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   Mac met Junior her Sophomore year.

They had seen each other around school, in a town as small as theirs it was hard not to, but it wasn't until he was in her Sophomore History class that they started paying more attention to each other.

His eyes were a normal shade of brown and his hair was a nice enough brunette color, but it was his smile that mesmerized her. He was the type to pretend he was best friends with their teacher, even called her Emily instead of Ms. Harrolds, and always sidetrack the class but always knew the answer when the teacher asked. Mackenzie found out later that he had a passion for history, just like her and they would eventually be ensnared by it.

She always liked the idea of having the attention of the center of attention. Junior was comfortable being the center of attention. She would try to get him to look her way without actually trying. Wearing a tank top on a hot day and subtly brushing her hair behind her shoulder onto his desk behind her. He would just brush it off usually. They were in the same study group so she would try to wow him as the brilliant but unattainable beauty she really wanted him to see her as. He didn't seem to pay her much mind except when trying to prove how friendly and popular he was. He'd say "What's up, Mac and Cheese," on the way to his desk every morning despite them not really being on a nickname basis. He'd ask about her weekends too on Monday but it always felt like it was more for show.

It wasn't until homecoming that he finally paid attention. 

Junior went stag with a couple of his football friends to homecoming. they all were joking around towards the edge of the loud dance floor and Mackenzie had used up all her courage to go up to him and motion for him to lean down so she could whisper in his ear before leading him a couple of steps further into the crowd. She had danced with him, more like on him for the majority of the night.

The next Monday, when he asked about her weekend she was pretty sure he was more interested in what she thought of him that weekend and not just a passive response. He followed it up with a question about her plans next weekend and if they included him.

They were practically inseparable after that.

Maybe inseparable is the wrong word to describe their relationship now because she's here, standing in front of her brother's guest bathroom mirror, and Junior's somewhere else. Mackenzie's lips quirk down as she realizes she isn't even sure where her fiancée is. Nine years together and she can't even tell you whether he's sitting at their house waiting for her or living it up in Vegas.

Nine years.

Nine years of her life have passed and as she stares at her reflection it hits her how little has actually changed in her appearance since she first met Junior. Mac's hair was still the same shade of dark brown it has always been, her eyes still a greenish hazel. She doesn't even seem to have grown: in height or weight really. Her style was perhaps a slightly more grown-up tee shirt and jeans but still tee shirts and jeans. Yet it feels everything about her has changed.

She places her hands over her stomach and reminisces a time years ago. A time of excitement and joy and also devastation.

She turns away from the mirror, successfully dismissing the thought, and leaves the bathroom.