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Mason's POV:

"You want to go inside?" I ask with contained nervousness. Xzavier nods his head, smiling slightly. I look behind me nervously, but nod. "O-okay. Just don't... Don't ask, okay?" I say, looking back at him.

He looks at me in confusion. "What? Don't ask what?"

I shake my head, taking his hand, trembling almost unnoticeably as I lead him inside. When we step inside, I look down in embarrassment. My house is tiny. Like, really tiny. It's really hot, because I don't pay for air conditioning, and everything's a mess. My clothes are strewn everywhere, and the kitchen merges into the living room. I don't have much food, or much of anything, really. But the most embarrassing part of it, is it's completely void of people except Xzavier and I.

He doesn't say anything, though, just squeezes my hand. "It's cute," he compliments, eyes scanning over it. "Quaint. I like it."

"Th-thanks," I whisper, pulling him to the living room. I sit down on the worn couch, where a thin blanket lies. It's usually where I sleep.

I don't meet his eyes as Xzavier frowns slightly. "Do you live all by yourself?" He asks softly, sitting next to me and taking my hand.

I nod slowly, not wanting to tell him everything. I need to watch my mouth. He doesn't say anything for a while before he turns to me with a wide smile. "Well, you are always welcome at my house," he tells me, squeezing my hand reassuringly.

"A-are you sure?" I ask, and I mentally curse myself as tears fill my eyes. "Goddamnit..." I whisper, swiping at my eyes.

My boyfriend leans up and kisses the tears that stream down my face. "Of course I'm sure, dummy. You're my boyfriend. I'd love having you around as much as possible."

I hesitantly lean against him, still terrified of him hurting me, but feeling slightly comforted.

"Mason?" He asks softly, wrapping his arms around me. "Why... Um, why do you live by yourself? If you don't mind me asking, that is."

I freeze. Should I tell him the truth? No, he would make me go back. "I don't want to go back," I whimper without thinking.

"What?" Xzavier asks, eyebrows pulled together. "Go back? Go back where?"

"Los Angeles," I whisper, not watching my mouth like I said I would. "I don't want to go back."

My boyfriend climbs into my lap gently, stroking my cheek. "What's in Los Angeles?" He asks softly.

"H-him. He's there, and I don't want to see him again," I whimper.

Xzavier nods. "And this he... Is he bad?"

"N-no," I say, shaking my head. "I messed up really bad." I feel a sob tear from my throat as thoughts of him invade my brain, and, God, I miss him so much.

My boyfriend wraps his arms around my neck tightly, kissing my cheek. "It's going to be okay, Mason. If you messed up, why don't you talk to him?"

"H-he doesn't want to talk to me," I sob.

Xzavier kisses me softly, tilting my chin up. "I bet he does. I bet he wants to talk to you. You're Mason Tomkins, who wouldn't want to talk to a cutie like you?"

I laugh weakly, but it turns into fear after a moment.

"Well, hello, cutie."

"You're really cute, you know?" He says, smirking.

"G-get off," I whimper, pushing on his chest. "Get off me." Xzavier scrambles from my lap, landing on the floor with a thud.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say anything bad. I'm sorry." He jumps to his feet, backing away. "I'm sorry, I'll just go. Mason, I'm sorry."

I whimper, curling into a ball and hugging myself. He's not sorry. He meant to do that. He meant to hurt you. He's going to be just like him. "I'm sorry..." He whimpers one last time before I hear the sound his of his footsteps retreating.

"Bye, Mason..." Xzavier whispers before the sound of the front door slamming informs me that he's gone. I wait to make sure he's completely gone, before sobbing quietly.

~~~

The next day in school, I keep my expression completely emotionless. At lunch, I have a quick mental debate before sitting next to Xzavier. He looks at me in surprise, his eyes wide and his eyebrows raised. "H-hi," he says softly, biting his lip as his eyes flick from me to Christian, Clover sitting next to him with a look of anger.

"Why are you sitting here?" She snaps.

"What are you talking about?" I ask emotionlessly.

"I don't want you here. Or anywhere near Xzavier. Leave."

Xzavier snaps his fiery glare at her, a deadly look that could scare the pants off of Satan. "Don't talk to him like that," he snaps back, eyes narrowed. "I want him to sit here."

"Clove, calm down," Christian says softly, sighing a bit as he rubs circles on his Clover's back.

"He's going to hurt Xzavier and you're all being too stupid to see that!" She explodes, glaring at Christian, Xzavier, and I. "You're all being dumbasses!"

Christian sighs angrily. "Will you just calm down, Clover? I know Mason, he won't hurt Xzavier."

"Yeah, shut the fuck up!" Xzavier seethes growling.

I don't say anything, just put a shaky arm around Xzavier, horribly confused. Why isn't she worried that he's going to hurt me?

"What?" Clover snaps at me. "Don't look all fucking innocent!"

"What are you talking about?" I ask in confusion. "If anyone's gonna get hurt, here, it's-"

Christian gives me a look, slightly shaking his head, while Xzavier stares up at me. "You think I'll hurt you?" He asks softly, all the anger draining from his face. "I would never hurt you, Mason."

I close my eyes. "I've heard that before," I say, my voice void of emotion.

"Mason..." Chris's delicate voice calls my name, holding hurt and pain. "He would never hurt you. I promise."

I lean my head on Xzavier's, keeping my eyes closed. "Look at him," Clover hisses. "He's acting all fucking innocent, when he's just a-"

"Shut up!" Xzavier screams, not caring as there are a few gasps around us. "Just shut the fuck up, you stupid bitch!"

I jump, backing away from Xzavier for a moment. When he was mad... He wasn't a good person when he was mad.

"What the fuck, Xzavier?!" Clover shrieks. "I'm trying to look out for you and you're sticking up for this piece of shit? What the fuck is wrong with you? Get your fucking shit together, you little fucker!"

Christian slams his fist against the able. "Enough!" He yells. "Both of you!"

"Oh, not you, too!" Clover yells at her boyfriend. "What the fuck? You're being stupid, Chris!"

Christian lets out a low growl, his anger bubbling. "Do not call me stupid," he warns. "And I know Mason, he's really, really nice. You don't know him like I do!"

"What are you talking about?" Clover shrieks. "He's an ignorant, ungrateful, rude, cocky-"

"Do not finish that sentence, Clover," Chris hisses, eyes narrowed. I can see Xzavier fuming as well, his fist clenched tight as he breathes unevenly, while I'm close to tears.

"Cocky. Bitch," Clover says, smirking.

"Get away from me," Christian says in a soft yet harsh tone. "We're through, you psychotic bitch. Get the fuck away from me and my friends."

The colour from Clover's face drains, and she looks at him in shock. "Wh-what? Chris, I-"

"You nothing, Clover. I'm not dating someone who talks shit about my friend like that," he says in a low tone, backing away from her and stepping over to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

I let out a shaky breath, burying my face in his chest, trembling. Am I really all of those things? Is she right? Did he change me so much, I didn't even realize it?

"Christian..." Clover whimpers.

"You heard him," Xzavier snaps, also wrapping an arm around me. "Leave. How dare you call my boyfriend those things, you bitch?!"

I hear her footsteps quickly retreating, and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. My body begins to tremble, but I force my composure back, forcing my face out of Christian's chest. "I'm fine," I say emotionlessly, sitting down.

"Mase." Chris sits down next to me, along with Xzavier. "It's okay. All those things she said... They weren't true. She's crazy."

"Absolutely bonkers," Xzavier agrees, nodding his head.

"I-" I close my mouth, feeling choked. I know if I speak, I'll cry, and I can't cry. I can't show any weakness whatsoever. I need to hide all of my emotions. My boyfriend takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, smiling at me.

"It's alright to cry," he whispers. "It doesn't mean you're weak or... Or girly. Real men cry."

I allow a couple tears to leak down my cheeks, but don't allow myself to lose my composure. I stare straight ahead, tears silently leaking down my cheeks, my hand clutching Xzavier's.

~~~

After school, I sit down on my couch, taking deep breaths as I try to block out old memories.

"You're really cute, you know?" He says, smirking.

"What's a cutie like you doing all by yourself?" He asks in a seductive voice.

I let out a choked noise, placing my hand harshly on his, stopping the movements. He gives me a curious glance and leans in, brushing his lips against my ear and whispering, "What's wrong, angel?"

"You're six years older than him! That's- that's illegal! He's underaged!"

"Butt? What would you like me to do with it?" He grabs my butt again, eyes flashing dangerously.

He gives me a look that silences me instantly. "You created a problem, now fix it, Mason."

"You are mine now," he growls into my ear. "Whether you like it or not. You are mine."

"You are a useless boyfriend," he growls as he presses his hand against my throat, pushing me against the door. "I should just break up with you!"

"Ash?" I whimper, peeking at him from behind the corner of the doorway, still naked from when he raped me.

"You're not going anywhere," he says in a deadly calm voice. "You're staying with me. And I don't just mean now, for this vacation, I mean forever. You shouldn't have fallen for me, Mason. Bad choice."

I whimper, hugging my knees tightly. There's a soft knock on my front door, making let out a cry of fear. I'm suddenly afraid to open the front door, or even do anything. "Mason?" The soft, delicate voice of Xzavier floats through the door and fills up the room.

I force myself off the couch, stumbling to the door and throwing it open, flinging myself on Xzavier. "I missed you," I whisper, burying my face in his hair.

He looks startled, but wraps his arms around me slowly, giggling a bit. "I missed you, too," he whispers back, slowly pushing me into the house and to the couch, his arms still wrapped around me.

I kiss him softly, smiling and resting my head on his chest, not seeing the room as it is, but seeing it as I wish it could be. He strokes my hair, giving me a tight squeeze and kissing my cheek. I giggle softly, feeling sixteen again as I kiss his jaw, my arms wrapping around his neck. "Why were you gone for so long?" I whine. "I was lonely!"

"I was only gone for a day, Mason." Xzavier chuckles, kissing my lips full on. "You could've come to my house if you were lonely."

"Well, I didn't know that!" I cry, kissing him and smiling.

He shakes his head, his grin from ear to ear. "I told you that before, silly!"

"I forgot!" I pout. "Can you text me tonight? Please, please, please?!"

Xzavier laughs a little louder, nodding. "Sure, babe. Whatever you want." He sighs contently, resting his head against mine. "You're in a good mood."

"I am?" I ask in confusion. "I didn't notice."

"I like it," he tells me with a wide smile.

"I like you, too!" I cry happily.

Xzavier gets all giggly, rocking me back and forth a bit while smiling at me. "Hey, Mason?"

"Yeah, Zavvie?"

"Wanna take a picture together?" He asks with a goofy grin, pulling out his phone.

"Yes, yes!" I cry, bouncing up and down in excitement.

My boyfriend giggles. "What has gotten into you? Not that I mind, I love you like this." He smiles widely again, pulling me closer to him as he holds up his phone. "Say cheese!"

"Cheese!" I cry, pulling on my mouth with my fingers.

Xzavier takes the picture, snapping a few more before pressing his lips to mine and taking another one. "I know this is... Really soon... But I think I love you," he whispers abruptly, biting his lip softly.

The blood drains from my face as I stare at him, snapping back to normal. "Wh-what?"

Xzavier frowns slightly. "I said, I love-"

I shake my head. "No, you don't," I say, fear leaking into my veins. "You're lying... You're lying!"

My boyfriend shakes his head. "No, I'm not. Mason, I... I really do love you... I understand if you don't want to say it back, but..."

"You're lying. You don't really love me. You don't. You can't," I choke. He simply nods, sadness filling his eyes. I bury my face in his chest, trying not to sob. "You don't love me. You can't love me. No one loves me."

"I do love you, Mason," He whispers, stroking my hair. "I do love you. A lot of people love you."

I shake my head, my body shaking with silent sobs. "I-I-I-" I hiccup. "I l-love you, to-oo..."

He gently rubs my back, burying his face into my neck. "I love you so much, Mason."

As I sob, hiccup, and gasp for breath, I repeat his words to him, believing that I really am in love with Xzavier Reese.

And that terrifies me.

"I would never hurt you, Mason," He whispers, kissing my temple. "I love you, and I would never, ever hurt you. I swear."

"Please don't," I whisper. "Don't hurt me."

He shakes his head, his brown curls swishing side to side. "Never. I would never, Mason. I swear."

I curl up on his chest, closing my eyes as I clutch onto him, and eventually, I fall asleep.

~~~

Y'all don't know how much I hate writing author's notes *sigh* I have to be funny! I CAN'T JUST SNAP MY FINGERS AND ALAKAZAM, I'M HILARIOUS DX *sobs on your shoulder*

Anyshway, hiya! How goes it, you adorable human you?

Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo... So.... Uh... *slowly dances out of room*

Xo!

Alyssa <3