"How are gonna tell me not to freak out?"
_____________________________________
Mackenzie POV
"Hey Mack, can you check on my plant?" Val asked as she was mixing her serum.
"Sure thing," I said, walking over to Val's planet. Val was competing in this event called 'Mars Madness'.
Mars Madness is a national competition sponsored by a space exploration company, whose goal is to colonize Mars. The winner gets to spend a year in a bio-dome with the same conditions as Mars. If you do well, you could one day be among the first humans to live on Mars.
I've never chosen to compete in Mars Madness because I'm sorta claustrophobic. I've learned that from one time when I was locked in a closet with Val for a night. Don't ask why, let me just say that I ended up with both of my knuckles bruised.
Instead of participating in the event, I always help out Val with anything that she needs for her project. As soon as I was done checking her plant, I walked back over to see Parker and Val talking.
"Hi Parker," I smiled.
"Hey Mack, come check this out," Parker said, motioning me over to where he and Val were. I stood next to Val and looked at his plant in a beaker.
"I'm creating a plant that can survive on a mars colony. I took the genes of a nutrient-dense avocado and spliced them with the genes of a cactus for its ability to thrive with a little water. I call it, the Cacti-cado!" Parker exclaimed, motioning at his plant.
"Well, I made a serum with the DNA of a Venus flytrap, it'll make the plant so aggressive they'll fight to survive anywhere!" Val explained, proudly.
"It's kind of cool, but does it have a catchy name like Cacti-cado?" Parker asked.
"Mack?" Val says, motioning towards me.
"We call it, the Apex Predator Agricultural Death Swarm!" I smirked, mimicking Parker.
"But you're right, Cacti-cado is super cute," Val smiled, poking Parker's cheek. He slapped her hand away and glared at her. He then walked over to the thermostat.
"My Cacti-cado need to spend a weekend at the same temperature as the Mars bio-dome, exactly 24°C," Parker explains, punching in 24°C into the thermostat.
"Well, my serum needs to be at 22°C," Val said, changing the temperature on the thermostat.
"Well, since your project needs all the breaks it can get to catch up to my Genius, 22° it is. May the best brain win," Parker says, slightly smirking.
"It's me," Parker coughs, causing me to playfully roll my eyes. Val and I exited the classroom but only to notice that Parker wasn't behind us.
"Parker?" I called out.
"Coming," Parker answered. A few seconds later, he ran over to where Val and I were waiting for him, and slung an arm over my shoulder.
"Let's go," Val said, as the 3 of us made our way home for the day.
****
The next morning, I was currently skateboarding over to Val's to see if she wanted to hang out today since I have nothing better to do. On my way there, I instantly receive a text from Val.
Text Conversation
Val🧠
Can you come to B.O.O.M.S
right now?
I need some help with
my project for Mars Madness.
Me
Sure,
I was on my way to
your house but,
I'm near B.O.O.M.S.
I'll be there in 5 minutes.
Val🧠
Thanks again Mack.
I'll see you soon!
Read at 2:39pm
Instead of skating on the roads to Val's house, I turned around and made my way towards B.O.O.M.S just like I had promised. 5 minutes later, I skated into the courtyard before hopping off my board. I looked around for any sign of Val but, found no one.
"Val? Val, where are you?!" I called out. I started to hear the sound of an alarm ringing. I then looked over at the classroom that was being used for Mars Madness. At that moment, that's when it hit me.
"Val? Are you in there?" I shouted, banging the door.
"Yeah, so is Parker!" Val shouted back.
Wait, what is Parker doing there? With Val?Alone? While the room is in lock down?! I'm not jealous! Who says I am? I trust them, I trust them...
"How did this happen?" I asked.
"Well, your genius boyfriend here didn't know how to work a thermostat and made it really warm in here. Then, the growth serum became airborne and mixed with his Cacti-cado creating a giant monster," Val explained.
"Like I said, it's a complicated thermostat!" Parker exclaimed.
"Anyway, I had to put the lab on lockdown—but, now the both of you are stuck in there," I finished.
"Exactly," Val says.
"Is there anything I could do to help you guys?" I asked, worried about how long they'll stay there together for.
"Just stay there and when we get rid of the plant, you open the door. We'll let you know when it's over," Parker said.
"Sure thing," I replied, sitting on a bench and waiting for Parker and Val to destroy the plant.
****
Eventually morning turns into night and I'm now laying on the bench, still waiting for Parker and Val to destroy the plant. They still haven't given me any updates about what's happening in there. The 2 of them being locked in there, alone has really got me think about my relationship with Parker.
What if Parker ends up liking Val afterwards? I mean, they have been locked in there, together and all day! Val is really pretty and extremely smart and talented. I don't blame her. Parker did take Val to the dance and gave her a corsage.
They've been really close lately too but, I should worry. Should I? Val would never do anything to hurt or betray me. The real question is, am I jealous? Have I been too clingy? Maybe I haven't really given Parker enough attention. What if I'm a bad girl—
"Mackenzie!" I heard someone shout, snapping me out of my thoughts. I ran over to the locked door and pressed my ear against it.
"Yeah?" I shouted back.
"Parker and I found a way to destroy the plant, just get ready to open the door," Val briefly explained.
"Yes m'am. Just be careful, both of you," I said before walking over to the switch that shuts down the lock down. I waited about 2 minutes before opening the door. I ran back to the lab to find Parker and Val standing there and a huge, Now dead plant in the back.
"You guys are okay," I said, running over and hugging Val. I then awkwardly turned to Parker and just shook his hand.
"Yeah, we're fine Mack. There's not need to freak out," Val chuckled.
"How are you gonna tell me not to freak out? Look that that thing!" I exclaimed, motioning towards the plant.
"Well, since Val and I found out that both of our projects and great mind created a monstrous plant, that we're gonna work together on our Mars Madness project," Parker exclaimed.
"R-Really? T-That's great," I say.
"You don't mind, do you Mack?" Val asked. I looked at Parker then back at Val.
"Sure go ahead, knock yourselves out," I exclaimed, faking a smile.
"Are you okay Mack?" Parker asked, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"I-I'm fine. I have to go, it's pretty late and my dad needs me," I said, swatting Parker's hand away from me, before storming out the lab. I grabbed my board that was sitting next to the bench and skated home.
——
Yikes, what is happening
between Parker and Mack now?
I'm really sorry if this was
a terribly written chapter.
I've been sick for awhile and
my mind isn't really clear on thinking.
I really wanted to update today
since I haven't updated in a while.
-Mia🧪