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"Where are we going?" Mackie drives with Harley in the passenger seat. It's Saturday night and Mackie felt ready to get back into working with his brother

"New clients, asshole kids who don't know what to do with their money. It's a party but you don't have to go in" Harley explains

"All right."

Pulling up to the house with cars parked out front, Mackie gets out of the car with Harley "I'll be right back" Harley walks towards the house.

Leaned against the car Mackie looks at the house with the loud music and colorful lights he can see from the windows, continuing to look around the street Mackie notices a car. Not just any car but one he's driven before, getting curious Mackie stares at the house wanting to go in.

"One beer in a bottle not a cup" Jeremy hands Ben the bottle,

"Thank you" Ben takes it.

"So what do you think? Did I do good?"

Looking around at the party Ben smiles when he sees Ali and Brooke dancing, "I think you did" he points to them as he drinks his beer.

Looking down at his phone reading a text he got from Harley, Jeremy says to Ben "I'll be right back, ok? Don't move"

"I won't" Ben stands there as everyone else moves around and dances. He looks around and for the first time in a while, Ben feels like he's actually happy. Was that because of Jeremy? Or maybe it's because he's finally been able to get-

Stopping when his eyes land on him, Mackie wasn't sure but there he stood bottle in hand all alone, still unsure of who's house this is Mackie knows it's someone from school because most of these people look familiar. Which begs the question why would Harley bring him here? Before he can make himself scarce Mackie is spotted, they lock eyes and Ben is stuck. Mackie watches the still boy staring back at him

"Hey sorry had to talk to someone," Jeremy walks back to Ben saying.

Seeing Jeremy talking to Ben, Mackie shakes his head walking away. "I'll be right back" Ben hands Jeremy his beer. Mackie walks out of the house going back to his car waiting there instead, he knew if he spent time looking around he'd find Ben and maybe he wanted Ben to see him. Walking out of the house Ben sees Mackie's back turned to him, a lot of emotions rush through him seeing Mackie, but the main one is annoyance. "You don't get to judge me!" He says loud enough to turn Mackie around

Mackie looks at him, "I wasn't-"

"What are you doing here?"

"I was invited"

"That's doubtful"

"Why because this is Jeremy's house? What are you guys like-"

"No!" He quickly answers, "but that's none of your business"

"Right so go back in there and continue living your life."

"Don't" Ben points, "don't act like you're doing better than me, yes I'm at Jeremy's party and yeah I was actually having a good time before you showed up. Should I just call the cops now or wait after your fists start flying?"

"Are you looking for a fight or something?"

"I want you to tell me what the hell you're doing here!"

"Yo Mack guess who just sold 80 bucks worth for 200?!" Harley comes out of the house bragging and laughing

Ben turns to Harley and he stops, "oh" he reacts turning back to Mackie "that's so sad."

"Now you're judging me?" Mackie asks

"I feel sorry for you."

"Harley lets go" Mackie turns getting in the car, they look at each other one last time before Mackie drives away.

Going back inside the party clearly upset, Ben walks around until he finds Jeremy. "Hey" Jeremy turns to him, without replying Ben grabs his hand pulling him away from everyone. "What's wrong?" Stopping when they're alone Ben plants his lips on Jeremy's kissing him, taking a moment to comprehend what's happening Jeremy starts to kiss him back.

"I want some" he pulls away saying,

"Some of what?"

"Whatever you bought from Mackie's brother, I want some of it."

"Ben" Jeremy chuckles, "no you don't trust me"

"Why not? If you can take it why can't I?" Jeremy doesn't reply thinking about the question, "come on" Ben kisses him "please?"

Falling for his begging eyes Jeremy takes the baggy out of his pocket, taking out a pill he puts the rest back. The pill sits in his palm as he hands it to Ben, "you wanted it right?" He sees Ben hesitant to pick it up

"What is it?"

"It's just E, you'll feel good might make you really thirsty though."

Taking the pill Ben tosses it in his mouth swallowing. "Thanks" he steps back from Jeremy about to walk away

Jeremy stops him, "wait that's it?"

Ben nods "I'll find you when it kicks in."

As he's driving "how do you know any of them?" Mackie asks Harley

"I may or may not have met some people when I was at your school looking for you."

"All right so from now on we're gonna treat those people like they're from East Shore, I do not want to be around them, and if you think you're going to trick me like you always do I will end this now."

"Fucking relax Mack, I got it." Getting a vibe from his brother Harley asks "was he the..."

"I don't want to talk about this with you."

"Cool cool fine with me" Harley quickly drops the conversation. Mackie drops Harley off then gets on the highway going home.

The whole car ride he thinks about that interaction, counting how long it's been Mackie reaches 6 weeks. That's how long it's been since they've seen each other, never crossing paths or accidentally calling each other once, Mackie made sure none of that would happen. Now Ben is back to hanging out with Jeremy and that makes Mackie mad remembering the shit Jeremy put him through, how dumb can Ben be? He thinks. Realizing he's in no place to judge because he's talking to his brother again Mackie tries to let it go, but what possible reason could Ben have for doing this?

Getting out of his car when he gets home Mackie walks into his house, heading for the kitchen he opens the fridge grabbing a beer. After getting the cap off, he stands in the kitchen drinking the beer trying to calm himself down. As he's standing there Mackie hears Maeve's door opens, "yeah that was fun" he hears her voice

Followed by a male voice "we should do this again." They walk out of the hall, the guy and Mackie see each other "oh hey" he stops walking, without replying Mackie just nod.

He and Maeve share a look, "all right door's this way" she pulls the guy towards the door.

"So, when should we do this again?"

"Uh I'll call you" she opens the door, "bye."

"Bye" he finally leaves and she shuts the door.

"God that guy was annoying!" She walks back to Mackie in the kitchen

He stares at her in her robe, then asks "fun date?"

"Yep" Maeve opens the fridge then shuts it, "I'm going to bed."

As she's about to walk back into the hall Mackie says, "I saw Ben" and Maeve turns right back.

Standing in front of the tall boy holding his beer, Maeve asks curiously "how?"

"Freaking Harley took me to a party thrown by assholes I used to go to school with, he was just standing there all friendly and fucking chummy with his ex. He saw me so I left and he followed me, then for some reason got so pissed because I was there."

"Yeah that makes sense if he's finally getting over you and you just show up somewhere he wasn't expecting, that won't make anyone feel good."

"But I was fine seeing him, that's a lie the moment I saw him with Jeremy I wanted to fucking attack Jeremy, but if that wasn't bad enough Harley came out the house bragging about how he jipped them and Ben saw him. I promised Ben I'd never go back to selling with my brother again"

"So he's hanging out with his asshole ex and you're selling drugs with your brother, y'all are doing great."

"I know what I'm doing with Harley and it's on my terms, but Jeremy will manipulate Ben into getting back together with him, even though he cheated on Ben their entire relationship."

"Mackie it's been over a month what Ben does isn't your problem anymore, ok? He's not a child let him go." Mackie nods taking the advice but knowing very well that letting Ben go was easier said than done. "Now I'm going to bed because I have to be rejuvenated to feed alcoholics alcohol. Get some sleep and forget Ben" she pats his back then walks away going to her bedroom.

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