(12) Twist and Shout

"Come on! Twist and shout, Mack!" Josh grabbed Makennah's hands the second she entered the kitchen which was packed full of people and encouraged her to dance to the dinner party music.

The old school dance music swam in the air around them while Carolynn sashayed around the kitchen island, gathering utensils and arranging the kitchen to her liking.

It was six o'clock sharp on a Saturday night and it was Carolynn's family dinner night where all the kids could invite their friends over for a fabulous homemade meal. All afternoon, Carolynn busied herself in the kitchen while she sang at the top of her longs to old-school Jazz, hip hop, soft rock, and anything of the sort music.

"No. I definitely don't twist. Or shout." Final answer. Makennah didn't dance.

Josh poked Makennah in her ticklish sides. She squirmed away, fighting off the giggles. "No stop it!"

"Please!" Josh insisted.

"I don't dance either. You can still stay in the family even thought you don't." Serious little Jonah skidded into the kitchen in his slippers and circled the island to pour himself a glass of water.

"Mack, twist your way over here and make yourself a plate." Carolynn handed Makennah a plate and encouraged her to move down the line. "Everyone else, dinner is ready! Come get it!"

Heavy feet tromped down the stairs and Will emerged from his study, carrying a tea cup and pushing his glasses up onto his nose. Makennah saw where Jonah got it now.

"Honey, can I turn down the music a little bit?" Will gently laid his hand on his wife's back and kissed her on the forehead.

"Oh if you insist." Carolynn exchanged her kiss on the forehead for a kiss on the lips. Will smiled down at his wife while he turned down the volume on the stereo.

"Hi, Mrs. Sinclair."

Makennah froze when she heard the voice behind her. She was hoping for a very relaxed evening with the Sinclair's enjoying an immensely filling meal that smelled so delicious. Instead, she'd have to be on her A-game.

Because she turned around and smiled as falsely as possible at Cassandra who stood closely to Matt with her hand laying on his elbow.

"Hi, Cassandra. Grab yourself a plate!"

"Mom, can I go to Cole's tonight?" Nick asked, when he entered the kitchen.

"After dinner."

"Thanks." Without direction, Nick retrieved a plate and stood in line for the four course meal ahead of them.

Makennah focused solely on Cassandra's facial expressions, body language, and eye movements. From what Theo and Makennah knew, Matt hadn't broached the topic of cheating with Cassandra. If he did in the recent future, Makennah needed to know if she stood on thin ice with Cassandra who could possibly want to claw her eyes out now.

"Mack, not to pressure you, but I'm starving." Nick smiled sheepishly behind her and she realized she was holding up the line.

"Oh, sorry." Shaking her head to clear away the cobwebs, Makennah scooped a heaping helping of vegetable heavy salad before moving on to the lasagna and garlic toast.

"You're in for a great, Mack. Mom made this with her famous pasta sauce," Matt spoke up behind her.

"It cooks all day," Jonah filled in.

"It's my great great grandmother's recipe," Carolynn explained. "I don't want to brag....but it is delicious." Carolynn winked at her.

"This all looks fabulous, Mrs. Sinclair. Thanks so much cooking!" Cassandra expressed.

Makennah looked up and saw sincerity in Cassandra's eyes and facial expression. When Cassandra glanced away, she made eye contact with Makennah and her smile bloomed all over again. Genuine. Real. Nice.

Maybe she didn't know that Makennah knew.

"Sorry I'm late to the party!"

Oh God.

"Hey Theo!" Will and Theo shook hands and clapped each other on the back. "Nice to see you, kid!"

"Come on in! We're just getting started!" Carolynn weaved through the crowd to hand Theo a plate who took up the rear of the line.

"Hey, man," Matt greeted his friend.

"What's up?" Cassandra said kindly to Theo. Yeah, she definitely didn't know.

"Sorry, Theo, there's no more breadsticks for you!" Jonah piped up, swiping garlic toast off of the fancy dinner plate as he talked about it.

"What?!" Theo screeched. "That's my favorite!"

As she grabbed a napkin and a pre-poured glass of punch, she couldn't help but look up in his direction. What Makennah saw made her pause.

Theo was already looking at her and laughing at something that Matt said. His gaze instantly connected with hers, and he winked.

Why did he insist on trying to unnerve her? He barely knew her.

Gathering up her things, Makennah headed into the dining room and chose a seat. It wasn't as simple as it sounded, considering she didn't want to take anyone's unassigned seat, so she chose one kind of in the middle but closer to the end.

The rest of the family filtered in. Will was the last person to take his seat at the head of the table after he moved the stereo into the dining room per Carolynn's request.

There was a bit of shuffling around, but Jonah ended up sitting on her right.

And Theo scooted in to sit on her left.

Makennah took a deep breath and held it in. Mentally, she forced herself to be as skinny as possible. No physical contact to be had.

Except Theo's hand instantly tucked under the safety of the table where he could run a finger over her kneecap. Her skin produced goosebumps and she cleared her throat, elbowing him in the side.

"Makennah, how are you liking Braxton?" Cassandra asked and Makennah almost choked on her food.

"Oh, I like it."

Cassandra nodded her head and munched on some salad. "And you're liking the soccer team? I heard you joined!"

Her eyes inadvertently traveled to Matt who trained his focus on his food. She wondered if he was uncomfortable with their conversation, uncomfortable with the fact that Makennah knew the truth that he couldn't grasp. "Yes, I did join. I really like it actually."

"When is your first game?" She asked.

"It's on Tuesday." And she was trying very hard not to think about it.

"Are you excited?" Theo inquired, not making eye contact but shimming his foot over to touch hers.

Makennah jerked away at his touch. It made her lose her train of thought. "Um...yeah. A little nervous."

"I bet!" She didn't know what Cassandra meant by that. "Is there anything else you'd like to join in on at the school or elsewhere?"

"I think I'd like to get a job."

"I didn't know that!" Carolynn expressed, leaning around Jonah to get a better look at Makennah.

She really hated being the center of attention. "Yeah I've always had a job. I kind of like the independence," she explained quietly.

"Well where have you worked?" Carolynn asked.

Makennah shrugged. Nowhere that they would know. She grew up in the hood after all. "Restaurants. I like serving."

"Oh that's really cool!" Cassandra smiled nicely, and there wasn't a speck of green from her salad in her teeth. She was such a perfect fairy-like human being. Makennah could never be so lucky. "I'm trying to think, but I don't know if any places hiring right now. Do you, babe?" Cassandra asked Matt who just shrugged.

Makennah glanced around to see if anyone else noticed Matt's weird behavior. Nick was absorbed in chowing down. Carolynn was in the same mood, and Jonah was busy cutting his lasagne while trying tuck his elbows out of the way. The only other person paying attention was Will, who watched Matt and Cassandra with worried eyes. So she wasn't the only one.

"I don't think so."

"I'm sure I'll find something," Makennah said to ease the awkwardness she was feeling. Because the only person who understood what might be going on in her head, Makennah nudged Theo with her knee. She simply couldn't stand playing nice with Cassandra while Matt was obviously living in misery.

Luckily, Theo picked up what she was putting down and he dropped his hand under the table to squeeze her knee. His hand lingered there heavily on her leg for a second longer before he returned to his meal. Some of the tension in her body faded at his touch. She rested in the simple fact that she wasn't alone with her secret. She had a friend.

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M- was I like totally awkward at dinner?

T- no why?

M- I can't stand looking at her and knowing what she did.

T- you acted normal I promise. Nothing weird

M- promise?

T- yeah if anything, Matt was being weird. This isn't likely him. He's the life of the party. Now every time she's around, he's dead

M- do you think he knows we are telling the truth?

T- no but he has doubts obviously. If he knew for sure, he would have broken up with her by now

M- don't get me wrong, I barely know him. But I don't want him down in the dumps all of the time. we need to do something about this

T- that's what I've been trying to tell you, Kennah. We're finally on the same page ;)

M- we gotta kick this up a notch.

T- agreed. Also...133 on Main is hiring. Interview is Monday night at 7. Be there or be square

M- what?

T- 7pm. Don't miss it

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A little bit of a shorter chapter but I hope you still enjoyed 😊

Thank you to those who are giving this story a chance!!

Xoxo

W. Carolina