemed very angry at being spoke to." Ronnie laughed at Mr. Echolls pride.

"Girls," Mrs. Mars shrill voice penetrated the waterfall, "do swim out from under there and join the rest of the group, it is very ill of you to be so antisocial at the Mackenzie's home."

Rolling their eyes, Meg, Veronica, and Madison dutifully swum back to their mother and the rest of the gathering.

Mac with a sigh for losing her solitude followed along, in time to see her father slapping hamburgers onto the grill. She almost swum back under, until she noticed him slide two large portabellas on the top rack. She wondered again why she was so different from her family, but was content in knowing they loved her, so she joined the large group on the sun ledge.

"Miss Kane told me," said Meg, continuing the conversation from the lagoon, "that Mr. Echolls never speaks much unless among his intimate acquaintance. With them he is remarkably agreeable, and I think it shows admirable restraint in a public figure to practice such reserve." Meg was use to over bearing public figures in her day job, and in her quiet reserve she differed greatly from most of her colleagues.

"I do not believe a word of it, my dear. If he had been so very agreeable, he would have talked to Miss Reyes. I dare say he had heard that Miss Reyes if from Chula Vista and is only at Hearst on work study and scholarships."

"I don't understand, what does her being on scholarship have to do with anything?" wondered Miss Lauren Mackenzie quietly, then more loudly, "but I wish he had danced with Ronnie, they would have made such an attractive pairing."

"Another time, Ronnie," said her mother, "I would not dance with him, if I were you."

"I believe, mama, I may safely promise you never to dance with him." While Ronnie was building a wonderful new friendship with Miss Kane, Lilly had also made it quite clear that Mr. Echolls was off limits to the female population of Neptune. One night over martinis and marbles (the latest trend at the hipster bar near campus), Miss Kane explained to Veronica that she had begun dating Mr. Echolls when they were just thirteen, and he had first come home for the summer from boarding school with her brother. She continued in a too loud voice to be confidential, that it was both families fondest belief that the pair would be married. Miss Kane for her part had no objection to such pairing, but until then, she intended to live life to the fullest; and with that she placed a sloppy drunken kiss on Veronica's lips. Ronnie felt no need to disclose this confidence to the party, but remained sure that even should Mr. Echolls not be such a proud man that she should never dance with him and tempt her new friend's wrath.

"His pride," said Mac, "does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there is good reason for it. He is a very handsome young man, with family, fortune, both from his family and self-made, and everything in his favor. I think he has a right to be proud." Mac herself had a good deal of pride, with a larger does of pragmatism, and wasn't about to call out the trait in another.

"That is very true," replied Veronica, "and I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine."

"Pride," observed Faith, who ironically prided herself upon the solidity of her reflections, "is a very common failing I believe..."

"Faith," her mother interrupted her abruptly, "why don't you be a dear and refill my margarita, I am sure no one cares about your observations on human nature." Faith's pale face pinched in displeasure, but she did not argue.

"If I were as rich as Mr. Echolls," cried Ryan Mackenzie, Miss Lauren Mackenzie's fraternal twin, emerging from the kitchen with chips and dip for the picnic table, "I would have an entourage, and drink a bottle of wine every day."

"Then you would drink a great deal more than you ought," said Mrs. Mars; "and if I were to see you at it, I should take away your bottle directly." Veronica winces internally, for it was the worst example of the pot calling the kettle black she had heard in a while, and was half sure that she would only take away Ryan's imagined hoard of wine to drink it herself.

Before long the conversation was curtailed by Sam Mackenzie announcing the lunch was ready, and all the ladies retired from the pool. Soon after, the Mars party made their good-byes and walked the few blocks back to their own home.