"You might be crazy
Have I told you lately that I love you?
You're the only reason that I'm not afraid to fly
And it's crazy that someone could change me
Now no matter what it is I have to do, I'm not afraid to try
And you need to know that you're the reason why."
—You're the Reason by Victoria Justice

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

| LANCE |

"Oh, my gods! I won! This is so surreal!" exclaimed Mackenzie in happiness, resulting in the rest of the class and Ms. Herron to give her odd looks.

I just rolled my eyes. Ms. Herron had given us back our graded test papers, and I couldn't believe I had two mistakes!

I'd asked Mackenzie what her score was, and she'd told me she only had one mistake.

Klunk.

But before I could've hidden my paper, she'd had the chance to look at my grade.

I banged my head on the desk, which didn't hurt, because what was painful for me wasn't getting a perfect score on my first trigo exam. I felt like Sherlock Holmes when Irene Adler had outsmarted him.

Defeated. Neglected. Hurt. Betrayed. Depressed.

And what do computer geeks type on the keyboard whenever they're frustrated? "Asdfghjkl"?

Yes. That, too.

Why had I forgotten to write a negative sign on my final answer for the numbers twenty-three and forty-eight?

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," I kept muttering to myself while Mackenzie was humming a victory song.

Ms. Herron looked back and forth between the two of us, clearly baffled. "Is everything all right, Ms. Adams, Mr. Collins?"

"No," I bluntly said, wanting to furiously throw my test paper into a trash can.

"Of course, Ms. Herron," Mackenzie said jovially, and two guys literally fainted. "Everything's all right. And I'm so sorry for my sudden outburst. It's just that I got a higher grade than Lance!" She gave a one-hundred-watt grin, showing her pearly white teeth.

Someone in the front row shouted, "My eyes!"

Note to Mackenzie's fanboys: Bring your sunglasses every day and wear them whenever she grins.

"For Pete's sake, Mackenzie, you did not have to announce it to the whole class," I grumbled, shooting daggers at her.

"Why? Are you embarrassed that you lost to a girl, Lance?" she asked innocently.

Yes, I wanted to say, but didn't bother to answer her preposterous question out loud. Instead, I said flatly, "You must have studied for weeks."

She gave me an amused look. "I'm not gonna deny that."

Ms. Herron chuckled, and then the bell rang. "Well, you two just keep it up, okay? Class dismissed!"

"No chocolate cake for you, then, Lance," Spencer teased when he, Cindy and Rachel reached our desks while the rest of the class went out of the room. I'd told Eunice and my two best friends about my bet with Mackenzie two weeks ago.

"I was planning to win," I said, scowling.

"It was your fault in the first place, Lance," Cindy reminded me, which I deemed to be unnecessary. "You kept on practicing the violin non-stop!"

I shrugged. "Couldn't help it. The competition is just a week away. Alice is also doing her best to practice, even when she passed the cheerleading tryouts."

"I take back what I said," she quickly said.

"Cindy!" Spencer reprimanded her.

She just stared at him blankly, then scoffed.

Mackenzie looked worriedly at me. "Was that true, Lance?"

"Yes, but I am fine," I said, waving it off. I couldn't help noticing that they looked skeptical, but didn't push the topic anymore. I sighed in relief inwardly. They were just thinking too much.

"Truthfully, I was betting on Lance to win," Rachel admitted, changing the topic, which I was thankful for.

"And you call yourself my best friend," Mackenzie dryly murmured.

"Yeah. That's why I was being honest."

"Is there a topic in chem you're having trouble understanding, Mackenzie?" Cindy asked her.

"Yeah, Dee. Formula writing," she replied hesitantly. Cindy let Mackenzie and Rachel call her by her nickname now. "It's just so...confusing."

"When do you want me to tutor you?" I instantly asked, standing up from my seat.

Mackenzie widened her eyes up at me, still seated. "Absolutely not this week!"

I knitted my brows in confusion. "Why?"

"Because you're still busy. Duh!"

I rolled my eyes. "You won the bet. And besides, I have already mastered my chosen piece."

"Really?" She looked doubtful. Did Mackenzie forget she was currently talking to a virtuoso?

"Yes."

"But--"

"And we have a long quiz about that topic this Monday, remember?" I interrupted her gently. "And today is Friday. You do not want to fail, do you?"

We then heard Rachel and Cindy singing the chorus of Rebecca Black's "Friday" in the background. Of course, their voices were more wonderful than the original singer's a zillion times over.

Those two were so close now, like they were long lost sisters who had finally found each other. (Coincidentally, they also looked alike in some areas.) And their mission in life was to tease Mackenzie and me for eternity after witnessing the "rooftop incident."

Oh, you can also add Eunice into that mix. But at least we weren't classmates in trigo, or else...well, you know what would've happened.

After that incident, Mackenzie had treated me like air. But after two hours she'd started speaking to me again, telling me that she'd have her revenge soon. I'd snorted, saying, Good luck with that, Midgetzie. And then everything had been back to normal.

"Okay, then," she lamented uncertainly, bringing me back to reality. "Is the school library open every Saturday?"

"Yes. That is the venue, then?" I verified. I couldn't understand why, but I felt excited somehow.

Mackenzie nodded. "I'll text you later what time we'll meet tomorrow."

"Potassium."

She was perplexed. "What?"

"Potassium," I repeated. "And its chemical symbol is K. Short for 'okay.'" I smirked. "I really have to tutor you in chemistry, eh?"

"Oh, my gods, Lance. Your joke makes me wanna rip my hair out from my head."

"Glad to do it."

"Awww. A date inside a library," gushed Rachel. "How romantic!"

Cindy squealed with delight beside her, and then Spencer backed away from them with a terrified expression on his face. For this horror movie freak, romantic things were the most horrifying things he could think of.

While Spencer was looking at his watch, Cindy sneaked a glance at him longingly. I was the only one who noticed it, because Mackenzie was busy glaring at Rachel, while Rachel in turn was innocently smiling at her.

Cindy turned to me when she felt I was staring at her. I bobbed my head toward Spencer's direction, but she gave me an evil stare (which I wasn't afraid at that moment) and slightly shook her head.

She shouldn't be scared, I thought. She should just admit her feelings to him. They loved each other, and Eunice and I were sure of it. In Eunice's words, we were trying to give them "the push." But, no, those two were still in denial stage. C'est la vie.

Meanwhile, Mackenzie and Rachel's silent facial expression contest came to a verbal head. "Lance and I are not going to have a date!" Mackenzie cried to her.

Cindy then whispered something in Rachel's ear, and she nodded eagerly. Spencer was nowhere to be seen now, probably heading to his next class because the girls were being weird again.

Mackenzie narrowed her eyes at them dangerously. "Whatever you two are planning, you better cancel it now."

"We're not planning anything, Mackenzie. Isn't that right, Chel?" Cindy asked innocently.

Rachel grinned like a mischievous elf. "Cindy's right, Kenzie."

"I believe we should head to our next classes now," I said with an eye roll.

Ugh. Girls.

🎻 🎻 🎻

While wearing my green polo shirt, jeans and Converse shoes in my room, I heard my phone ringing. Checking the screen, I saw it was Mackenzie. This was the first time she was calling me.

"Ha, ha, ha, ha stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ha, ha, ha, ha stayin' aliii--"

I always loved that song by the Bee Gees, and it was Moriarty's ringtone from Sherlock. That's why I've had it as my ringtone for the longest time.

"Hello, Mackenzie," I said after tapping the answer button and placing the phone beside my left ear. "Is something the matter?"

"Hey, Lance. Yeah. Er, kind of," she answered with a heavy sigh. "You see, I just woke up, and I found a note pinned on the fridge by my parents, saying they're going to a friend of my dad's. So I was thinking you could tutor me here in our house instead, 'cause no one will be here to guard it if I go out. Well, if it's okay with you, that is."

"I have no problems with that, of course," I answered. "Your address, please?"

She told me her address, and I memorized it in my mind. After ending the call, I put my wallet, mini cologne bottle and phone in the jeans pockets, but not before feeling a slight dizziness overcome me. I just ignored it and headed out from my bedroom.

"Mom!" I called as I went down the stairs, doing my best to look well. "I will be going out now!"

She appeared from the kitchen with a stupid grin on her face while wiping her hands with a towel.

Mischievous mom detected!

"Today's the date, eh?" Mom asked with glee.

I'd told her last night that I'd be tutoring Oscar Winner Mackenzie Adams in chemistry tomorrow because of a bet that I'd sadly lost. After that, Mom had kept squealing and hugging me, saying I was finally growing up and I was really a demiromantic and not an aromantic, which had offended me a bit.

I rolled my eyes in exasperation. "Mother, how many times do I have to tell you that it's a tutoring session and not a date?"

She giggled. "Oh, Lance, just leave me to my imagination, please?"

"I am going to cry," I deadpanned, "and dig my own grave in the backyard." I knew where Dad last put the shovel.

Mom smiled and hugged me. "Nonsense! After your..." she paused uncomfortably at this, "grandfather passed on, well, you finally came out from your comfort zone enough that it made you want to do new things. But it boosted after you met Mackenzie."

I couldn't help becoming tense for a few seconds, remembering some unpleasant memories. I shook my head to clear them, then thought what Mom had said was true. But how had she noticed?

"And of course I noticed the changes in you, Lance," she continued, as if reading my mind. "I'm your mother, after all. Do you want me to make a list of your changes?"

"Right. Mother knows best," I said as she released me from the hug. "And no, that won't be necessary. But Mackenzie and I are just friends, all right? No romantic crap or whatever. That's gross, Mom."

"Well, you're going to tutor her in chemistry, and you two have chemistry." Mom dramatically paused, then grinned. "Did you get it?"

"Mom."

She giggled again. "I rest my case. Off you go now. You don't want your date to keep waiting for you."

"Ugh! I give up!" I exclaimed wearily as I left the house, my mother's laughter fading in the background.

I ignored the black spots that were dancing in my vision.

🎻 🎻 🎻

Mackenzie opened the door after I'd pressed the doorbell button two times. I was thankful there weren't any paparazzi in the vicinity.

"Took you long enough..." I faltered as I saw what she was wearing: blue T-shirt with a printed peace sign, blue and yellow basketball shorts, and blue fluffy slippers. Her waist-length blonde hair was tied in a high ponytail. I raised a teasing eyebrow. "Basketball shorts? Seriously, Midgetzie?"

She crossed her arms over her chest as she opened the door wider for me to enter by using her foot. "Is something wrong for a girl to be wearing these kind of shorts, Cocky Violinist Freak?"

"Don't you get tired of calling me with that long, idiotic nickname?"

"Nope. I really like to rub it in your face." She smirked.

I rolled my eyes as I passed her, then she closed the door. "And my answer to your question: No. I just find it weird for you to be wearing something like that, to be honest."

"Whatevs. Oh, no need to take your shoes off. I don't mind," Mackenzie added when she saw I was about to take off.

I nodded, looking around the living room. There was little furniture. Three large paintings of landscapes dominated the walls, and Mackenzie's Cabinet of Awards (I'm sure because of the different trophies inside) was at the far right. If one of her fans came here, he/she would faint or have a heart attack because of the "overwhelming" feels.

Like Eunice or Cindy. They'd surely kill me for this chance.

"Simple but cozy," I complimented.

"Thank you," said Mackenzie as she plopped down on the yellow sofa. In front of it was a glass top rectangle coffee table littered with school books and papers, and a Samsung Smart TV that was pinned on the wall.

I sat down beside her. "Should we start now?"

She nodded. "The earlier, the better."

So I taught Mackenzie the easy-to-remember steps about writing chemical formulas with the use of the crisscross rule. She understood me with ease, making me wonder why she couldn't understand Mrs. Steward's lecture about the topic.

"Too fast for my liking," was her reply. "And the way she teaches is so boring."

I couldn't tease her about it because it was true Mrs. Steward's teaching style was boring. Blah blah here and yada yada there. I only survived chem by daydreaming that I was playing the violin or talking to my groupmates in hushed voices.

Forgive us, Mrs. Steward!

After the discussion, I wrote out some problems for Mackenzie, just to make sure she'd understood the topic and to test herself.

While she was answering, I was staring at a painting of Cheesman Park to my right when my vision blurred for a second, and I was feeling dizzy again. I shook my head and checked my phone for the time.

11:46 a.m.

This was happening to me frequently now. I knew it was because of my lack of sleep for the past few weeks, but the bags under my eyes were worth it, because I'd already mastered my chosen piece.

For some unknown reason, though, I couldn't stop playing it every night. I'd play my piece again and again until I noticed the clock on the wall of my music room read that it was early in the morning. But this time the dizziness was worse, because there was a sudden change in the temperature. Or was it just me? Even my perfect hearing felt alien.

I started when I felt a gentle hand on my arm, disturbing my thoughts. Turning to my left, I saw Mackenzie gazing at me with worry.

"You look exhausted, Lance," she said, frowning. "Is it because of the upcoming competition?"

I'd mentioned the eye bags were worth it, but were they really that dull?

I smiled slightly. "I am fine."

She sighed softly. "Look, I know you should just be at your house resti--"

"Er, no. Even if I were at my house, I wouldn't be resting," I told her gently. "I would just play the violin or read a novel for hours, so me being here is a better idea, I assure you." I didn't want to worry her.

Mackenzie squeezed my arm comfortingly. "I'm done answering."

While I was checking the paper, my vision blurred again, but I ignored the feeling.

Not now, please!

Mackenzie got sixteen correct answers out of twenty items.

"Four mistakes. Good, I'm making progress." She turned to me with a beaming smile. "Thank you so much, Lance!"

"You're welcome, Mackenzie. Well, then. That's all for today. I will see you this Monday."

But before I could stand from the sofa, she stopped me by resting her hand on my knee. "Wait, don't you want to eat lunch first?" she asked me. "I also have a surprise for you."

A surprise? I thought, curious. Then smirking inwardly, I decided to play with her for a while. "A surprise for me, eh?" I mused while slowly leaning toward Mackenzie, who widened her eyes. "Hmm, since we are all alone inside your house, I cannot wait for it."

Then Mackenzie did something unexpected that made me catch my breath: she whispered in my ear seductively, "I'm sure you'll really love it, and it'll make you want more." She leaned back slightly and peered up at me with a flirtatious smile plastered on her face, her fingers gently stroking my jawline, sending tremors up my spine.

For the first time in my life, I was at a loss for words.

Suddenly, Mackenzie burst out laughing while clutching her stomach, leaning away from me. "Your expression is gold, Lance! Oh, gods!" She continued roaring with laughter as she reached for her phone. "Wait, I'll take a picture of it!"

That's when I realized I was gaping. Quickly snapping my jaw shut, I glowered at her. "You just caught me off guard," I defended myself. "I never thought you would go along with my joke. I mean, you would always swat me on my arm or high-five me in the face!"

"Well, I wanted to try a different approach," she said with a grin, "and it was worth it. 'Sides, I'm now used to your sexual innuendo jokes and teasing."

I scowled. "Now you had your revenge."

"Oh, no. Not yet." She glanced at me. "But I wasn't kidding when I said you'd really love my surprise and would want more of it."

"What is this surprise of yours, anyway?" I demanded wearily. "You are killing me with suspense."

"You'll know after lunch," Mackenzie assured me. "I'm sure you'll live."

"If you mean making out in your room, then no thanks."

"That didn't cross my mind," she promised, standing up. "C'mon, lunch awaits!"

I was about to follow her when it happened again. But this time the world tilted, and I fell to the floor with a loud thud. My head was swimming in pain, like someone was hammering it.

Shuck this!

"Lance!" Mackenzie yelped, then paused, as if remembering something. "Okay, joke time's over. Get up now."

I was certain she was referring to that night I faked having an asthma attack. What was she implying now? That I was like the protagonist from The Boy Who Cried Wolf?

"Unfortunately, this is not a joke this time," I panted, then gritted my teeth.

I could feel her hand touching my forehead. "You're burning!" she said with a gasp.

"This boy is on fiiiirrrreeee," I tried to sing, but it was weak. Before I could hear a reply from Mackenzie, blackness flooded my vision, and I knew nothing more.