Who crowned you
Queen of you think "You're too cool"
Making beautiful look ugly
The way you put yourself above me

- Queen, Shawn Mendes

16| Mason

Jack was a lifesaver. He had changed the mood. Evelyn was not moping anymore. She was screaming at the top of her lungs. What an improvement!

"Argh! I will kill you!" Evelyn exclaimed.

Improvement indeed.

Mason had just bumped Evelyn's car and it had cost her a lifeline. Evelyn had three lifeline left where Mason had it full.

"This isn't working!" She yelled and handled the controller in a way, Mason was afraid she was gonna break it.

Mason was driving without any problem. After a little while, he felt a sharp elbow jabbing in his stomach. Evelyn was leaning on him with her elbow in his stomach. Mason had an idea it was intentional. Nonetheless he held on to his controller. He would not lose so easily. He was not Jack whose snoring was heard. He was sleeping on the other corner of the couch.

Moments later, Jack squealed.

"What are you doing?" Evelyn said, "Cheer for me."

"Three cheers for Evelyn. Hip-hip-hooray." He said half-yawning.

"I haven't won yet, you dumbhead. Cheer so I can win." She said and leaned on to Mason again as her car was tilting left.

"Evelyn! Evelyn! Evelyn will wi-" Jack yawned and after a while Mason could heard him snoring.

"Your cheerleader isn't really passionate about it." Mason snorted.

"Shut up!" She said and Mason could feel her feet stomping his.

Heck if he thought they would have a fair game.

But it didn't bother him much. Evelyn's feet couldn't make him move or lose control as she expected. However, whenever she leaned towards him, he would get distracted.

Once, she leaned so close that Mason could feel her perfume overpowering the air he was breathing.

Damn.

He gulped as her hair brushed on his face. Mason didn't know if that was intentional too. Either way, he couldn't see what's going on the screen, neither could he concentrate.

He shook his head and somehow got back his view as Evelyn turned a little bit to the left. Evelyn was catching up really fast. A few seconds more, her car would be beside his one. The speed he was going, if Evelyn bumped, he would crash. And he could not let that happen.

Time to bring out my weapon. He thought.

Mason kept thinking and thinking how he could make Evelyn lose control. Suddenly an idea struck his head. It was not the best of all of them.

"Evelyn," He said as she leaned to his side.

"What!" She said and leaned forward. Her car was almost catching up.

"You are beautiful." He said as flatly as he could.

On the screen, Evelyn's car did a turn and bumped with the bars beside the road.

"What the-" She squealed and turned to Mason.

"What did you just say?" She looked at him with her eyes threatening.

"I said," He leaned forward, "you are beautiful. "

Evelyn's cheek turned red instantly and she looked at Jack. Mason in the meantime looked at the screen. His car was going good but Evelyn's car was heading in the wrong direction.

"Umm, Evelyn, your car." He said while holding back a smile.

She turned to the screen at once and cursed.

Who knew my compliments had that much effect? He thought and smiled to himself.

"You did it intentionally, you jerk, you son of a-" she stopped, "son of a nice woman."

"Thanks for calling my mom nice woman." He couldn't but chuckle at her cuteness.

"I can't just call your mom something because you are a jerk. I bet she was a nice woman." She said and leaned towards the screen.

Mason saw Evelyn's car was quickly catching up. She was a better player than Jack.

"You," She said and jabbed him. "You are a jerkface, a doodlepoop, a nincompoop, a blockhead, an asshole, an asswipe, an asshat," Evelyn shared her vault of colourful language and Mason accelerated.

"I wasn't cheering for you!" she yelled, "Argh!"

He was one lap behind from finishing line. Evelyn did catch up at last. Her car was just beside him when he thought it was time for letting out another bomb.

"You look good in my clothes." He said leaning close to her ear.

"No!" She exclaimed as her car turned sideways and she looked back at him looking furious at the same time red as a beetroot.

"Flushed and furious," Mason said. For a while he could not stop chuckling.

"I hate you so much!" She punched him on his shoulder, on his arm, and wrestled to get his controller from his hand having no idea how strong his hold could be.

"Play," He said leaning to the side as Evelyn was attacking him. "At least you have to keep playing till I win." He said with an air of confidence. Evelyn called him a jerk again.

"Nothing is working " she said under her breathe. She was not very far away from him. Her car was accelerating fast. But if Mason could hold on and drive, he would win. Her driving fast would not help anyway. His win was sure.

"So," She took a breathe, " I also think you don't look that bad," she said with a hard face.

"Why, thank you. Are you trying to say I look good? I already know that." Mason did know he was being cocky, but it was fun to see her get furious.

It was worth it.

"I hat-" she said and puffed. "I maybe don't hate you that much." She said.

"Thanks for liking me," Mason said and Evelyn stomped on his feet.

He was only one turn away. He had to slow down. Or else, his car would crash. So he slowed down carefully while leaning forward, focusing towards the screen. He took a turn and that was when Evelyn spoke.

"I may always push you out," her voice was close meant she was leaning forward. Realizing that Mason's heart rate picked up and he could not focus, "But you never gave up on me. I really appreciate you trying to help me and being there for me. I may like you, just a little."

His heart did a jump and before he knew what was happening, he watched with awe as his car crashed on the sidebar and exploded and in the meantime, Evelyn's care drove past his and touched the finishing line.

Full lifeline came to no use.

"Yes! Yes!" Evelyn yelled and jumped to her two feet and Jack woke up with a start.

"Who won? Who?" He said sitting upright.

"Who else? It's me," She said and gave Jack a high-five as Mason watched them with no expression on his face.

But his heart was still thudding like it had gone ballistic. He was still thinking about what Evelyn said minutes ago.

Seeing him, Evelyn turned. "So, who's the loser?" she asked with her eyes shining. Mason couldn't remember when the last time, he saw her that happy.

Maybe losing was not that bad.

"And also," She leaned down towards him and he backed away. His back touched the couch.

"Whatever I said, I said just to win the game. Just like you did." She said smirking.

Oh.

"Great to know that." He mumbled.

Then, Evelyn did a little victory dance while Jack cheered. Their happy moment was interrupted by someone shouting, "Jack!"

Oh, not again.

Louise walked into the game room kicking the door open. Jack jumped from the couch and ducked behind Evelyn. Mason threw his hand in the air and said, "Yo!"

Jack's older sister, Louise studied in the college of the town. These two siblings couldn't go one day without fighting. No wonder, Jack was here, probably hiding out because he did something at his house.

The advantage you get when your friend lived across the street.

"Where is Jack?" she said while walking inside. She stopped when she spotted Evelyn.

"Hey," She said, "Are you Evelyn, Mason's girlfriend, the one Jack talks about?"

What the-

He glanced at Evelyn with the corner of his eyes. Evelyn looked shocked and her mouth was slightly open. Then she recovered and looked at Mason, he quickly looked away. If looks could kill, Mason would've been thousands feet under the ground then.

Louise strode towards Evelyn and pulled her in a hug. "I am Louise. Jack's older sister."

Evelyn mumbled something like she was Evelyn and it was nice to meet her.

"You are even wearing his clothes. Cute." Louis said smiling as she pulled back and looked at Evelyn's clothes.

Evelyn was shooting daggers through her eyes towards Mason. He covered his face with both of his palms. It wasn't his fault, was it? He never said anything like Evelyn being his girlfriend.

"Oh look, Mason's covering his face. He is blushing!" Louise exclaimed.

"Am not!" If she only knew what danger she was putting Mason into. Mason would not be surprised if he woke up in hell next day, because probably today was his death day.

Evelyn cleared her throat and grinned, "Your brother is wrong. I am not Mason's girlfriend. I am only his friend." She said sweetly.

How sweet she can be. I can only see her glare.

"Oh, you're not? But you are wearing his clothes. And you guys will look really cute together." Louise suggested.

I bet she will look good with my corpse. Mason thought while dreading the thought of Evelyn murdering him.

"Mason had been single for so long. He thinks relationships will distract him and it's a waste of time." Louise rolled her eyes.

"He didn't even do flings or hook-ups." She told Evelyn.

Not even seeing Evelyn's startled face, Louise continued. "We would arrange blind dates for him and he would come back with no luck. I had even girls complaining about how boring they felt around him and apparently he would not even look at them properly. He said things like if he were supposed to be with someone, it would happen anyway. "

Can someone make me invisible? Mason kept praying. Please, anyone. Please.

Evelyn spoke, "Oh, really? But we can't do anything about it, now. Can we?"

"Who knows, maybe someday he would find his the one, right?" Louise said

The Walters were hopeless romantic and they were all about setting people up. As if Cupid himself had sent them to do the job. Mason rolled his eyes.

And it was not like he hadn't dated at all. But he never found anyone that he wanted. So he took it as if it was supposed to happen it would happen someday. He didn't need to go around looking for his soulmate. And if there was anything like finding "The One" he were destined to find her one day anyway, wasn't he?

Pulling back from those stupid thoughts, Mason glanced sideways. He caught something black moving behind the couch. He narrowed his eyes. That black thing kept moving slowly and he kept following it with his gaze. Finally it was turning to the door and Mason caught sight of Jack who was crouching in the floor and fleeing away.

Mason caught his ankle at the right time and twisted it. Jack let out a shriek.

"Caught him!" Mason said enthusiastically. Louise turned towards him at an instant and when she saw Jack, she stalked towards him and leaned down towards Jack who was lying on the carpet.

"Ow!Ow! Mason, let me go."

Oh yeah after you caused me so much trouble

"You!" Louise exclaimed pointing at Jack. "How dare you leave ants in my project!"

So that's why.

"You stole my Kitkat!" Jack complained.

"And you stole mine!" She retreated.

"Oops," Said Evelyn from behind. Both of them turned to her. She gave a nervous smile. "If I knew that was your KitKat I would've saved it."

"Aww, you're so sweet," Louise said smiling.

Oh, I wonder.

And then Louise looked back at Jack. Leaning down she took hold of Jack's ear and dragged him up.

"Let go of me. Ow!" He squealed.

"I will teach you the consequences of stealing my KitKat and leaving ants in my project. Let's get you home first." She said and dragged him to the door.

"Maple Syrup, save me!" Jack cried with his puppy eyes.

Mason shrugged.

"Hey, awesome Evelyn, save me!" Evelyn smiled and waved bye at him in reply.

After a lot of shrieks and squeals, Jack was gone. Mason sighed in contentment. The Walter siblings were too loud for his liking.

At the same time, he felt a heavy feeling in his chest. He wondered if he would have been that loud if Mallory was here. He would pick up on her on everything and she would shout. She would steal his food too. Never had he thought he would be missing having sibling fights with his little sister who was a constant pain in the ass.

He let out a sigh.

Remembering Evelyn he looked around. Evelyn was sitting in the couch looking down at her lap, probably lost in her own world. Mason grabbed the remote and spoke, "So how about a movie?"

"Sure." She said and before he realized what was happening Evelyn had lied down on her back on the couch with her feet throwing in his lap.

He looked up at her.

"I forget to tell you, I won the game. So for today, you are my slave. "

She smirked and put both of her hands behind her head she settled down.

Is there anything called prestige or ego?

"Of course," Mason said and rolled his eyes. Shuffling among the movie he asked Evelyn what she would like to watch. Today was her day, after all.

"Umm, lemme think." She said.

"I wonder if you'll ever conclude if you start thinking." He said and shuffled through the movies. Minutes passed and no comeback came from Evelyn. He found it odd.

But he kept going through them and found a zombie movie knowing full well that Evelyn hated them. "So what about this one?" He asked and looked at Evelyn.

Evelyn's eyes were closed. She looked tired and was snuggled up on one side of the couch. He looked down on his lap. Carefully he put her feet down on the couch and stood up. Turning off the TV he took one last look at her to see if she was really sleeping.

"Evelyn, there's a zombie behind you." He said and Evelyn didn't respond. So, she really might be sleeping.

She looked quiet, peaceful, and harmless, nothing like she looked when she was up.

Letting Evelyn sleep, he went to his room. After a while, he came back and scooped her up. Reaching his room, he put her down on the bed as carefully as he could, making sure he didn't wake her up.

Going back to the game room, he took Evelyn's phone and put it on the bedside table beside where she was sleeping. The time went away quietly as he picked up a book from his shelf and engaged himself.

The quiet was broken when her phone started to ring. When the first ring rang, he quickly went there and turned off the volume, so as not to wake her up. Seconds later, the phone started vibrating and he ignored it. He kept reading until the phone vibrated for the umpteenth time. Sighing, he went towards the phone and picked it up.

The caller ID said 'Dad.'

Evelyn's dad was calling and Mason didn't know whether to receive or not. He thought he should not receive it as it was her phone and also contemplated what her dad would think if someone else picked up the phone. He put it down and thought of waking Evelyn up. When he glanced her way, he didn't have the heart to wake her up. She was looking so peaceful in her sleep.

Torn apart between his indecision, he stood there.

The phone kept vibrating and he looked outside. It was evening and this whole time after school Evelyn hadn't gone home. Her dad might be really worried. He picked up the phone and received the call.

"Hello." Evelyn's dad said.

"Hello," Mason said back and waited. No one replied from the other end.

"Who is this?" Evelyn's dad said with a stern voice.

"I am Evelyn's friend," Mason replied keeping his voice sounding polite.

"Where is Evelyn?"

"She is sleeping," Mason said and immediately regretted it. He could've lied and said something else.

"What?" Evelyn's Dad said and asked back, "Where is she and why is she sleeping?"

"I will tell her you called when she wakes up. We friends, we are hanging out at a friend's house and Evelyn fell asleep."

"Whose house it is?" He asked again.

Mason thought for a second before replying. "Jack's."

"Hmm, so when Evelyn wakes up tell her immediately to return home," He stopped. "What is your name?"

"It's Mason Stewart, sir." He said.

"Mason, it's not really good to pick up someone else's call."

He replied, "I will take care next time, Sir."

"Are you the same one who walked her home last night?" He asked suddenly.

Mason remembered last night. It was a nice memory. "Yes." He said without thinking.

"Hmm, you are invited to dinner tonight." Her Dad said and cut the line.

Mason held the phone to his ear as he listened to the call being cut. He looked at the asleep Evelyn and then back at the phone.

*****

Edited.