In the days following the closet incident, Mackenzie found himself in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. On the one hand, he couldn't stop thinking about those intimate moments shared with Bingo, the warmth of her hand, the sincerity in her words. On the other, guilt gnawed at him every time he saw Bluey.
Determined to clarify his feelings and reaffirm his commitment to Bluey, Mackenzie planned a special date. He wanted to remind himself why he had fallen in love with her in the first place, and hoped that a romantic evening might dispel the doubts that plagued him.
On Friday evening, Mackenzie showed up at the Heeler's house. When Bluey opened the door, Mackenzie felt her breath catch. She was wearing a blue dress that set off the color of her coat and a beaming smile that lit up her whole face.
"Wow, Bluey," Mackenzie said, genuinely impressed. "You look beautiful."
Bluey blushed slightly. "Thank you. You look very handsome yourself."
As they walked away from the house, Mackenzie couldn't help but notice Bingo looking out his bedroom window. For a moment, their gazes met, and Mackenzie felt a pang of... guilt? longing? He shook his head, determined to focus on Bluey and the night he had planned.
"Where are we going?" asked Bluey excitedly as they walked through the streets of Brisbane.
Mackenzie smiled mysteriously. "It's a surprise. But I think you're going to like it."
They walked for a few more minutes until they came to a small Italian restaurant tucked away on a side street. The place was cozy and romantic, with dim lights and intimate tables for two.
"Oh, Mackenzie," Bluey exclaimed as they walked in. "It's lovely."
The waiter led them to their table, one located in a quiet corner of the restaurant. Mackenzie helped Bluey sit down before taking her own seat.
"How did you discover this place?" asked Bluey, looking around admiringly.
"I found it by pure luck a few weeks ago," Mackenzie explained. "I thought it would be perfect for a special date with you."
Bluey smiled, reaching for Mackenzie's hand on the table. "It's perfect. Thank you, honey."
As they ate dinner, they talked about everything and nothing. They talked about school, their plans for the future, shared memories of their childhood. Mackenzie found herself relaxing, genuinely enjoying Bluey's company. Her laughter, her intelligence, everything about her. they ate dinner, they talked about everything and nothing. They talked about school, their plans for the future, shared memories of their childhood. Mackenzie found herself relaxing, genuinely enjoying Bluey's company. Her way of looking at the world...it all reminded him of why he had fallen in love with her.
However, in the quiet moments, when Bluey was concentrating on her food or looking around the restaurant, Mackenzie's thoughts inevitably returned to Bingo. She wondered what he was doing at that moment, if she was thinking about him. She felt guilty about these thoughts, but she couldn't help them.
Mackenzie felt a pang of guilt. Had it been that obvious? "I'm sorry, Bluey. I've been a little stressed with exams and all. But tonight's just for us, I promise."
Bluey nodded, apparently satisfied with the explanation. Dinner continued without incident, and by dessert, Mackenzie felt more relaxed and present. As they shared a tiramisu, Bluey proposed an idea.
"You know what would be fun?" she said with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
As Mackenzie and Bluey finished their dessert, the lights in the restaurant dimmed slightly and a familiar tune began to play over the speakers. The opening strains of "Concerts of Silence" filled the air, bringing back a flood of memories.
Bluey looked up, her eyes sparkling with recognition. "Oh, Mackenzie! Do you hear that? That's our song."
Mackenzie smiled, feeling a mixture of nostalgia and nervousness. "Yes, it is. What a coincidence, huh?"
Actually, it wasn't a coincidence at all. Mackenzie had specifically asked the restaurant staff to play this song at some point during the evening. It was part of her plan to make the evening special, although now, with all the conflicting emotions she was feeling, she wondered if it had been a good idea.
Bluey rose from her chair, extending her hand toward Mackenzie. "Shall we dance? Just like old times."
For a moment, Mackenzie hesitated. Dancing with Bluey would mean being close to her, holding her in her arms. Could he do it without his thoughts drifting to Bingo? But seeing the anticipation in Bluey's eyes, he knew he couldn't refuse.
"Of course," he replied, taking her hand and standing up.
Music begins to play softly in the restaurant. Mackenzie and Bluey look at each other, a spark of recognition in their eyes. Wordlessly, Mackenzie stands up and extends her hand toward Bluey. She takes it, their fingers intertwining naturally.
They make their way to the small clear space near their table. Mackenzie places his hand on Bluey's waist, while she rests hers on his shoulder. Their bodies move closer, finding a comfortable and familiar position.
Estaba sola y sin saberlo
( I was alone without knowing it )
Sentí amor sin entenderlo
( I felt love without understanding it )
Antes de hallarme ante tu voz
( Before I found myself in your voice )
La de la voz que abarca mares
( The voice that spans oceans )
La dulzura y las ciudades
( Sweetness in the cities )
Hoy me abarca a mí
( Today it encompasses me )
As they danced, Mackenzie couldn't help but notice how good it felt to hold Bluey in her arms. Her warmth, her familiar scent, the softness of her fur? it all reminded her of why he had fallen in love with her in the first place.
"Do you remember the first time we danced to this song?" asked Bluey, her voice soft and nostalgic.
Mackenzie nodded, a smile forming on his lips. "How could I forget. It was at the elementary school dance. I was so nervous I stepped on your toes at least three times."
With the first few verses, they begin to move slowly. Their steps are small at first, almost timid. They turn softly, their gazes connecting, communicating without words. Bluey prepares her lips to kiss him.
Bésame
( Kiss me )
Tu canción
( With your song )
Dulce como el alma de tu voz
( Sweet as the soul of your voice )
However Mackenzie had seen Bingo's face. He quickly turned his head away from the kiss. Bluey must have noticed the change in her expression, because she frowned slightly. She kept up the dance though so as not to ruin this beautiful moment. "Are you all right, Mack? You seem... distant." She asked a little nervously.
Mackenzie tried his best to smile, trying to push the conflicting thoughts away. "I'm fine, I was just...thinking about how much we've been through together."
Bluey nodded, but Mackenzie could see a shadow of doubt in his eyes. However, she didn't press the issue any further and they continued dancing.
Afinar (afinar)
( Tuning (tuning)
Mi caminar (mi caminar)
( My walk (my walk)
Cantándome los versos de tus besos
( Singing me the verses of your kisses )
En un concierto de silencios
( In a concert of silences )
As the chorus arrives, their movements become more fluid. Mackenzie leads Bluey in a smooth turn, her blue dress billowing with the movement. When they come together again, they are closer than before.
Their bodies move in perfect synchronicity, as if they have rehearsed this dance a thousand times. Mackenzie leans Bluey back slightly, holding her securely. She trusts him completely, letting herself go.
Hacerme a orillas de tu día
(;Make me at the shores of your day )
Hallar la octava maravilla
( Find the eighth wonder )
A la vuelta de tu oreja
( Around the curve of your ear )
In the softer part of the song, their movements become more intimate. They dance cheek to cheek, their bodies so close they seem as one. Bluey closes her eyes, lost in the moment and in the music.
For a moment, the world seemed to fade around them. Only the two of them existed, moving to the rhythm of the music, lost in the memories and intimacy of the moment.
But then, like a flash of lightning in a clear sky, the image of Bingo appeared in Mackenzie's mind. He remembered the warmth of her hand in the closet, the sincerity in her eyes as she confessed her feelings to him. Guilt washed over him again, threatening to ruin the moment.
Bésame
( Kiss me )
Tu canción
( With your song )
Dulce como el alma de tu voz
( Sweet as the soul of your voice )
As the song continued, Mackenzie found himself struggling internally. On the one hand, being this way with Bluey felt right. She was the best person he had ever imagined spending the rest of his life with. But on the other hand, the feelings discovered for Bingo were still there, impossible to ignore.
"You know? This song always makes me think about the future," Bluey said suddenly, snapping Mackenzie out of his thoughts.
"The future?" he asked, intrigued.
Bluey nodded, a slight blush tingeing her cheeks. "Yeah, you know...us, together. I always imagined that someday we'd dance to this song at our wedding."
Si te sientes desolada
( If you feel desolate )
No quiero que te olvides jamás
( I don't want you to ever forget )
Que mi orquesta de cariño
( That my orchestra of affection )
Es tuya (es tuya)
( Is yours (is yours)
Bluey's words fell on Mackenzie like a bucket of cold water. Wedding. Future. Engagement. All those things that until recently had seemed so clear and desirable, now felt complicated and confusing.
"Bluey, I..." began Mackenzie, not really knowing what to say.
Navegando tu frontera
( Navigating your frontier )
Consigues que me ancla tu vela
( You manage to anchor me with your sail )
Y me enredo entre tus olas de arena
( And I get tangled in your waves of sand )
When the song intensifies again, Mackenzie spins her around once more. This time, when Bluey returns to her arms, there is a new energy in her movements. They dance with more passion, their steps longer and bolder.
Their feet move nimbly across the floor, tracing invisible patterns. Mackenzie guides Bluey in a circular motion, then draws her back to him. Their tails brush, adding another level of intimacy to their dance.
Bésame
( Kiss me )
Tu canción
( With your song )
Dulce como el alma de tu voz
( Sweet as the soul of your voice )
Afinar (afinar)
( Tuning (tuning)
Mi caminar (mi caminar)
(;My walk (my walk)
Cantándome los versos de tus besos
( Singing me the verses of your kisses )
En un concierto de silencios
( In a concert of silences )
As the song nears its end, their movements slow down. They return to that gentle sway of the beginning, but now there is a palpable tension between them. Their breaths are slightly agitated, their hearts beating in unison.
Navegando tu frontera
( Navigating your frontier )
Consigues que me ancla tu vela
( You manage to anchor me with your sail )
Y me enredo entre tus olas de arena
( And I get tangled in your waves of sand )
La de la voz )
( With the voice)
On the last notes of the song, Mackenzie tilts Bluey in a final motion. He holds her there for a moment, their faces inches apart. There is an unspoken question in both of their eyes, an unspoken desire. But in that crucial instant, as their lips were about to meet, Mackenzie's mind betrayed him. In a barely audible whisper, he murmured a name he shouldn't have mentioned.
"Bingo..."
It was barely a whisper, but in the silence that followed the song, it sounded like thunder. Bluey's eyes widened, a mixture of confusion and pain quickly replacing the love that was in them seconds before.
"What...what did you say?" asked Bluey, her voice trembling slightly as she straightened up, pulling away from Mackenzie's embrace.
Mackenzie, realizing his mistake of blunder, he tried to rectify, "Bluey, I...I don't know why I said that. It doesn't mean anything, I swear."
But it was too late. The damage was done. Bluey took a step back, shaking her head in disbelief. Not judging her, though. Even he hadn't believed what he had said.
"It doesn't mean anything, you just called me by my sister's name and you tell me it doesn't mean anything?" Bluey's voice rose, drawing a few curious glances from nearby tables.
"Bluey, please let me explain," Mackenzie pleaded, aware that they were creating a scene but more concerned about the hurt expression on her girlfriend's face.
"I don't want to hear it," Bluey replied, her voice cracking. "I can't...I can't be here right now."
Without another word, Bluey turned and ran out of the restaurant, leaving Mackenzie standing alone on the improvised dance floor, under the reproachful glares of the other diners.
Mackenzie stood there for a moment, stunned by what had just happened. Then, reacting, he ran after Bluey, but when he stepped out into the street, she had already disappeared into the Brisbane night.
With her heart heavy and her mind in a whirl, Mackenzie began to walk aimlessly through the city streets. The night she had planned so carefully, the night that was supposed to reaffirm her love for Bluey, had turned into a total disaster.
As he walked, Mackenzie couldn't help but reflect on how he had gotten to this point. How had he allowed his feelings for Bingo to grow to the point of sabotaging his relationship with Bluey? Was he really in love with Bingo, or was it just a passing attraction amplified by the thrill of the forbidden?
He sat on a bench in a nearby park, his head in his hands. He remembered all the happy moments he had shared with Bluey over the years. Their first date, their first kiss, all the adventures they'd had together. And how he'd sent it all to hell because of one mistake.
But then he thought of Bingo. Her sweetness, her unique way of seeing the world, how she made him laugh with her witticisms. And in that moment in the closet, when their hands touched and he felt that undeniable spark. What? He's still a teenager, and to think he's the healthiest of the group. Someone else would have capitalized on the moment.
Mackenzie realized he was at a crossroads. He needed to make a decision, and soon. It wasn't fair to Bluey, nor to Bingo, nor to himself to remain in this ambiguous situation.
In the meantime, Bluey had run non-stop until he reached his house. She rushed in like a whirlwind, ignoring her parents' concerned questions, and locked herself in her room. She threw herself on the bed, the tears she had been holding back finally flowing freely.
How could Mackenzie have done this to her, how could she have mistaken her name for Bingo's? The idea that Mackenzie could have feelings for her sister was too painful to contemplate.
"Bingo!" Bluey shouted. She had to see her. She had to ask her if she had feelings for Mackenzie.
"Bingo went to Lila's house. She'll come back later." Chilli replied.
"And I hope she's not going to be out for long." Bluey mentioned.
A few hours passed, and Bluey went to her room, alternating between crying and quiet rage. When she finally calmed down enough to think clearly, she realized she needed answers. Just not to take her anger out on Bingo.
With determination, Bluey got out of bed and left her room. It was late, but she knew Bingo would still be awake.
Time passed and Bingo had arrived. Who was a bit tired as she had played trumpet with Lila. And to think that Bluey suspected Bingo of being a lesbian. I would have preferred her to eat empanadas rather than hot dogs.
Bingo hurried into her room and closed the door. Bluey stood in front of her sister's bedroom door, her heart pounding. He took a deep breath and knocked softly.
"Come in," Bingo's voice answered from inside.
Bluey entered the room, finding her sister sitting on the bed, reading a fanfic on her phone. Bingo looked up, surprised to see Bluey.
"Bluey? I thought you were on a date with Mackenzie, what's wrong, have you been crying?"
The concern in Bingo's voice almost made Bluey recoil. But he needed to know the truth.
"Bingo," Bluey began, her voice trembling slightly. "I need to ask you something, and I need you to be completely honest with me."
Bingo nodded, setting his book aside and patting the bed, inviting Bluey to sit down. Bluey moved closer, but remained standing.
"What's going on with you and Mackenzie?"
The question hung in the air between them. Bingo paled visibly, his eyes widening.
"I...I don't know what you mean," Bingo stammered, but his reaction had already confirmed Bluey's suspicions.
"Please, Bingo," Bluey pleaded. "I need to know. Tonight, during our date, Mackenzie called me by your name. And come to think of it, he's been acting weird lately, especially when you're around. So I'm asking you again: what's going on between you two?"
Bingo looked down, unable to meet his sister's accusing eyes. After a moment of tense silence, she finally spoke. "I'm so sorry, Bluey. I never meant for this to happen. Nothing ever happened between us.
"So?" Bluey asked.
"I think I've fallen in love with Mackenzie." Replied the Heeler.
Bingo's words were like a dagger in Bluey's heart. She staggered backwards, leaning against the wall to keep herself upright.
"How...how could you?" whispered Bluey, tears returning to his eyes. "He's my boyfriend, Bingo-my boyfriend!"
"I know, I know," Bingo said, getting up from the bed and moving closer to his sister. "And I hate myself for feeling this. I've tried to ignore it, I swear. But I can't control how I feel."
"What about Mackenzie, does he also...?" Bluey couldn't finish the question, the pain in her voice palpable.
Bingo hesitated for a moment before answering, "I don't know. There was a moment... where I felt that maybe he felt something too. But he never said anything explicitly."
Bluey slid down the wall until she was sitting on the floor, overwhelmed by the revelation. Bingo knelt in front of her, tears running down his own cheeks.
"Bluey, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. You're my sister and I love you. If I could change how I feel, I would do it in an instant."
Bluey looked up, meeting her sister's teary eyes. She wanted to be angry, wanted to hate Bingo for this. But seeing the pain and guilt on her little sister's face, she felt only deep sadness.
"What are we going to do now?" asked Bluey, her voice barely a whisper.
"I don't know," Bingo answered honestly. "But whatever it is, it has to be your decision, Bluey. Mackenzie is your boyfriend. If you want me to walk away completely, I will. I'll do whatever it takes to fix this."
Bluey closed her eyes, trying to process everything. Her world had been turned upside down in a matter of hours. Her boyfriend, whom she loved deeply, apparently had feelings for her sister. And her sister, her best friend since forever, was in love with him.
"I need time," Bluey finally said, standing up. "I need to think about all this."
Bingo nodded, respecting his sister's need for space. "I understand. Take all the time you need. And Bluey... I'm really sorry."
Bluey looked at her sister one last time before leaving the room. As she walked back to her own room, she realized she had a difficult decision ahead of her. Could she forgive this betrayal? Could she trust Mackenzie again? And how would this affect her relationship with Bingo?
Meanwhile, in the park, Mackenzie had come to a conclusion. He couldn't go on like this, hurting the people he cared about most. He needed to be honest, with Bluey, with Bingo, and with himself. Tomorrow, he decided, he would talk to both of them. He would tell them the truth about his confused feelings and accept the consequences of his actions.
What's the worst that could happen?
_
I honestly loved this chapter. It was one of the most difficult ones, and I'm not saying that because of the amount of words ( they were few ) without a doubt, writing dance scenes is more difficult than I thought. And the translation to English was very stressful ( I didn't even check it properly ).
I'm satisfied with what I achieved though. It was quite fun to do.
The song I used was the Spanish translation of an Italian song ( Concierto de Silencios ). Although most Hispanics may have heard it on the show "Club57". Trying to find the right words to translate the song was the most difficult part, but I think it's cute.
And in case you don't know this is the semifinal. The final will be published when I have internet access again. XD