Chapter 53

A while later, they all got up and headed towards the door. Makenna noticed that Hee and the others had left and a part of her was glad she didn't have to deal with whatever they might have thrown her way. Atlas held the door open for them and he noticed Makenna was distracted by something as she walked past him without sparing him a glance.

"Mac,"

Makenna was snapped out of her reverie when Thea called for her. She stopped and turned to face her as Atlas let the door shut slowly behind them.

"I'm going to head home. See you all later," Vanessa said to no one in particular,

"See you," Thea smiled,

"I'll drop you off," Will said to Vanessa who took a moment before nodding in agreement, "Bye guys,"

"Bye," They all said before Will and Vanessa walked off together.

Makenna noticed Killian began talking to Atlas as Thea turned to her,

"I'm sorry I haven't been available for our sessions,"

"We've all had a hectic couple of weeks, so it's alright," Makenna assured her with a smile,

"I'm just trying to get back to my old routine, but I'm afraid it'll soon be disrupted with finals coming up,"

Makenna nodded,

"2 months and we'll get a break from all of this,"

Thea nodded as Makenna studied her.

"How are you?" Makenna impulsively asked, "Aside from work and you know, everything that's happening."

"I'm doing alright, all things considered," Makenna saw something in Thea she hadn't seen earlier at the table - she looked exhausted.

"Some days are hard for no reason." Thea smiled but it didn't reach her eyes,

All Makenna could think about was how, at first glance, it didn't seem like Thea was having a hard day. But she knew first-hand that you couldn't assume a person was having a great day just because they had a smile on their face. Over time, people get good at hiding and lying about how they're really doing to a point where it no longer feels like a lie to them.

Makenna felt special in that moment as she realised that Thea felt safe enough to share that she was having a hard time.

"It's ok to not always feel like your best. No one can be at a hundred-percent all the time, not even our gadgets."

Thea smiled at her analogy,

"You almost sound like Killian. This is the part where he'd say something like - God's power is made perfect..."

"...in our weakness." Makenna finished with Thea.

"Yeah," Thea nodded, "You remember bible verses."

It wasn't a question and Makenna looked away, unsure how to deal with being found out.

"It's not so easy to forget something that was the building blocks of your childhood."

"A part of me wishes I had that, but honestly, I'm learning that there's a reason for everything that has happened up till this moment."

Makenna looked at Thea, not realising how bold that statement was because she didn't know a lot about her childhood. However, Killian who'd finished his conversation with Atlas had heard it.

"Hey," Killian called and they both turned to look at him, "We should get going,"

Thea looked at her wristwatch,

"Oh, right." She smiled at Makenna and took her hand, "Let's get together soon - I miss this,"

Makenna smiled, squeezing Thea's hand with hers,

"Same."

Thea turned to Atlas and hugged him,

"See you later,"

"Take care," Atlas hugged her back,

"See you around..., sis," Killian smiled as he backed away with Thea,

Makenna smiled at him and looked at Atlas who looked at her stoically.

"Everything alright?" She turned around, Atlas mirroring her, and began walking towards her dorm,

Atlas nodded with a smile, keeping his gaze fixed in front of him.

"Your brother is on to us,"

"Is that what you were talking about back there?"

"He did most of the talking," Atlas smiled, "I just nodded and listened,"

Makenna smiled,

"What did he have to say?"

"That's between your brother and I," Atlas looked at her, "But, he did give his approval for some reason,"

"Approval, uh?" Makenna frowned, "I can't think of why,"

"I'm sure you're drawing a blank,"

"Hmm," Makenna looked at him and nodded,

Atlas broke first, laughing at how serious she looked. He almost started to buy into her cluelessness but Makenna chose that moment to smile. They walked quietly for a moment and Atlas studied her, not noticing the faraway look he'd caught earlier.

"Are you alright?"

Makenna looked at him, confused,

"Yea, why?"

"You looked deep in thought when we walked out of the cafe,"

"Oh, that was...nothing," She looked down at her feet, "Not exactly nothing, but..."

"Tell me," Atlas prodded when she went quiet for a moment too long,

"Every time I run into my friends, I'm just filled with utter disgust with myself,"

Atlas frowned,

"Why is that?"

"Thinking about the person I became when I used to hang out with them." She said, "They are good people, but I think I was friends with them because they allowed me to portray an image of myself I wanted everyone to see."

"Wow," Atlas said, "That's..."

"Crazy. Selfish. I know."

"I was going to say, that sounds awfully familiar,"

Makenna looked at him, waiting for an explanation.

"There was a certain group of friends I hung out with - it feels like a lifetime ago. But they were that for me. Thinking about it, I don't think I ever really enjoyed their company. It was just a way to maintain a certain image of myself that everyone expected me to have."

Including my father.

Atlas thought.

"Oh," Makenna thought to herself, "I didn't mean to call you crazy or selfish,"

Atlas smiled smugly at her,

"I think you called yourself that and I just happened to fall victim."

Makenna glanced at him and noticed his charming smile.

"And you shouldn't call yourself crazy or selfish."

"Even if it's true?" Makenna asked honestly,

"I can't for the life of me see how that's possible,"

"Not yet," Makenna said casually, a part of her curious to know what he'd say,

Atlas grinned,

"If you're trying to make me run before we've even begun, you're in for a surprise,"

"Why would I do that?"

"That's something only you can figure out."

Makenna went quiet, trying to figure out if that was what she was doing. Was she trying to sabotage things with him before they'd even begun?