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That night Mackie stands outside his house with Ben, "want me to go in with you?" Ben holds his hand asking because he can tell how nervous Mackie really is.

Mackie shakes his head "I have to do this alone,"

"You did the right thing, Mackie, I hope you know that, and no matter what happens in there I am proud of you for it."

"Thank you" he looks at Ben, "I'll call you afterwards" Ben nods "are you ok to get home?"

"Yeah, I can call a cab,"

"Here," Mackie takes his car keys out of his pocket, "take my car."

"Are you sure?"

Nodding "text me when you get home."

"Okay," they kiss "good luck."

Ben waits as Mackie walks to his door and goes inside. "Hey," his dad greets him as soon as he walks in.

"Hey, mom around?"

nodding " she's putting the boys to bed."

"Ok I'm gonna go get her, can you wait for me in the living room? I need to talk to you guys together" he nods and Mackie walks deeper inside the house.

"Is Harley ever coming back?" Mackie hears Ryder ask when he gets to his little brother's room

Sitting on the side of his bed as she covers him, Mackie's mom answers "I don't know sweetheart but maybe he'll miss you enough to come back."

"I hope so Mackie is sad without him," hiding behind the wall as he listens Mackie's heart aches feeling like he's just made a mistake that'll tear his family apart.

"Don't worry Ry he'll come back" she doesn't even believe that, "now get some sleep. Getting up she shuts the light then walks out "Jesus!" She bumps into Mackie who's standing there, "what are you doing?"

"I need to talk to you" he whispers.

"Okay" gently shutting the boy's door she follows him to the living room where his dad is waiting in his lazy boy, beer in hand.

His mom sits down and he sits next to her. There's no easy way to start this but Mackie has to tell his family the decision he just made without their knowledge. "You guys raised us to always have each other's backs" he starts, "and I have always done that, but every chance he got, Harley has put himself before me. I don't know how to live and be his brother anymore, he has hurt me too many times."

"Where are you going with this Mackie?" his dad asks putting the beer down

"The truth" he stares at his dad, "Harley is fucked up dad, he shot that guy and I saw the gun-"

"Stop" his dad demands.

"No you need to hear this, I have always told you the truth and Harley hasn't, but my words never mattered as much as his. You favored a fucking lunatic dad and I'm sick of it," his dad stands up getting pissed. "You need to listen to me!" Mackie stands up too "Harley had me jumped! I was locked up for a year because of him! Every time I got suspended for fighting when we were kids was because I was covering for him. What do you call that?" Mackie asks his dad who has his back turned to him

"LOYALTY!" His dad turns back to him barking

"YEAH WELL, WHERE'S MINE?!" Mackie yells back getting heated "no more lying, no more covering For him dad, Harley left me here to burn. Why can't you see that?"

Finally breaking her silence Mackie's mom notices Mackie wanting to open their eyes to a point they're not getting, standing up she turns Mackie to her "what did you do, Ken?"

Sighing Mackie contemplates afraid to hurt his mom, "I changed my statement to a testimony and said that I saw the gun. When they find Harley I'm testifying against him." His mom stares at him shocked

"What?" his dad couldn't believe what he is hearing, "why the fuck would you do that?!" He screams

"Because he shot a guy!" Mackie turns to his dad "there's a difference between having each other's backs, and just protecting someone who doesn't deserve it."

"You just fucked this family!" His dad shoves him

"Don't touch him!" Mackie's mom stands in front of him blocking her husband from attacking their son.

"You're still standing up for him?" Mackie asks thinking he'd actually be able to change his father's mind. "Even now? Open your eyes, dad! It was him or me, and I'm not letting it be me anymore! I don't care if you hate me for it, I'm doing what I have to do."

"I-" he glares at Mackie then shakes his head, "I can't" he walks away heading for his keys and jacket to walk out.

But Mackie's mom rushes stopping him "no," she pulls him "you don't get to storm off! Mackie's right we've let this go on for way too long,"

"You're choosing too?"

"Like you haven't?! That was always abundantly clear, dear. I had to condition our son into believing you loved them both equally but you didn't." Sometimes you have to make sacrifices and a parent is never done making those for their child, Mackie's mom figured out the best way to protect him. "Mackenzie honey you should leave," she turns to him

"What?" He asks confused "no I'm not-"

"Listen, I understand why you're doing what you're doing, it's what you have to in order to save yourself. Go back to your place and start living for you because you'll never be able to do that here, not with us hanging over you."

"Mom I'm not leaving you guys,"

"You are not your brother that is very clear, so I know you can't leave us for real, but you're never going to grow here and that's what you want, right? A fresh start" he nods "so get your things and go."

"What about you?"

"We will be fine,"

"Will we?" Her husband asks

"You don't get to speak" she snaps at him. Turning to Mackie "do what you have to do Ken," he's hearing her tell him to go but Mackie is still stuck. "Come on" She nudges him, "get out of here." Going to his room he gets the rest of the things he had left shoving them in a bag, he walks out to find his mom waiting at the front door. "Don't worry I'll tell the boys" Mackie turns looking at his dad who just stands in the other room avoiding the situation, his mom grabs his face turning his head to look at her, "worry about yourself now ok, none of us here are your responsibility."

He nods "I love you," and hugs her.

"I love you too" she hugs him tight, "now go."

Opening the door Mackie walks out leaving.

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