What Did You Expect From Me?

A week had gone by since Mackenzie had promised her mother that she would break Brook and Alex up. Mackenzie told herself repeatedly that this was one promise that she could not keep. As much as she would love to see their relationship crash and burn, Mackenzie knew that she could not do anything to break them up intentionally. Christine knew that, so as she continued deteriorating away in her hospital bed, she called Brooke over to the hospital. Mackenzie did not understand why her mom suddenly needed Brooke over her, but she didn't question her mother's request.

Twenty minutes later, Alex and Brooke walked into the room hand in hand. Brooke's smile lit up the entire room, while Alex looked indifferent. Mackenzie couldn't figure out if it was because of her prescence or if it was something that happened before they even got to the hospital, but she didn't really want to question him about it in front of her older sister. As Mackenzie was studying Alex's features, Brooke was trying to figure out why Christine needed her, but instead of telling Brooke in hushed tones, she decided to let all three of the young adults know what was on her mind.

"Alright. My beautiful daughters what I'm about to say is going to make both of you very unhappy with me, but it needs to be done," Christine sighed.

"Would you like me to leave?" Alex asked as he leaned against the back wall of the room.

"Of course not Alex. You are the son I never had at this point. You've been apart of this family for a solid eight years. Plus, you need to hear this, too."

"What do you mean eight years? I've only been with Alex for four years?" Brooke pondered.

"Oh, Brooke, please. Are you really that stupid?" Mackenzie answered.

"What do you mean?" Brooke again asked, sounding genuinely confused.

"Brooke, I don't want you to marry Alex," Christine finally stated.

Brooke just froze and stared at her mother. Mackenzie, too, looked at her mother, disbelief written across her face. And Alex just glanced between the three of them, realizing that Christine was about to call him out on dating both of her daughters.

After what felt like forever, Brooke finally found her words. "What do you mean you don't want me to marry Alex? I love him. Can't you see that? Why the sudden change of heart five months before the wedding?"

"You're getting married in September?" Mackenzie asked, her eyes narrowing at Alex.

"Yea, September twenty-fourth, but it looks like mom doesn't thing it's a good idea," Brooke huffed.

"Are you kidding me?!" Mackenzie shouted. "September twenty-fourth? That is gold. Absolute gold!"

Brooke looked at her sister in shock, completely oblivious to the fact that Alex was now looking at Mackenzie with pleading eyes. "What's wrong with September twenty-fourth?"

"Brooke, who picked the date? You or Alex?" Mackenzie seethed.

"Alex did. Why? I don't understand the big deal."

"Nothing. There's no big deal. I hope you enjoy your wedding," Mackenzie cringed and stomped over to Alex.

Alex stood there, not knowing what to say. he could see rage written all over Mackenzie's features. But no words could fix the situation. He stood there gazing down at the shorter girl, while she did the unthinkable. Before Alex could register Mackenzie's movements, she had already slapped him across the face and stomped out of the hospital room. Alex glanced over at his fiancé, who looked utterly confused by her sister's actions. Then he glanced towards Christine who was holding back laughter. But before either of them could ask questions, Alex, too, bolted out of the hospital room. He ran through the halls in search of Mackenzie. As he passed the nurses' station, they informed him that she took the elevator downstairs, so Alex did the same. He looked around and didn't see her blonde hair anywhere. Alex tried to think of where she could go so fast, but he came up short. So instead of carrying on with his search, he carried himself to the gift shop, ultimately stalling going back to the room to answer Brooke's questions.

Upon entering the gift shop, Alex noticed a mess of wavy blonde hair going through the cards. He walked over quickly, and the girl looked up at him with tears brimming her eyes. She quickly shook her head and walked out, but Alex was following her closely this time, not letting Mackenzie run away again.

"MJ, let's just go for a ride and talk," Alex cooed from behind her.

"Do NOT call me that. You have no right to call me that anymore," Mackenzie all but yelled.

"Don't cause a scene," Alex mumbled under his breath.

"Don't cause a scene? Don't cause a scene? I have every right to cause a scene right now. You pissed me off and now you're dealing with the repercussions," Mackenzie huffed out.

"Mackenzie, please let's just go for a ride," Alex begged.

Mackenzie looked at him, with fire in her eyes. But when she saw the hospital security watching them intently now, she only nodded and started walking to the parking garage, knowing that Alex would never park his Range Rover on the street if he didn't have to. Alex followed her and then began leading the way when Mackenzie realized she didn't know where Alex parked. After walking for about two minutes, the two finally got in the car and drove away from the hospital. About three blocks away, Mackenzie and Alex's phones started blowing up. Both just looked at each other with a knowing look. Brooke. But they didn't dare look to see what she had texted them. Instead Alex kept his eyes trained on the road, while Mackenzie blasted the Jimmy Eat World cd he had in his car. She realized it was Futures as soon as Night Drive came on, because it was one of her favorite songs. In the middle of the song is when Alex finally decided to break the silence.

"Ya know, when you showed me this song for the first time, I knew I was in love with you," he said just above a whisper.

Mackenzie smiled, but then remembered why she was in the car with him in the first place. "Alex out of all of the days in the year, why did you have to pick September twenty-fourth?" Mackenzie sighed.

"Because I thought it would help me forget you. I wanted to stop thinking of you on that day every year. So, I thought by marrying Brooke on what was our anniversary, I would have a new memory. Plus, I never thought you were coming back. So how was I supposed to know you would be so upset over it?" Alex answered honestly.

"Alex, you know what my mother did today was all planned. She wanted me to break you and Brooke up, but I didn't see her reasoning. I was happy in California and you were happy here, with Brooke apparently. Why mess that up when I'm just going back to California soon anyway?"

"I knew she wanted you to break us up. I heard the conversation the other day. Is it bad that I wanted you to find a way to do it?" Alex admitted sheepishly.

"What are you saying, Lex?" Mackenzie asked, sounding shocked at his confession.

"I don't to be with Brooke, Mackenzie! I never wanted to be with Brooke. We were never supposed to stay together! It was supposed to be a one time thing. Hell, when it happened, I didn't even realize it was your sister, until I walked out of her bedroom the next morning. I was greeted with your hallway. First, I was confused. I had to walk back into the bedroom to make sure it wasn't you. Then your mom busted me trying to sneak out, and it was just all down hill from there," Alex explained.

"But you've been with her for four years! Four damn years! If you never wanted to be with Brooke, you didn't have to be! Now, she's probably upset and confused. And probably wondering why you chased after me after I slapped you! God, you don't think this shit through! Just wake me up when we're back at the hospital," Mackenzie huffed and turned away from her exboyfriend.

Alex just looked over at Mackenzie and knew that he was still in love with her. Yea, over time he knew he learned to love Brooke, but he was by no means in love with her. And as much as he wanted to end things with Brooke and try to win over Mackenzie again, he knew there would be no point. As far as Mackenzie knew, Alex still lived in Baltimore while she was stationed in beautiful, sunny Los Angeles. Everybody knew that Alex actually lived in Los Angeles, but only returned to Baltimore to see Brooke. Regardless, if Mackenzie found out that information, she wouldn't want Alex to make rash decisions, because Brooke was her sister after all. And as Alex already learned, Mackenzie will never hurt Brooke to get what she wants. So as Alex pulled up to the hospital, he started planning. When Alex plans, the outcome can go one of two ways. He can get what he wants. Or, the whole thing would backfire in his face, and backfire was the last thing he wanted right now.

Notes