The first thing Makenna did as soon as she stepped outside the library was take a deep breath. She hadn't been able to do that once without being overwhelmed by his presence which has been uncomfortable for her.
"Are you alright?" Vanessa asked as she came up behind her,
"Yea." Makenna glanced at her and they walked down the stairs together and went their separate ways.
Makenna headed towards Metro Coffee, desperately in need of something to get her mind off spending more than half an hour of total discomfort. But she wondered if it was actual discomfort or just being uncomfortable with being distracted by him.
She pushed her thoughts away and put in her AirPods to get her mind off everything and anything. She just needed to be grounded in the moment.
On getting to Metro Coffee, Makenna was about to head to her usual table and saw it was occupied. Of course, she didn't mind getting another table but it was the recognition that hit her.
"Mac!" Kent happily called her and the others at the table looked at her,
It was a first for Mac. To be hesitant about joining in and it was staggering.
"Hey."
Makenna headed towards the table and took one of the empty seats.
"It's been a minute." Kent said,
"Yea." Makenna offered no explanation whatsoever, but instead shifted her gaze from him to Hee who was seated beside him, her hand in his.
A look passed between them and she understood it clearly and ignored it. Their decision or whatever they did wasn't any of her business.
"Where's Collin?" Makenna asked,
"See?" Lexi said, "I don't have to have a thing for someone to wonder where they are."
Makenna looked at her momentarily and at each of them. She had clearly missed the conversation. She settled her gaze on Brandon who was relaxed in his seat and sipping on his drink.
"You've been AWOL."
He shrugged,
"For good reason."
He kept his gaze on her like he was trying to tell her something and Makenna was truly not in the mood to decipher anything or anyone.
She subtly looked away from him and directed her gaze at Lexi. Kent, she had no business with after what he'd done to Hee. And Hee. Well, she wasn't necessarily betrayed by her for going back to Kent after what he'd done. But she wasn't going to pretend like she supported her decision.
"What did I miss?" She asked Lexi,
Lexi smiled,
"A lot." Lexi went on about what they'd been up to all week,
Listening to everything they'd been up to sounded like a repetition of the same thing she was used to. She wondered if she told someone about her life if they would think it sounded as boring as it did from Lexi. She couldn't help thinking of the night she'd spent with Thea and Vanessa. That night had seemed totally different from all the other night parties she'd been to.
Maybe it's not about the where, but about the who.
Makenna thought.
It wasn't having to go to the same parties every time, but maybe it was the people she was going to them with. Something her mum used to say came to mind.
The right people can turn your worst situations into the best adventure.
Then, Rachel had been that for her. It hurt to even think about her but a part of her knew what she'd ignored for a long time.
The door opened up behind her, breaking through her train of thought and she shook herself out of whatever self-psychoanalysis she was doing.
"I'm getting a drink," Makenna rose, "Can I get you guys anything?"
She got back 'No', 'We're good', and shake of their heads. She headed towards the counter and noticed Alfie was on duty. She had his attention as she got there and leaned into the counter.
"Can I get a...?"
Makenna froze when his voice masked hers. She turned to find him standing on the other side of the counter and his gaze was already on her.
Déjà vu.
She thought.
Atlas had spotted her when he'd come in but her back had been to him. Standing there at the counter was almost comical because over a month ago, they'd met the same way.
How could he forget that moment?
He wondered. Her raven hair and all-black clothes were the dullest things he'd ever seen yet nothing had stood out more. They might as well be as vibrant as her eyes because there was no way he was forgetting anytime soon.
Their eyes locked in on each other and Makenna almost sighed at how his eyes caught the light. Not too long ago, she'd looked at him and seen a complete stranger and now she was looking at someone who'd seen parts of her no one has.
It was terrifying to have someone know something so vulnerable about her.
She didn't miss the smile that tugged on his lips.
"You first," He said,
Makenna felt the tiniest smile tug on her lips at that. It was like being thrown back in time. The same place, the same two people, but so much had changed.
Alfie looked from Makenna to Atlas and back and then repeated this until Makenna turned to him to place her order.
Atlas kept his gaze on her the entire time. If he wanted to take his gaze off, he doubted if it was a possibility. He could hear his heart hammer loudly in his chest and his breathing slowed. It felt like time stopped and it was just the two of them outside of it.
Makenna placed her order and shifted her gaze back to Atlas to meet his waiting ones.
Don't.
Everything inside her screamed for her not to do it.
Do it.
A very tiny part of her said softly and she did.
"Thank you." She mouthed before she turned around and headed to her table.
Atlas stood there still in the haze and it was then that it hit him.
He felt something for Mac.
"What can I get you?" Alfie's voice broke through his thoughts before he could process anything any further.
Atlas placed his order but couldn't push away the nagging feeling that he had gotten himself into something that was going to change everything.
YOU ARE READING
Broken
Romance"There are a few moments in life that are perfect and surreal; like a beautiful dream you don't want to wake up from, but when you do, you can't seem to remember what it was about. Then there are the terrible moments, absolute nightmares that nothin...
