Who is Mackie Spence? by Lin Kaymer

anyone?”
    Wes and Ty lean in to make sure they hear the conversation. In fact, everyone at our table has settled down, suddenly aware that something is happening. Erica shakes her head, looks at Mackie, and cocks her head to mark the question.
    I take another bite of my taco.
    â€œThen, can Jeremy and I catch a ride with you guys?” Mackie’s voice sounds like she is setting things up for the four of us to have coffee after school. The way she posed the question sounds so . . . normal.
    Giving her a surprised look and then darting a look at me with the same face, Erica squeals, “Oooh, that will be so much fun!” She turns to Jon, seated next to her, as everyone at our table begins buzzing at once.
    Mackie looks back at Wes, smiles sweetly, and switches to her faux Southern accent. “Westerly, could I ask you to trade places with me? I’d like to ask Jeremy a little question about our English assignment.”
    Wes flashes a grin at me and stands up. “Sure, no problem,” he says.
    Ty’s mouth hangs open.
    Of course, Jen and Erica get up from their seats and speed over to talk excitedly with Mackie about the dance. When did she ask me? What will she wear? Blah. Blah.
    The guys shake their heads at me with accusing looks. I didn’t tell them. They’ve had had to hear it from Mackie.
    I smile at Wes. “Angela?” I ask.
    He nods, a big grin growing on his face.
    While Mackie converses with the girls, Ty endorses me with a thumbs-up.
    I chuckle. It’s all too crazy. Yeah, crazy-good!
    After lunch, Mackie and I walk out of the Dining Hall together and head for our English Literature class. The corridor is full of fast-moving people and bouncing noise.
    â€œAre you okay with what I did? I mean about us going with Erica and Jon?” she asks, as we move beyond our friends.
    â€œOh, yeah. No one even questioned us about leaving Jen’s party early. It was all about the dance,” I reply.
    â€œBut that’s not why I asked you. You know that, right?” she asks, concern spilling out of her brown eyes.
    â€œYeah, I know,” I say, and I hope so. Because I know that, besides being very cool and smart, Mackie has another skill. I’ve watched her over the years. She knows how to set things up to her advantage. Like when she told me to call Jen and make an excuse for our leaving the party. She’d come up with a story to cover our exit with almost no effort. I don’t want to believe her asking me to the dance figured into any of that. In fact, I feel lucky to be going with her.
    English and French classes over, I walk Mackie downstairs to her locker.
    â€œWill you call me after I finish at the shelter?” she asks.
    Nodding, I say goodbye, and hustle to my chemistry class. When class is done, I head to the gym locker room for cross-country practice.
    I change into my workout clothes and am putting my shoes on when Brody sits himself next to me on the bench. Oh, here we go.
    â€œTarleton. I hear you’re going to Sadie with Mackie. What’s that about?”
    â€œShe asked me.”
    â€œOut of nowhere she just asked you? I don’t think so. How long have you two been hanging?” Brody’s mouth is a straight, unhappy line in his face. He opens and closes his fists. He looks mean.
    â€œWe’re not hanging. And if we are? So what?”
    â€œYou don’t want to go there. You think we’re not going to have a problem?”
    â€œAccording to Mackie, she’s not with you. You’re with Jilly. Right?” My heart sounds like it’s ringing in my ears.
    â€œDon’t get cute with me, T-Man,” Brody says, his voice ratcheting up in volume as his lips twist. A couple of the guys turn to watch us.
    â€œLook,” I say, in as calm a voice as I can manage. “Like I said, she asked me. Why do you care?”
    â€œBecause you said you didn’t know if she was seeing anyone. You’re