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"Harley I'm in some deep shit man I need you to come back, they're saying I could get five years for something I didn't do. I know you're not gonna let me go down for this," he hangs up the house phone after leaving the message. Mackie has been calling his brother the last few days but it always goes straight to voicemail, not wanting to believe Harley would let him get in trouble for something he did, Mackie keeps trying.

Heading to his room after the call Mackie stops when he hears his parents whispering in their room, the door is cracked so he stands near listening. "We failed them didn't we?" His mom asks "we were way too loose with them, letting Harley drop out of high school and Mackenzie move out. Now he's going to jail a second time because of his brother and it's all our fault," she whispers to her husband.

"It's going to be ok" Mackie's dad sits next to her on the bed wrapping his arm around her and she lays her head on his shoulder, "Mackie's not going to jail his lawyer will fix this."

"His lawyer sucks! And Harley's nowhere to be found, we fucked up admit it."

Walking away Mackie goes to his little brother's room as they're sleeping in bed. He stands at the door watching them and how peaceful and innocent they look. Hating himself because he knew he should've been better examples for them, Mackie tries to think about what the right thing to do is, how can he show them to never follow in his or Harley's footsteps.

"Mack?" Bentley picks his head up seeing him standing there

"Hey sorry I woke you up,"

"It's ok" he sits up, "kinda hard to sleep with mom crying all night."

"I know Bent" Mackie walks closer, "it's all my fault but I'll fix this I promise"

Bentley nods "you can make it up to us by letting us swim in your friend's pool again," Bentley remember the day from months ago. Realizing Mackie completely forgot about Ben he stares at Bentley surprised "think he'll let us come back?"

"Maybe, go back to sleep, ok?"

"Ok, night." Mackie leaves their room shutting the door.

Walking to his room he tries to figure out how he could've spent the entire week completely forgetting about Ben. Realizing he has no way of contacting Ben, Mackie grabs his car keys and Jacket, walking to his parent's room he knocks before stepping in. "Hey Ken" his mom quickly wipes her eyes

"What's up?" His dad asks as they turn to him

"Um doubt I'm getting any sleep anytime soon, so I was gonna drive around see if I can get any info on Harley."

"Okay" his mom nods, "here take my phone in case we need you or you need us" she picks it up from the nightstand handing it to him.

"Thanks, I'll be back in a little bit"

"Be careful" his dad suggests.

The past week has been awful for him, without knowing how his boyfriend is or of any way to contact him, Ben was left in the dark. He's worried and no one at school made it better, especially not his friends, "we freaking told you, dude!" Ali threw it in his face "didn't we Brooke?" She turns to Brooke who notices how much Ben is hurting

"Uh Ali let it go, Ben what do you want us to do?" Brooke asked as they're sat outside

"Keep him away from me," they turn to see Jeremy walking towards them.

Standing up Brooke and Ali meet him before he gets to Ben, "hey I just need to talk to Ben"

"He doesn't want to talk to you," Ali replies

"Girls come on it's me"

"We don't care, Jeremy, we know what you're doing and Ben doesn't want to talk to you so just walk away" Brooke stands firm.

"But-"

"Walk away dipshit," Ali shoos him away and he rolls his eyes turning back around.

Now after a week of silence, Ben is home, 9 pm at night he stands in his kitchen doing dishes. With his head down as he rinses a plate Ben doesn't notice at first, but after drying the plate he turns to place it in the cabinet and sees Mackie standing outside his kitchen window. Shocked Ben drops the plate and it shatters, "what's going on?" His father comes rushing in

Mackie moves away and Ben quickly looks down at the shattered pieces, "it slipped" he explains "I'll get the broom to clean it up."

"Need some help?" His father offers

"Uh no, I got it."

"Ok be careful I'm going to bed."

"Good night" Ben waits to hear their bedroom door shut before rushing to the back door. He gently slides it exiting by the pool

Walking around to the window he sees Mackie standing against the wall, "hey" Mackie greets.

"Oh my god" he jumps in Mackie's arms wrapping his arms around the boy's neck hugging him tightly. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine" Mackie replies while they're still hugging, Ben is finding it a little difficult to let go. "Wait you know?"

Ben lets go and hits Mackie, "of course I know you asshole I've been so worried!"

"I'm sorry I would've called but the cops took my phone," they talk with their voices lowered to not get caught.

"It's fine my mom was the one who saw it on the news then took my phone so I couldn't call you, I'm basically on house arrest because they're trying to keep me away from you."

Sighing Mackie expected that to happen, "that makes sense."

"What about you? How are things with you?"

"Not good at all" Mackie rubs his head which hasn't stopped hurting for days, "if Harley doesn't come back I could get five years, and not juvie actual prison time."

"Holy shit! Because he shot the guy?"

Nodding "yep, and if I go away for five years Ben that'll fucking ruin me."

"No don't think like that" Ben holds his head trying to calm him, "he'll come back you have to believe that."

"I always thought I knew Harley but that was on the surface, motherfucker lived a life no one knew about."

"Maybe you didn't want to know Mackie, I mean you never questioned the shit he does. Your brother's a shady guy that was obvious to everyone, but it's like you chose to ignore it."

Knowing that Ben is completely right Mackie agrees, "after I went to juvie I wanted to be different, I went there because I couldn't handle my anger because of beef started by Harley. He wouldn't stop selling in East Shore territory so they came after me. I was one of them Ben, but I tried to do better just to be right back in it again. Harley's done a lot to me but it was always he is family so-"

"But that doesn't mean anything if all he's doing is ruining your life. Serena borrowed a phone case from me once without asking and I stopped talking to her for a year" Mackie scoffs and he chuckles, "no joke. Since I've known you Harley has done some terrible shit I would never forgive, but you're a better person than me. You don't deserve this, you know that right?"

Not knowing how to answer Mackie breaks his eye contact with Ben feeling tears crown in his eyes, this wasn't the first time he's felt himself about to cry since this entire thing started unraveling, but he stayed strong for his family. Now being in front of Ben, Mackie knows he's safe enough to be vulnerable. "When I was getting questioned the detective kept asking why I just left the guy there if I thought Harley did shoot him. If I'm such a good person, then why didn't I go back?"

"I... I don't know" Ben doesn't have all the answers, he watches Mackie wipe his eyes. "I think I know how to help though, I bet if I beg my mom she'd represent you."

"No that's a bad idea and I already have a lawyer,"

"Whoever you've got is probably not as good as my mom, trust me I can do it."

"No Ben I don't want you to get involved, your parents are right to keep you away from me."

"What? Don't say that"

Making a decision he knows he'll hate Mackie says, "I'm serious Ben I can't put you through this, I won't." Taking Ben's hands off him Mackie looks in his eyes making sure Ben understands, "things aren't looking too good for me and if I do have to go away I don't want you to feel like you have to wait for me, you deserve so much better."

"Mackie, what are you saying?"

"We shouldn't be together Ben, you should go live your normal life and-"

"No stop" Ben pulls him close, "I don't want that, I want you I don't care about the other stuff."

"You should Ben" he tries to stand behind this decision, "the old you would care so that's who I need you to be right now, the guy who thinks I'm a murderer."

"No" Ben frowns hugging Mackie, "I'm not doing that" his voice cracks as he buries his face in Mackie's shoulder.

Holding Ben's back Mackie's heart breaks regretting every second of what he's doing "I love you," he says making Ben cry even more, "I'm sorry Ben but you're better off you'll see." Finally letting go Ben stares at him with sad teary eyes Mackie could never handle, but he has to be strong and the strongest thing he could do right now is to walk away without saying another word. Kissing Ben on the forehead Mackie turns leaving.

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