Chapter Text
To be honest Mac never understood people. Quite frankly if she could she’s avoid all the people that annoy her more then she like to admit.
But beggars can’t be chooses. No matter what way you spin it, you cannot.
Mac really didn’t understood time either. She never got it. In her opinion it was so ridiculous how you could blink and something would happen. Mac didn’t believe the whole saying of blink and it’ll be over before you know it.
Even in the obscure place that is Stony Stream there was things that somehow surprised Mac. A least it was interesting. Without it, the place would be the blandest town known to mankind.
School felt like a playground for all the people who belong in the bland part of the town, that Mac and her friends were in. It was fun at the same time however.
Skipping lessons, not doing homework even though the teachers would demand it from you like angry demons as if it was their food and the shitty food that could be used for throwing at people instead of eating. That’s what Mac thought of it as. Anything other than that was just boring.
“Hey earth to Mac?” KJ waves her hand in front of the girl with a little giggle, clearly waiting for a response. It didn’t occur to Mac how close KJ’s face was to her. She almost died on the spot. In her defence if anyone was that close, Mac would do that either way.
KJ just had this way of making things sound so-
“You gonna stand around? Are you stuck in the mud?” KJ joked nudging Mac with her elbow. They were all heading home, mainly standing around to talk. Tiff and Erin went a little earlier apparently they had things to do.
Mac got onto her bike looking at KJ with a little expression of something that she couldn’t quite place. Both girls have been doing this since school started. It was mainly KJ’s idea but Mac secretly wanted to ask.
It was nice to be able to have someone to walk back with.
“Come on Brandman.” Mac smirked as she began to peddle away but KJ kept up with easy like it was nothing, there was always an competition between them. Even over the smallest of things. Wether it was over who could drink the fastest, who could get to class the fastest and probably other things no matter what they always managed to do it.
“So have you finished the maths homework that Mr Douglas gave out?” KJ knew Mac didn’t necessarily do homework, however it was worth a shot.
Mac almost laughed at the question “Oh no I haven’t.”
“Mac you’re gonna get your ear chewed off!” KJ sternly furrowed her brow at what Mac had just uttered. She didn’t want her to fall behind in class. There was always one thing Mac said that KJ couldn’t tell if it was a joke not.
That being if she isn’t a least in KJ, Tiff or Erin’s classes she’ll bunk all her lessons. There was times where KJ had been walking past to get work for an teacher and saw Mac, of course she didn’t say anything about it to anyone about Mac’s habits of skipping lessons.
“Yeah but they can’t do shit Kaje, you’re such a worrier.” Mac replied in a half joking tone.
KJ always worried about everyone else. It made Mac question if she has the time to take care of herself. Or if she even manages to get enough sleep. On some occasions Mac caught her in the library literally sleeping like a log. KJ always acts like she’s fine, sooner or later if something happens people will dismiss it.
Worse she’ll dismiss it. Maybe that’s because KJ never got sick. And when she did it was only just simple cold. Sometimes the biggest worriers have the most going on. People say that but Mac didn’t necessarily acknowledge it.
“If you need help with it I don’t mind, I’m pretty up to-“ KJ was cut off by Mac scoffing looking slightly at her. It wasn’t that big of a deal. She wasn’t that far behind. So as long as Mac was semi smart about choosing to do her home work she would be fine.
“I’ve got under control. Plus I don’t think I could handle you quite literally teaching me, I’d go insane.” Mac casually spun out a small lie in that sentence, mainly seeing if KJ would take that comment seriously or not.
Any time with KJ was good. Mac almost wished she could be with her all the time. Time felt so slow with KJ but in the best way possible.
It didn’t occur to Mac that they were almost at KJ’s place. Damn they really spoke for that long? Mac groaned internally at the realisation. The pair talked for a little while longer as they pulled up to the Brandman’s house.
KJ stopped resting her feet on the ground looking at her house, an mixed feeling crawling up that made her feel uneasy. She didn’t want to go this place that was apparently the place that she had to go call home.
That definitely was not her home.
“Kaje..? You okay?” Mac could tell when something was up. She rested her hand on KJ’s shoulder without thinking looking at the house. They both knew how much KJ hated going back to her house. Mac’s witnessed a few times where she could see how much of an affect it had on KJ.
She saw the break downs, the panic attacks, the spirals and the decline that had seeped through KJ because of her parents.
Mac would do anything to take KJ away from that.
“Kaje?“ Mac asked this time a bit more of worry in her tone. She gently rubbing KJ’s arm trying to get her attention. Usually this would happen under certain circumstances but for once Mac doubted it was any of those.
“Yeah..sorry Mac. I must of zoned out.” KJ finally answered looking over at Mac with a half smile getting off of her bike covering her mouth coughing quietly, it sounded very-
Mac raised an eyebrow “Are you okay?”
KJ nodded in response almost chuckling “I’m fine, air went down the wrong hole.” The way she answered that fast slightly had Mad stumped but she knew when not to pry.
“So..see you later?”
“Yeah..see you around Kaje.”
And with that they went different ways. KJ heading home and Mac heading to some other place. KJ wished they all could hang out together forever. Just wish all their responsibilities could just melt away.
That way they could savour the moments they have together.
-
KJ walked into her house closing the door behind herself, the weight of the aura that seeped from the house already clinging onto her like thick smoke. It was quiet, cold and no sign of her mother or her father anywhere.
“Dad?” She asked, glancing into the living room. He wasn’t there. KJ assumed that he went asleep. Which was fine of course her dad was very to himself. He didn’t want to linger around when he wasn’t needed.
Now was the person she didn’t want to ask to see if they were there.
“Mom?” KJ cringed at her own voice sounding so timid by asking such a simple question. She turned to walk into the kitchen feeling her heart slowly beat faster by the minute.
By the time she got there no-one was even downstairs. It then occurred to KJ that both of her parents had gone to sleep.
“Of course. Old people get tired so easily..” KJ muttered to herself sitting down on the couch in complete silence. She didn’t know what to do. Couldn’t go back out incase they came down stairs.
Anxiously tapping the arm feeling her throat slowly start to feel like it was burning from the inside, it started up slow and gentle. KJ didn’t acknowledge it. It was something that she thought happens when nerves took over.
However it began to build up, the fire inside of her throat began surging up again making its way around KJ like it was simply nothing. Punching, kicking, whacking and everything you’d think that could possibly hurt. It soon became physically too much.
KJ jumped off of the couch about to move coughing into her hand once more. A liquid painted onto KJ’s Palm. Dark and thick. It all didn’t even feel real.
“What…?” KJ near enough whispered looking right at her hand in shock her voice sounding timid even scared, she didn’t know what to do.
Her first reaction was to scream, but there was no chance for KJ being able to do that and not wake up the people that were asleep. Maybe KJ had cut her gum accidentally and her body needed to get it out by coughing.
She went for her second thought which was just to wash off the blood as quick as possible.
“I’m fine. I am healthy. I am perfectly-“ KJ felt her throat near enough burn coughing more, making it splatter all over the sink.
Shit.
KJ quickly washed the sink out instantly. Definitely something had to be cutting her gums. There’s no other explanation for it. She turned back slowly turned back around slowly letting herself seep onto the floor.
She sighed rubbed her eyes. Maybe there was nothing there. KJ had an habit of seeing things that wasn’t there actually there. Sadly the mark of where KJ had rubbed was still noticeable.
“So…I guess that’s something that I need to keep a mental note of. Great.” She mumbled sarcastically. See she was probably going to forget about it. It didn’t seem that much of a big deal. KJ Presumed it was from her brushing her teeth a little too hard.
Still no sign of her parents coming downstairs to check if she was even home KJ had two choices. Simply go back up to her room and wait for her mother to check to see that she is home.
Or.
Go back outside for a few hours to pass the time and perhaps speak to Anyone around the block. Maybe even Mac if she was still biking around. After all KJ knew that she literally had nothing to do.
“Karina? Glad to know you are home. Get up off of the floor.” KJ internally groaned upon her mother speaking. She got up looking rather annoyed.
“How was school?” Nora asked, the same questions she would ask to KJ every time.
Same as usual.” KJ always answered with that walking near enough way from her mother the thick aura of Anger over filling, threatening to spill over at any given moment.
Then as soon as KJ went to head upstairs Nora sighed quietly, perhaps to try and get KJ’s attention, looking at her with an expression that was hard to read.
Worry?
Frustration?
An extremely ill negative feeling towards her own daughter for simply no reason?
KJ didn’t exactly know what it was. It could even be all 3 if she had the worst luck in this moment. Then again every time that woman spoke it was always negative. Like a waterfall that was just acid.
“Karina are you okay? You look as if something has scared the life out of you.” For once her mother was correct about something. Being fine to suddenly coughing out of absolutely nowhere.
All KJ could do was quietly chuckled under her breath “I’m fine.” Such a simple word. Yet one that can mean many things. See it wasn’t that difficult to get someone to lie. And if KJ put her mind to it, she was a good one at best.
For a split second KJ thought Nora didn’t believe her. Holding her breath she waited. And that seemed to be the right thing to do, as Nora nodded heading over to the stairs.
“It’s already late Karina. I suggest you get some rest. You do have school don’t forget.” And with that she went back upstairs. Didn’t even thought to ask her about the sounds that were even coming down from below.
Maybe that was too hard to ask.
KJ hummed in acknowledgment heading up stairs too trying to keep her throat from fizzling up all over again. It hurt. She went up to her room closing the door behind herself.
“I mean I don’t get it at all.” KJ muttered out loud, laying on her bed. Staring at the plain ceiling. She raised her hand upwards, trying to understand things that KJ could never figure out.
A few minutes had passed. KJ finally decided to get some sleep. It’s the best she could do after vigorously coughing like there was no tomorrow. Her eyes weighed heavy as the small pool of sleep washed over completely.
-
The next day went as normal, everyone had their things to do and by the time KJ blinked it was over. Once again it was her and Mac.
They were just waving off the other girls. It all seemed fine. Alright at best. Until that feeling came back. That feeling as if there was fire attacking her throat. KJ turned her head to the side trying to play it off.
Of course it didn’t fool Mac. She had always known when something bad was going to happen. “You okay Kaje?” Mac asked suddenly looking right at her.
“Yeah.” KJ still didn’t move, the thought of her moving and it all happening again made it when worse.
Mac scoffed gently grabbing KJ’s shoulder and moving it so they faced each other “Then look at m-“ that’s when it all started off.
Dark and thick. KJ’s entire throat was screaming in agony. She tried to keep it in, however that just made it worse. Blood splattered our of her mouth, smacking the ground. More came out. KJ fell to her knees unable to stop what was going on.
Both Tiff and Erin sprinted back over. They all looked horrified. Scared. Mac just stayed still she looked down at KJ with an expression that was hard to decipher.
“Sorry I’m fine-“
“Cut the bullshit.” Mac’s stern voice snapped KJ back into reality. She got up pattering herself down. What excuse could be used? KJ needed to think something. Then she has had an idea.
“I had something in my throat, I had some red thing my mom made. Apparently it’s a traditional thing she makes, stomach couldn’t handle it.” KJ said with a little smile on her face. Internally hoping that they would buy it. There was no way she could explain it.
Mac raised an eyebrow slightly tilting her head “Are you sure that you’re fine…?” Mac also mumbled something else as well, but KJ didn’t quite hear it.
“Completely sure.” That was so easy. Well from her perspective. Of course Mac would keep a mental note. She knew that for an fact.
After trying to convince Tiff and Erin things carried on like normal. That was perhaps the most scariest thing KJ had to do. She always was a truthful person. In her defence she had a reason. Even she didn’t know what was wrong with herself.
Mac sighed looking at KJ with a small worried expression before forming a smirk. “Can you stomach anything she makes exactly?” It was obvious Mac was trying make the energy in the room less awkward.
KJ giggled quietly “Depends.” One of her favourite thing about Mac was how if there was something awkward or tension. She had a way of just speaking that made KJ feel better.
Maybe things will be better.
They talked for an Long time after that. Just random digs and swings that mean no harm. KJ looked at Mac fondly slightly smiling to herself. She was lucky to have her. So very lucky.
“What are you smiling at?” Mac asked finally noticing KJ’s big smile.
She looked at Mac. KJ, who was still smiling, simple playfully rolled her eyes “Nothing. Just thinking.”
Mac hummed in acknowledgment. Rubbing her arms slowly in a circular motion as she stared at KJ. It wasn’t an expression of anything negative at all. It felt like something that was preventing her to speak.
Not allowing her to say something that she wanted to say for an extreme amount of time. Mac tried to breathe but definitely had trouble with it.
“Hey Mac?” KJ looked right at the girl letting out a shaken sigh.
“Yes?” Mac replied feeling slightly confused by the sudden change of tone of the conversation. It felt a little too serious for Mac’s liking.
KJ felt the awkwardness starting to resurface once more. It was now or never. KJ decided to carry on “I want to say thank you. For being you. And y’know I was thinking, good things.”
That wasn’t a lie. She was thinking. A thought that KJ wasn’t sure if she should even have.