Array
(
[text] =>

"This is Hanigans?" Mackie asks sitting in the car with Ben, "it's just a park" he turns to the boy.

With his excited grin, Ben replies "it's not just a park! I loved this place when I was a kid." Turning the car off he takes off his seatbelt, "come on I want to show you the best part" he gets out. Getting out of the car Mackie follows not as excited as Ben but willing to fake it, "when we were kids Serena and I used to come here to this big rock behind the park. We'd lay on it stare at the sky pretending we were in space," Ben explains as they're walking "guess what we called it"

Shrugging "escape rock?"

"That would've been so much better" Ben stops when they get in front of the giant rock, "we called it rocket, get it? Because we used it to get to space"

"Yes, Ben I got it."

"Ok come on we're gonna lay on it and feel it's magic," they climb the rock and Ben lays on his back waiting for Mackie to do the same, they look up at the sky and the sun slowly going down. "We used to complain about the stupidest shit on this rock," Ben says smiling "wanna try it?"

"How?"

"Like this" he prepares to demonstrate, "earlier the girls and I went to get our nails done, and my nail tech Tina made me wait twenty minutes even though I had an appointment."

Mackie smiles "that's so fucked up, how dare Tina?"

"I know right!" They both chuckle "now your turn think of the dumbest thing you could complain about,"

"Ok um yesterday at work while I was helping get a car off a tow truck, I slipped and the car almost fell on top of me."

"What the fuck?" Ben laughs "Mackie that's serious"

"Is it?" He looks at Ben

Ben nods "yes try again,"

"All right..." Mackie thinks, "I was expecting Hanigans to be a restaurant and I'm kind of annoyed that it's my boyfriend's favorite childhood park with a giant rock he calls rocket." Turning their heads to each other they smile

"You have your cliff and I have my rock." Looking at his boyfriend Ben can't help the look on Mackie's face, Ben can tell there's something heavy on his mind. "You know sometimes Serena and I would talk about serious stuff too, I mean serious for a six-year-old but still super serious." Mackie turns meeting Ben's eyes, "like things we wouldn't normally talk about... sometimes I'm insecure about us because I know how shitty I've been, and the things I used to say to you and about you."

"Will it make you feel better if I say I don't care?"

"Kinda, I'm just scared I'll become that person again"

"I don't think you will, you're a good person Ben" reaching out to Ben who's still laying next to him, Mackie pulls Ben laying him on his chest. "I don't talk about it but sometimes after work, I like to drive by my house and stop for a second wanting to go in. My dad hasn't even tried to talk to me and it's been months, he really is done with me."

Lifting his head Ben moves close caressing Mackie's face, "so screw him you don't need him and when he realizes he's made a mistake he'll come begging, you know why?" Mackie shakes his head "because you did nothing wrong, you've always been good to your family and if he can't see past this one thing then that's on him, not you."

They stare at each other and Mackie moves his head to Ben gently kissing him, holding Mackie's face Ben kisses back feeling the boy's tongue softly touching his. "Maybe this rock isn't so bad"

Ben chuckles "get your own rock this one's mine" they continue to laugh until Ben's phone starts to ring. Taking it out he sees Ali's name so he answers, "what's up?" He sits up and so does Mackie

"Come to the house now it's important!"

"Ok what hap-" she hangs up, staring at his phone screen confused Ben turns to Mackie, "she hung up"

"What'd she say?"

"To come to the house now"

"Let's go." Getting off the rock Mackie and Ben walk to the car and Ben drives to Ali's.

Parking when he gets there Mackie follows behind Ben as he walks into the decorated house holding her gift bag. "Thank god you're here" Brooke sees Ben walking in "Ali is losing it!"

"What's happening?"

"Eric the college guy she's been messing around with said he can't come, and he was the one that was supposed to bring the alcohol."

"Oh shit"

"I know! Now she thinks people are going to leave if they find out this is a dry party,"

"Oh my god, Ben!" Ali walks in "what the hell am I gonna do? I knew I couldn't count on fucking Eric"

"Ali first of all calm down we have a couple of hours we can figure this out."

"How Ben?! My party's gonna suck ass" she continues to panic, "what am I gonna do?"

They all stop to think "I can get it" Mackie says figuring out they forgot he was even there.

Surprised the 3 friends turn to Mackie, "what do you mean?" Ben asks

"I have a fake I.D that works just fine,"

"Don't joke around Denver, can you really get it?" Ali walks to him and Mackie nods "thank fucking god! Ok then you go do that, and we'll finish setting up. Ben will send you a list"

"No" Ben stops her, "if you want Mackie to do this for you, you have to ask nicely."

"Oh my god, Ben it's my birthday" she complains but Ben doesn't care, she sighs "Denver can you please use your I.D to buy alcohol for my party?" She asks as she scolds Ben

"Sure."

"Thank you" She turns to Ben "happy?"

"Here take Serena's car" handing Mackie the key he takes it heading out. The others set up while Mackie uses his fake I.D to fill the car with kegs and liquor bottles undetected.

Finally, after getting everything done, it was time to party. Having the best DJ Ali feels proud of herself that people were enjoying her party so far. With the colorful lights, all the liquor and the big house, there was something for everyone.

This was Mackie's first party since being at this school, before Ben, no one gave him the time of day let alone invited him places. He never cared but even Mackie has to admit that being there with Ben feels good. Ben sits on his lap as they kiss and watch everyone else, they're moment doesn't last too long "Ben come here" Ali walks to him grabbing his arm. Ben doesn't budge "Aaron's here!"

"What, he is?!" Ben quickly stands

"Yes let's go, he'll be right back Denver" Ali drags him away.

This party was his way in with Ben's friends, Brooke isn't very hard to please but Mackie could tell Ali was warming up to him, now all he has to do is not mess it up. That was easier said than done, as he's walking around Mackie notices a group of people walking in very out of place, kind of like him.

The closer he gets the more he notices the group of guys, realizing they're guys from East Shore people he has a lot of problems with Mackie backs up keeping his distance. Trying to stay cool to not freak anyone out he watches as they walk around Ali's party, and people start to stare at them making them stick out of the crowd even more.

"Hey" Ben places his hand on Mackie causing him to jump, "woah everything ok?"

"Yeah sorry I-"

"Who the fuck are those guys?" Ben sees the crew in their bad guy clothes and demeanor "who invited them?"

Mackie shrugs "I don't know,"

"If Ali sees uninvited people that look like that at her party she's gonna freak" Ben stares at them like everyone else is doing, "I have to go say something to them."

"Ben no!" Mackie tries to stop him but Ben is already walking towards the group of guys lead by Gregory, Mackie's biggest enemy. "Fuck!" He stands there watching his boyfriend make a big mistake.

Walking up to them Ben taps Gregory's shoulder and he turns followed by the rest, "hi um who are you guys? And who invited you?"

"Don't concern yourself with that, we're just looking for someone," he tries to walk away but Ben blocks him.

"The thing is this is a private party and you're crashing so if I can't help you find who you're looking for, you and your well-dressed friends are gonna have to go." Ben isn't afraid of much and Mackie was hoping they'd scare him enough to walk away but Mackie doubts his boyfriend.

"No one's going anywhere until we find who we're looking for."

"And who are you looking for?" Poor Ben who's only trying to look out for his friend doesn't realize that the guy he's talking to, is the same guy Mackie punched in the face repeatedly during that brawl the first day he went to Mackie's house for their project. Seeing that scared Ben so remembering something like that and the people involved would've been really helpful for him right now, but too bad he doesn't.

"Fuck out of our way, all right?"

"Yeah I don't think so you and your fun friends can leave door's right there" he points towards the exit.

"Who the fuck do you think you're talking to? You don't know me I'll fuck you up" Gregory shoves Ben. Rushing towards them Mackie stands in front of Ben, seeing his face Gregory smiles "there he is, you been hiding pussy?"

"Y'all need to get the fuck out of here right now!"

"Why would we do that Mack? We never get invited to fancy ass shit like this, I see why you've been hiding here, this shit looks fun as fuck" Gregory looks around admiring Ali's house and party.

"Fuck you G, y'all need to go right the fuck now before we have a problem."

"It's too fucking late Mack we been had a problem,"

"Mackie, what's happening?" Ben asks him

Mackie knows it's too late to try and handle this calmly, he doesn't know what they're doing here but he knows things are about to go south.

"Are you sure this will work?" Jeremy asks Harley as they're standing far away staring at everything going down between Mackie and Gregory, Jeremy has been hiding Mackie's brother until this exact moment.

"Trust me ain't no one Mackie hates more than that motherfucker,"

"What happened between them?"

"Don't worry about it, as soon as either of them swings they're gonna attack him, I'll rush in to help and you get your boyfriend the fuck away from there."

"Ok," Jeremy and Harley continue to watch.

Because of his selfish tendencies, Harley was about to ruin Mackie's life for god knows how many times now.

"Bro we can keep talking or we can take this outside" Gregory and his friends were ready for a round 2, "or have you gone soft hiding with these weak looking motherfuckers?"

"Mackie don't do this," Ben tries to cut in but Mackie ignores him.

"Outside now" he just wants to get them out of the house.

"Mackie stop," Ben holds him

"Hey make sure everyone stays inside all right? It's gonna be fine," getting Ben's hand off of him Mackie turns to Gregory "move then bitch."

"Actually I change my mind, we're fucking shit up here" he unexpectedly swings on Mackie punching him in the face. Everyone gasps seeing it, Mackie shoves him and they all start to swing

"Here we go!" Harley rushes in yanking people off his brother, it is a fight and no one should condone it but it was a sight watching 2 brothers beat people up together.

"Harley?" Mackie sees his brother helping "where the fuck did you come from?" He asks as they're fighting

"Ask questions later dickhead!"

"WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING?!" Ali rushes in "Ben make them stop!" Ben doesn't know what to say seeing his boyfriend in another brawl yet again, but this one was different this was in the center of Ali's party.

"Ben we need to get out of here someone called the cops" and by someone Jeremy means himself.

"Get the fuck away from me!" He fights Jeremy off.

It's all happening so fast, but as soon as everyone hears the sirens approaching everything changes, people start to run around trying to make it out of Ali's house. Mackie is on top of Gregory pounding his face in and Gregory's practically out cold while the rest of his crew ditches him. "MACKIE STOP!" Ben yells stoping his bloody fist midair, realizing he blacked out Mackie gets off the floor letting go of Gregory.

"COPS!" Someone yells and Mackie sees the flashing lights.

"Ben lets go," Mackie says to Ben about to grab him but Ben moves back afraid of the boy standing in front of him covered in blood. "We have to leave! The cops are coming" Mackie tries to yank Ben from his friends as everyone runs out of the house, but Ben doesn't want to leave trying to pull himself away. "Ben please"

"Get off him!" Ali shoves Mackie knocking him down "YOU RUINED EVERYTHING" she yells at him "GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HOUSE!"

Trying to look at Ben who stands behind Ali too shocked by everything that spiraled tonight to speak, "Ben I swear I didn't do this you have to believe me" Mackie can tell this one was going to be too much to forgive.

"Bro lets go!" Harley runs up to Mackie pulling him away, deciding to run with his brother Mackie leaves Ben with his friends as the cops pull up and everyone scatters outside in fear. What was supposed to be an amazing party goes completely wrong, and without trying, Mackie ended up being the center of it all.

[text_hash] => 576f7a15
)