*smut ahead (WANING: IMPLIED SEXUAL VIOLENCE)*
As they reached the top of the stairs Ben tugged Mack into the nearest room and spun her around, pinning the girl to the door. His lips crashed to hers in a lustful kiss that scared Mack. His hand braces against the Wood next to her head whilst his other one rested on her hip with a vice grip - strong enough to leave bruises. She gasped as his lips connected with her neck, leaving wet, open-mouthed kisses over the soft skin. As he brought his mouth back to hers tried to pull away.
"Ben, stop." But he didn't, his hands now groping and touching her. "Ben! I said stop!" She cried.
"You always play hard to get, but I know you want it," he mumbled against her skin, kid lips tracing over her jaw, "because deep down, you're just a little slut." He growled, reaching under her skirt and tugging her panties down.
"Help! Someone, please hel-" she tried shouting, but his hand clamped over her mouth.
"Shhhh, we don't want to get caught, baby." His breath in her ear sent chills down Mack's spine and she shuddered, bracing her hands on his shoulders to try and push him off but before she got the chance he collected her wrists in his hand and pinned them over her head. His knee between her legs kept them parted and his other hand worked on his belt buckle, then his jean's zipper. When his trousers were half-way down his thighs he hiked her leg up to his waist.
~
Kai's eyes stayed trained into the door for a moment, the terror-filled look in Mack's eyes when they met his engrained in his mind. After a moment of contemplating he decided to follow them, slipping out the room almost unnoticed. But he wasn't. As he reached the bottom of the stairs, a hand curled around his bicep and pulled him to face her.
"Hey handsome. Going somewhere?" Her soft voice drawled. She slid her hand up his chest and fiddled with the buttons of his pull-over before his hands came up to grip her wrists and pull them off him.
"Yes, actually. So if you wouldn't mind." Kai said with irritation, letting go of her and turning to walk up the stairs. But she grapes his wrist and spun him back around. She slinked closer and wrapped her arms loosely around his neck, playing with the collar of his shirt.
"You seem agitated, maybe you could use some," she paused and leant into him, her breath fanning over his neck as she whispered in his ear, "company." Her voice was seductive but Kai sighed and pushed her off him, making the girl stumble back a few steps.
"I'm fine. Go find some other guy to fuck." Kai spat before charging up the stairs. He instantly paused as he reached the top, the sound of a girls muffled screams filling his ears. Before he could do anything they stopped. He looked around confused, before the door opposite swung open and Ben sauntered out, a smug smirk on his face.
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.
"It's not like that. Ben dragged me along. And anyway, wouldn't you find it odd if I was hooking up with your twin?" Mack waved off. Jo giggled and swallowed the bite she just took.
"Well, yeah. But I'd still want you to tell me if anything was happening. And besides, it's him I'd be mad at, not you silly." Jo laughed, screwing up the foil her sandwich hand been in and throwing it towards a bin nearby. When it missed she scold and stood up, slowly walking over to put the crumpled foil in the bin.
While she was away Mack didn't even notice Ben sliding onto the seat next to her until he planted a kiss to her cheek. Mack instantly cringed away, stiffening at the touch.
"Hey babe, haven't seen you all week. Where you been?" He asked as if nothing was wrong, flinging an arm over Mack's shoulder. She rolled her eyes before looking at him.
"I've just been busy, helping dad at home and doing homework I guess." She dismisses. Ben's face grew irritated.
"But spending time with you're boyfriend is also important. Far more so than helping your pathetic dad who need to just pull it together." He scoffed, making Mack grow angry.
"Don't. Talk. About. My. Dad. Like. That." She said through gritted teeth.
"Don't talk to me like that." Ben shot back, giving her a warning glance. At this she piped down and instead focused her attention to her lap, where she played with the hem of her jumper. Jo waved at Ben as she walked back over, who waved back and greeted her.
"Well as lovely as this has been, I better get back before the guys think you two kidnapped me. Bye babe, bye Jo." Ben said, placing a chaste kiss on Mack's lips before heading back off to where the crowd of popular guys were crowded. Jo stared off after him.
"You're so lucky." She sighed.
"I am?" Mack retorted. Jo looked at Mack as if she'd just claimed to see a flying pig, clear and utter confusion in her gaze.
"What do you mean 'am I?' If course you are! You get a guy like that and I'm stuck here with no one, all alone while you get sweet kisses and visits from your super hot boyfriend." Jo ranted, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. If only you knew, Mack thought.
"It's not all that, y'know. You can't be caught gawking at cute guys in public." Mack brushed off, trying so hard not to say exactly what she wanted. 'He's a fucking rapist who doesn't give a shit about me' Mack wanted to shout, 'he only cares about his fucking reputation and whether his dick is the biggest out of all his friends' she wishes she could scream. But she couldn't.
"Hey, do you want to come round mine after school? I thought we could study for that maths test we have Thursday." Jo suggested, sipping from her coke bottle. Mack smiled warmly.
"That'd be great. I'm awful at maths, maybe you could help a little?"
"Oh, I'm shit too, but don't worry. Kai's great at maths - I'm sure he'd help if you needed it." That's when Mack remembered that going to Jo's would mean facing Kai, but she couldn't say no now. It would be rude and unfriendly. Ugh, having a friend was much harder than Mack remembered.
~
The ride from school back to Jo's was awkward and full of an uncomfortable silence, the tension from whatever it was that happened between Kai and Mack still fresh in both their minds. As they pulled into the drive Mack quietly thanked Kai for driving before both girls hoped out, the mood instantly changing as the walked through the door. The two girls sat down in the kitchen, pulling out textbooks and flash cards.
An hour later and Mack sighed frustratedly, slamming her book shut and leaning back in her chair. Kai stifled a laugh from where he sat at the breakfast bar, silently reading a comic book.
"Need some help, babe?" He taunted, instantly reviving a glare that shot daggers from Mack.
"Kai, don't ever call my friends 'babe'" Jo complained. Kai stuck his tongue out at her before hopping off his stood and seating himself beside Mack.
"You know, if you let me help you, you might actually pass the test." Kai spoke as if Mack was a small child, slowly saying each word so she would understand. Mack hit him in the arm playfully and Kai leaned back, holding his hands up in surrender. Mack rolled her eyes and Kai shot her a quick wink, before motioning to the textbook. Mack kept looking at him for a moment longer before caving, opening to the right page.
"Oooh, quadratics. A hard one, I'll give you that." He commented when he saw the page, giving Mack a mock-sympathetic look. She scoffed.
"I just don't get it." Mack lamented, holding her head in her hands.
"What's the part you don't get, babe?" Kai asked leaning over the book. Both Mack and Jo shot him a death glare and he chuckled, muttering an 'okay, okay. I'll stop.' Before going back to helping her. "Ahhh, so it's the factorising you don't get. Well don't worry, I'm brilliant at fitting numbers into things." He said with a suggestive wink, making Mack's eyes roll. Kai chuckled.
~
"Hey dad!" Jo called as someone walked through the door, the sound of it closing behind him echoing.
"Hey, honey." He greeted as he walked into the kitchen. "Who's this friend of yours?" He asked, eyeing Mack and Kai sat next to each other.
"Oh this is Mack, the one I said about from school." Jo said brightly. Kai looked up at their dad and gave him a tight, mocking smile.
"Hello, Mack. I'm Joshua. It's nice to finally...meet you." Joshua said slowly, extending his hand towards the girl. Mack took it cautiously and shook. They released each other's hands and Kai looked at his dad.
"Hey dad, nice to be acknowledged." He deadpanned with a fake smile. Joshua rolled his eyes at the boy.
"Go to your room, Malachai. You know you're not meant to interact with the guests." Joshua demanded flatly. Kai reluctantly got up and walked out the room, pausing at the door and turning to face the girls.
"Good to see you, Kenz. Hope you pass that test." He sent her a wink and left, leaving Mack sat to figure out everything on her own again.
She shut her book and put it in her bag, standing up and looking to Jo.
"I should get going, I'll see you tomorrow." She turned to Joshua. "Thank you for having me, it was nice to meet you Mr. Parker." Mack thanked. Joshua waved her off.
"Good to meet you too, but please, call me Joshua." Mack nodded and walked out, calling 'bye!' Before walking out the large, wooden door.