McKenna POV.
I was stretched out in the back garden with the dogs, making the most of the California sunshine when I was rudely interrupted by Syn, Jimmy and Zacky having a water fight. A bucket of water sailed over my head, totally soaking me. I sat up, screaming. I knew full well who to blame for that bucket of water.
“BRIAN ELWIN HANER JR AND JAMES OWEN SULLIVAN I AM GOING TO KILL THE PAIR OF YOU!!!” Syn and Jimmy were giggling like a pair of school girls, leaning on each other for support. I glared at them. I swear to god, if looks could kill… “Vengeance!” I barked, looking at Zacky, who was hiding on the decking.
“Yes?”
“Get me the hose.”

~*~

I stood on the balcony of Syn’s room, towel drying my hair after the water fight. I was smiling. I hadn’t had that much fun in ages. It was nice just to be able to laugh and joke. It was nice to feel accepted. A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts.
“Come in.” I called, turning round. Syn came in the door dressed only in a pair of denim cut-offs. I tried not to stare. Really. Dammit, how could one guy look so damn hot?
“Sorry, I need to grab some more t-shirts.” He apologised, walking over to one of the cupboards. I shrugged.
“Don’t worry about it.” I began to brush the knots out of my towel dried hair as he pulled out a stack of t-shirts.
“Hey, we were thinking of having a barbeque on the beach for dinner. You gunna join us?” I nodded enthusiastically.
“Hell yes! I’m Aussie, we basically invented the barbeque. Of course I’ll be there.” Syn laughed.
“Awesome, meet you in the kitchen?” I nodded.
“Give me five minutes to change and I’ll be down.” He backed out of the room, taking his luscious body with him. I sighed, shaking any remaining thought of Syn out of my head and got to my feet rummaging through the drawers that Syn had left empty for me. I pulled on a pair of black board shorts with Hawaiian flowers on one leg over a black bikini and grabbed the nearest t-shirt, pulling that over my head. It read: forget love and get drunk. I smiled as I pencilled in fresh eyeliner around my eyes. I was doing a lot of that recently. Smiling. I never used to. Maybe it was an improvement. Was it? I shook those thought from my head and headed downstairs to meet Syn. He was leaning against one of the units, his miniature wirehaired Dachshund, Ruby, in his arms. He was wearing the cut-offs, only he’d put a Motley Crue t-shirt on. I forced myself not to pout. He raised his eyebrows at my t-shirt as I walked in. He set Ruby down, who instantly ran over to me, tail wagging like a tiny metronome.
“Hello sausage-dog.” I greeted, rubbing her ears fondly. I straightened up and took the case of beers that Syn held out to me. He picked up a cool box and his acoustic guitar before heading out the back door, Ruby following like a shadow. I whistled for the rest of the dogs and followed him myself. The best bit about the whole house was the gate at the end of the garden that led directly onto the sandy beach. I loved it. This whole place was almost literally my dream house. The guys already had a small bonfire set up by the time that we joined them. Val was leaning against Matt, Johnny and Jimmy were trying to work out the best way to cook a huge pile of sausages and Zacky was happily sat strumming his guitar. Ty decided that Zacky was a comfortable bed and flopped down across him.
“Oof!” Exclaimed Zacky, moving his guitar out of the way of Ty. He looked at me. “Help me?” I shrugged as I sat down.
“Why?” I took the beer Syn handed me and took a swig. Zacky just glared at me and gave up trying to shove the Rottweiler off his lap. We laughed and joked for a bit. I loved this place, it was still warm enough for me to sunbathe. I stood, pulling my t-shirt off so that I was just in my bikini top. Conversation died around me. I closed my eyes against the inevitable. How could I have been so stupid?

~*~

Syn POV.
Everyone’s conversation died as Mac took her shirt off. She was stood with her back to the rest of us. And there, running from her left shoulder almost to her right hip were three puckered pink scars. They were out of place on her otherwise perfect body. I stood, reaching out and running my fingers gently over the scars, unable to believe that they were there.
“Mac, what happened?” I breathed.
“It was nothing, a bar fight.” Her entire body was tense under my fingers. Her voice was put-on. fake. She was lying.
“Mac, I’ve seen many bar fights, been in my fair share too, you don’t get scars like this in a bar fight.” She shrugged, stepping out of my reach. She didn’t turn to face me.
“So what? I’ve got a couple of scars. Big deal.” I shook my head.
“Mac…” She cut me off, spinning to face me. Her eyes were brimming with tears. She was fighting not to cry, but she was still managing to be angry with me. I didn’t understand this girl. And that was what attracted me to her.
“I don’t want to talk about it, ok?! Just back off.” And she was gone, running down the beach. I began to follow her, when I felt a hand on my shoulder. Jimmy was stood there, his eyes focused on the retreating shape of Mac.
“Just leave her mate. She’ll come back in a bit.” I sighed and sat down, unable to get the image of those scars out of my head. Johnny was frowning in the direction that Mac had taken. Val looked upset, out of all of us, she got on the best with Mac.
“Why would she lie to us?” she whispered, leaning into Matt. Zacky just shook his head.
“She probably doesn’t want to face the memories.” I rubbed a hand across my eyes.
“I can’t say I blame her.” Everyone looked at me in surprise. “Those scars didn’t happen by accident. They were made by claws.”

~*~

Mac came back maybe an hour later. Maybe more. Her eyes were red from crying. She said nothing, just sat down next to me. No-one mentioned anything. We’d all agreed that she’d talk to us when she was ready. Jimmy handed her a plate of food and she smiled gratefully at him. The atmosphere was almost the same as before. Almost. She’d put her t-shirt back on, but the image of those scars was burned into my mind. She set her plate down next to her, shooing Cocoa away she went to lick it. Zacky was playing a random solo on his acoustic. It was relaxing. Yet she still looked tense. I leaned forward and gently pulled her into my shoulder. She tensed slightly against me. I sighed.
“Mac, just relax.” I breathed into her ear. Slowly she began to relax. “Just promise me that you’ll talk to me. when you’re ready.” She paused and nodded.
“Of course Syn.” I smiled and pulled her in a bit closer. We relaxed like that for a bit. With someone playing guitar and everyone else relaxing in the heat of the small bonfire. Mac sat up and turned to face me.
“Can I?” she nodded at my acoustic, lying in the sand next to me. I raised my eyebrows and handed her the guitar. She sat cross legged, settling the guitar and making sure that she was comfortable before starting to strum. I vaguely recognised the song, but couldn’t put a name or a band to it. She started to sing. I loved her voice. It was soft and melodious. I could listen to her sing all day.
“Hey, man I'm alive I'm takin' each day and night at a time
I'm feelin' like a Monday but someday I'll be Saturday night

Hey, my name is Jim, where did I go wrong
My life's a bargain basement, all the good shit's gone
I just can't hold a job, where do I belong
I'm sleeping in my car, my dreams move on

My name is Billy Jean, my love was bought and sold
I'm only sixteen, I feel a hundred years old
My foster daddy went, took my innocence away
The street life ain't much better, but at least I get paid

And Tuesday just might go my way
It can't get worse than yesterday
Thursdays, Fridays ain't been kind
But somehow I'll survive

Hey man, I'm alive, I'm takin' each day and night at a time
Yeah, I'm down, but I know I'll get by
Hey, hey, hey, hey man, I gotta live my life
Like I ain't got nothin' but this roll of the dice
I'm feelin' like a Monday, but someday I'll be Saturday night

Now I can't say my name, and tell you where I am
I want to roll myself away, don't know if I can
I wish that I could be in some other time and place
With someone else's soul, someone else's face

Oh, Tuesday just might go my way
It can't get worse than yesterday
Thursdays, Fridays ain't been kind
But somehow I'll survive

Hey man, I'm alive, I'm takin' each day and night at a time
Yeah, I'm down, but I know I'll get by
Hey, hey, hey, hey man, I gotta live my life
I'm gonna pick up all the pieces and what's left of my pride
I'm feelin' like a Monday, but someday I'll be Saturday night

Saturday night
Here we go

Someday I'll be Saturday night
I'll be back on my feet, I'll be doin' alright
It may not be tomorrow baby, that's okay
And I ain't goin' down, gonna find a way, hey, hey, hey,

Hey man, I'm alive, I'm takin' each day and night at a time
Yeah, I'm down, but I know I'll get by
Hey, hey, hey, hey man, I'm gonna live my life
Like I ain't got nothin' but this roll of the dice
I'm feelin' like a Monday, but someday I'll be Saturday night
Oh, I'm feelin' like a Monday, but someday I'll be Saturday night

Saturday night
All right, all right
Saturday night.” She barely even had to look at the guitar, she just seemed to know where to move her fingers to on the fret board. Everyone clapped loudly as she finished. I laughed as Jimmy jumped on her, barely giving her time to move my guitar out of the way.
“Lemon-Pie, you’re already Saturday night.” Mac just raised an eyebrow at Jimmy, while he sniggered happily.
“Lemon-Pie?” She repeated, her voice disbelieving. He shrugged, moving so that she could sit up.
“You need a decent nickname. So I’m going to call you Lemon-Pie until I think of a better one.” I grinned at Mac as she looked at me for help.
“No chance. once he’s decided on a nickname, you’re stuck with it.” She sighed.
“Wonderful.”