(27) How To Catch the Guy

Come Friday morning, Makennah's feet literally dragged to school. Getting out of bed was tough. Brushed her teeth and hair was harder. Forcing herself to get dressed was excruciating.

Especially because she didn't have Theo's jersey.

She hadn't seen him since Monday. Hadn't talked to him. Hadn't texted him. He didn't come to the house. He didn't text her. She didn't even see him at school, roaming the hallways. Granted, it was a big school. But she almost always ran into him.

Or maybe they both forced themselves to run into each other's paths previously.

Makennah was experiencing major FOMO. Not only was she not wearing Theo's jersey but she wasn't wearing a jersey at all. She felt like she was missing out. She knew that Grace and Penny both had jersey's lined up to wear. The only reason Meredith didn't is because she was holding out for Nick.

When she arrived at school, she slumped off to her locker where she ran into Grace.

"Wow you look like garbage."

Makennah just glared.

"Did you sleep at all?" Grace asked as she dug into her locker.

Instead of responding, Makennah pulled out her phone from her back pocket of the new jeans that Carolynn bought her because she received a text.

T- good morning sunshine. Check your locker

T- have a good day

"Earth to Makennah!" Grace waved her hand in front of her face.

Her head snapped up. "What?"

"I was talking to you and you totally spaced out. What's so important on your phone?" Grace huffed unhappily as she dug around in her locker for her lip gloss.

Makennah stared at her locker, a little afraid of what was inside. She had two competing thoughts...

How did he get in her locker?

And why was she so ridiculously ecstatic to hear from Theo after a few measly days of silence?

"Oh I just got a text from Carolynn."

"Liar!" Grace snatched the phone away from Makennah, intrusively reading her texts. "Ok what's in your locker?" Grace wiggled her eyebrows. She had no idea that Theo had been keeping his distance since their chat with Matt. She had no clue that it was killing her.

Without further delay, Makennah spun the dial to enter the pin and unlock her locker. Inside on a hook hung Theo's jersey. Number six. Pristine and clean. Pressed and ironed. Waiting to be worn.

"Aw that's cute!" Grace dug it out and held it up for Makennah. "Go change in the bathroom!"

Makennah bit her lip. "I'll think about it."

Grace's brow puckered. She was starting to pick up that something wasn't right. "Is something wrong?"

The bell rang, saving Makennah from explaining. "Gotta go!" she stuffed the jersey in her locker.

She texted Theo as she darted away from Grace to escape interrogation.

M- back at ya. Are you sure this is a good idea?

M- I'm also concerned that you so easily got into my locker

T- office aid. Easy info to find ;)

T- I told Matt that I overheard some super nerds talking about you and one of them was planning to ask you to homecoming today. I asked him if it would be okay if I gave you my jersey so they would back off

M- who says I don't wanna take the super nerds to homecoming?

T- keep dreamin sweetheart

T- you're stuck with me.

Makennah's heart went into overdrive at the thought of being stuck with Theo. At the moment, it didn't sound that bad. She missed their sleuthing and hiding around together more than she expected.

M- well what did Matt say?

T- he said he was glad I was watching out for you and it was a good idea

M- you promise?

She didn't want to risk getting in trouble with Matt again.

T- I wouldn't put us at risk like that. I'm already highly annoyed I haven't seen or talked to you in three days.

T- decided it was best to lie low after that convo

T- but don't get it confused. I miss you like the dickens Kennah

Makennah smiled so wide that it hurt. She bit her lip painfully to make it go away. She didn't wanna be seen smiling at her phone like a dummy. Somehow she figured that lovestruck look was still pasted to her face. Well she was pretty annoyed that he had that kind of effect on her.

M- are you 65? Who says 'the dickens'

T- leave me alone you bully

T- no wait I was kidding

T- come back

T- you better be wearing my jersey next time I see you. Those jeans are cute by the way

As Makennah dodged into homeroom, she wondered how he saw her and glanced around as if he were right behind her. He wasn't and she was sad about that. But her heart soared otherwise.

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"Carolynn is gonna make me fat," Penny groaned, rolling into a ball on the floor in a mound of fluffy pillows and extra blankets. She made herself a fort there because she claimed the couch wasn't enough room to sleep and she didn't want to share.

"I expect three pimples to pop up by Sunday," Grace concluded as she posed momentarily for a Snapchat. The light from the camera flashed over her face illuminating her bare skin. "Ugh! I'm so annoyed!" Grace bellowed, throwing her phone into the couch.

"What's up?" Makennah nudged Grace's legs with her own. They decided to share the sectional couch where their heads met together in the center of the V where the cushions connected. Meredith opted for the end of the sectional where she stretched out on a connecting ottoman.

"Charlie has been acting weird and not talking to me as much. I don't understand him. One day he acts totally into me and the next he's ghosting me." Grace harrumphed and rolled onto her side, watching tv to pretend it wasn't bothering her that much. They were watching old reruns of Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

"Did something happen between you two?" Meredith asked.

"I don't think so," Grace shrugged. "I try not to act too clingy."

"Have you had sex?" Penny asked.

"Nope," She exclaimed with a pop of the p.

"Do you think he would ditch you for that?" Makennah tried to ask as nicely as possible.

Suddenly there was a tromping if several feet down the stairs into the basement where they were holed away. Makennah lurched to her feet and barred the stairs. "No! Out! It's girls' night!"

"Aw come on!" Josh whined.

"We wanna play video games!" Nick yelled.

"Go play in Matt's room!" Before, they all pretended this was the only gaming system in the house so that they could kick Makennah out of the basement. But she quickly learned that wasn't true.

"He and Theo are playing up there!" Josh explained.

"I don't care!" Makennah refused to move. "I get the basement for one night."

Nick glanced around at their set up. "Aw how cute. Are you in seventh grade?"

"Get out!" Makennah screeched like the sister she was and shooed them away. "I'll tell Carolynn!" That was her ultimate threat. Now that there was another girl in the house, Carolynn always sided with Makennah. She wasn't sure if she did it just to make Makennah feel like she had someone in her side as foster child, but she didn't care. It worked to her advantage.

Josh's shoulders slumped. "Whatever. Let's go."

Admitting defeat, they started to head upstairs. Nick peeked his head back down and winked slowly. "Goodnight ladies," he beckoned sexily, hinting at something she wasn't sure about.

"Out," Makennah threatened lowly one more time.

As soon as the basement door slammed shut upstairs , Meredith leaped to her feet. "What was that about! We want to spend time with them remember?!"

Penny perked up. "What's going on?"

Makennah sat back on the couch with a smirk. "Meredith has the hots for Nick."

"How did I not know this?" Grace screeched dramatically, her own issues long forgotten. Suddenly stopping, Grace gasped for a long second. "Is that the only reason you invited us over? Is this a fake sleepover?!"

"Oh my God, Grace." Penny rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the tv.

Makennah snacked Grace with a pillow. "Would you calm down? This is not about you!"

"Not to be totally vain but...I literally bought these cute pajamas specifically to be seen." Gesturing to her outfit, Meredith spun around to show it off.

"Yeah I can tell. Your butt cheeks are hanging out," Penny announced.

Makennah clicked her tongue. "Penny is right."

Meredith stuck out her butt. "But not like...in a hoe-ish way right?"

"Eh," Grace commented.

Meredith collapsed on the couch. "You guys are no help."

"Alright listen up." Penny leaned against the couch and rested her elbow on the seat. "Here's what you do. Go upstairs 'looking for the bathroom' and just stumble into his room."

Meredith couldn't have looked less excited. "I don't know where his room is."

Grace popped a few popcorn kernels into her mouth. "Plus I'm pretty sure that's the start of a porno."

"Ew," Makennah gagged. "Please don't do that. Awful idea."

"Okay I'm just trying to help!" Penny exclaimed, harrumphing and turning back around.

Grace sat up on her haunches and eased closer to the edge of her seat like she couldn't keep in her excitement. Makennah wasn't sure how Grace's little body contained so much energy and personality. There was truly no one like Grace. "Okay I've got it. Meredith you go outside to get something from your car and we will lock you out. You pretend you didn't know the door was locked. You bang on the door until he comes and answers."

"Anyone could answer the door!" Meredith yelled, rolling her eyes. She was quickly losing hope.

"I'm still hung up on the fact that you like Nick!" Penny slapped her knee.

Makennah tugged in her ponytail. "Catch up! Get over it! And I agree with Meredith...not a great idea."

Meredith sighed sadly. "Why isn't there a Pinterest board or Cosmo article about this?"

Makennah snickered. "How to Catch the Guy While You're Having a Girl's Night at His House."

Grace laughed too. "Must write it ASAP. There's millions of girls in your shoes."

As hard as she tried, Meredith couldn't keep the smile off of her face. "Shut up."

Even though she didn't want to, Makennah stood to her feet to take charge. She clapped her hands twice. "Okay listen up! I've got a plan!" Without explaining, Makennah skipped over the pillows and blankets on the floor and started to climb the stairs. "Get your shoes, ladies. We're going out!"

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Part two coming today hopefully! I've got big things planned for the next couple chapters!

Who is your favorite character so far?

Xoxo

W. Carolina