You can tie me up in chains
You can throw away the key
But there's no trap doors
I'm not gonna leave
You're the truth I can't explain
You're the only one I see
It's not an illusion to me

-Illusion, One Direction

45| Mason

It was a month before graduation. Everything in Mason's life was finally falling into place.

Mason walked in the park with a smile on his face. James and Timothy was swinging by both his arms and Raine was playing in the sand pit. Mason had come to Hillfar for a visit. Also, emergency babysitting.

In school, Mason no longer had to show off any facade. He had no labels now. He was who he was and he didn't care about what others thought about him.

Mallory had been acting like the annoying nagging little sister she always was. Mason still had to buy a box of chocolate ice cream for her yesterday. Although he thought it should be Bryan who should do it.

Bryan was carrying out all other boyfriend duties quite heartedly. But what these two never thought of, was Mason. They never thought for once how Mason would feel when they would do tongue wrestling right in front of him. It scarred Mason for his life.

Other than that, he had no problem with them. Neither did he had any problem when Jack pranked Bryan as an welcome back to the group. Bryan would always remember the taste of Toothpaste Oreos and Paprika coke.

So a major prank war was on it's way and like always Mason was on both teams.

Mason would be back home soon to help Bryan to get revenge on Jack. He had a lot of works to do.

• • •

Mason looked at his rearview mirror. He pushed his brown hair up and the scar showed. He liked to keep his hair that way, or maybe it had something to do with Evelyn.

As he entered the hall, a few people nodded at him and he nodded back. He even smiled at some of them who were close acquaintance. Like, Stanley who was having problem with his English essays. Stanley used 'crap' and 'shit' too many times in his essay that Mason had to emit it all out for him and replace it.

Mason actually was savoring the last moments here in his high school. Though, Mr.Pit still hated his guts, Mason tried his best to enjoy his classes. So was the case with other teachers. There were a few who Mason would miss. That list included Maisie too.

Mason made his way towards his locker.

There stood the most beautiful girl in the whole freaking universe.

Mason smiled.

"Hey, Girlfriend," Mason whispered caging his girlfriend between his two arms lifting her up a little.

Neither him or her was a big fan of PDA and they kept it low in school. And as she knew Mason didn't like confined places, so Janitor's closet wasn't even an option.

When Mason had opted out back of the school as an option, he had gotten a punch in his nose as answer (later on a kiss on the same place) so that was out too.

When they finally announced themselves as a couple, none of his friends actually reacted that much. Because they said they had seen it coming so it wasn't any surprise. And the people in school hadn't paid any attention either. Which was good. It helped Evelyn to stress less about it.

"Put me down, you jerkface," She screamed.

Ah. The chemistry, the romance and the sweet as hell nicknames couldn't get any better.

"I'll never put you down, baby," Mason replied.

Evelyn absolutely hated it when Mason called her baby. More reasons to call her that.

"Put me down!" Evelyn shrieked and Mason finally did put her down. He kissed her hair from behind. What Mason had found out that, Evelyn used this shampoo that smelled like fresh strawberries. Now Mason couldn't stop snorting her hair.

"Eww, get a room, guys." Mallory said coming down at them.

Mason was sure she wanted to say this the moment Mason made a gagging sound watching Mal and Bryan. But unfortunately Mal could never catch Evelyn and Mason doing anything frivolous in public.

What happened in Mason's or Evelyn's bedroom was totally a different situation.

"Tell that to your brother," Evelyn said elbowing him in the stomach. Mason only held his grip tighter.

"I'm sure he treats you like you're some sort of food, like right now, he is snorting you," Mal rolled her eyes and gagged.

"Hey! I don't treat Evelyn like that." Mason was offended.

Evelyn was blushing, of course.

"Everyone's not like your boyfriend," Mason added also gagging.

As if on cue, Bryan appeared behind Mal.

"Talk of the devil and the devil appears," Mason murmured under his breathe. Evelyn elbowed him again.

"Oy baby! Good morning!" Bryan said in a high-pitch voice and tackled Mal. God knew what he had for breakfast.

"It's getting messy here," Evelyn said looking up at him. "I'm going to class. Come soon."

"Don't miss me much," Mason said to her and she rolled her eyes before taking off.

There was always some trouble of being a good guy. Mason had not been scowling and glaring at people lately. That had resulted a few many things.

Like for number one, he had to help a few people with their homeworks, also he had to help if someone was having problem doing that math or that essay or wanted to find that particular book.

Mason certainly couldn't say no.

And then also, he had been receiving winks from a few girls. Mason had always ignored that. But when someone blocked him in the hallway or library asking his help for homework (actually phone number), he had to act polite.

And then there was this cheerleader, Chloe, who had been stalking him. Mason was pretty sure about that. She had left quite a few comments in his Instagram posts also some inappropriate comments in his and Evelyn's photos. Good that, Evelyn was not active in social media that much.

Mason opened his locker. Then he picked up the chits of paper that had numbers written on them, for booty calls.

"Pity on you, you ain't single." Jack said in his ear.

"Trust me, being taken was the best thing that happened to me this year," Mason said plucking all the other chits out and putting them in Jack's palm. God know what he did with them. Probably prank calls.

"Yeah, A guy as boring and pathetic as you had gotten himself a girlfriend. And yet I can't. That hurts my ego dude." Jack complained. He widened his eyes as Mason pulled out a love letter out his locker.

"Now that's entertainment." Jack concluded.

Mason chuckled.

"You told Evelyn about this?" Jack said pocketing everything.

"Nah." Mason shook his head. "I am pretty sure her lockers quite the same."

Mason had seen guys giving looks at his girl. Evelyn was totally oblivious about it. Mason wasn't gonna point that out either.

Mason didn't really believe in that alpha male bullshit. Evelyn was her free girl and Mason was his free self. They didn't need to get possessive over each other. They knew what they were to themselves. And what they had, nobody from outside could break it.

But if the guy is Alex Harrington or Reddie, Mason would go out of his rules to keep these assholes out of Evelyn's way.

Good thing, Alex hadn't showed his face ever since that big fight. What Mason heard last about him was that he was out of town.

Mason turned on his path and found Evelyn hugging Diana. Diana and Noah had it rough. They were fighting a lot. Since they had the college talk, they were growing distance. Noah wanted to go to UCLA like Bryan, Mallory and Jack but Diana didn't want to. She wanted to go somewhere far. They were still fighting over it.

"It's okay. It's gonna be okay." Evelyn said patting on Diana's shoulder. She wiped her tears and stood straight.

"I have to do the right thing. I know. I love him but I don't want to go to LA. I am going to SF either he likes it or not," Diana said, "We need to break up."

Evelyn squeezed her hand. Mason stood by her. Evelyn looked up. They sighed.

Mason gave a hug to Diana and she walked away. Evelyn and him went for class. Mason looked sideways at Evelyn. He knew exactly what she was thinking about.

Evelyn and Mason still hadn't had the college talk.

• • •

Evelyn : We need to talk.

The text message was prominent on Mason's screen. He was at the garage. He looked at the message and took a deep breathe.

Mason had accepted his applications. He knew where he was going. Nobody knew it, not even Evelyn. He promised himself he would tell her soon. But he kept drawing back. Because he had an idea how Evelyn would react.

Mason needed time. Maybe he would tell her at the last second..

Don't be such a coward. Mason assured himself. It's gonna be fine.

Evelyn : Come on over. You know we need to talk.

It was still good that Evelyn had taken the step herself.

Here goes nothing. Mason thought and started towards home.

As he climbed inside through the window, he found Evelyn pacing in her room. Mason didn't know if it was a good sign or bad sign. He swallowed.

"Hey," Mason said, getting in. He put off his shoes and sat on the edge of the bed. Evelyn kept pacing around. Then she stopped, sighed and sat beside him.

When she finally looked up at him, Mason knew she had already decided. He closed his eyes and repeated inside his mind what he would say. He had been expecting this conversation.

"Mason, we," Evelyn sighed again and didn't finish her sentence.

"You know it is the only," Evelyn said again and couldn't make herself to finish it either. She covered her face with her hand and pulled her hair. Evelyn collected herself soon.

"I had a good time here, " Evelyn finally managed to say. "I had gone to different states and different schools and I have to say, I had the best time here."

She squeezed his hands.

"Here, I learned a lot about myself. I realized what it is like to be taken care of, I realized I am not unlovable, I realized I have potential too, I can do better. I can be okay."

Mason squeezed her hand back. Evelyn smiled at him.

"Here, I stood up for myself and got my dad back. I finally had the courage to talk to him. And now we don't pretend like the other's don't exist." Her smile got bigger.

"I met so many people who cared about me, who loved me. You took me to people who didn't even know me but loved me instantly. I have never been this happy in a while."

Evelyn turned around and faced him.

"Here, I fell in love." Evelyn touched his cheek. "I found someone who would love me no matter what, despite my flaws."

Mason stopped her from saying any more words and kissed her. The electricity, the nerve-wrecking, the stomach churning, all of these always came back to him, every time he did it.

"Mason, you should know something. Because if I don't tell you, I would forever feel guilty." Evelyn said quietly.

Mason could guess what she would say. He had known for a while. He had known the day she talked about her symptoms. Mason went home and searched about it and it was on the result. As he clicked and read about it, he knew. Evelyn had anxiety disorder.

"I am here," Mason said.

"Mason, I-" Evelyn said and gulped. Mason caressed her cheek. "I have anxiety."

• • •