How to Steal Mason's Heart

NINETEEN

“Alexie Pixie!”

I cringed at the tone of his voice. It was an annoying high-pitched tone like that of a girl whenever she would see her crush or if she found someone very hot or handsome. Mother stopped doing her task, looking funnily at me with a smirk on her face. I wasn’t sure if I blushed red or I gave her an eye roll. It was probably a mixture of both.

“Shut up!” I hissed quietly, sending him a glare that could bore his thick skull. He did not get the hint of what f**k off meant or maybe because Courtney was chastising me to cut Jason some slack.

I rolled my eyes at Courtney and hugged her, welcoming Mrs. Dunst who was grasping the paper bag too tight, a glower imprinted on her face whenever her gaze would pass towards Jason. I remembered the time we saw each other at WalMart, her eyes coldly staring at Jason for no apparent reason. And now she was doing the same at this very moment.

“Happy Thanksgiving Mrs. Dunst,” I greeted her and gave her a slight hug, the strong scent of an air freshener kind of perfume stinging my nose. We parted away as I got her paper bag and laid it on the dinner table, mother preparing tall empty glasses as well, filling them with chocolate milkshakes. It made my stomach groan loudly.

Father was luckily not here, much to our relief. He was only going to ruin everything—most especially a boy was joining the ritual we had for the past two years. He was out doing some business, getting promoted by his boss. He was now the general manager of his department.

“You too,” Mrs. Dunst echoed, a sweet smile tainting her lips as she stepped inside our humble abode, Christmas lights mounted on the ceiling, lighting up the whole room. I led them towards the dining room, mother already slicing the turkey Mrs. Dunst cook, mashed potatoes on small cups. The air was quiet and it was kind of awkward, since Jason was a first-timer celebrating the Thanksgiving with us.

Weren’t his family celebrating? Or he just didn’t join them? Either way, I was surprised that I was glad he was here, to make Courtney smile—which was unlikely of her to do—who would occasionally blush at some things Jason would say.

I didn’t think Courtney had the inner girl in her. I couldn’t say the same for myself. Would I blush whenever I was with Mason? I hoped I wasn’t too obvious on that.

“Let’s say grace,” mother said, our hands clasping together, her solemnly leading the prayer. I closed my eyes but opened it a little, peeking over to what Jason was doing. He was bowing his head but he wasn’t closing his eyes for they were staring at Courtney lovingly who sat beside him.

He caught me looking at him and he smirked, but I stuck my tongue out and immediately retrieved it before mother would catch me not praying over the food we were about to eat.

My parents were Roman Catholics and were religious except for me. I didn’t want to be in any religion, no matter how much that German guy discovered Protestantism. I just believed there was a creator above. I wasn’t interested in practices. I do pray but it was different if you were in a church. Some people were so judgmental.

The long prayer was finally done, I exhaled a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding for so long. We silently ate our meals, which was a tad bit agonizing, maybe because Mrs. Dunst would occasionally throw glares at Jason. It was either Jason noticed it and ignored her jabs or probably he was too oblivious to care.

“So I heard you are part of a musical, Alexa,” Mrs. Dunst said nonchalantly, wiping the smudge at the corner of her lips.

“Yeah,” I replied shortly, my plate now empty. I took a sip from the chocolate milkshake mother made, the sweetness lingering on my taste buds. “Going to play the lead role as well.” I smiled meekly.

“I am so proud of you,” mother said, a crinkle painting her eyes. “I hope your dyslexia would not be in the way. Is it getting worse or is it getting better?”

I pursed my lips into a thin line, my eyes scanning through the people’s expressions in the room. Mrs. Dunst and Courtney knew about my condition but when my eyes landed towards Jason, his face was in shock, his blue eyes widening in surprise, with a little hint of I knew it expression. He wasn’t mad, but his eyes were a little hurt when our gazes connected. I looked away.

“Some days I can’t read, sometimes I can,” I answered timidly, looking away from them. I wanted to get away from here, from the suffocation. I wished mother did not bring it up. Maybe she was just too naïve to know I did not tell Courtney’s boyfriend. I hated being pitied, and right now that was what they were doing: pitying me. I wanted to look normal in front of their eyes, that my disability wasn’t something that could not propel me forward.

I wanted to stand up and lock myself in my room but I didn’t. I gulped the bile rising on my throat, restraining the tears from falling down on my face. Why was I even crying over something I should be proud of?

“That’s good, Alexa. I am just so happy to see you have come so far,” mother said proudly, her eyes welling in tears. I forced a smile on my face.

“Jason is also part of the play, too,” Courtney pompously announced, while I looked at Mrs. Dunst’s reaction. Her fork was in mid-air, her green eyes widening and her throat almost getting choked by the announcement.

“That’s good!” I chirped, Jason’s eyes lingering on me. “He’s helping me how to sing some songs,” I added, trying to keep the atmosphere light. Mother chuckled, a teasing glint on her eyes even though she knew Courtney and him were together.

What was wrong with the world? Or was it just me?

“I hope the house won’t set on fire if you hang out with him in his house,” Mrs. Dunst commented, sarcasm dripping on her tone. Courtney tilted her head with a look of curiosity in her eyes, whilst Jason’s posture had gone rigid.

What did Mrs. Dunst mean by that? Jason looked so terrified at the mention of fire in his house. Did that happen to him? Or was it just his phobia?

“I-I have to g-go,” Jason stuttered, standing up, his face flabbergasted.

“I should go with him.” Courtney excused herself but her mother’s grip was already on her arm before she could leave. There was a stern glare on her face. Courtney sank on her seat.

I stood up abruptly, mother not stopping me. I was glad she didn’t because either way it would still be on my way.

“Alexa, a word please before you go,” Mrs. Dunst called, stopping me from my tracks. We went to the living room, the sound of the television blurring in the background.

I looked at her green eyes. We were of the same height, our gazes levelling each other. I hoped I could still catch up with Jason. I hoped whatever Mrs. Dunst would say would be just short. I wasn’t a runner, my pace slow just for a turtle could catch up on me if we were ever going to race against each other.

“I don’t like the idea of Courtney and that boy in a relationship,” she said, venom laced around her tone. She clearly made that point once she held her glare towards Jason. I didn’t think it would be that serious. “Break them up.”

“What?” My eyes widened in surprise. “But Courtney likes him and he does, as well.”

“You heard me,” Mrs. Dunst said firmly, her brows drawing together. “He’s bad news.”

“You don’t know him like I do.”

“I do and I want what’s best for her. If you’re going to be a mother, you will soon know how it feels. So find a way to break them up.”

“If I don’t?”

“Courtney will never see the two of you again for the rest of her life,” she warned. I couldn’t lose Courtney. She was my best friend.

But if I break them up together, I would even lose her more. I was in this lose-lose situation.

I only nodded, just for the sake to end the conversation, my feet running, hoping I could catch up with Jason’s pace.

“Jason!” I yelled. “Jason!” My breaths had come short, my feet were growing weary.

“A-Alexa?” Jason’s tired voice surfaced. I was at the sidewalk, gasping for breath. The road was empty but it felt crowded. Jason emerged out of nowhere, his eyes puffy. Was he crying? They were red, too.

“Jason,” I answered, immediately wrapping my arms around him into a hug. His shoulders were shaking, I could feel tears running on my shoulders, my shirt going wet. Was it true? The fire that happened? I wanted to ask him but he seemed so vulnerable at the moment.

“Whatever happens,” Jason said in between his soft sobs, “promise me you’ll be here.”

I nodded. “I promise Jason, whatever happens.”