Cursed

S I X

He noticed Kai and his smirk grew, giving the witch a clap on the shoulder with his hand before making his way down the stairs. Kai eyes the room suspiciously and slowly pushed the door open. His attention was immediately caught by a girl curled into a ball on the floor, her head resting in her hands.

"H-hello?" He asked tentatively, not wanting to spook her. The girl look up with a tear-stained face and puffy, red eyes. The emptiness in them was unmistakable. "Kenz?" Kai all but whispered. As they held eye contact she broke into tears again, burying her face back into her hands. He cautiously moved to sit next to her, bringing his knees up to his chest and mimicking her position. "A-are you okay?"

Mack look over at him with a red face and a broken expression. That was enough of an answer for him.

"Kai." His head snapped in her direction.

"Yes?"

"Why is my life so shitty?" Her voice cracked as she spoke.

"W-What do you mean?" His eyebrows pulled together. Bad life? Kai had no idea.

"My family is in dept - crippling dept - my mom is dead, I probably won't get to go to college, my boyfriend is a dick who just fucking raped me and I'm a, a-" she was interrupted by more sobs wracking her small frame. His eyes widened and Kai's features formed an expression of shock before it morphed into one of rage.

"He what?!" Kai growled, balling his hands into fists. He went to stand by Mack's small hand around his arm stopped him, making his face sink back into one of pity and concern. "Why?" Kai's voice cracked this time too. Mack only shook her head, still confused herself. As Kai sunk back into his position next to her, Mack rested her head on his shoulder, testing the waters. When he didn't move or try to push her away, she relaxed into him and his arm found its way around her shoulder - holding Mack in a warm embrace while she cried against his shoulder.

After what felt like hours - but was probably mere minutes - Kai spike up again.

"Before, when you were upset, you said you were 'a' and then cut off. What did you mean?" He asked carefully, not wanting to set her off again. Mack pulled back enough to look him in the eyes, her own ones soft and doe-like.

"I didn't say that." Her voice was calm. A scowl overcame Kai.

"Yes you did. You know you can tell me, right? I promise I won't tell anyone." He spoke frankly, rubbing her arm reassuringly.

"Promises are a way of giving false hope to someone in order to get what you want. No one ever keeps a promise because they never intend to in the first place." Mack shot back bitterly, surprising Kai with her anger in the sudden outburst.

"Okay then, I give you my word. I will or tell a soul as long as I live." He said, pretending to zip his mouth shut and throw away the imaginary key. Mack's eyes crinkled up as she giggled, Kai letting out a soft chuckle.

"I'm, I'm a - um..." she took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. Kai gave her a nod of encouragement and a small smile. Mack closed her eyes for a moment before reopening them, but the sight of his face made it feel impossible to even comprehend what to say.

Without warning Mack stood up, pulling out of the embrace and storming out the room, the door slamming behind her.

~

It was Monday, Mack and Jo were sat at their usual spot on the bleachers, chatting about everything - the fit guy in Jo's art class, Mack's sister being a bitch, how Jo's trip went. Then the party came up.

"So Kai mentioned that he had some people over last weekend- and that you came." Jo took a bite of her sandwich, looking at Mack with a knowing look. God, Kai, Mack thought. She had barely seen him all week. She had skipped first period last Monday, gone to the nurse the next day and after that she just ignored him - tuning him out like she did everyone else. She didn't go near him at lunch and made sure not to go anywhere he could be. Though by Friday it proved a challenge, as Ben had been all over her again and tried to convince Mack to hang out with them again. She'd also been avoiding Ben, barely able to look the bastard in the eye after what he did. He rolled her eyes internally before responding to Jo.