“Sorry Fatima,” Mackenzie called. “I guess I was just a little distracted.”
“I want your attention right here,” Fatima instructed. “Deal?”
Mackenzie sighed as she looked down at the floor and nervously tugged on her T-shirt before the music began again.
Meanwhile, Nick was sitting against the wall of the dance studio with Brian watching the dancers as they performed the choreography to “Don’t Want You Back.” “Man,” he said. “I’ve never seen Mac mess up like that before.”
“Me neither,” Brian said. “What’d you do Frack?”
Nick pulled a face at Brian. “You are so hilarious Bri, I don’t think you even know.”
Brian smiled. “I know I am,” he laughed. “Have you tried asking her what’s up? It know it’s been bugging you?”
“I tried yesterday when I was helping her pack. She insists there’s nothing wrong, so what can you do?”
“Maybe the tour will cheer her up. It always seems too, even if she does have to be around you the entire time. Honestly Nick, how is it that someone like you is dating someone like her?”
“I’m not sure Brian,” Nick said sarcastically. “Maybe I just pay her off every month to be my girlfriend. You think?”
Suddenly the music stopped. “Perfect,” Fatima clapped her hands signaling the end of the last practice before the tour. “Bus leaves tomorrow at 5 AM. Be here,” she warned.
Mackenzie quickly grabbed her gym bag from against the opposite wall and walked over to where Nick and Brian were sitting and sat down in front of them. “Did you see that?” Mackenzie asked. “I suck.”
“No you don’t Mac.” Nick soothed. “Out of the four years that you have been dancing with us, that’s maybe the second time that you’ve messed up.”
Mackenzie looked away from Nick into one of the dance mirrors. The chemotherapy medication had made her so sick that she could barely stand up straight. “You ready to go,” she asked to Nick and Brian. “What about Dairy Queen…my treat…” She couldn’t let on that she was feeling any differently and after all, it was almost a ritual to stop at Dairy Queen after practice.
Nick jumped up. “You don’t have to ask me twice,” he proclaimed.
“You in Bri?” Mackenzie asked.
“You’re paying,” he grinned. “Could I even pass up this offer?”
The three of them grabbed ice cream at Dairy Queen and sat around talking for almost an hour and half before it was decided that it might be a good idea to get home and catch up on sleep before leaving for the tour tomorrow.
Chapter Five
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