Chapter 5 Mackenzie
“So, this is where I’m spending my senior year?”
I stared up at the red-brick building my stepmom had just pulled up outside, trying to comprehend how my life had changed so drastically in the past week.
I was supposed to be back home preparing for the fall art exhibition.
Instead, I was staring up at a new school where I didn’t know a soul—well, I knew one person, but it was debatable whether Parker Darling had a soul.
“I know it’s not as flashy as Lakeview High, but it’s a good school.”
No, this school wasn’t nearly as flashy, but apparently it had flash-ers. I pointed to the second floor. “Is that some guy’s butt hanging out the window?”
Tessa grabbed my hand and lowered it, doing her best to hide her shock. “So, your new classmates are a little spirited…”
“Oh, that’s the term we’re using?”
“And I know it was hard leaving your friends behind, but I’m sure you’ll make new ones in no time.”
“Hopefully ones wearing pants,” I muttered.
“Mommy, can I have a snack?” Skye called from the back seat.
My three-year-old sister sounded sweet and innocent, but she was always one wrong answer away from unleashing her inner demon.
With dark curly hair and big brown eyes, she and Daisy, who was sat in the car seat next to her, looked just like Tessa.
Their features couldn’t have been more different to my brother and me, who took after our mom with blond hair and green eyes.
At least, according to the pictures I’d seen of her.
I was only a baby when she died, so those photos were all the memories I had.
My dad rarely talked about her. Even now, I think it hurt him too much.
But he’d once told me I had her smile, and her determination.
“When we get home, Skye,” Tessa replied.
“But I want one now.”
“You better get her a snack, Mom…” Daisy warned. My other sister was only four years old, but she’d always been a bit of an old soul, and the concern in her voice right now made her sound far wiser than her years. She knew just as well as me what would happen if Skye didn’t get what she wanted.
“When we get home,” Tessa repeated.
That was my cue to leave. Nothing inside Ransom High could be worse than the tantrums of a three-year-old who wanted a snack.
“I better get going.” I jumped from the car before I missed my opportunity to escape. “Bye, you guys.”
“Don’t forget your father’s driving you home tonight,” Tessa said.
“Okay.”
“Good luck. Love y—” The sound of her response was swallowed by Skye’s pterodactyl screams.
Perhaps Tessa needed the luck more than I did. I gave her a sympathetic smile before I shut the door and waved as she pulled away from the curb.
When she was gone, I turned to face my new school. Between the warnings I’d heard about Ransom, the flasher whose butt was still poking out a second-floor window and the fact this place had produced Parker Darling, I had serious concerns.
My hand was still sore after my encounter with Parker last night, and I bristled as I thought of him. While a twinge of guilt for punching him remained, I had a plan to get over it: avoid him like the plague.
I drew in a deep breath, but just as I went to step forward a truck came screaming down the road behind me.
I heard the splash of tires slashing through a puddle, and a split second later freezing gutter water hit me like a tidal wave.
It sprayed across my back, soaking my top, jeans and sneakers.
I didn’t have a chance to even try to jump out of the way.
One moment I was dry. The next, I stood there dripping, cold and fuming.
I spun to search for the driver. They were already pulling into a parking space. Of course they drove an oversized truck. Probably compensating for something. The driver’s door opened and as they jumped from the vehicle my blood started to boil. Parker.
He smoothed a hand through his hair as he placed a Devils cap backward on his head, like he was gearing up for another day of making bad choices.
My hands clenched into fists at my sides.
Was this his revenge? Drenching a girl on her first day at a new school was low, even for someone like Parker.
I wondered if it was too soon to punch him again.
He started walking toward me, and my anger slightly diminished when I caught sight of the damage I’d inflicted last night. A bright bruise had formed under his eye and there seemed to be a small cut on his nose. I was surprised by how bad it was—and also by how attractive he still looked.
A cool wind made me shudder and I looked down at my soaked clothes. I didn’t want to give Parker the satisfaction of knowing he’d upset me. I started peeling off my wet sweater only to find my top underneath was drenched too. I was going to need a whole new outfit.
When I looked back up, I saw Parker had stopped near me.
A frown creased his brow as he glanced between the puddle and me.
For a moment, the dash of uncertainty in his expression made me wonder if he had only just realized what he’d done.
But then his eyes started to dance with joy and his lips lifted in that annoying smirk of his.
“I’m not sure what your old school was like, but you should know, wet T-shirt contests are frowned upon here.”
Screw being the bigger person. I wanted to kill him.
“You did this on purpose,” I seethed.
“Hardly. I didn’t see you there.”
“I was standing right by the road.”
“And I was focused on driving.”
“You really expect me to believe this was an accident?”
He gave a one-shouldered shrug in reply. “I mean, I know I seem godlike, but even I can’t control puddle trajectory.”
Was this guy for real?
“If you need a dry top to wear,” he continued, “I’ve got a spare jersey with my name and number on it in my locker…”
Irritation clawed through me. “I’d rather roll in that puddle than wear something with your name on it.”
“Guess you better try the front office then.” He smiled and set off up the steps to the front entrance. “Welcome to Ransom, Mallory.”
“It’s Mackenzie!” I shouted after him, making a few nearby students jump and look my way.
I took several deep breaths and tried to remind myself that murdering Parker would be a bad idea. Jumpsuits didn’t flatter me, and I looked terrible in orange. If I was ever going to end up in prison, I refused to let it be because of Parker Darling.
Another breeze sent a shiver up my spine. My wet top clung to my skin, while my jeans and shoes felt like leaden weights. There was no salvaging this outfit. I was just going to have to hope Parker was right, and the front office had a spare set of clothes.
With my shoes squelching and my arms wrapped around my body, I hurried up the steps and through the front doors.
There were students laughing and shouting, and a constant clanging of lockers opening and shutting.
It was weird to feel such a strong sense of familiarity and total foreignness at the same time.
I felt a fleeting desire to turn and flee back out the front doors… but I never backed down from a challenge. So I stuffed my nerves deep inside and focused on finding the front office.
Luckily, it wasn’t far from the entrance, and when I arrived, I was greeted by a girl with a cautious smile and kind hazel eyes behind heavy-set glasses.
She was wearing a thick, knitted cardigan and jeans, and her light brown hair was messily piled on her head.
I was immediately jealous of how dry she looked.
“Mackenzie Foster?” Her voice was soft but friendly.
“Uh, yeah, but Kenzie’s fine.”
“Well, welcome to Ransom, Kenzie. I’m Jaz. I’ll be showing you around the school today. I…” Her voice drifted off as she looked me up and down. “What happened to your clothes?”
“I lost a fight with a puddle.”
“On your first day?” Her eyes filled with dismay.
“Wrong place, wrong time, I guess.”
“Well, don’t worry. We can fix this. Come on, let’s get your schedule and then we’ll check the lost and found for something you can wear.”
I nodded and gave her a grateful smile as I followed her into the office.
My gratitude was extremely short-lived, though.
While there was a box of spare clothes for me to look through, the options were severely limited.
It was mostly boys’ clothes, and nothing looked like it would be the right size.
After I’d found the best possible combination I could, Jaz took me to the closest bathroom to change.
I cringed as I left the stall and caught sight of myself in the mirror.
The faded red Devils hockey sweatshirt I’d selected was so big it hung to my knees.
And while there were shorts underneath it somewhere, the sweatshirt swallowed them whole.
I supposed things could be worse. At least I wasn’t wearing a jersey with the name Darling printed across my back.
“I look like I raided the Ransom High uniform shop,” I said, quickly tying my hair back. I hadn’t realized it was wet too. The list of things Parker Darling had to answer for was growing by the second.
“It’s not that bad,” Jaz said, trying her best to sound positive. “You look cute.”
“Cute?”
“With lots of school spirit,” she added.
“Right.” I lifted a half-hearted fist in the air. “Go Devils.”
Jaz giggled. “Okay, well, if you’re ready, we should probably get to homeroom. I can give you a quick tour on the way.”
I risked one last look in the mirror. I didn’t want anyone seeing me like this, but we were already running late, so there wasn’t much choice. At least I was no longer wet. “Okay, after you.”
The corridor was much quieter now. The bell had rung while I’d been getting changed so most students had gone to class.
“So, what do I need to know?” I asked Jaz.