| Chapter Two McKenzie pulled into a small hotel around midnight, exhausted and hungry. She grabbed a small overnight bag from the backseat of the truck and slung it over her shoulder. The room she checked into was small and plain, but clean and safe. She quickly peeled off her clothes and stepped under the hot spray of the shower. Her hand ran lightly over her left breast, still gasping softly as she felt the small abnormality. Just as quickly she removed her hand and continuted to wash her hair and clean the feeling of travel from her skin. Wiping the steam away that had built up on the small mirror, she examined herself closely. She was about 5'6", had long chestnut hair, and startling green eyes. The only thing dimming her view of herself was this "thing", this intruder in her life. Only a few weeks ago, everything had been so great, and now her world was crumbling around her. She thought back to the time, five years ago, when she had sat in the hospital. Her mother lying helpless on a hospital bed, suffering and fading quickly. She had died then and all McKenzie could think of was the fact that there was a possibility she was next. When her mother had died she felt like her world was ending. She had come out ok though, strong and independant. She had no family now, Lance and his friends had accepted her and taken her in as part of their "family". She loved them all dearly but couldn't bear the thought of putting them through this. The thought of them feeling sorry for her, pitying her. She had decided it would be easier to just leave and do it on her own. She had contacted a specialist in California and that's where she was headed, Santa Barbara to be exact. He was supposed to be the best in the country, or so she had been told by several doctors she had seen. Lance lay wide awake that night, his head swimming with reasons she may have left. She had changed somewhat over the past few weeks, he realized. She had become quiet and withdrawn but he knew that the anniversary of her mother's death was coming so he just chalked it up to that. Had she met someone else? He didn't think so because most of the time she was with him. He turned to the clock and seeing that it was almost 1 a.m. he knew that the only people awake would be Justin or Chris. He opted to call Chris, knowing that if JC had told Justin he would be able to hear the sorrow in Justin's voice. He just didn't think he could take that right now. Chris answered quickly sounding wide awake as usual. "Chris? It's Lance, I'm sorry to call so late but..." "Late? Are you kidding it's only one. You know I'm awake, and even if I wasn't I'd still talk to ya. How are you holding up?" "I'm going crazy man, she is everything to me. Did she say anything to you?" Lance asked hoping that Chris knew where she was. Of all his friends she had taken an instant liking to Chris and they got along fantastically. He knew that McKezie went to Chris to talk occassionally, when it was something she couldn't talk to him about. "No, nothing, I've hardly talked to her in the past couple of weeks, she's been acting strange." Chris sighed wishing he had answers for his friend. "Have you guys been fighting?" "No, everything's been great, except that, yeah, she has been pretty quiet. Other than that though she has been the same wonderful person I fell in love with." "I wish I knew what to say to you man. I'm always here to listen if you want to talk, even if I don't have any answers for you, I can listen." "Thanks so much, that means a lot to me. You want to come over tomorrow, hang out a while?" "Sure, I can come over around 5 how about that? I'll call the others over too. "Sounds good, see you tomorrow, thanks again Chris." "Anytime man, later." They hung up then, both of them still scared and confused. |