"I don't think it's a good idea to eat here," I murmured as we sat down in a booth.
My dad gave me an odd look while my mother flicked her hand dismissively. "Nonsense, we're already here," she scoffed.
I took a glance at the restaurant, looking for a certain someone.
I mean, what were the odds that he'd serve us?
"Hello, my name is Mason and I'll be your waiter tonight."
I guess it was a really big chance.
"Oh, look, Morgan, it's your friend!" My mom exclaimed as she waved her hand around my face, as if I hadn't noticed him.
I averted my gaze from Mason's and coughed. "Hey, Mason."
We hadn't talked since that day. We avoided each other at school and eventually things went back to the way they were before a very drunken Mason came into my room. Well, as normal as they could get with Dee poking at me to tell her what had happened.
"Morgan. . ." He trailed off, "Mr. and Mrs. . ." Mason trailed off waiting for someone to fill in the spot.
That fucker had never even bothered to learn my last name! I had seen his dick and he hadn't even taken the time to learn my name!
"Collins," my dad filled in and finally looked up from his phone. His nonchalant expression turned into a scowl as he took Mason in.
"Hunter," he growled.
For the first time ever, worry flashed through Mason's golden eyes. It was gone as quick as it came but I had noticed it.
"Officer Collins, it's always a pleasure seeing you," Mason said, although I doubt it was sincere.
"You two know each other?" My mom raised her eyebrow questioningly.
"Unfortunately," he snarled. My mom gave my dad a look of annoyance at his short answer and sighed.
"Can I talk to you for a second, Morgan?" Mason asked, earning a suspicious look from my dad.
"Don't try anything funny."
"Your dad is a fucking cop," he hissed once we were away from the table, "wait, no, not a fucking cop, but the cop that put me in juvie, Morgan. Juvie. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't think it'd be something you needed to know," I raised my eyebrow at his outburst. He sure kept a cool façade around other people but right now he looked extremely nervous.
"Are you shitting me? It is when I'm the delinquent who kissed his daughter in his house. Oh, fuck, I wore his clothes, his fucking clothes, Morga—"
I put my hand on his mouth and he quickly shut up. Mason's eyes were wide and he was breathing hard.
Mason was never like this. He wasn't even this freaked out when he was getting his ass beat.
"Calm down, Mason. I bet my dad doesn't even hate you, he's just a bit cranky today," I tried to calm him down but he just narrowed his eyes and pulled my hand back.
"I broke his nose," Mason stated, giving me a daring look.
"That was you?" I questioned as my brows knitted together in a frown.
Mason sighed and looked down at his shoes. "I was sent to juvie and my social worker had to bust me out weeks later," he shrugged, "but to be fair he grabbed onto me first."
I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration and shook my head. "Just take our order and ignore him. It'll be fine, he won't know."
Mason nodded slowly and we made our way back to the booth. My dad was tapping his fingers in frustration.
"Anything to drink?" Mason mumbled, his façade was back on.
How did he do that? He was just panicking a few minutes before and now he was calm and collected. Fucking wizard.
"Diet coke," my mom smiled and kicked my dad under the table when he refused to look at Mason.
"Coke," he grumbled.
"Same," I nodded and Mason handed off the menu's before taking off.
"I don't want you hanging out with that boy," my dad stated and opened the menu.
"What?" I let out. I mean, I wasn't planning to hang out with him after what happened, but it was still way out of place to ban me from being friends with someone!
"Honey. . ." My mom trailed off warningly.
"He's trouble, Ellie!" He exclaimed, "he's going to ruin our daughter."
My mother arched a brow but didn't take her eyes off the menu. "From what I remember, you weren't such a good influence either, Parker, and I turned out just fine," she defended.
"But that's different."
I rolled my eyes and slumped in my seat.
"You can't ban our daughter from hanging out with someone unless she's in danger, and Mason seems like a really nice boy."
"He broke my nose," my dad grumbled angrily and crossed his arms.
"Here are your drinks," Mason came back with the drinks and flipped open a small notebook, "what can I get you started with tonight."
"I'd like some tacos," my dad grumbled, not bothering to take a look at the menu.
Oh, shit was about to go down.
"We don't serve tacos, Officer Collin—"
He stood up abruptly and looked around in annoyance. "This is fucking bullshit, we're leaving."
My mom threw an apologetic look at Mason before stomping angrily after my dad. He was probably sleeping on the couch tonight.
"I think that went pretty well," Mason nodded his head as he stuffed the notepad into his apron.
I chuckled but shook my head slowly. "Yeah, sorry about that."
I watched as the corners of his lips pulled up into a smile and he shrugged. "See you in school."
•••
"Why did you two stop talking?" Richard sat next to me in Anatomy and pouted, "did my plan not work?"
I wasn't supposed to be talking to him.
I looked around and failed to spot Mason. Oh, well, he wasn't here to see it.
Wait a fucking minute, Mason didn't pay any bills what the fuck am I over here listening him for. He can suck it, I can talk to whoever I want.
"Maybe you've taken interest in some other boy," he winked after a prolonged amount of silence. I gave him a look.
"Mason told me about Jessica," I blurted out, "and how you always want his leftovers."
Richard's smug smile fell and his forehead puckered.
"And that's why you think I'm talking to you?"
I didn't answer. To be fair, it kind of looked that way. Why would Richard talk to me now out of nowhere after I became friends with Mason?
"That's not the reason I'm talking to you, Morgan. But I get it, you're worried for your well-being, I'll leave you alone if—"
"Why would I be worried for my well-being?" I cut off, scrunching up my nose in confusion.
"Because of what happened to Jessica," Richard trailed off slowly.
"Mason told me that she stepped on the frozen lake after you left to go get some blankets," I clarified and watched as he started shaking his head.
"Morgan, Mason pushed Jessica into the lake after finding out she was cheating on him."
Author's Note
Was Mason lying? Or is Richard lying?
wHO KNOWS
Leaveee me a fucking comment because I am very, very lonely.