{Well, howdy howdy!... Did I just fucking say howdy? Oh, lord, I need a life *sigh* Anyway, vote and comment! I love you guys <3}

Picture: Christian Braden

Xzavier's POV:

"F-?!" I cry, staring at my paper incredulously before shoving it in Clover's face. "How did I get an F- on the second day of school?! HOW?!" As I go on a mini-rant about how bullshit this is, Clover smacks the paper away, rolling her eyes.

Currently, we are sitting in our math class, getting our quizzes back from yesterday to see our prior knowledge. Apparently, I have none.

 "Oh, hush. I doubt anyone did very well," Clover says dismissively, but I see a big fat A on the top of her paper, making me let out a groan and drop my head into my hands in defeat.

"I hate life," I moan, pulling at my curls. "I really hope the person who invented math burns in hell. I hope the person who invented school burns in hell! Useless piece of shit he is." I crumple the paper up and throw it on the floor, stomping my foot on it. "Fuck you, you stupid paper."

Clover laughs and snatches the paper before I have a chance to murder it some more. "Okay, enough. Don't want people to think you're more crazy then you really are." The blonde giggles, smoothing the paper out the best she can and handing it back to me. "I better not see you murder any more papers or I'm taking you into the police... Or mental institution. One or the other."

I grumble out an answer before turning back to my math teacher, making sure to send her daggers. "What a bitch," I mumble under my breath.

"What was that, Mr. Reese?" Mrs. Bit snaps, her penciled-on brows raised. "I'm a what?"

I open my mouth, but close it again, my cheeks ablaze. "I didn't say anything, Mrs. Bitch- Mrs. Bit!" 

Her face turns red from anger and she lets out a growl, jutting a finger towards the door. "Get out!" She yells. "You're in my class for two days, fail the quiz and have the nerve to call me a name? Get out of my class!" 

I quickly gather up my things, scurrying for the door, bumping into the wall. "Ow." I groan and hold my head for a moment before running out of the classroom, not wanting to get a beaten from my teacher. 

Lord knows what she can do with that giant ruler.

 I roam the halls aimlessly, not exactly sure what to do when getting thrown from a class. It's never happened to me before, so...

With my head down, I don't see the person in front of me, and end up bumping into them. "Oh, my gosh, I'm so sorry," I apologize quickly, looking up.

Staring back at me is a big guy with a unibrow that makes Nicolas Cage's look on point in comparison. "Watch where you're going, asshole," he growls, shoving me back.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention and-" I'm cut off as he pushes me against the wall, getting up close and personal.

"Sorry doesn't cut it," he hisses, his red, sweaty face so close to mine I can smell his horrid breath. "I should kick your ass."

I start to shake, when a person catches my eye. "Help," I squeak, causing the person to turn around and making me inwardly groan.

My. Luck.

Something flashes in Mason's eyes as he scans me over, my body limp as the bully pins me on the wall. But he doesn't say or do anything for a moment, before turning away and continuing his walk. Scared tears escapes my eyes and I blink rapidly, trying to rid them.

The big guy turns back to me, smirking. "Well, now that no one is here to help you, I can-"

"Don't touch him."

A voice; Low, menacing, threatening. Unfamiliar yet recognizable, one that has only spit mean things to me, but now is saving me.

A squeak of delight escapes my lips my lips and I take the opportunity Mason gives to escape to do so. I pry the bullies hands off of my shirt and wiggle from his grasp, running over to and totally abandoning my school supplies.

Once next to the brunette, I cower behind him, but back away when I see the nasty glare he sends my way.

Man, this guy is so bipolar.

"Leave him alone," Mason warns, though his stance is almost... Nervous. He possibly could hate fighting, if the rumors are true and his boyfriend beat him. I know I would hate violence and be afraid if my boyfriend ever physically hurt me.

The bully nods his head and backs away, eyes trained on Mason, before turning and running from us. Mason relaxes the moment the guy is gone and I hear him sigh in relief a bit.

"Oh, my God, thank-" I start, touching Mason's arm. He jerks away from me, jumping nearly four feet back with a look of terror in his eyes. But within seconds, the look is gone and his stony expression goes back up.

He shakes his head, not meeting my eyes as he tells me, "It won't happen again." Mason walks past me, making sure not to touch me, and practically sprints towards his destination.

Heart still racing, I heave a sigh of relief and sling my bag over my shoulder, picking up my stuff that's strewn all across the floor. The bell explodes, signaling the end of the period and start of lunch. With one more glance the way Mason left, I trudge to my usual spot for lunch, my legs curled to my chest.

Mason is the first to arrive, and when he sees me sitting alone, a look of irritation and... Something else I can't describe dances across his face, before he takes a seat under the tree as well. I don't miss the way he leaves a huge gap between us.

When Clover and Christian arrive, a scowl comes to my girl best friend's face. "Xzavier Christopher Resse, what in the hell did you go and do a stupid thing like that?" She inquiries, one hand on her tiny hip. "You're lucky Mrs. Bit didn't send you to the principles!"

"What did you even do?" Chris asks, taking a seat next to me and pulling out a bag of crisps for us to share.

"I called Mrs. Bit a bitch under my breath, and she heard me," I say with a shrug, taking a crisp and eating it. My eyes flick to Mason, who seems extra tense as he stares at the ground, his eyebrows pulled together. "And, my luck, I walked into a fucking ogre who nearly killed me."

Mason looks up for a split second before returning his gaze to his shoes. "Nearly?" Clover asks, sitting in her boyfriends lap and frowning. "So, someone stopped him?"

I nod, flicking my eyes to Mason. "Yeah... I'm pretty sure I would've been dead if it wasn't for-"

I stop mid-sentence to watch Mason quickly stand and walk from us, his movements tense and jerky. Chris frowns deeply. "I wonder what's up with him..."

My eyes follow Mason as he moves inside the building, not looking back for a second. Clover shrugs. "Anyway, who saved your precious life, King Xzavier?" She questions with a grin.

"It was... It was nobody," I finally settle on, nodding my head. "Yeah, it was no one."

My friends shrug and continue on with their lunch, chatting and eating, while I stay zoned out, my mind on Mason. You can tell he was hurt, obviously, but by who? It's remained a mystery thus far, but I feel like Christian knows a little bit more than I do. 

But I know he was hurt, regardless of what he says (Or doesn't say, to be exact), you can see it in his eyes he was scarred deeply.

I don't know who the man was, or why he acted like that, or if he's ever done it before, but I know he did something to Mason that has made him be an insensitive asshole. Maybe deep down inside he is sweet. Maybe before he was hurt, Mason was sweet; Shy; Caring.

But whatever was there is now gone, and a shell replaced him.

"Hellooo? Xzavier?" Clover waves in my face, breaking my daze. She laughs loudly and shakes her head, a slight grin on her face. "Someone has a cru-ush!" She sings, joyfully bouncing and leaning over to pinch my cheeks. "How cute! Now, if only it wasn't Mason..."

My face flushes crimson and I turn away, shaking my head rapidly. "No, I don't like him," I say quickly, still shaking my head. "I don't... No, I don't like him. I think he's hot, yes, but like him? No way."

My best friend giggles. "Whatever you say, Zavie. But you're face totally gives it away."

"So do your pants," Chris says with a smirk, nodding to my crotch, but something is off about it. He seems almost... Pissed. Upset, maybe, but there's something odd in the look. I quickly look down, alarmed, just to look back up and glare at him, face as red as a firetruck.

"Asshole," I hiss, flipping him off and stealing the bag of crisps from him. I turn my back to them as I stuff the crisps in my mouth, ignoring their snickering.

~~~

The day passes by slowly and uneventfully, and when I walk to my locker, I smile when I see my friends.

And Mason.

"Hi," I greet, putting in my locker combination and grabbing my books. "Clover, you're hanging out with me after school."

Clover nods, saluting me. "Sir, yes, sir," she says, standing at attention. "We should all hang out. Mason, too."

Mason stiffens and turns to Clover, brown eyes filled with fire. "No," he spits, glancing at me and gritting his teeth. "No thank you."

 I shrug, ignoring the slight sting it left, and sling my backpack over my shoulders. "Fine." I shrug again, and wrap an arm around Clover's shoulder, tugging her away from Mason. Christian follows slowly, almost hesitantly.

"That was rude," Clover says, punching my arm. "I so could've persuaded him into coming with us!"

I shrug again and let go of Clove, continuing my walk. "Oh well."

Chris laughs softly, and I can imagine him shaking his head. The couple quickly catches up with me and goes on either side of me. "Come on, you insensitive asshole," Christian says as he rolls his eyes.

~~~

"I don't," I argue for the umpteenth time, throwing my hands up in exasperation. "What the actual hell do you people think?! I like any hot guy?! If that happened, I would be crushing hardcore on Chris!"

Chris rolls his eyes and leans back against my headboard. "I'm sorry, but I don't swing that way."

"I'll make you wish I did," I say with a wink, trailing a hand up Christian's chest. 

He swats it away and pulls Clover onto his lap, kissing her. For some reason, his eyes flash with some kind of emotion. It looks like... Fear, possibly? He always seems somewhat fearful when I do that, but... But maybe I'm wrong. "I'm straight, thank you though. Save that for Mason."

I let out a growl and cross my arms. "I. Don't. Like. HIM!" My hand grabs the closest thing it can reach and I chuck it at Chris. It happened to be a pillow and just ending up plopping back down on the bed. "Man, that failed."

Clover giggles, a smirk that could temp the Devil himself playing on her lips. "Just like your last test. By the way, I just texted Mason."

I raise an eyebrow. "Oh? And what did you say?"

"I told him to come over."

~~~

Hellllllloooooo lovely people

How are you today? You look quite lovely. I love what you did with your hair! WERK *snap*

AAAANNNNYYYWWWWAAAAAYYYYYY

Wassup, lovelys? I haven't sat down and just talked with you for a while. This STORY hasn't been up in a while, actually. Some people may be here from COH, some from ADWTD, but either way, you know one character. 

If you're from COH, I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest you read A Deal With The Devil, first, to understand Mason at all. Read Protecting Mr. Perfect first, or at least I Changed Him, so you can get the whole experience :3 YOU CAN FIND ALLLLL OF IT AT AlyssaEatsAMuffin

Love you guys!

Xo,

Alyssa