How to Steal Mason's Heart

TWENTY – ONE

s**t.

A thousand times to the power of infinity s**t.

“What?” I asked dumbly, although I heard it perfectly clear. He knew I liked him. I sunk on my seat, the cheeks spreading across my cheeks like wildfire.

“I know you like me,” Mason repeated, his eyes scrutinizing me carefully. They were burning on my skin. If they were laser, I would have melted but since this was just a mundane human being sitting across me, who had known I had this crush-y feelings for him, then I wouldn’t.

“H-How d-did y-you k-know?” I stuttered, my cheeks flaming in embarrassment, trying to come up some sort of witty reply but my tongue had gone short, ending me up like a deer in the headlights. A phone suddenly rang, interrupting our almost heated conversation. I stilled on my seat, my cheeks flaming in utter embarrassment while Mason grabbed his ringing phone to his hand, his eyebrows drawing in confusion.

“I got to take this call,” he excused, exiting the burger joint, his phone pressed on his ear slightly too tight while his jaw was set, his eyes filled in a little bit of anger.

He was standing in front of the façade of the building, his build stiffed while the winter air pushed his slightly messy brown hair. But I could tell he was angry and whoever called him made him pissed off. My feet suddenly took me to him, just somewhere he wouldn’t notice and see me, my eyes peeking at his built frame. His fists were clenching and unclenching, my ears suddenly eavesdropping over something I shouldn’t.

If it was a crime I would be put behind bars.

“I’m taking my meds, okay!” he almost screamed, the vein popping out of his neck. I raised a brow. He locked his jaw like steel and I wanted to run and hug him, comfort him until he cooled down. But I wanted to know what his secret was. Why was he taking meds?

“I’m not Mason!” he growled dangerously, I almost shivered. “I’m Marcus you fucker!” He was breathing heavily, up and down, slowly. I turned around and walked back to where I sat, (there was another entrance) but someone already occupied the space so I went out and stood beside Mason quietly.

“Mason?” I whispered, touching his tensed arm softly. He softened, his blue eyes gazing towards me. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” he answered rigidly, his lips thinning. It was obvious he was upset but what he did over the phone scared the crap out of me. “Do you want to go somewhere else?” he offered, a small smile hinting his lips that never reached his eyes.

I gasped. “I will not skip school, Mason,” I announced but he held my hand onto his large one, a pleading smile sealing his mouth, his eyes widening like a kicked puppy. I remembered Jason pulled that trick to me and I could see some resemblance they had with each other.

“You’re such a goody-girl. Live a little,” he teased.

My cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

“S-so what are we going to do if we skip class?” I asked, connecting my brown eyes towards his blue eyes. There were flecks of grey, like that of a storm cloud.

“We’re going to do bungee jumping,” he suggested, a smirk conquering his lips.

I crossed my arms in front of my chest, raising challenging brows at him. “I thought you’re afraid of heights?”

He went silent for a moment. Raising a corner of his lip, the dimples deepening on his cheek, he replied, “I lied.”

I slapped his arm playfully. “Why did you fool me?!” He laughed, clutching his stomach like a madman.

“I lied again,” he said, grinning widely at me. “I really am scared of heights but the feeling of flying is more appealing than falling.”

“You sure do know how to create quotes, Mr. Ward,” I said sarcastically. He chuckled.

“Let’s do bungee jumping!” he exclaimed, hailing a cab, as he said the destination.

My heart was pumping loudly, fearing what might happen if I had absences.

But for now, I set them aside and focused on something else and that was I was with Mason, going to bungee jump the life out of me.

+ + + +

“Are you really sure this rope won’t cut itself?” Mason asked for the eleventh time, and yes I counted, his voice nervously shaking while his eyes clouded with doubt. He looked at the ground below and almost screamed while I laughed at the side lines, almost getting pushed by him.

“Don’t worry, sir, this is the strongest wire ever created by mankind,” the woman assured for the eleventh time as well, an annoyed look flitting her features. I couldn’t blame her.

“At the count of three,” the woman, whose blonde hair was tied in a ponytail, commanded, the winter fog blowing out of her mouth, “you will jump.”

Mason and I nodded, my heart accelerating in its top speed. “Are you ready?” I asked breathlessly towards Mason who still held a frightened expression on his face. He nodded slowly, his body slightly trembling. I fought the urge to laugh again.

“One. Two. Three.”

We jumped together and screamed. I screamed of pure delight while Mason screamed in pure horror.

I felt free, my arms spreading widely in the air. I felt like no one could hinder me with anything, that the world was nothing but a mere speck in the galaxy, the stars covering the solar system. The cold air whooshed on my skin I almost shook but the cold never bothered me any way.

Suddenly, the roped stopped us from falling on the ground. Mason stopped screaming like a girl, the rope making us bounce a little bit. People who were waiting for us below assisted us in removing the ropes while we took off our helmets.

“That was fun,” I told Mason cheekily who was slightly shaking from fear, gasping for air, drinking it like it was his lifeline.

“I will definitely not do that again,” he swore under his breath. I let out a guffaw.

“You sure do know how to charm a girl,” I teased but stopped short, realizing what I had just told him. I’m in deep trouble.

“What did you say?” he asked, curiosity filling his features but there was the eureka moment settling in his blue irises.

I gulped, panicking, my ears ringing imaginary sirens. Emergency! Emergency! Emergency! The siren rang in my head. “Uhm, you know how to charm girls?” I suggested but he quipped me with a smile, the crevasses appearing smoothly on his face.

“Do you really have a crush on me, Alexa?” he asked solemnly, his smile disappearing from his mouth.

My heart pounded loudly on my chest, gulping the bile on my throat and gulping more saliva until my mouth ran dry. If I lied, would it be worth it? If I told the truth, what difference would it make?

I released a sigh from my lips.

Then this time, my phone rang.

What was with phones and their ability to interrupt deep conversations?

I excused myself, heaving a deep breath as I pressed the green button. “Hello?” I answered.

“Where are you?” Jason asked over in a worried tone. “Ms. Rosedale is looking for you.”

I looked at the time on my phone. It was a little over five in the afternoon. Was that how long we spent the day? “s**t,” I cursed under my breath. “I’ll be there in a jiffy,” I assured him.

“Yeah?” he asked.

I smiled, “Yeah.”

“Who called?” Mason asked, arching a brow.

“It’s Jason. We have to practice for the musical,” I said.

He nodded. “We should probably head back.”

The ride back to school was silent. I bid him goodbye while he nodded, heading straight past to his house. I grabbed the papers from my bag, my shoes squeaking on the ground as I ran to the theatre where an angry Ms. Rosedale was waiting.

“You weren’t in class and now you’re deciding to skip this practice?” she scolded, her flowery voice turning to dark and threatening. I bowed my head lower, waiting for her to finish her sermon. “I thought you were better than that Ms. Sanchez,” she added, disappointment rushing through her features. I took small steps toward the stage where Jason was standing, his eyes focusing on the script but his hands were gripping it tighter than intended.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized quietly, while Salve started playing the piano. Jason did not respond.

He sang, his body positioning to his character, a lovesick Oliver, his blue eyes gazing towards me, stepping forward with a serious look on his face.

I stepped forward, closing the large distance between us, my mouth producing a melody. This time, the scene was when we first met in the middle of the busy shops of the medieval ages.

Jason stumbled on his feet and everything went in slow motion. I fell on my back on the floor, his arms encircling instinctively on my waist, his head falling onto my chest. I could feel his nose bumping onto my flat chest.

My heart was pumping heavily, my cheeks pooling in heat.

Ms. Rosedale clapped her hands in most utter delight.

“Perfect!”

Jason and I stood awkwardly, creating a large gap between us, dusting ourselves from some dirt on the stage. I hesitantly looked at him but his eyes were looking distantly even though he was just staring at his papers.

But what baffled me was the fact my heart never stopped beating too fast.

I couldn’t keep myself calm.