𝗧𝗪: 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗺

Mackenzie sat with her friend, Erica, in a pub. She was blabbering on, oblivious to the annoyed look on her friends face.

"And I don't understand how other people don't understand the simple equation. "Find x, y, and z such that x³+y³+z³=k, for each k from 1 to 100" In mathematics, entirely by coincidence, there exists a polynomial equation for which the answer, 42, had eluded mathematicians for decades. The equation x3+y3+z3=k is known as the sum of cubes problem-"

"Should we get something to eat?" Erica cut her off.

Mackenzie, or Mack as she liked to be called, frowned and tilted her head.

"Would you like to talk about something else?" Mack asked with innocence in her eyes.

"No! It's just since the beginning of the conversation all you've talked about is math. I think I missed a birthday." Erica sarcastically responded.

Mack stared at her blankly. Erica shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "I heard there are more people in China with genius IQ's than the entire-"

"You know, I've been thinking about getting another degree for math because I always see signs, quiet literally." Mack blurted out.

Erica sat back with a sigh, "Really?"

"Yeah, but there aren't many people recognized for their achievements in mathematics. E-except Bernhard Riemann or Paul Gordan. But I could probably major in a different one for fun." Mack thought out loud.

"Well, which is the easiest?" Erica asked

Mackenzie's face twisted in hurt. "Why would you ask me that?"

"I'm just asking."

Mack started talking again, her words passing Erica's ears. Whether it was because the girl couldn't care less or because Mackenzie was talking so fast that her words jumbled together was unknown.

Erica picked up small parts, words consisting of "Eduardo." "Oil." and "Money."

"That must be nice. Making Three hundred thousand dollars in a summer."

Mack nodded with a sparkle in her eye. The girl was hopelessly in love and it showed. She just had that gleam in her eye when she was around him and a smile when she talked about him.

"He likes meteorology."

"You said oil."

"You can read the weather, you can predict other things along the topic-I think you asked me that because you think the degree that's the easiest to get into is the one where I have the best chance." Mack's words ran together as she bounced her leg, a habit that Eduardo had forced her into when had extra energy. It lightly shook the table but it was better than her shaking her hands in the air like a maniac like she was trying to dry her hands without a paper towel.

"I... What?" Erica asked.

"You asked which one was the easiest to get into because you think that's the one where I'll have the best chance."

Erica looked at her as if she had lost a brain cell, "The one that's the easiest to get into is the one where anyone has the better chance."

"You didn't ask me which major was the best, you asked which one was the easiest."

"I was honestly just asking, okay, I was just asking to ask." Mack looked around avoiding eye contact.

"Look, I'm not speaking in code, Mackenzie. You're obsessed with getting Degrees to show how smart you are."

Macks eyebrows furrowed. The girl never had any intention to show off her IQ. If anything she wanted to downplay it because apparently it wasn't normal to have equations in your head almost 24/7.

"You have Degree OCD, you need to see someone to get you some sort of medication." And there it was.

"They always say I have something wrong with me but I don't, okay? I'm fine. Okay. I don't need any medicine." Mackenzie defended. "And there's a difference between being obsessed and motivated."

"Yes... there is." Erica slowly nodded.

"Okay, that-that was cryptic." Mack pointed out with a confused look, "You do talk in code."

"And I just want to make sure people know that I am smart incase they doubt me." Mack continued before Erica could respond.

"Why don't you just concentrate on being the best you, you can be."

"Did you really just say that?"

"I was kidding." Erica's face fell.

"You might want to be more supportive." Mackenzie said, unknown to how rude the words could be.

"I'd be taking you to events and gatherings you wouldn't normally meet."

Erica looked at her shocked, "You would do that for me?"

"I'm trying to make a friend." Mack told her.

"Well I want to be straightforward with you and tell you we're not anymore."

"What?" Mackenzie whispered, looking like a kicked puppy.

"You were going to introduce me to people I wouldn't normally have the chance to meet, what the f- what is that supposed to mean?" Erica asked.

"Wait stop." Mack frowned. She didn't remember saying that.

"What is it supposed to mean?" Erica asked again, this time giving Mackenzie a shove to her shoulder.

"I-I mean the reason we're even here is because you used to sleep with the door guy." Mack said, somehow looking innocent.

"The door guy, his name is Bobby and I-" Mack involuntarily zoned out, thinking of people with the name of Bobby.

Bobby singer.
Bobby Mares.
Bobby Flay.
Millie Bobby Brown.
Would Mille Bobby Brown count? Because that's a Middle name, correct. I think it counts-

"-And what part of Long Island are you from?" Mack didn't catch what she said next but she wasn't sure she wanted to.

"I wait, I apologize-" Mack spoke as Erica went to stand.

"I have to go study."

"Erica-"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry, I mean it." Mackenzie clenched her fist.

"I get that but I have to go-"

"Okay, wait." Mackenzies hand drew back, harshly hitting the arm of her chair. She repeated the action as she tried her best to tune out the numbers and letters written in white with a blank equation symbol that filled itself.

The lines being perfect, as if they were made in the best handwriting known to man and made it into a font for a one of a kind typewriter. Mack didn't know why she saw the equations in the one of a kind style but she always loved the way they looked. As if they were made just for her.

"You dont-you don't have to study. We can just talk."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because it is exhausting, being friends with you is like being friends with a stairmaster." Erica insulted.

Macks hand moved faster, hitting the tip of the armrest with a greater force. She was so focused on getting Erica to stay with her that she didn't notice her skin splitting and blood drop from it. Or how purples, blues, and blacks started appearing.

"I meant that you're less likely to get into the subjects that I do, I mean Iwasstatingafact that was all. And the amount of courses-"

"I have to go study." Erica glared.

"You don't have to study."

"Why do you keep saying that?"

"Because you go to be you!" Mack rushed out.

They sat in silence, Erica not even bothered to tell Mackenzie what she was doing to herself. Mack hadn't even realized her hand had started moving but now it was a torn and bloody mess.

"I'm sorry you're not impressed with my education."

"I don't really feel like you're sorry." Mack murmured.

"I think we should just be professional."

"I don't want to be professional."

"I don't want to be professional either, I had no intentions to be professional." Erica sneered

"Look youdonthavetogo you can stay and we can get some food, youlikefood, don't you? We-".

"Look I know you're probably going to be some famous super genius person. But you're going to go through life thinking that people don't like you because you're a nerd." Mack looked around, starting to solve the equations on the walls and floor.

"And this is coming from the bottom of my heart, it isn't true. It'll be because you're an asshole."

With that Erica stood up and walked away. Mackenzie frowned as tears filled her eyes. She sniffled and went to wipe away her tears. She pulled back when something wet hit her cheek. She pulled her hand back and looked at it's side. Her skin had split and her right pinky looked slightly bent. She had a shake in her hands, like she always did, and bruises were littered.

He let out a whimper as red hot pain engulfed her hand. She looked around awkwardly and raised the glass to her lips before putting it back and standing up. She walked away from the pub leaving behind her broken friendship.