It All Started with a Sticky Note

Chapter 5: A Pinch of Reality

 *****Dedicated to XEmoCookiesX for once again, being a top fan, and for posting her amazing, creative book that makes me laugh :) ********

 I had wasted my time worrying about Mac holding some sort of grudge, in the moments after entering the room he seemed like he forgotten the other night had even happened. A few unmemorable words were exchanged before he gave me a bone crunching bear hug.

“Sorry for not calling sooner, I had to go on another trip with dad, you know how it is. And there wasn’t any cell service. By the time I got the messages I was already here.”

Mac went on countless short-to-no notice trips frequently. Which was expected for his dad’s job, being a one-of-a-kind everything fix it man, and having a lot of house calls. Sometime the calls were a state away, I guess he was just that popular. So I wasn’t surprised about the trip, but about the fact he had been in a place so distant.

I tried as hard as I could to be furious at him, for acting cold by not answering phone calls and not coming over and then acting like nothing was wrong. But despite all that, I felt bad about it being partially -okay mostly- my fault and I gave him a smile in return, though I didn’t truly mean it yet.

Who was I kidding? A sleepover at this time? Right after Stefani and I explained the situation about Tracy to him, Mac sprang right into action. He interviewed us, gathering enough facts about our whole day to write some sort of essay to put in his notebook. I really wanted to explain the whole random notes to him, but I just couldn’t, I didn’t want him thinking I was stupid another time this week. But since we were ‘just kids’ and we weren’t capable to bringing Tracy home, we acted like normal, goofy teenagers for the rest of the night.

After a few pitiful games of hockey in the attic/game room, Stefani went back to her room to answer a phone call, and Mac stood there turning Stefani’s guitar in his hands. So here I was, racking my brain to create something non-stupid sounding but I ended up just sitting there and looking stupid. Finally, after what seemed like eternity, Mac decided to be the mature one and speak.

“Other then the obvious, what’s up?”

“Oh, um, nothing really.” I said. In the awkward quite time afterword I was scolding myself, Really? Really? Gosh Avery, you are sooo lame. Then I just sat, hoping he would say something that I could respond to like a normal human being. He started to chew on his bottom lip and he swooshed his dark brown hair out of his eyes, a sure sign he was going to speak.

“Well, despite what they say I think we can do something to help her. But you are going to have to tell me what you’re lying to me about.”

I attempted to look all innocent and questionable, but with I was going to need to try extra hard.

“Uh-huh, well whatever worked with the police men worked because they aren’t your best friend, but since I am, I have special privileges.”

It was a bittersweet thing to hear, I wasn’t exactly feeling a great actor since he read me, but he called me his best friend. Not former friend, not friend, but best friend.

I looked at him long and hard, hoping Stefani would return so we could explain together, but after thirty seconds I gave up and told him everything, I even got my laptop out and showed him the email. He seemed interested in it, but his eyes narrowed when he saw the word ‘Saturn’ at the end. I was going to ask him about it but the moment I put my laptop away Stefani came in, with three green duffle bags, like the ones you would bring to a sports match. She had her hair in a towel but quickly finished drying it and tossed it down one of the many laundry shoots the family owned. I was about to give her a look for taking a shower while I was being interrogated but then she justified herself. Well, as much as she could for being herself.

“The cabs makes the rounds by the mall in about... oh I’d say twenty-three minutes.” She tossed me her phone “Give your mom a call, tell her you’re coming with me on a little... convention. Tell her you’ll be back by tomorrow night and that you don’t need anything, but don’t tell her to much.”

I was trying to understand exactly what she was saying but Mac interrupted my thoughts.

“Avery, Stefani and I are going to find Tracy. Are you coming or not?”

Before I knew it, I found myself jumping over Mr. Elephant, with a duffle over my shoulder, with worry, guilt, fear and excitement flowing through my head.  

*******************Sorry it's been so long since I've added on, I've had a little trouble editing the next chapters but they are on the way! Thanks for waiting!