Mason's POV:
"Shut the fuck up." I groan, covering my face with a pillow.
"I'm just saying, she was ready to forgive you and you did the same thing again, you're such an idiot." my annoying roommate whines as he writes in his stupid notebook.
"Didn't I tell you to shut up? It still isn't your business. It's too early in the morning for this bullshit." I mumble against the pillow.
"I couldn't sleep with you moving around all night and pacing up and down, you can't complain." he rolls his eyes.
"Why are you doing work anyway? It's a fucking Saturday." I choose to ignore his comment about my pacing, removing the pillow from my face. I couldn't sleep thinking about how I fucked up again, but at least we're still friends. I think.
"Because some of us care about our education. Can you get one sentence out without cussing?" he retorts.
"Well you can care about it on Monday like normal people, you're bumming me out. And no, I fucking can't" I add, just to piss him off further.
"Bumming you out? That's rich." he shakes his head.
Without thinking it through too much I pick up my phone and text Amara. I need out of here.
Amara's POV:
"Thank you." I smile as my mom places a bowl of cereal onto the counter in front of me. It's the first breakfast we've had together in a while, it's sort of nice. Even though it's already early afternoon. She hasn't mentioned my Mason induced meltdown last night and I'm thankful. I feel better this morning, I can work on getting over my crush and have a friend in Mason. A little distance for now can only help.
Just at that, my phone buzzes and an unusual number flashes on the screen.
*Hey. Are you busy today? I'm sorry for last night. I hope I'm still your friend, plant killer.*
Mason? How the hell did he get my number? I sigh at his message, so much for that space.
*I'm not busy, how did you get my number? Stalker.*
*Because I'm a stalker, obviously.*
I chuckle again at his response, I'm glad he at least gets my sense of humour. Let's hope this whole friendship thing works.
*I see. Well, I'm free in an hour if you want to stalk me some more.*
*Great. I'll pick you up then.*
I shake my head as I eat another spoonful of cereal, I really hope it isn't going to be awkward with Mason, I mean just last night I was crying over him not liking me back like a twelve year old girl. I can't force him to have feelings for me, and I'd rather have him as a friend than not at all.
"Aren't you going to finish?" My mom asks, pointing to the half full bowl of cereal sitting in front of me.
"I have to get ready, I'm going out with M.. Jess." I stop myself, I know she wouldn't be happy with me spending time with Mason after how he acted, how I acted.
"Alright." she shrugs as I walk out of the kitchen.
"Wait, Mar."
"Are you okay?" she asks, her head slightly tilted in confusion.
"I'm fine, really." I smile.
I really am okay, I think it's the fact Mason text me, showing he does still want to be friends afterall. I can do this.
I shower and dry my hair, leaving it in natural yet slightly frizzy waves, I don't care enough to straighten or curl it. I put on a pair of blue denim jeans and a strappy white t-shirt, its slightly warm outside but not warm enough to wear a dress or shorts. I add some mascara as usual and wait for Mason to arrive. Just at that I hear the doorbell ring and my heart sinks.
"Fuck!"
I basically sprint to the door while attempting to pull my shoes onto my feet, shoving past my mom. If she sees Mason, I'm dead.
"In a rush?" she looks at me, raising an eyebrow.
"Yep. You know Jess, always wants to be early." I lie, my voice comes out high pitched and obvious. That couldn't be any less Jess, she's always late—even to her own birthdays. Why am I such an awful liar?
"Mhm." she shakes her head as I close the door behind me.
As I get into Mason's car he greets me with a warm smile, his shirt is tight and unbuttoned almost half of the way down, I pull my eyes away before he notices me checking him out. What the hell Amara?
"So how did you actually get my number?" I start a conversation to avoid me awkwardly staring at his chest.
"I pestered Jake till he gave me it." he smiles a little.
"Jacob? He gave you it?" I laugh at the thought of Mason asking him for my number, I would've payed to see that.
"What's so funny?" he asks, his brow crinkled.
"Nothing." I shrug, biting my lip to stop myself laughing again.
"I told him I needed to return something to you."
"Oh." I mutter, why is it so hard for Mason to just tell people we're friends?
"I don't mean it like that, I just didn't want him to get the wrong idea." he keeps his eyes on the road.
The wrong idea? Since when does he care what Jacob thinks?
"So where are we going?" I change the subject, again. I hate tension.
"A park."
"A park?" I ask in confusion.
"Yes, a park." his voice is calm but his responses are short. Why does he have to react like this to everything?
"Okay."
I decide to just stay quiet the rest of the ride and wait till we arrive at this.. park.
"We're here." he breaks the silence, climbing out of the car and I follow.
"What are we even going to do at a park?" I ask, before realising how ungrateful I sounded.
"Sorry, I just meant-"
"It's fine." he cuts me off.
"I'll show you." his voice is softer than before, relieving a little bit of the tension in the already heavy air.
"Come on," he smiles and I follow him.
He stops just infront of a small metal gate.
"Okay, who first?" he asks.
"What are you talking about?"
"The gate, we have to climb over it." he chuckles.
"Oh, no way!" I yell, looking at the padlocked gate in front of us."
"Is that even legal? Its padlocked for a reason." I begin to ramble.
"What if people see us? Its daylight." I scoff, "I'm not climbing over a gate, no way."
"Amara." he sighs.
"It's worth it, trust me, okay?" he looks at me with reassuring eyes and I groan under my breath.
"Ugh, fine. But if we get caught, I'm not going to jail." I hold my hands up in defeat.
"Okay, if the cops come and arrest us for climbing over a fence, in a park, in daylight, I will be sure to tell them you're also a convicted plant murderer." he grins and I can see he's holding back a laugh.
"Stop making fun of me!" I pout and cross my arms, sending him into a small fit of laughter.
"I'm sorry, I'll keep the plant business to myself if we get arrested."
"Mason!" I swat his arm.
"I'm joking, Amara." he rolls his eyes at me as he holds out his hand.
I look at him confusedly.
"I'm trying to help you get over the fence. Unless you want to try alone, little miss independent." he smirks.
I take his hand and roll my eyes. I should've known that's what he was doing, what did I expect? Him to hold my hand? We're friends.
"Amara, no offence, but if you stand here any longer the sun will be setting." his voice is full of sarcasm and I roll my eyes.
"Okay well.. what do I do?" I ask shly. I sound so stupid.
"Put your foot here, to steady yourself." he tells me, pointing towards a bar in the fence.
"Then swing your other leg over, and do the same with the other foot."
He makes it sound so simple, but I'm not as tall as him.
"Okay." I cough.
I place my left foot in the bar of the fence to gain my balance, before lifting my other leg to lift it over. As soon as both my feet are off of the ground my foot slips from the bar and I fall backwards. Mason steadies me with his hands whilst laughing at me.
"It's not funny!" I yell, trying to sound stern.
"Just try again." he splutters through his laughter.
I try again and the same thing happens, only this time Mason's arm isn't behind me and I fall onto the grass.
I look up to Mason who has errupted into yet another fit of laughter, whilst trying to help me up. I can hear him trying to ask if I'm okay but he can't get the words out.
"Are you-" he bursts into laughter again.
"Are-"
"Are you-"
His cheeks flush from his intense laughter and I scowl at him.
"I'll wait till you're finished." I groan, as I watch him try to catch his breath.
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry." he coughs through his sparse laughter as I stand up.
I raise my eyebrow at him, my arms still crossed against my chest.
"I'll go first, and try help you over from there, new tactic." he shakes his head, still chuckling slightly.
I wait for him to stumble and fall just as I did, or at least show some form of difficulty, but of course he practically vaulted over the gate with no hassle whatsoever.
"And that's how its done." he sarcastically takes a bow and I narrow my eyes at him.
"Okay, well sorry I'm not a professional." I mimic his voice.
"A professional? I don't scale padlocked gates in my free time, Amara." he chuckles.
"You just need some sort of agility, any sort of agility." he mutters.
"I have agility!" I whine.
"Sure you do."
"Come on, give me your arm." he reaches out and takes my hand as I swing one leg over, he steadies me at my waist as I swing the other over and actually land on my feet.
"I did it!" I jump and clap my hands like a child.
"Only took you twenty minutes." he teases.
"Follow me." he says once again, and I do.
After walking for what feels like forever Mason stops in front of me.
"Close your eyes."
"What? No way." I shake my head
"Come on, Amara. Do you trust me?" he asks.
"No." I answer before I can even think about it, my mouth running away with the words.
"I'm sorry I-"
"It's fine, Amara. You have no reason to." he shrugs, but I can tell my words effected him.
"I'll close my eyes." I smile slightly and he nods in return.
Mason takes my arm and leads me across the grass until we reach what feels like stones, a path possibly? There isn't anyone around so it isn't hard for him to navigate me. I don't think many people climb fences into cornered off areas of parks.
"We're here." he says, as he rests his hand on my shoulder, stopping me in my tracks.
"Can I open my eyes now?" I ask anxiously.
"Open." he says.
As I open my eyes my breath catches in the back of my throat, we're standing in the middle of a small field covered in flowers. There is a pathway through the middle leading to a pond filled with ducks, the sunlight conjured the most beautiful of mosaics, making each wand of grass look magical, reflecting off every leaf and wisp of cloud. It gave a new light to the landscape. It's truly breath taking. I stand and admire my surroundings. I'm literally surrounded by beautiful yellow flowers, with clusters of blue and white.
I can't believe Mason was thoughtful enough to bring me here. I can't help but notice him smiling at me as I take in the beautiful place.
"Mason, this is.. breath taking." I admit, my eyes still wide.
"I thought you'd like it." he smiles.
"Why is this place shut off? It's amazing." I say, still in awe.
"It used to be open to the public, until people started trashing it, the pond and the flowers, so they shut off all of the entrances. I still come here sometimes though." his voice is even softer than before and he seems happy to be here.
"It's beautiful." I give him a warm smile.
I bend down and examine the flowers closer. I pick one of the white flowers from the grass and look at it closely.
"It's a snow drop." Mason chimes from behind me as I stand back to my feet.
"They're called snowdrop flowers, the yellow ones are daffodils and the blue are bluebells." he informs me, his smile still evident on his face.
"They're beautiful. I love them." I say as I put the white flower in my hair.
"What do you think?" I smile at Mason and he chuckles.
"I like it." he nods in agreement.
"Let's sit down." he says, edging towards the small wooden bench that sits just in front of the pond.
"How long have you been coming here?" I ask.
"I came here for the first time around a year ago, it got shut off around six months ago, its a lot cleaner since then, and more peaceful." he tells me, looking out onto the water.
"I love things like this, you know." I smile.
"Things like what?" he looks at me intently.
"Nature."
"I love looking at this, places like this. I love watching sunsets or sunrises, and looking at the stars." my smile grows as I continue to look around, Mason's eyes focused on me.
"I know it sounds cliché." I feel a little embarrassed saying it out loud.
"We can watch the sunset.." Mason mumbles and I look at him.
"I mean, if you want to, I just know its nice from here." he shrugs it off.
It was a lovely gesture, I don't know why he pulls away and acts so cold whenever he seems to make any sort of caring or affectionate acts. I want to know why.