American River Review 2019 - Flipbook - Page 66
“Jeffrey.”
Mackenzie looked at Jeffrey and laughed. “He’s too
ugly to get laid.”
Jeffrey choked and punched her lightly in the shoulder.
“Says you.”
“What took you so long?”
“Sorry, guys, I had to ask Professor Netemeyer if I
would be able to take one of our tests early.”
“Why?”
“I landed a job believe it or not! My training is on a
school day though. Guess you guys might be seeing less
of me.”
Jeffrey’s mouth dropped. “Like at a real job?”
“No, it’s a fake one. They actually sell cocaine and it’s
just a front for money laundering purposes.”
Jeffrey and David paused and watched as Mackenzie’s
blank stare slowly formed to a smile.
Jeffrey stared at her, thinking briefly about Railey’s
pale body contrasted against the black rock. Jeffrey
glanced at Mackenzie’s shirt wondering if she held the
same beauty underneath.
Mackenzie and Jeffrey had been friends since middle
school with many talks about their dreams and goals
throughout the years. As he glanced over the girl that was
beginning to become a distant acquaintance, her expression was the same one she had worn on the night they
had held any sort of meaningful conversation. She went
with him to meet his biological father, and comforted him
when the meeting ended with a clash of diner chairs and
the slam of a car door.
He could still feel his hands shaking with anger and the
burning sensation of holding back tears.
“I don’t know what I was fucking thinking, Mack. Why
do I even care?”
Mackenzie’s hair had frizzed from the heat of the car,
makeup running from beads of sweat. She had still looked
beautiful to him.
“Because he’s what made you. Well, the physical part
of you.” Mackenzie gave him a sly smile. “You can
blame yourself for your personality.”
Jeffrey scoffed, “Ya? At least I have a job.”
“That’s just because my personality is too great for a
minimum wage job.”
“Nah, it means that not even a desperate corporation
wants to put up with you.”
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“At least I’m pretty.”
Jeffrey sighed, “You definitely got me beat there.”
“Well, that’s a first.”
Jeffrey tapped his fingers on the dashboard, then turned
to look his head to meet her gaze. “Thank you, Mackenzie, for being here.”
Mackenzie wrapped her arms around his shoulders and
together they sat for what seemed like ages in what would
normally be an unbearable warmth of an unconditioned
car.
“Hey, Mack?”
“Ya?”
“Did you like ever, I don’t know, think of what we’d be
like together?”
“Um, not really. You’re kind of like a brother I guess.
I’ve just known you for too long.”
“Oh. Okay.” Jeffrey started the nervous tapping of his
fingers against the plastic panel. “Hey, we should get
some burgers maybe.”
Mackenzie nodded her head and turned the key of her
car. Along with exhaust fumes, they had left behind the
memory of a wasted day.
The subject never resurfaced and they continued on
with their monotonous lives. He buried the pain of rejection into his meetings with Railey, a girl young enough to
not know any better.
Now, in the early morning haze between students
dragging their feet to classes, he stared at Mackenzie in
remembrance, wishing that he had made a better move.
Mackenzie caught his gaze, and they paused, locking
eyes, before Mackenzie quickly looked away. “Look, I
have a mechanics class starting soon. I’ll see you guys
later. Bye, David.” She paused and locked eyes with
Jeffrey again. “Bye, Jeff.”
He glanced at the ground quickly before replying,
“Bye, Mackenzie.”
David rolled his eyes. “Forget that Catholic whore,
that’s a girl to bring home to your parents.”
“Whatever. Hey, my first class is Calc. Are we going
to ditch or stand here debating whether or not I have
chlamydia?”
...
“Mom, did you see Railey leave this morning?”
“What, dear?
“Railey? Did you see her this morning?”
