You Raise Me Up ((Close Friends))

[Mackenzie Holden]

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdened be
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence
Until you come and sit awhile with me

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up...to more than I can be...


Mack's voice was strong and clear, and could be heard clear over to the other side of the lake. Animals gathered around her to hear her singing and playing guitar, while others peeked out of their homes, afraid something or someone would harm them. Her fingers strummed the acoustic guitar perfectly, and she kept perfect time so not to mess up her rhythm. The song "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban, seemed perfect at the moment and it seemed to go well with her mood. Mack switched to the next chord and began the next verse:


You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up...to more than I can be

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up...to more than I can be...


Everything seemed to be repeating now, but that was how her mind was working lately. She wasn't thinking correctly, and at times her mind and body just went on auto-pilot. Mack had a lot to think about lately, and though her friends got her mind off the things at times she really had always had to resort to the problems again. She despised it, yet she looked forward to it, to make it through on her own. Though, she knew she couldn't. She needed a hand to guide her through rought times, someone she could hold onto when she was going down. She needed somene stable, and for a brief moment she thought she had someone stable. Then they disappeared.


You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up...to more than I can be

You raise me up...to more than I can be...

The song ended, but it kept playing in her head. Round and round and round. It was horrible. She hated it. She wanted it to stop. Before she got sick. But it didn't. It kept going and going. And going. And it wouldn't stop. Mack's fingers continued to play the song, and her voice continued to sing. Repeating the first verse and repeating it. Over and over and over. She wanted out. She wanted to get out. She wanted...she stopped playing. Someone was behind her. Talking to her. Mack turned around to face the intruder, her blue eyes nearly fire.

[Jack Rendel S5]

Jack walked along the grounds. He needed help. His head hurt. Why did she have to do this to him? He didn't like her, and she had just told him that she liked him. Jack wasn't sure what to say. He felt hopeless for some odd reason. He didn't know what to do. He walked on, while his mind went beyond into the future. What would he say? What would he do? Should they still be friends. Should they still.............. Music. Music was coming along to his ears; good music at that, but sad. A sad he didn't like. He walked over to the player and saw Mack. What was she doing with a gutar? He listened to her song and memorized it quickly in his mind. Then he spoke to her.

"You're good," Jack commented quietly. Mack heard him and turned around, looking quite angry to be interrupted. "I never knew you played gutar."

[Mackenzie Holden]

It was Jack. She sighed and placed the guitar on the ground beside her, then looked at him, "And piano. And clarinet. And well anything really. I'm a very talented person." She said quietly with a small smile. Her worries were pushed aside when she realised something was wrong with him. Mack narrowed her eyebrows and pulled him down next to her, "What's up? You look like you could use a good vacation to the Bahamas with how white and worried you are." She tried to smile encouragingly but it failed and she merely smiled a small amused smile.

Her finger traced the outline of her guitar, and plucked a string, a soft ping filled the brief silence and Mack couldn't help but smile at the memory of when she got her acousitc. It was her 10th birthday, and she had enough money for one present, considering she wasn't going to get any from her family members. So she went to the music store and looked at the least expensive guitar, it was still too much. She made a deal with the manager, she would work after hours and pay off her guitar, all the while getting lessons. Mack smiled again, and came back to reality, looking at Jack; concern clearly written on her face.

[Jack Rendel S5]

Jack smiled. "I noticed. First dancing, then flips, then this. I could never do all this." Jack tried to put on a grin. He failed. He looked down at the ground and shuffled his feet.

"I'm fine, really. I'm just..er...confused. I don't know what to do..." Jack said. "Speaking of, you don't look the happiest either."

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack waved her hand as if pushing the topic aside of her being upset, she'd get over it, she could handle it. She hoped. It was him she was worried about, "Confused on what, exactly? 'Cause you know, I'm pretty good at helping people with things. It's just them helping me that doesn't seem to be too good." She told him in a joking tone of voice, though she was anything but joking.

[Jack Rendel S5]

Jack looked down at the ground, pretending to be very interested in a single blade of grass. He didn't look up when Mack talked to him. He wasn't sure if Mack would enjoy helping him out of his problem. After all, it had to do with Brooke, and the two of them weren't doing to well together. He sighed and looked up, feeling tired.

"I'll tell you what's bothering me if you tell me what's bothering you." Jack said, putting a smile on his face that wasn't forced.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack shook her head rather forcefully, "No way in hell Jack Rendel. I'm still confused on what's bothering me. So, I'm not quite ready to share with you just yet, k? But, that alone shouldn't stop me from helping you with your problem." Mack smiled genuinly. though there was a sadness in her eyes.

"I'm your friend, and I'm here for ya. Just keep that in mind, would ya?" She asked with an upraised eyebrow.

[Jack Rendel S5]

Jack shook his head. "You're confused a lot aren't you?" He asked in amusement. He looked down and started scrapping his feet against the grass. He felt angrey at Brooke? How could she be so stupid? He felt awful and yet greatly annoyed. He could feel a fit coming on and Mack was going to get full force of it. Jack remembered a time when he had put his father through the same thing and his father had said this: "Jack Rendel! You are a hurricane from Hell! You just can't stop yourself, can you?" And that had made Jack angreier of course. He gave himself a mental shake and came back to the present.

"It's about that stupid Brooke girl!" Jack said, anger showing through his voice, his blue eyes shining. "She thinks we can be together! Such a stupid git! I can't believe her! That damn way she thinks she can control every boy she wants!" Jack stopped; he didn't want to take this out on Mack. He took a deep breath and then sat down on the ground. If he didn't control himself, he would end up hurting someone later, and he didn't want to let himself go that far.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack smiled innocently, "Nope. Me a blonde. Me not always smart." She told him in a American valley girl accent. She giggled, but her giggling halted when Jack went off and finally told her what was wrong. Well sort of. He just ranted. He didn't tell her what happened. And Mack would get that part next. First she needed to help him through this. Mack traced her finger along her guitar again, and when Jack stopped she looked at him.

"You don't like her, right? Then tell her flat out. I mean, there really isn't anything you can do. She's naieve. Every girl is at one point or another, actually I know a few boys who have been too. The point is, is she can't control you or how you feel. So let her know that. Did she tell you we've talked? She is dead set on you being this, Mr. Nice Guy who is so sweet and caring, and I told her that you have a bad side or else you wouldn't a Slytherin. Does she believe me? Yes. Does she think she'll care when she sees that side? No." Mack told him in a calm voice. She wasn't surprised by his attitudes, actually, she was expecting much worse.

"Brooke Davis is a mystery. She thinks she is so damn pretty and so damn smart, when all she really is; is conceited. My sister even agrees with me, Jack! My sister, who I heard, you had the pleasure of meeting while in Brooke's presence. Listen, if you don't like her. Tell her. And then stop contacting her. If she continues to contact you, file a harrassment report with a teach or something. If you do like her, God forbid, tell her and see what happens." She finished with a small reassuring smile and looked down at the grass that seemed to have made patterns while she was talking.

[Tristan MacCay]

"Hi there..." Tristan managed a meek smile a he realised he had stepped into a conversation with Mackenzie and another boy he didn't know. Ever since he had recieved that owl from Mackenzie things had changed. He had missed her every day and not seen her once. Tristan knew Mackenzie didn't seem to want to pursue their relationship so at the moment he didn't know how to act. He didn't go too close to Mackenzie. He didn't want to get too close now that he knew she didn't want it. It was a moment later that Tristan was hit with the slightest feeling. a niggling feeling of jealousy. Mackenzie was out here talking to another boy, probably her friend, but she wouldn't speak to Tristan himself. He mentally slapped himself. It was probably nothing. What are you thinking, Tristan? he said to himself It's probably nothing!

[Mackenzie Holden]

Uh oh... Mack thought. Those little words running through her mind. She closed her eyes and sighed, trying hard to keep her nerves under control. This was her first time seeing Tristan since that day by the lake. Her hands began to shake and she wondered how far her nerves would take her. She opened her eyes and looked at Jack, sending him a signal that said this wasn't going to be pretty. Mack looked back at Tristan and managed a small, but not really sincere smile: "Hey," She said. She tucked some hair behind her ear and decided to introduce the two, "Um Jack this is Tristan, Tristan this Jack. Jack and I were just talking about his problem with a certain person." She explained slowly, trying not to stumble over her own words.

[Jack Rendel S5]

Jack managed a smile. "Thanks Mack. I think I know what to do." He said slowly, running his hands through his messy brown hair. He started when he heard a different voice. It was some boy who was talking to them. Jack wondered who he was and what he wanted when he slowly and dileberatly, consumed Mack's words. Tristan? Tristan Wardle? Wasn't that...Mack's...er....friend? He looked at Mack and then at Tristan. He decided to stop staring at the two and introduce himself to Tristan.

"Jack. Jack Rendel. Slytherin, third year." He said, giving Tristan a peircing glare.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack saw the glare Jack was giving Tristan and she shook her head at him, "Be nice." She muttered, "I was nice to Bee, you be nice to Tristan." She told him with a sharp tongue. She raised an eyebrow at him, and then looked back at Tristan. Memories flooded back and she couldn't help but look away:

"So, what are you doing here?" She asked, the ground, though she was speaking to Tristan. The grass seemed to be drawing a picture for her, and she watched it continue to draw. It was as though magic were controlling the way it swayed and the way it weaved. Mack smiled a small innocent smile, and continued to watch.

[Jack Rendel S5]

Jack looked at Mack in an apoligitic way. "Right." He muttered. He looked between Mack and then Tristan. They seemed tense. Very tense. Jack wasn't sure if he should be right in the middle of this. Mack was staring at the ground and Tristan looked uncomfortable.

"So, should I get going then and leave it to you two?" Jack asked shrewdly. "I don't want to..er...." He wasn't sure what he wanted to say. It seemed like these two needed some alone time.

[Mackenzie Holden]

She looked sharply at Jack, fright in her eyes. She didn't want to face Tristan alone!! Mack grabbed Jack's arm and held it rather tightly, her knuckles turning white. Mack shook her head and whispered, "Please stay." Mack told him, her eyes nearly tearful.

[koriwilliams]

"Mack?" Kori Williams walked up to the group of younger students who all seemed to be in a very uncomfortable position. Her honey blonde hair was pulled up into a ponytail, and she carried her dance bag over her right shoulder. Mackenzie Holden was Dix's little sister, and since Dix and Kori used to be best-friends, Mack was always like a younger sister to Kori. Always. Whenever Dix would put her down, Kori would bring her back up. It was just who Kori was, and at the moment Mack didn't look to be too happy.

"Something wrong?" she asked, eyeing the two boys who seemed to be the people who were causing Mack her troubles. Or at least one was, which one, Kori wasn't positive just yet. But she would soon find out, and if she didn't; she would make sure she did sometime. Sooner or later. Sooner rather than later, though. Kori took a seat down behind Mack, pulled her pale blonde hair over her shoulder, and started to french braid it.

"Qui est ces garçons et ils ont fait quelque chose?" She asked in her native tongue. Kori had taught Mack french once, so they could speak without Dix or the rest of the Holdens knowing. It also proved useful for when "I visit Tony and Char." Mack once said.

((Qui est ces garçons et ils ont fait quelque chose? = Who are these boys and did they do something?))

[Jack Rendel S5]

Jack was going to stand up when Mack grabbed his arm rather painfully. He looked at her with raised eyebrows but sat down.

"Alright, I get it. Just don't tear my arm off." Jack muttered. He then heard someone else. Great, he thought sarcastically as he saw an older girl approach them. He didn't say anything to her; he noticed she was about Dixie's age, which could mean trouble. He listened as the girl chose some words in a language Jack couldn't understand. Was it German? French? Chinese? He had no idea. He looked at Mack, eyebrows raised as high as they could go, wondering if Mack knew what the girl was saying.

[Mackenzie Holden]

"Spoil my fun..." She said to Jack's comment. Mack was about to say something more when a familiar voice greeted her, it wasn't a moment later she felt Kori braiding her hair and speaking to her in French. She knew how weird this must look, but Kori was more of a sister than Dix had ever been. Mack shrugged and replied in English; "Kori Williams, this is Jack Rendel and Tristan Wardle. This is Kori Williams, she's more of a sister than Dix is. And no, Kor, they didn't do anything...welll...much." She smiled calmly and felt the end of her braid being tied she looked from the two boys to KOri, who looked to be about to kill them if Mack said the word. She was a vicous Slyth, and Mack admired her for that.

[Mary Evans]

"Get out of my way!" Mary screamed at a little muggle born Gryffindor first year. "If you aren't out of my sight by the time I count to three it will be impossible for you to be in anybody's line of vision." She threatened with a smirk. Needless to say the boy scurried away after one and Mary continued to storm down the hall. Click, click, click was heard all the way down the hall. Suddenly the sound of Mary's heels ceased as the giggles of a bunch of girls was heard coming from outside the main door. Mary scowled and considered turning down into the dungeons where such annoying freaks were not allowed but instead glared at them and continued on. She flung the door open so hard it hit one of the fourth year Hufflepuffs in the back of the head. "Oops" she said to the group with a smirk and walked on feeling a little better.

"Well now; no wonder the dungeons are empty, seems the Slytherins are gathering here... Among others? I prefer the common room... much better company." Mary said upon finding a small gathering of Slytherins and a Ravenclaw. "Too bad it's much to nice to stay in today. You don't seem to be enjoying it much though honey. Anything wrong?" Mary asked; addressing the Slytherins the whole way through except the last bit to Mack, the only one she really knew.

[Mackenzie Holden]

"You're in a positively good mood today, Mary." Mack said with a twinge of sarcasm to the newcomer. She couldn't help but smile. Mary and Mack had played a muggle board game with a twist in the dormitories, did we ever finish? The last thing I remember is the tonic and that's about it. Mack shook her head out of her reverie and looked up at Mary.

"Yes, I'm perfectly fine. Jack, and Kori here are great company, it's splendid you decided to join. After all, what's a party without Mary Evans?" She raised an eyebrow and purposely passed over Tristan, but she stared straight at Mary sending her words with her eyes. Her icey eyes then flickered to Tristan then to Mary again, if anyone could make tihs experience at least a little bit more enjoyable, it was Mary. And that's what Mack was looking for.