(5) The Snapchat

In the kitchen, Makennah overheard Matt and Nick talking about the Snapchat that Theo posted. Makennah had intentions of just getting a glass of water but she opted to eavesdrop instead.

"Saw what Theo posted," Nick said lowly.

"What?" Matt said, confused.

"On Snapchat. With Mack."

"Oh," Matt said. "Right. It was his idea. Theo said guys have already started asking about her. Probably good for people to see her face before she shows up to school."

"Won't be a complete nobody," Nick chimed in. "She looked pretty hot."

"Please don't say that about our sister."

Makennah pressed her hands to her heart at the declaration Matt made again about Makennah being their sister. No one had ever done that before for her. She wondered if he actually meant it or was just saying it to be nice.

"I wasn't trying to be weird. I'm not hitting on her," Nick defended.

"Hey," Jonah sneaked up behind her causing Makennah to jump six feet in the air straight out of her skin.

"Jonah! You scared me!" She laid her hand on her chest.

"That's because you're eavesdropping," Jonah whispered, understanding the severity of the situation.

Makennah bit back a smile. "Just a little."

Jonah crosses his arms over his chest. He wrinkled his nose to adjust his glasses. He was such a cute little nerd. "They're talking about the Snapchat thing."

"What Snapchat thing?" Makennah asked innocently, hoping she could pretend she didn't hear anything and she wasn't standing there that long.

"Well I have the inside scoop on the Snapchat." Mischievously, Jonah grinned like he had many a secret he could tell.

Makennah raised her eyebrows. "Oh?"

"It's not a big deal." He shrugged his shoulders, playing it off. He wanted Makennah to pester him for information and she knew it.

However she didn't play that game. "Yeah you're right." She shrugged too.

"Okay okay I'll tell you!" Jonah harrumphed and scooted closer, motioning for Makennah to bend over so that he could whisper in her ear.

She obliged and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"So josh asked about the photo. He said he didn't recognize you in those clothes. Then Matt told him how you guys went shopping and Theo posted the photo on the Snapchat so that everyone in the school would see you and start asking questions about you before you go to school," Jonah whispered.

Okay so not exactly new information. "I don't understand why it's such a big deal."

"Uh hellooooo, earth to Makennah. You're kind of hot." Makennah was a little stunned that nerdy Jonah would say such a thing. It made her laugh a little. "All the guys are asking Theo if you guys are together or how you know him."

"Oh," Makennah pursed her lips in a wide O shape. An image of Theo and Makennah locked together like a couple flashed into her mind. She pictured him smiling down at her as he ran his finger down her cheek and jaw. She was wearing that cute outfit and he was....

No. She needed to stop.

"Yeah. Matt also said that Theo isn't answering anyone about who you are or if you're together. It's all up in the air," Jonah whispered.

"Why would he do that?" Makennah asked, weirded out. First of all it wasn't really Theo's business to be talking about her or answering questions about her. But at the same time, why wasn't he dispelling the rumors about them?

"Again, you're hot. Do you really not see that?" Jonah quirked an eyebrow and threw his arms up in exasperation as if Makennah was pretty stupid.

Makennah bit her bottom lip and thought about what she saw in the mirror everyday. She didn't really own any makeup so she couldn't enhance any natural beauty. She liked her smile...and her hair. It was nice enough. But she still wouldn't call herself a hotshot.

"Also Josh asked if Theo 'had the hots for you' and Matt didn't say anything." Jonah used his pointer and middle finger on both hands as air quotes. He rolled his eyes as if it was the stupidest conversation he ever overhead. Maybe Jonah didn't quite understand or appreciation male and female attraction yet.

"Hmm keep your ears open for me, will you?" Makennah asked, laying her hand on Jonah's shoulder. "I wanna make sure I'm not creating a disaster before I even show up to a new school."

"Aye aye captain!" Jonah saluted Makennah and ran off, up the stairs.

"Makennah! There you are! I have great news!" Carolynn rounded the corner from the stairs and cane to stand in front of Makennah.

"Hi, Carolynn." Her exuberance sometimes scared Makennah a little. Maybe she just wasn't used to her elevated energy levels. Either way, she wasn't sure how just one person could hold so much vitality and personality.

Tucking her hair behind her ears, Carolynn planted her hands on Makennah's shoulders. "So...I heard that you were quite a soccer star at your old school. I took the liberty of going down to the school and talking to the girl's soccer coach just to see if he would consider letting you have a late try out. The girls have been practicing for a month already...anyways, I showed him a video of you on YouTube playing soccer and he was amazed! He wants to let you on the team!"

"What?!" Makennah screeched. "I...I...I don't..."

"Isn't this amazing?! He isn't even making you try out!" Carolynn clapped her hands in excitement and danced around in her tight mom jeans, floral shirt, and white canvas shoes.

"I didn't even..." Why couldn't her mouth connect with her brain?! She hadn't mentally prepared for this. Yes, Makennah missed soccer with her whole heart. She desired more than anything to put those cleats on. She wanted to join a team so badly. But with the development of the gossip around the Snapchat and the new girl, Makennah wasn't really ready to jump head first into a brand new school and a brand new team.

"Honestly, honey, I didn't even know you were so talented! I overheard the boys talking about it to be honest. I shouldn't have eavesdropped. I didn't want to get your hopes up by bringing it up to you before I talked to the coach in case he wouldn't even consider it. I knew I'd need some evidence to convince him you were worth his time, and he was so impressed!"

Makennah covered her eyes with her hands and took a deep breath. "I don't think I want to do that," Makennah complained.

"It will be so fun! And you're so good!"

"I'm not that good," Makennah countered, wrapping her arms around her body, sucking her chest in and willing herself to just shrink up and disappear.

"Don't be silly. I don't know much about soccer, but I can recognize athletic talent. I've got a whole family of it. Although I'm not really certain how....I, myself, wasn't every athletically inclined so..."

Makennah cut her off. "Carolynn, that was really nice of you, but I don't think I'm going to join the team even if I don't have to try out."

Makennah might as well have ripped out Carolynn's heart and stomped all over it from the look that crossed her face. Makennah crushed her with a single sentence.

"Well....I guess I can't force you. I never would obviously. But..." Carolynn cleared her throat and glanced down at the ground, wringing her hands nervously. "We just want the best for you, that's all. We want to see you succeed for as long as you're with us, Makennah. I know we just met but we care about you. I didn't mean to intrude and take control. I just thought it might be something nice."

The anger and embarrassment that Makennah previously felt faded away as Carolynn told Make nah her true feelings. Makennah didn't doubt that Carolynn had no ill intentions, but that didn't mean Makennah needed her to butt in her business.

Before Makennah could open up her mouth and say something else, Carolynn held up her hand. "I owe you an apology for doing something on your behalf without your permission. That would upset me if someone had done that to me too. However, I truly hope that you'll think about it and consider it. Maybe you can go to a few practices and see how they go."

Makennah was so stunned that she couldn't say anything. In all her life, an adult had never apologized to Makennah for mistreating her. And if they had, it was never sincere and they shouldn't have said anything else at all. She was sure she looked absolutely confused by Carolynn's expression. Because her mouth couldn't form any words, she just nodded her head once or twice. She swallowed past the lump in her throat.

Makennah was way too lucky to be living with such a great family and kind people. She knew she didn't have luck in the first place. Things never went her way in life. She questioned how long these good vibes would  keep working in her favor.

Carolynn managed a smile and patted Makennah on the arm. "Oh and I almost forgot. Late I want you to show me all of the clothes you got yesterday!! Matt told me it was hugely successful! I hope you don't mind, but I've just never had a girl in the house before!" Before Makennah could deny her her heart's desires, Carolynn sauntered off to the kitchen and called for all of the boys to come help empty the dishwasher and refill it.

Makennah nearly combusted from anxiety. An apology and bonding over new clothes?! It was too much.

Before anything else came in and blew her away, she high tailed it up the stairs into her room and shut the door behind her, slamming the lock in place. She bounded over the room and pounced in the bed, furrowing into a ball.

After a few minute of silence, Makennah rolled over and reached for her phone when an alarm sounded with a notification.

Her mouth almost fell open.

It was a Snapchat friend request from the Theodore Alexander Rose III.

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Things are just heating up! Sorry this chapter wasn't very fun. It was kind of a filler chapter.

Please vote and comment! I would love to know what you think!

Xoxo

W. Carolina