Love Spit Love ((Adam))

[Mackenzie Holden]

((Another post that I wrote up and don't wanna lose. I think I asked for a Mack/Adam post awhile ago... can't remember. Don't bother to reply until you have time or inspiration. I just thought it would be interesting. ))

Mack loved listening to music and walking around. Sometimes the music filled the world and fit in with what she was feeling at the moment or the rhythms that were going on around her. The beats matched the movements of the Earth and all its inhabitants. There was always at least one thing that matched the song she was listening to. At the moment it was 'How Soon Is Now?' by 'Love Spit Love.' A song that Mack had istened to plenty of times before. It was a song that she rarely got tired of. There was something about the way it was sung. Although it was a remake of The Smiths version, it was a good song. The music filled her ears as she strolled around the Courtyard. Mack grinned as a young girl's dancing matched the music.

The song ended and Mack waited as it switched to 'Bittersweet Symphony.' She sat down on a stone bench. She closed her eyes to the blinding sun and then remembered her favourite pair of sunglasses. She accio'd them to to her and then slipped on her aviators. They weren't the pair Kris had given her, but she had continued to collect sunglasses even after Kris had left. She felt nostalgia in her stomach and shoved it away. She didn't need to miss Kris. She put the feeling in the back of her mind, willing it to stay there forever or at least until she felt she could deal with it. Which might as well be never. The wind blew by and moved her blonde hair to the right of her. The music still played on and Mack felt a little bit more at peace.

Mack went over the lyrics in her head as they were sun. She had heard the song many times before. So, it was one she was relatively familiar with. Mack could even play it on her electric keyboard using the symphony sounds. She hadn't played it in awhile though. The song ended and switched to another. 'Wings of a Dove' was also one of those songs Mack knew by heart. She had a lot of good music on her mini wireless. Then again, Mack had good taste in music. At least, she thought she had. Better than DIxie's taste in music, that was for sure. Well, maybe not for sure because Mack didn't know what music Dixie listened to. Mack didn't know a lot about her sister. She didn't want to know much about her anyway.

There were many things about Dixie that confused Mack. Dixie wasn't her favourite person, with the way she treated Mack when they were younger, Mack held resentment toward her sister because of it. Then there was the whole crazy thing. Why would her sister just suddenly become crazy and then be fine the next month or so? Mack didn't understand, nor did she care after awhile. What Dixie did, Dixie did. If it meant her turnign into someone she isn't, that's fine. She just needed to be aware of the rumors that would fly. Rumors like Mack had been hearing, one being her involvement with a certain Adam Grene. Mack hadn't brought it up much when they had talked, but she knew Dixie thought of him more than just a really good friend.

What exactly they were would remain a mystery for the time being. Or would it? Mack looked up and spotted the guy DIxie had thought so highly of. Taking her headphones out of her ears, she stood from her bench and made her way over to him, "You know my sister." She stated. She didn't ask. Because she already knew.

[Professor Adam Greene]

Adam just needed some down time- time to just relax and get some perspective. He had a lot to take in lately. He had been spending a lot of time with Dixie, and frankly, the whole situation had caught him by surprise. He hadn't been looking for anything, but he seemed to have found Dixie anyways. This didn't upset him though, it just meant he had a lot of thinking and discovering to do. Since he had been spending so much time with her, and after her inviting him to her house when the holidays came, he realized that this was serious and that he needed to start treating it like it was serious. Adam wanted to make sure that everything worked out right, and he knew that if he wasn't careful, he might let everything slip through his fingers if he didn't keep perspective.

Deep in his thoughts, Adam was surprised to hear a voice close by. Startled, he realized that the voice was directed toward him, and so he turned to see a girl standing nearby. As the words sunk in, Adam quickly connected the dots and assessed that this was Mackenzie- Dixie's younger sister that he had only seen from across the room or in pictures. They had never spoke, but he knew the day would come eventually. Today just so happened to be that day.

"Uh, yeah, I know Dix," he stated, a confused look on his face. Mackenzie seemed to have a purpose in addressing him, or at least he was pretty sure she had. He doubted she would just want to come up and chat randomly. Surely Mackenzie wanted to know more about the situation between he and Dixie. The ironic thing was, Adam wasn't quite sure how he might explain anything that Mackenzie would want to know. He himself was still pondering the whole scheme of things, trying to grasp everything that was going on. "So Mackenzie, it's nice to finally meet," he said with a slight sigh, trying to remember his manners.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack raised an eyebrow as she sat down and looked up at Adam. "Good. So we both are very aware that you know my sister. And I'm sure we both know that you two are very close. And I'm sure you are quite aware that my darling sister has told you more things than she has told her therapist in a year or her family in 17." Mack sent a harsh glare in Adam's direction. She wasn't happy. She wasn't happy that this guy could get something out of Dixie that her own family couldn't get. She tossed her hair over her shoulder lightly as she stared at Adam. Why would Dixie tell him everything anyway? What was it about Adam that made Dixie see something in him that she couldn't see in her own family?

Mack knew she was being rather rude, but she couldn't help it. She wasn't there for a friendship. She was there to find out what it was that Dixie saw in him. Dixie was always independent. She always was on her own and never let anyone near her. Mack knew that behind her mask of spoiledness and rottenness, Dixie was a lonely little girl who didn't want anyone around her. That was why she had pushed her yuonger sister away from her for as long as she had. Mack could see past her lies. Mack knew the truth. But now it turned out, Mack knew nothing and she didn't like it. Her eyes narrowed, "Now, the million dollar question is... what spell did you put over her to make her tell you these things?"

[Professor Adam Greene]

Mackenzie didn't give much time before spitting out a whole slew of things concerning Adam and Dixie. He gave her a confused sort of look after hearing her finish the list. It was obvious that she was somewhat bitter toward the whole situation- she was obviously not trying to hide that fact. Adam could only begin to think of all the reasons Mackenzie might be upset that he and Dixie had become close recently. Part of Adam didn't feel like dealing with Mack and her questions now, but he had to remain understanding. Hopefully he could make her see that he really intended the best for Dix; if Mackenzie even cared about that.

With her next question, Adam was tempted to answer sarcastically, but he reminded himself to keep his cool. Mackenzie was Dixie's sister after all. Sisters often did have unusual yet strong bonds. Plus, it wasn't like he really did have anything to hide or any reason that would cause Mack to be suspicious. He wasn't hiding anything from Dixie either. Smiling, he looked at Mack and gave her an answer. "There was no spell Mackenzie. Honestly, I wasn't trying to pry into Dixie's best kept secrets. It just happened that way." He wondered if he should even bother trying to explain himself. Was Mack the type to trust more easily that Dixie? Or was he just wasting his breath trying to get her to believe the truth. He waited for a response before seeing how much Mackenzie was accepting what he had to say.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack raised an eyebrow as Adam gave her an answer. She listened, though she wasn't sure how much she actually believed him. "My sister doesn't just open up to everyone, Greene. Trust me, I've tried to get her to open up to me for years, and nothing happened. You must have done something to get her to tell you all about everything that she wouldn't tell me or Matt or... me." She watched him a moment. What had he done, or said to Dixie to get her to tell him all her secrets? Mack sat down on a nearby bench and put her head in her hands. She sat like that for a moment before she lifted her eyes to look at Adam. "Honestly. I don't know why Dixie told you anything. She met you, what... a month or so ago?" She sat up straight and shook her head in disbelief.

"I just don't understand. Seriously, what did you say to her? What did you do? I'm near begging." Mack stood up and rubbed her hands on her thighs, "Actually, you know what? She isn't worth it. All she's caused in my life is misery and I should care less what happens to her." Her blue eyes misted slightly and she crossed her arms. She meant it. Didn't she? If Dixie wanted to make Mack feel like she was worth nothing then Mack could care less how Dixie was feeling or what she was going through. For all she cared about, Dixie wasn't related to her.

[Professor Adam Greene]

Adam bit his lip. Now he wasn't quite sure if Mackenzie was mad at him or mad at Dixie for opening up to him instead of her. It wasn't like he did anything wrong though. "Look Mackenzie," he said, using her first name even if she had resorted to referring to him by his surname. "I don't know why you seem to care so much about who Dixie chooses to talk to or what she decided to share with. Maybe you are just trying to protect her. If that's the case, you don't have to worry about me. Dixie is my friend and I care about her. I know that you think it is odd that she's seemed to have developed such a trust in me, but it's only because I've been myself and I've been honest with her." He shrugged, not wanting to sound like he was accusing Mackenzie of being anything less that what he was explaining of himself, but at the same time, he wondered if she really did care about Dixie. From what he had concluded, she cared, but just didn't want to let Dixie see it that way.

Adam couldn't help but be blunt. "Mackenzie, do you really care about Dixie?" he asked. "I mean, why are you bothering to ask me all of this? Do you just want to know her secrets for yourself, or do you genuinely care about her and how she feels?" Adam didn't mean to sound rude, but he also didn't feel like wasting his time with Mack if she was only asking for her own good. He hoped she really did care, but he still doubted whether she did or not. From what Dixie had said about Mack and their relationship with each other, Adam knew it wasn't clear cut whether or not they really got along or even cared much for each other. From his own experience, he knew that what others saw may not always be the truth, so he just wanted to see what Mackenzie had to say before he made a judgment based on his knowledge that they didn't have the best past relationship.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack listened as Adam spoke. He spoke like a therapist. No wonder Dixie opened up to him. When he asked her if she really cared about Dixie, Mack's jaw dropped. She was slient a moment and then glared, "Why should I care about her? You didn't live with her, Greene. You couldn't fathom all the pain she's put me through just to make me understand that she is superior, and honestly, I don't think you want to know." No one really understood. Not even Jack. Mack hadn't really told anyone. I guess everyone has their secrets. She blinked and returned from her mind with a scowl on her face. "I could ask you the same thing. Do you really care about my sister, or are you just fishing for secrets to expose to the general public when the time is right?" She asked this slightly wary, though she was quite interested in what he would say. Did he really care for her sister? Or was she just... an interesting topic that he could explore and at least try to understand?

"And... seriously... if I really wanted to find something out about my sister, I could." She could. Couldn't she? Sure she could. She had access to Dixie's diaries. All of them. Mack wouldn't look through them, though. Not without Dixie's permission. Which she would never get. So perhaps she didn't have any access and perhaps she couldn't get anything about Dixie out of Dixie, not even her diaries would be able to spill her deepest secrets.

[Professor Adam Greene]

Adam sensed some bitterness in Mackenzie's voice. A bit of of what she said even seemed as if she had been hurt by Dixie as well. He bit his lip, realizing that he might have sparked a touchy subject. When Mackenzie spoke again, Adam felt himself becoming defensive. "Of course I care," he shot back instinctively. He took a deep breath to control his nerves. "Why would I do that?" he asked, sincerely wondering why Mackenzie would suspect him to be so shallow as to blab Dixie's deepest secrets to others. Why won't she just trust me, he thought, laughing to himself at the irony of what he was asking in his mind. Apparently it wasn't only Dixie who had trouble trusting.

Adam didn't say much to Mackenzie's last statement. He somewhat understood where she was coming from in the whole situation. In all reality, he just wanted to keep good terms with Mackenzie. It wouldn't be beneficial to make enemies with her, even if at times Dixie didn't always talk the best of her. Family ties were often strong, even stronger that the conflict or differences that tainted them. "Look Mack," he said, using the name he had heard Dixie use often for her younger sister. "I'm not the guy you think I am. Or, at least I'm not the type of person you might suspect." He didn't know how else to make her understand, and maybe he was just wasting his time trying. He shrugged and shook his head back and forth slightly. "You just have to trust me. And if you don't... well, then... you don't." He made sure she knew he was being as honest and up front as possible. The last thing he wanted was for her to think of him as being arrogant and self-centered.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack raised her eyebrows, "Yes, well, what you consider caring might be something completely separate from what it really is. You might do something like that just to make her worse than she really is. No offense or anything, but Dixie has a record of trusting the wrong people and doing the wrong things. She's known to paint herself into a corner without really realizing she's doing it. I don't want her to do that with your help." Was she being protective of Dixie? No, not entirely. Not just Dixie anyway. Their family, for once, was at least semi-normal and she didn't want Dixie to screw that up and if Adam had anyway to help her do just that, Mack wanted to stop it before it even happened. Perhaps her reasons were selfish, but she deserved to be selfish. She deserved a lot of things. For once in her life, Mack was going to get what she deserved. She was going to get everything she wanted, she was certain of it.

Her blue eyes weren't as cold when Adam told her he wasn't the guy she thought he was. After a moment of silence, Mack sighed and scratched her temple with her right hand as if she were thinking. "Alright, maybe you aren't. Maybe I'm making a complete dunce out of myself, but you can't blame me for being a little bit paranoid. My family has a history of things and honestly I'd rather that history remain buried. First, me in third year, then Dixie and Kurr, and now... it's just.. I'd rather keep things the way they've been for the past couple of months or so. Picture perfect."

[Professor Adam Greene]

It was odd. Coming into conversation, Adam wouldn't have expected to hear Mackenzie sound so cautious and protective of Dixie. Not that Adam really knew much about the sisters' relationship, but he'd have just expected something different from Mack, simply from going off of the impression that Dixie gave concerning their relationship. He knew they at least spoke and such, but he also thought that Dixie had painted a picture of at least some slight friction between the two of them. Once again, Adam found himself judging, when he knew how much he hated it when other people judged

With a look of understanding, he sighed before responding to Mackenzie's comments. "I'm sorry Mack. I realize that you are just looking out for Dixie... and your family," he added after she had explained he things were back to what she considered 'picture perfect'. "And I'm glad that you care about Dixie enough to be concerned. Maybe you should even let her know once and while that you have her back." Adam couldn't help but slip the last part in there. From his point of view, it seemed that the only people who didn't know that Dixie and Mack actually cared for each other were Dixie and Mack. It was like they let him know, but they couldn't admit it to each other. "My point is, I'm glad you are looking out for her. I really am. And I understand that you have every reason to be skeptical of me. You barely know me. So, I promise that if I do anything to hurt Dixie or your family, you can kill me then." He smiled as he tried to lighten the mood.

"I know families can be tough to get just right. I mean, mine isn't your picture perfect family," he explained, using the same cliché that Mack had used. "Dixie has been a good friend who've I've loved having around. I'd like to think she sees the same in me." Adam was quiet and he looked down at his shoes. He realized he was starting to tell Mack things that he hadn't even told Dixie yet, and he wasn't quite sure how he felt about doing that. "Dixie is a great girl. I'd never do anything to hurt her." By this time, Adam was partially talking to himself and partially talking to Mack, assuming she was still listening and even cared to hear him try to defend himself.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack watched Adam as he spoke to her. She found her anger rising and rising and yet she didn’t know why. She shouldn’t be this angry at him; after all he apparently cared about her sister enough to put up with her. She couldn’t help the feeling rising in her stomach, though. It felt like a volcano was about to erupt. Why was she so angry? Because for once, Dixie has something you don’t that you really really want. Someone who understands you and is always there for you. Mack shook her head. No, I have Jack. He’s more than I can ever ask for. She almost laughed out loud at herself. She hadn’t seen Jack in weeks, much less spent any time with him. It was as if he had run away and that hurt Mack. She didn’t know where they were or what they were doing. She did care about him. A lot. But he wasn’t there. What was she supposed to do? Wait for him to come around? Yes, Mack, that’s precisely what you’ll do. Why did Dixie have a guy willing to be there for her and not disappear while Mack had… Jack? But Jack was everything. If he was everything, I wouldn’t need to keep reminding myself that he was. Her head was starting to hurt.

She scoffed at his piece of advice, “Like she’d believe me. You know what she did, she cornered me in the student lounge and started to spill all this junk about her insanities and wanted me to buy it. I already know about Kurr, I already know what caused it. And it wasn’t Derreck, that’s for sure.” Or was it? Mack didn’t know anymore than Matt had known. Dixie had kept it locked inside her and refused to reveal anything. That was until the week before she was let out. She told “everything.” Mack knew it was just one big web of lies. Dixie wouldn’t have gone insane over a petty divorce, one that they both had seen coming for years and years. There were two people in this whole world that knew what was really wrong with Dixie. One was Dixie, and the other was standing right in front of her. Perhaps Mack hated that. She would never admit to it, though.

Mack raised an interested eyebrow when Adam spoke about Dixie. Rolling her eyes then, she shifted her weight to her right side as she watched Adam. When he finished she shook her hair out of her face, “You honestly have no idea how much more she’s enjoyed you just being there. I haven’t seen her happy in years. Not even… well… just in years. I can guarantee that Dixie feels the same about you… or… wait… no… that came out wrong. Hold on.” Mack bit her lip in thought, her eyes going to the ground. It was all in her head, but the words weren’t coming out right. Finally she got it and nodded, a triumphant smile on her face; “I can guarantee that Dixie loves how much you are around and how much you care.” Mack thought about what she had and decided to screw it. He could take that whatever way he wanted to. Mack was sure it was right either way.