"𝕊𝕙𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕣𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕠𝕟𝕖𝕤. 𝕊𝕠 𝕖𝕗𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕝𝕪 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕗 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕕 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕚𝕥."

-𝔸𝕥𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕦𝕤

⇝ 

Ｍａｓｏｎ

"We have our first opponent, weighing in at two hundred and fifteen pounds, standing at five foot ten, he's a newcomer, let's hear it for Diesel!" The announcer's voice boomed, though the majority of the crowd booed as the man made his way out, walking through the tightly pressed bodies to some fast-paced song, looking as cocky as ever. He was pretty well built and had a large tattoo covering the side of his bald head. Though I had never met him, it was easy to see that he was quite full of himself. "Now we have everyone's favorite, coming in a two hundred and forty pounds of pure muscle, standing above the rest of us at six foot six, the all-time champion, Assassin!" The cheers of the crowd grew immensely making me cover my ears with my hands. I wouldn't be surprised if I had lost a minimum of thirty percent of my hearing by the time we left tonight.

My eyes instantly focused on the form moving through the crowd and like the announcer said, he towered over everyone around him. His face was stoic as he made his way to the ring, pulling himself up and easily climbing through the thick ropes. Miles climbed up onto the ring along with him, though he stayed on the other side of the ropes, leaning over to speak to Alex. Yet, I couldn't focus on much else aside from Alex, who stood there half naked, all of his tattoos on full display. He was practically a work of art. "You might want to quit drooling," Nico muttered, nudging my shoulder with his.

I turned my head to look at him. "I wasn't drooling," I said defensively, Though I raised my hand to make sure that I actually hadn't, Nico chuckled and shook his head. The announcer went over the rules though I wouldn't say that there really was any. Basically, all he said was don't bite one another and no junk grabbing. He climbed out of the ring.  Alex and his opponent who was quite smaller than him began to circle the ring in sync. Diesel, I wonder if that was his actual name, for his sake, I hope not. Anyway, he swung first, aiming for Alex's face which he easily dodged only to uppercut him right in the jaw making him stumble back. They went back and forth with each other, Diesel attempting to hit Alex over and over, only for him too easily step out of the way each and every time which clearly pissed the bald dude off. 

His face was bright red, anger clear on his features while Alex seemed slightly bored. Once again, he swung and one again, he missed. Only this time, Alex swung back knocking him back with one hit. His body fell limply to the floor causing a roar of cheers to explode. Alex's lips held a slight smirk as the announcer lifted his arm up announcing him as the winner. His gaze fell on the crowd, he had scanned the entire crowd when his face suddenly held a look of confusion as his eyes snapped back to where Nico and I were standing. His jaw clenched tightly as he focused on the two of us while Nico began tugging on my hand.

I tore my gaze away from Alex's penetrating glare to look at Nico who looked like he was just about to shit himself. "What's wrong?" I asked, my forehead crinkling in confusion. 

"We need to need to go. Now." He urged, pulling me along through the congested crowd.

"What? Why?"

"Alex saw us."

"So?"

"You're not supposed to be here. You're not even supposed to know about any of this."

Just as I was about to ask him why, an arm wrapped around my waist tugging me back, instantly pulling Nico's and mines hands apart. I looked back to find a man I'd never seen, smiling down at me like an absolute creep.

"What's a pretty little thing like you doin' in a place like this?" he asked, turning me around so that we were now facing one another and much too close for my liking. I placed my hands on his chest, attempting to push myself away from him though he only ended us squeezing me tighter, pulling my body flush against his.

"Let me go."

"Now why would I want to do something like that?" He grinned, bringing his face closer to mine the horrendous stench of beer burning my nose as I did my best to keep at least somewhat of a distance between us.

"Because I don't know you and you reek of beer." I scrunch my nose in disgust.

"Oh darling, we can get to know each other really well." He smirked, which wasn't anywhere near as attractive as it was when Alex did it.

I don't know why I even thought that. I defiantly don't like Alex's smirk. It's annoying. Nows really not the time Mason I chided myself.

"No thanks," I grunted, once again attempting to pull my body away from his. "Seriously, get your fucking hands off of me." I snapped as the panic began to set in. Thankfully, he was shoved away effectively causing his grip on my body to disappear which in turn, made me stumble back a few feet.

"Shit Mase. Are you okay?" Nico rushed bending over slightly so that we were face to face.

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thank you."

"Don't mention it. Now come on." He gripped my hand, only this time his hold was tighter and our fingers we laced with another. We had only made it a few steps when yet again, I was pulled back, only this time by my bicep. However, due to his death grip on my hand, Nico was also pulled back with me. "Mase, we really need to," his words cut off as soon as his eyes focused on who had stopped me. I looked back too, only this time it wasn't some creepy guy that had a death grip on me. "Alex," Nico spoke up, his voice wavering slightly.

Alex looked furious but chose not to say anything as he pulled me through the crowd in the opposite direction, Nico trailing along his hand still gripping mine. What was with this tugging Mason around crap? This wasn't a damn tug o'war. We finally broke through the crowd and went through another set of heavy, metal doors and into an empty hallway much like the one we had walked through to come in here. Only this time, we were pulled through another door which seemed to be a locker room of sorts. Finally, Alex released his death grip on my arms instantly making me reach up to rub it.

"What the fuck Nico?" his voice boomed, focusing all of his attention on a petrified Nico. Before Nico could answer the door opened again and Miles walked in looking slightly less pissed off than Alex.

"Why the hell is Mason here?" We all looked to Nico who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else at the very moment.

"She, I, Boobs," He stuttered, incoherently.

"Boobs?" Miles asked, his face contorting in confusion making everyone to now look at me.

I sighed, rolling my eyes knowing I'd have to come clean seeing as there was no way Sir Stutter over here is going to make any sense. "Miles wouldn't tell me where you guys were going and so once he left, I asked Nico who attempted to lie, which he's absolute shit at if I'm being honest ."

Nico interrupted with an offended. "Hey!"

I ignored him and chose to continue. "And so I ended up taking Alex's hoodie off that he had shoved on me to distract him into telling me where you were going and to get him to take me. Which as you can see, worked." I shrugged. 

"You seduced him?" Miles burst out laughing.

"More or less. Either way, I don't see what the big deal is." I mumbled.

"The big fucking deal is that you're not supposed to fucking be here. And Nico shouldn't be such a fucking bitch that he would basically jizz a the sight of a less than average girl in her bra and underwear." Alex bit out. Okay, ouch. Less than average? I wouldn't say that I'm a supermodel or something but I mean, I don't know I'd like to think I was at least average.

"Why do you look so fucking hurt? You have to know you're not anything great to look at; So quit acting like your something fucking special." Alex snapped, looking to me.

"Alex, that's enough." Miles practically growled.

"Oh and here comes her fucking knight in shining armor. Why don't you let the little orphan speak up for herself for once?"

Tears began to burn my eyes and I hated it. I hated how his words affected me. That despite my better judgment, I somewhat believed him. I mean, I'd never had a boyfriend and it wasn't for lack of trying. Of course, I'd never gone out and actively sought out a guy but it's wasn't as if any guy had ever shown interest in me. I'd never been asked out on a date or to any school dances like practically every other girl I'd gone to school with. Of course, there had been plenty of crushes, mostly the popular jocks who were only ever interested in the cheerleaders. Nevertheless, what he was saying did make sense. I was never the skinniest girl in the room and it was always something that I struggled with and disliked about myself. 

"Mase." Miles stepped forward causing me to instantly step back. I hadn't realized that I was crying until I felt that salty tears hit my lips. All three of them were now staring at me, Miles with pity that I didn't want, Nico with guilt and slight confusion and Alex who still looked irritated as all hell. I swallowed the massive lump in my throat willing myself to stick up for myself.

"What? You've got nothing to say little orphan?" Alex smirked.

I shook my head as my tears began to stream down my face. "Fuck you," I muttered before turning and running out of the room, ignoring as my name was called. I honestly had no idea where I was going or to even get out of this damn building but at the moment, it didn't matter. Somehow, I had managed to find my way out of the building and onto the sidewalk. Again, I was completely lost but I needed to get away from them. Away from Alex and his painful words. I won't lie, outside, alone at night freaked me out. Not mention, I had absolutely no idea how I was going to get home.

I pulled out my phone to use Google maps to find my way home only to realize, I had absolutely no idea what the address actually was. Great freaking plan Mason. I sighed contemplating what in the hell I was going to do. I scrolled through my contact, after having to repeatedly hit ignore on the flood of calls rushing my phone. Nico and Miles I expected, though I wasn't quite sure why Alex had bothered calling. The fact that he had actually called me, pissed me off. I came to a stop on Milo's contact, my thumb hesitating over his name. I didn't know him that well. Hell, I didn't know any of the boys that well but aside from the three boys I was so desperately trying to ignore, though he was the only other one I'd spoke to more than three times so he was the obvious choice. 

I tapped his name, bringing the phone to my ear, praying to God that he'd answer,

"Mason?" he answered, sounding confused.

"H-hey Milo, are you busy right now?"

"No, not really. Why what's up?"

"I mean, it's a long story and all but I really need a ride."

"What? I, okay. Where are you?"

"Uh, I don't exactly know."

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"I just, Nico took me to see Alex and Miles," I paused not knowing if I should say anything about the fight. "And he got mad and said I wasn't supposed to be here and then we got into a fight, kind of and people said things I'd rather not repeat and like an idiot, I ran away and I have no idea where I am or how to get home."

"Oh, okay. I know where you are. There's a convenience store across the street. Go in there and wait so you're not outside alone. It's not safe."

"Okay."

"I'll be there in fifteen."

"And Milo?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now hurry up and get inside the store, I'll wait on the phone until you're in there."

"K." I walked hurriedly through the alleyway, looking in every direction to make sure that Nico, Alex or Miles weren't around or any other creeps that enjoy preying on lonely girls at night. Once I saw that the coast was clear, I practically sprinted across the street and into the dingy corner store, giving the cashier a small smile. Making my way down the aisle, I glanced at the various food products and overpriced random objects that no one really ever needs. I mean honestly, who really needs powdered goat milk? I guess it could be needed in certain situations but would you really go to a convenience store to get it, more or less, if I were to need powdered goat milk, I'd go to the grocery store.; especially because I regardless of how badly I needed powdered goats milk, I wouldn't pay ten dollars for it. Why the hell am I even having this discussion with myself right now? What would one even use powdered goats milk for? 

"Mason?" I whipped around, sighing in relief finding Milo's big brown eyes staring back at me.

I breathed out, staying quiet as I quickly made my way over to him. "Thank you for coming," I mumbled as he started the car to which he nodded. Neither one of us said anything the entire car ride. I was thankful however that he hadn't asked in question because I really didn't want to talk. The car came to a stop making me realize we were finally home.

After thanking Milo, yet again, I hurried up the stairs and into my room making sure to lock the door behind me. I really just wanted to be left alone at the moment. I stripped off my clothing and climb in bed, too exhausted and upset to bother with putting on pajamas.

I closed my eyes almost instantly feeling the sleep take over me.

⇝

authors note, 

so, sorry this wasn't that interesting of a chapter but you know, fillers. 

thank you again for reading and please don't forget to vote & comment. 

xx

m