"𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕛𝕠𝕜𝕖𝕤 𝕓𝕖𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦'𝕣𝕖 𝕒𝕗𝕣𝕒𝕚𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕪𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕤𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕠𝕦𝕤𝕝𝕪. 𝔹𝕖𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕚𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕥𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝕤𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕠𝕦𝕤𝕝𝕪, 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣."

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♬ ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈˢ ⁻ ᴹᵃʳˢʰᵐᵉˡˡᵒ ᶠᵗ. ᴬⁿⁿᵉ⁻ᴹᵃʳⁱᵉ ♬

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Ｍａｓｏｎ

Alex's words echoed in my head. 'Let them.' , and I did, I really tried to ignore the stares and act like the constant attention wasn't bothering me but it was getting difficult. I wasn't sure if it was imagining the fact that everyone was staring at me or if everyone, in fact, was actually staring at me. I'd like to believe it was the latter and I was exaggerating. I was uncomfortable, to say the least. Not to mention that I wasn't even entirely sure why they were all staring. Sure, I had walked gotten a ride from Alex and sure, we had held hands but I didn't necessarily think that warranted the constant stares and whispers I had been receiving the last four classes. It was finally lunch and I was hoping everyone would be too invested in their food to bother with staring at me.

Also, why the hell weren't they staring at Alex? It seems a tad unfair if you ask me. I decided to keep my head down as I made my way to the canteen. My hopes were shot as soon as I walked through the doors, nearly everyone's eyes were on me or finding their way to me. Honestly, what the hell even was this? I didn't realize I was in some teen love story. Seriously, did this crap actually happen in real life? Because it seems a tad dramatic. Again, I did my best to ignore them and headed straight for the table where Kai, Greyson, and Miles were already sat. I quickly slid into a seat, hunching over slightly as if it was going to hide me from all of the stares.

"So Mase, we've heard things," Kai smirked. I gave him the stink eye and huffed.

"C' mon Kai, leave er' alone," Miles spoke up, causing me to smile. Just as I opened my mouth to thank him, he continued. "We all knew it was going to happen sooner or later and now you owe me fifty."

"Excuse me?" I gasped.

He simply shrugged, holding his hand out for Kai. "Pay up, Pretty boy."

Kai groaned, reaching in his pocket and pulled out his wallet. "You fucking suck."

"Don't be a sore loser, little bro." He smirked, snatching the fifty dollar note from his fingers. "Right, Mase? Nobody likes a sore loser."

I shook my head in disbelief, "I can't believe you bet on Alex and me, who are nothing by the way; despite what you may have heard."

Kai's grumpy demeanor instantly disappeared as hope filled his face. "Really?" I nodded, folding my hands on the table.

"But I heard,"

I waved him off, annoyed. "Yeah, yeah. We've all freaking heard about how I'm Alex's new bitch or how he's going to leave me as soon as my virgin ass gives it up, or how he's going to get bored because I mean, look at me, I'm definitely nothing special to look at. Or how I most likely had to beg him to even talk to me because I'm such a loser, that there's no way he would do so otherwise. Or that I'm way too fat and not like the usual girls he goes for, so maybe your parents are forcing him to be with me out of pity for my dead father. Oh wait and my personal favorite, the only way he could be with me was if I paid him to do so, so that I didn't look like the pathetic, parentless loser that I am. Yes, I've heard it all, over and over and over again for the last four hours. Though I will say that it was so fucking fabulous to learn all of this shit about myself that I literally never know. Oh and also what everyone else thinks of my pathetic self. It's great really." I bit my lip, to keep from crying as I shook my head and stood up. "Ya know what, I'm just not really feeling it today. I'll see you at home."

"Mase wait, let me give you a ride." Miles went to stand up.

I shook my head. "Thanks, Miles but I'm fine to walk. I need some time to think, alone." And with that, I walked out without bothering to wait for a reply. I sighed, breathing in the cool air as soon as I stepped outside. We were let off campus for lunch, so me leaving didn't look like anything different from the hundreds of other students who were doing the same, aside from the fact that I wasn't actually coming back but whatever. I hadn't even meant to blow up like that, I know they didn't mean any harm and I wasn't even mad about the fact that they had made a bet. All of the boys are constantly making bets. I was just tired of hearing everyone talk about me and how shitty of a person I was, and how I sure as hell didn't deserve someone as great as Alex. Not to mention how unattractive every single girl in the school found me. And I know one could possibly assume that it was due to the fact that they were jealous of the fact that Alex had shown me attention that he hadn't shown them but honestly, I'm nothing to be jealous of and I would hate to sound like a narcissistic ass who thought she was something special, when I know I'm no better than anyone else. After a few minutes, I slid around the corner into a small corner store knowing that I wouldn't have been let go so easily. I knew Miles sure as hell wasn't about to let me walk all the way home by myself and although I appreciate his kindness, I really did just want to be alone right now. I feel like I'm having deja vu of when I had run away from Alex after his fight. Only this time I knew exactly where I was, thank God for that.

I sighed, walking through the aisles, looking for anything that caught my eye. Of course, I stopped in the sweets aisle while I attempted to decide which candy I was going to buy and if the clerk was going to judge me if I spent over twenty dollars in sweets. Though, I will say that the sweets here are far more expensive than at the grocers, so can he really be that judgy? I guess we're about to find out. I'd say ninety percent of the things I grabbed, I had never even heard of but it looked good, so whatever.

I was wrong, the salesclerk was most defiantly judging me. I will say though, that she didn't seem like a nice person anyway. Well, okay, that was kind of rude. I don't know her, so I definitely shouldn't be judging her. Maybe she was just having a bad day or maybe that's just her face. I still gave her a small smile before leaving. I had spent a good thirty minutes in there, so I should be in the clear. I was in the midst of looking in my bag full of candy when someone calling my name stopped me in my tracks.

"Mason, is that you?"

I looked around, quickly finding Luke standing a few feet away from me. He had texted and called me multiple times since our date but I never ended up answering any of them. Awkward. "Luke, hi!" I exclaimed in an overly excited voice that sounded completely fake. Okay, calm it down Mason, you sound like a freak.

"How are you? I've called and texted you a few times."

A few times? More like over a dozen but sure, we'll go with a few.' I put on my best fake smile, "Oh really, I'm so sorry about that. I dropped my phone in the toilet, ya know, clumsy me and I haven't gotten a new one yet."

"Oh no probs, are you busy?"

No probs? I'm sorry but would it kill him to say problem? Maybe? Okay. I looked down at my candy bag and then back to him. "I mean, well, kind of."

"Really? You sure? I was gonna ask if you wanted to go grab something to eat?"

"Uh," I wanted to say no, I really did but then there was a part of me that felt bad for blowing him off this whole time. He was really nice and I did have a fun time on our date. And aside from texting and call me a few too many times, he was a nice person. I mean, he was attractive too but not nearly as attractive as Alex. Why hell am I even comparing him to Alex? I mean, his offer didn't sound too bad, especially since I had skipped lunch. "Um, yeah. We can grab something to eat."

He smiled widely, "Great, my cars right there."

I followed behind and climbed in his car silently as he drove us to wherever it was that we were going. Though I hope it was somewhere close because a sisters getting hungry. Minutes later, a familiar diner came into view. I smiled, excited because honestly, their food is so damn good. "I didn't know you came here."

"Oh yeah." He nodded, enthusiastically. "I love this place, I come here all of the time with my dad."

I nodded, allowing him to lead the way in. Being the gentleman he is, he held the door open for me. "Thank you."

"No problem, babe." He smiled, throwing his arm over my shoulder.

The hell? Did he just call me babe? Ew. I slowly pulled myself out from under his arm, feeling slightly uncomfortable. I made sure to let him sit before I did so that I could assure that we were sitting across from each other. I mean, I didn't think he was dangerous or anything but whatever he just did, weirded me out. My favorite waitress, Flo came over "Hi Mase, It's weird seeing you without one of the De Luca boys." She smiled, pulling out her pen and pad. Out of the corner of my eye, I could've sworn I saw Luke's fist clench but before I could really be sure, his hand was moved under the table. Weird.

"I know, I decided to ditch those bone heads for once." I joked.

She chuckled, "What can I get ya'll today?"

Just as I opened my mouth to order, Luke immediately cut me off. "Do you anything that's organic?"

"Sorry dear, no."

"Uh, okay. I'll have a Ceasar salad, I guess and a water. Thanks.." he muttered, handing her back the menu.

"And the usual for you, Mase?"

I smiled, handing over the menu. "Yes, please. Thank you."

As soon as she walked away, I turned back to Luke who was already looking at me. "So...."

"Why aren't you in school?" he asked after a minute.

"Uh, why aren't you?"

"I had a doctors appointment. You?"

"Same." I nodded.

"Oh, cool. What doctor do you see?"

"Uh, I don't know. Some lady."

He chuckled. "I see some guy. So, how have you been?"

"Mm, I've been good." I mean, it's not like it was a complete lie. "What about you? What have you been up to?"

"I've been good, even better know that I ran into you. And, I haven't really been up to much. Football takes up a lot of my time and I also help my dad out with his business."

"Oh, that's cool. What does he do?"

"Uh, he's um, he's an investor."

I nodded, having no idea what to say next. Unlike the last time, our conversation didn't seem to flow and the whole thing felt kind of stale if I was going to be completely honest. And maybe that's my fault. I wasn't really in the mood to be around people or have a conversation, nor was I know. I was really starting to regret agreeing to this whole thing in the first place. We both just sat there awkwardly, while Luke attempted to start a conversation every now and again, while we waited for our food to arrive. I breathed in relief as soon as Flo set my food down in front of me. "Thank you, Flo."

"No problem honey, you call me if you need anythin'. Enjoy." I nodded enthusiastically seeing as I had already begun shoving chips in my mouth. Luke, on the other hand, hadn't touched his food and was currently, yet again, staring at me. Looking up, I slowed my chewing.

"That's your usual?" he spoke in what almost seemed like disgust.

I nodded, swallowing as I wiped my hands on my pants feeling slightly anxious. "Uh, yeah."

"I mean, aren't you worried about how many calories are in it or the amount of grease?"

I pursed my lips, unsure of what to say. I hadn't actually thought about it before. Of course, I knew I wasn't happy with the way my body looked, but a girl likes her food and I'm not about to stop eating what I like because of it. I'd rather workout than not eat a burger. "Uh, I mean," I shrugged, "I guess not really, no."

"I don't want to sound like I'm judging because I'm not, I just, It's so unhealthy and fattening. Are you sure you actually want to eat that?"

Was he insinuating something or was I just overly sensitive after today? I swallowed tightly. "I um, I mean...." And suddenly he was on the ground with his mouth bleeding. What the actual fuck? And then the culprit was in front of me. "Alex!" I yelled, clambering out of the booth to check on Luke who was still laying on the floor, passed out and bleeding. He, however, had other plans and grabbed my hand, stopping me from checking on the poor unconscious boy. At this point, people were staring. "Alex, what the hell?"

He began tugging me towards the door. "I told you to stay away from him."

"I, what? You can't just go around knocking people out!" I squeaked, attempting to look back and see if he was still on the floor or if someone was helping him.

"I'm not, just him."

"Alex," I stopped walking, pulling back slightly causing him to stop and look at me. "You have to let me make sure he's okay."

"I don't have to do such things. C'mon, let's go."

"Alex," I exclaimed exasperated, coming to a stop once again.

"Mason, I didn't even hit him that hard. He'll wake up in a no more than twenty minutes."

"Oh, I uh, I just wanted to see if we could get my food before we left," I mumbled, my cheeks turning pink.

A loud, boisterous laugh spilled from his lips as he shook his head. "You're one of a kind, Mason Miller."

"Um, okay but was that a yes about the food?" 

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authors note, 

hello! 

Yay for random Tuesday updates. In all reality, I should have been cleaning the entire time I was writing this chapter but I chose to write this anyway. So, I hope you all enjoy it. 

Thank you all for everything!

Love you all bunches. 

M