Tatum tried desperately not to shiver when Mackenzie's fingers tickled over her back, tracing patterns and making the redhaired girl inhale sharply just once. "Scared of me?" she echoed, trying to distract herself from the feeling of the blonde drawing those little circles. She considered asking her to stop, but couldn't bring herself to bother. Mack was always doing this kind of stupid stuff to her, when they were laying around watching movies, or just hanging out. They joked around, sat over each other. Physical contact usually wasn't her thing, but with friends was different. With Mackenzie was different. She was just a physical person. It hadn't bothered her before, why was she letting this freak her out so bad?

She listened closely as Mack explained, keeping her chin resting on the blonde's head, and smiling faintly as she went on. So much of what the older girl was saying, Tatum could relate to entirely. She wouldn't lie and say that she didn't spend the first two months of her friendship with Mackenzie wondering when the other kids would jump out, and it would all just be some big joke on her. Like Carrie or Cruel Intentions or some shit. She was pleasantly surprised when it never did happen, but it had definitely crossed her mind. Mackenzie made her feel all kinds of things, everything from affection and loyalty to worry. And lately, stress.

"Shut up," the redhead urged gently, sighing lightly as she gave Mack a weak little squeeze in her arms. "You think I hang out with a ton of people? Other than like, you and Frankie.. I have Sunny and Rowan, and all of the guys but like.. no one knows me like you. I can't like-- I don't know. I was so scared when I got here, and I didn't have Rath, and I always had Rath, and then you were just.. there. I mean like, I.. met other people, I have other friends, but you're my best friend. You like, know too many of my secrets to let you go," Tatum continued, turning her head so her cheek was resting on Mack's head instead. "Why would I want you to like, leave?"

Except that it was only a week ago that she had pushed her away, less than that since she had sworn to never speak to her again. Yet again, she felt incredibly cruel and selfish for that. How did she deserve to be Mack's best friend after everything she had done? She listened as the blonde mentioned her old friend, and Tatum tensed again. Mack almost never mentioned what life had been like at Salem, and Tatum didn't really push her. All she had ever cared about was that Mack had come to CCI. Whatever had went down at her old school was her business, but now she was wondering if it was the time to ask questions.

"What happened to Abigail?" she tried, regretting it almost as soon as she said it. "You don't have to tell me," she quickly added. "I don't know what it didn't work out, but I would-- I just want you around. I won't leave you behind, okay? Cause like.. that's not cool. I'm not like that. I'm not gunna be like that to you, cause like.. you know, like, you make me feel safe too.. and wanted. And we can't like-- we can't do that, this stuff, all of the time," she whispered, giving Mack another little squeeze. Why did it hurt so bad to say that? What was happening to her? This whole week had just skewed and destroyed her perception of her world and the people in it.

She laughed a little when Mack said she would sleep with her, and she knew her heart was pounding, her cheeks lighting up with color despite herself. "I'm sorry that I can't like.. be one of your conquests," she joked softly, pressing another kiss to the blonde's head, just above her ear this time. She had missed her so much. It didn't mean anything, right? She just wanted her best friend back. "I can smile all you want though, just.. be more chill. You need to do some yoga with me and Apple, like.. find your inner peace and shit," the redhead added.

She was honestly flattered that Mack would give up flirting time for her, and she felt her stomach do a little flip. She knew how much the blonde valued her time with the ladies, and the fact that she would give up any time doing that to spend it with her instead.. well, it really said something.