What's Wrong With Us?

Rumors About Me

Heat bloomed across Macky’s cheeks. She spun away, muttering, “Whatever…”

Ria laughed under her breath, the sound soft but knowing. She closed her book and walked off toward a nearby tree. “Stop getting all awkward around her,” she called, settling beneath the branches without looking back.

Macky sighed—deep and dramatic, like maybe the air itself could carry away her feelings. The rain thinned as she made her way to her building, but her thoughts were still thick with thunder.

She dropped onto a bench outside, the damp wood soaking through her skirt. Head back, eyes on the breaking clouds, she let herself breathe.

But Ria’s words echoed like a dare.

And Macky couldn’t help wondering if the look on her face had really said it all.

Loxley sprinted across campus, their sneakers squeaking with every desperate step on the tiled path. Seeing Macky sprawled across a bench, headphones in and a book balanced on her knee, they rushed straight toward her like a heat-seeking missile.

“Hi, Macky! Ca—can you help me?” they gasped, doubled over and wheezing like they just fought off Death himself.

Macky slid off her headphones, one brow arching as she clocked the sweat pouring down their face. A lazy half-smirk tugged at her lips. “What?” her voice laced with faux sweetness and just enough menace to make it personal.

“I really need your help,” Ox panted, clutching their side like it might fall off. Their calves burned. Their heart pounded like drums from their favorite rock song.

“For what?” Macky asked, her tone dangerously casual. She was clearly enjoying their suffering.

“I’m hiding. From a cop. And... the guy I stole from. Also maybe his friend.”

That got her attention. Her brow shot up. “Interesting,” she murmured, sliding her book into her sling bag with ease. “So... who do you think would pay me more to rat you out?”

“You wouldn’t—”

But Macky was already on her feet, heading toward her building without a word.

“Macky! Wait—seriously, I—”

“Don’t care,” she cut in, pushing through the door as if today was just another Tuesday.

Inside, the building was pure chaos—skaters flying past, wheels clattering, bursts of laughter ricocheting off the walls. Ox blinked at the sensory overload and—wham—walked straight into someone.

“Hey…” said the skater, ice skates dangling from her fingers as she brushed past, hand grazing Ox’s arm. Her eyes lingered, then she disappeared into the crowd.

“Don’t mind her,” Macky said, rolling her eyes. “She’s kind of—”

“A slut?”

“A flirt! Jesus.” She smacked Ox’s shoulder, scandalized.

Suddenly, Natalie materialized behind them like a summoned demon. “Fuck!” Macky yelped. “Hi, Nat…”

“It’s Natalie,” she snapped, hands on hips, gaze slicing through them. “Why would you bring the most obstreperous menace in the school here?”

Macky blinked. The word “obstreperous” was bouncing around her head. “Uhhh…”

“It means hard to control,” Ox said helpfully, then smirked. “Like, head of the Menace Association.”

“Yeah, what he said…”

“It’s they, Natalie,” Ox corrected with a grin that screamed I live to piss off people like you.

Natalie’s death glare could have incinerated a locker.

“So, like, anyway,” Macky blurted, clearly flailing for a cover story. “They’re here ‘cause I’m tutoring them.”

“Oh yeah! I’m failing math,” Ox added quickly, their tone attempting sincerity and failing gloriously.

“Really.” Natalie deadpanned. “And they didn’t bring anything?”

“They did!” Macky said too fast. “I—I put it in my bag.” She yanked out her own math book and thrust it at Natalie.

Natalie flipped through it, pausing at the doodle of what may or may not have been two tiny penis kissing each other. “What about a notebook?”

“They didn’t give me—” Macky started.

“I have paper!” Ox interrupted, producing a single crumpled sheet from their pocket like it was a winning lottery ticket.

“A paper,” Macky echoed flatly, already done with life.

Natalie stared at the sad, wrinkled offering. Her face screamed, You two are disasters. “Fine,” she said at last, rolling her eyes so hard it was audible. “Just don’t do anything stupid.”

She stalked off, heels clicking, a final warning.

Ox and Macky released a synchronized sigh of relief.
 
“Thank God! She actually bought your BS.” Ox grinned, slightly breathless.

“God had nothing to do with it. You’re the one in need of divine intervention,” Macky shot back, her lips quirking into a smirk.

She marched toward the elevator, jabbing the button with more force than necessary. Ox jogged up just as the doors slid shut behind them. They exchanged a glance—and then both burst into laughter.

“You’re a damn good liar.”
“You’re a terrible runner.”

After the elevator ride, they made their way to Macky’s dorm. They stopped in front of a brown door with a “No one’s here” sign swinging from the knob.

“When we go in, don’t touch anything,” Macky muttered, half-joking. “God, I hope there aren’t any... situations.”

She swung the door open—then froze.
Kimberly, one of her dormmates, was on her knees in front of some guy with his pants down. Macky’s hand stopped mid-air on the doorknob. Her mouth fell open. Ox stood beside her, wide-eyed.

Their eyes met, locked in stunned silence.

Then Macky gently shut the door like it was an ancient cursed artifact.

“…We didn’t see anything,” she said flatly. “Rooftop. Definitely better than my dorm.” She grabbed Ox’s wrist and pulled them toward the stairs without waiting for a reply.

The rooftop greeted them with swaying trees and dappled sunlight. A rare stillness wrapped around them. They sat on a bench, watching the campus life buzz below.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at the counselor’s office?” Macky asked, pulling a book from her bag.

“I was,” Ox replied, lighting a joint and taking a drag. “Turns out, petty theft is my favorite form of therapy.”

Macky stared at them over the top of her book, her face pure what the actual fuck.

“So is jail,” she muttered, the wind whispering girl shut up in her ear.

Ox rolled their eyes and gave a dramatic scoff. “You’re really not as terrifying as people say.”

Macky’s head snapped up. “Wait—there are rumors about me?!”

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A U T U M N G I R L W R I T E [2023]