＊ 𝐏𝐀𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 ——
❪ chapter nine ❫ !

Mackenzie was focused on her book, the one Steven got her for her birthday. She was laying down on the couch, turning the page every two minutes.

The door opened revealing laughter that came from two girls, Belly and Taylor. Mackenzie stood up quickly, walking towards the door.

"Hey, Taylor." Mackenzie smiled, hugging the girl. "Hey, Mack. Happy birthday." Taylor paused, letting go of the hug as she handed a pink bag to Mackenzie. "I got you a present."

One thing about Taylor was that she was always going to get clothing as a present. So when she got Mackenzie a white dress she wasn't surprised but still very grateful.

"This is beautiful, Tay." Mackenzie held up the dress.

Jeremiah began to speak, "We're gonna go into the pool, do you wanna come in with us?" Mackenzie nodded her head, "Of course."

Mackenzie ran upstairs to her room, putting on her blue bikini. While doing so she took out the velvet box Conrad gave her.

When she opened it there was a necklace with a dove charm hanging on it inside. She was contemplating if it would be a good idea to wear or not especially since Conrad had not given Belly a present. But the blonde did not hesitate to put it on.

The blonde walked into the backyard. Jeremiah, Steven, Belly, and Taylor were already in the pool. Mackenzie jumped in, splashing everyone.

When she made her way back up to the top, Taylor swam over to her. "Mackenzie, you look super hot in that bikini. And that necklace, oh my gosh i'd die for it. Where'd you get it?"

"Thank you, um, it was a gift." She touched the bracelet, grabbing the charm and moving it side to side.

"From who?" Taylor smirked.

"Someone."

"Okay, we're being mysterious but I will find out I promise.." Taylor swam back to Belly, Mackenzie followed behind.

"Conrad is going to lose his mind when he sees you in this bikini." Taylor laughed, speaking to Belly.

The second those words came out of Taylor's mouth Mackenzie was filled a bunch of guilt. From kissing Conrad, to getting a birthday gift from him when he didn't get Belly one. She didn't want to hurt Belly's feelings especially since she had a huge crush on Conrad. And because of Nicole, they were technically dating.

But Mackenzie shrugged it off, she had to be mad at him. But at the same time she didn't want to, he didn't forget about her birthday. He gave her a present, a dove necklace. It reminded her of when he drew a dove on her pancakes five summers ago. But they still hadn't talked about the kiss, it was driving Mackenzie insane.

"No, I doubt it. I honestly think he couldn't care less." Belly said.

"Come on, Belly" Taylor rolled her eyes.

Mackenzie swam away, knowing exactly what belly was going to say. But she stayed a little close to hear what they were saying.

"No, seriously. He didn't even get me a present this year, but i have no doubt he got Mackenzie one."

"What?"

"He claimed he forgot. But he only said my name and not her's. It's like she's stealing him away from me."

"Ugh, what a little bitch. See there's a reason why I'm mainly friends with you." Taylor stated.

'Okay, ouch.' Mackenzie thought to herself.

"Let's play chicken," Taylor suggested, changing the subject from what her and Belly were talking about..

"No. Not chicken." Belly replied.

"I think i'm gonna sit this one out." Mackenzie got out of the pool. Taylor rolled her eyes, "No, don't go." Her tone was condescending.

Mackenzie went back inside to grab a cup of Orange Juice when she walked back out she noticed Conrad sitting down by the pool with Nicole. She quickly walked back inside, taking a few deep breaths before walking outside again.

"Hey." Mackenzie sat down next to Nicole, as she glanced over at Conrad.

"Happy birthday, Mackenzie." Nicole smiled.

"Thank you."

time skip to when they're playing volleyball !

Mackenzie was on Jere and Steven's team. Belly and Taylor were doing better than them. "Ugh, this isn't fair." Steven whined. "No, I think we're just better than you." Taylor laughed.

Taylor had the ball when she threw it, it nearly hit Mackenzie but it didn't. Instead it hit Nicole in the face. "Oh, my God. I'm so sorry." Taylor's smile was slanted, she looked at Mackenzie almost as if she was mad that it didn't hit her.

"Are you okay?" Steven asked Nicole.

"Taylor." Belly looked at her.

"It was an accident."

"I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" Belly asked Nicole.

"Yeah, no, I'm- I'm- I'm totally fine. Y- You guys keep playing." Nicole told them.

     "I'm gonna see if she's okay," Mackenzie got out of the pool.

"Come on, Belly. Conrad and Mackenzie can go take care of Nicole. Let's go inside and look at ourselves in the mirror some more or let's go and pretend to be mysterious reading our little book." Taylor told Belly.

Conrad and Mackenzie stood there looking at Taylor. "fucking bitch." Mackenzie whispered. Conrad laughed, hearing what Mackenzie said. The blonde looked at him, rolling her eyes in a joking way.

Mackenzie walked inside the kitchen and grabbed a pack of frozen vegetables she handed it to Nicole, "It's fine, it doesn't hurt," Nicole told Mackenzie who put the frozen vegetables back in the freezer.

"Well, the vegetables are in the freezer if you need them." Mackenzie smiled.

     Before Mackenzie was able to leave the kitchen Nicole stopped her, "Hey, i'm hosting a party, do you wanna come?" Mackenzie stood there contemplating if she should go or not, "Um, sure." Nicole smiled, "Great!"

𓆉

The two families, along with Taylor and Cam, sat at the dinner table. The table was filled with laughter and conversations.

"So, Cam. You mind if I call you Cam Cameron?" Jeremiah asked.

"Mm-hmm. Yeah, man. Feel free. That's funny."

"I'm glad you're here, Cameron. I know your mom, Denise, from the club. I have heard a lot about you." Susannah told him.

"Thank you so much for having me, Susannah. My mom says hi." He smiled.

"Cam, have you ever had miyeok-guk before? It's a Korean birthday tradition." Laurel asked him.

"No. Looks so good. Thank you."

"Belly told me you're vegetarian, so I didn't put any meat in it."

"Thank you, Laurel. Oh, geez."He said as he prepared to eat the food.

"Why don't, you eat meat, Cam Cameron?" Jeremiah asked.

"Uh, the meat industry is, like, the number one contributor to global warming. And I just, I like animals." He explained.

"Just don't come for my leather jacket." Taylor chuckled.

"I'm pretty sure you mean pleather," Steven smirked.

Taylor stuck up the middle finger towards Steven, who just laughed at it.

"You know, uh, actually, Belly eats meat. So, you let her kiss you with those lips?" Jeremiah asked.

"Guys. Stop." Belly insisted.

"No, I don't judge people for eating meat. It's just, like, a personal choice. I don't care." Cam replied to Jeremiah's questions.

"So you don't mind if, uh, like, her lips touch a dead animal, and then those dead animal lips touch your lips, right? Ow." Jeremiah asked as Belly kicked his leg with her foot.

"I don't mind at all. Um, in fact..." Cam paused as he kissed Belly. Everyone was looking at them. Mackenzie raised her brows, "Oh." she whispered to herself.

Steven and Jeremiah pretended to puke.

"All right. All right, all right. Belly's allowed to kiss but that's it." Laurel laughed at her joke.

"Mom, please. No. You're so not funny. No more wine for you, okay?" Belly rested her head on her hand.

"I'm sorry, I just don't understand why anybody would want to kiss somebody who once fully shat in the bathtub," Steven told everyone.

"I was like two years old," Belly told Steven.

"Two? More like six." Steven and Jeremiah laughed.

"Shut up, Steven."

"Steven." Laurel looked at her son.

"Aw, I remember that. God, that feels like a lifetime ago." Susannah smiled.

"I remember when I visited last summer,  and you dared him to pee in the fireplace, and you stunk up the entire house for days. Do you remember that?" Taylor looked at Steven.

"I blamed the neighbor's cat." Susannah voiced.

"We were drunk. We were drunk." Steven told them.

"Barely." Mackenzie laughed, looking at Steven.

"On like half a White Claw." Belly smiled.

"She got you there." Jeremiah laughed at Steven.

The table then got quiet, "You know, um, I'm thinking maybe we should go to Nicole's party." Belly proposed.

"Yes," Taylor yelled with joy.

Now Mackenzie was really debating if she should go or not. For one, Taylor was out for her blood all of a sudden and Belly was acting all weird but to be fair all of this was weird to Mackenzie.

     "I'm coming too." Mackenzie let out.

     "Oh..." Taylor sighed, Belly slapped her leg. "That's great!"

     AUTHORS NOTE ! [ 1.5k words ]
—— vote and comment ❪ don't be a ghost reader ❫
i wanted to put the party scene in this chapter but i
wanted to make that it's own chapter bc you'll see.

i've decided on monnie as Connie and Mackie's
ship name!!

—— ignore any grammar mistakes they will be fixed !
feedback on this chapter would be amazing <3