(Edited)

Last night while walking back to Emily's, I got a feeling that someone was following me. The scenario of fight or flight ran around my thought. With my situation at home, the option of submission fell into the list, as well. For the first time in the last two years, I could fight back and not just submit because I had no choice.

Since I came here two years ago, I forgot everything from my past except for my fighting skills; something I kept wishing away every time they beat me. Last night, though I was more than happy to show those boys what I could do. I felt a bit guilty because I got carried away with the redhead, but they absolutely deserved it.

'You imagined the faces of your foster parents! No wonder that redhead was out cold before the third punch,' Lilly commented.

For once I could agree with her. I was completely and utterly in my zone and imagining their faces urged me on even more. After teaching them a lesson, I walked home. What happened between Michael and I kept floating around in my mind. He was surely going to ignore me like I had the plague or insult and threaten me to stay away from him.

Lying on Emily's bed, trying to fall back to sleep was proving harder than it sounded. The entire night's event was on an infinite loop in my head. No matter how hard I pressed my eyes shut, it wouldn't stop.

"Autumn, wake up," Emily said, sitting next to me. I ignored her in attempt to be left alone; a few hours of sleep was all I craved.

"Wake up, A!" She shook my shoulders slightly.

I continued ignoring her, and she finally stopped bothering me. The room went quiet, and just when I started to drift off, something hit me on the head. My breath froze, maybe I imagined that. Smack! Something hit me again, but this time on my back.

"WAKE UP!" Emily shouted next to me with a pillow in her hands.

I buried my head deeper into my pillow, and Emily started smacking me repeatedly.

"WAKE UP!" She yelled, hitting me after each word. She did this three more times, and I snapped. I shot up and yanked it out of her hands. Emily screamed and jumped back because I startled her. I shucked the pillow to the other side of the room and glared at her.

"Why? Why? Why?" I repeatedly asked, shooting daggers at her. "Why do you hate me?"

She smiled sheepishly. "You need to get ready." She opened her mouth to explain, but her eyes caught something on my face, and she gasped.

Bags!

"What the hell happened to your face?" she moved closer to sit next to me.

My first thought was to lie to her, but the look on her face made me swallow my lie; she looked worried and guilty. I knew she was blaming herself. Cursing myself for not covering my bruise up when I arrived last night, I quickly worked on a story which was a fraction of the truth that I could tell her.

"When I was leaving the party, an intoxicated idiot tried to make a move, and I pushed him away. He tripped and fell, taking me down with him and my face smacked into a rock or a piece of log," I explained not looking entirely into Emily's eyes.

Emily gave me a sceptical look. "A rock or a log, you say?" She searched my face, arms and body for any indication of the truth.

I shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure it was dark." I stood up and tied my hair into a bun on top of my head. "Why did you wake me up?" I asked, changing the subject.

"No!" Emily jumped up, startling me. "Don't change the subject. Who was this guy we need to report him?"

I sighed; I should have known she wouldn't drop it that easy. "Like I said Em, it was dark, okay? Please drop it!" I begged and looked around the room for my bag.

"I can't do this with you anymore. It's like you don't care that I worry about you. You don't want to tell me what happened at home, and now you're lying to me about your face." She waited for me to say something, but when I didn't, she sighed defeatedly. "Mason is waiting for you downstairs. Hurry up." She said, trying to hide her anger.

"Emily, wait," I called her name, but she walked out of the room, slamming the door.

I sighed and walked into the bathroom to take a quick shower. I had to do something to fix things between Emily and me because she was someone I couldn't lose. I was barely holding on as it is, and she was a big part as to why. Unfortunately, that wouldn't happen right now because I was beyond exhausted, everything in me ached, and I was tired of fighting. Besides, I had more important things to worry about at the moment; one of them being the massive bruise on my jaw that I would have to conceal from everyone around me. The second one, why on earth was Mason here looking for me?

I took one last look in the mirror and smiled proudly at the amazing concealing work I pulled off and walked downstairs to meet Mason. I found mister uninvited at the bottom of the stairs talking to Emily. They stood very close to each other whispering and flirting. I smiled and turned all giddy on the inside; she deserved to be happy, especially with a marvellous guy like Mason. From the looks of it, he liked her, and if he didn't make a move soon, I would have to play matchmaker.

I cleared my throat to announce my arrival, and they jumped apart.

"I'm sorry," I smiled cheekily. "Am I interrupting?"

Emily's face was red, and I couldn't help but chuckle. She glared at me, letting me know we were still not on speaking terms. I sighed, walking down. Emily hugged Mason and told him she would see him later and walked into the kitchen.

"You guys, okay?" Mason asked, pulling me into a hug, kissing my forehead, very brotherly-like. He opened the door, and we walked outside.

"We got into an argument this morning." I shrugged climbing into the passenger seat of his car. "I'll do some grovelling when I get back, and everything will be dandy." Mason smiled, driving away from the house.

"Where exactly are we going, and why isn't Emily coming with us?"

"Well I missed my A-bear last night so I thought we should spend some time together," Mason stated matter of fact. "Have a problem with that?" he asked rhetorically, with a killer smile.

I smirked. "As a matter of fact, yes, yes, I do!"

"As if!" Mason laughed, rolling his eyes at me. "I'm a gift to this world. Anyone would be lucky enough to spend time with me."

"Has anyone ever told you before that you talk a lot of nonsense?"

"Yes, yes, they have." He turned left and pressed the horn mumbling incoherently about idiotic drivers. "Emily wanted to join us, but she volunteered to tutor someone today."

I shook my head with a chuckle and looked at my surroundings. Everything looked familiar, but I couldn't pinpoint where exactly we were. Instead of focusing on that, I let my thoughts run wild. So many small scenarios about Michael and I in a relationship filled my mind, and it felt like my heart sped up a few beats just thinking about him. I shook my head again and told myself that these thoughts were ludicrous. I couldn't have them running wild like that otherwise they would make a permanent stop, and I would never get rid of them.

I looked over at Mason and smiled slightly, he looked so happy and carefree, like there was nothing that could ever bother him.

"Mase?"

"Mmm," he mumbled while keeping his eyes on the road.

"Why do you call me A-bear?" I asked curiously.

Mason stayed quiet and gulped at my question, from the looks of it, it actually made him sad or conflicted for some reason. An uncomfortable silence filled the car, our breathing and the mechanics were the only things able to be heard. Frustration fuelled me, and I really want to shoot myself in the foot. Why did I have to make things uncomfortable?

'How dare you ask him such a mundane question?' Lilly asked sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes; she was going to be the death of me. Before I could give her a piece of my mind, Masons voice stopped me.

"I used to call my little sister that, once upon a time," He sighed. "You remind me of her." He clipped shortly, indicating that it was the end of the discussion.

I wanted to ask him so many questions, but the look of utter pain on his face stopped me. He spoke in the past tense, which meant that his sister was either out of the picture or dead... I shook my head, hoping for the first part. It made me realize that even a free a spirited fellow like Mason could also have a massive chip on his shoulders. It was true what they said looks could be deceiving. Everybody had a mask the only difference was some people wore it better than others.

Something caught my eye, I recognized that we left our neighbourhood, and we were driving through a sketchy part of town. My heart sped up, and I went into an alarming state; there was nothing good in these parts. The place was crawling with gangsters, strip clubs and other unnamed activities.

"Mason, oh my goodness please tell me you aren't taking me to a strip club?" I asked, choosing the less violent option. "I promise I'll jump out of the car!" I threatened.

"While its moving?" He wondered, his face emotionless, a slight sign of humour around the corners of his eyes.

I punched him on the arm. "This isn't funny! Stop the car, turn around."

"Ow!" He cried out, rubbing his arm while still driving with the other. "Stop with the violence woman. I'm only joking." He laughed at me.

I punched him again and blew out a puff of air, crossing my arms.

"F... fridge!" He almost swore. "How can one tiny thing punch so hard?" he asked rhetorically. "Crazy woman," he mumbled.

I lifted my fist to punch him again, and he screamed flinching away. I laughed at him for screaming like a girl, and he glared at me.

"Stop laughing! That was a very manly scream."

I shook my head, smirking. "Sure, sure."

"Stop that. Wipe that smirk off your face." He scowled. "I'm the manliest of men, just ask anyone."

I turned away and mumbled, "Not when you're screaming."

He poked my side, and I held back a grown. "I heard that."

"You were supposed to."

Mason chuckled and continued driving. I smiled and sighed contently, our vibe restored.

"But on a serious note though, where are you taking me?"

Mason shook his head, blond hair falling over his eyes. "You don't quit, do you?" he asked, moving the hair out of his face. "If you have to know so badly, were going to spend some time with clowns."

I stared at him to make sure the information he just gave me was real. The look on his face was a hundred per cent serious, and my heart went into full panic mode.

Mason looked over at me and saw my pale face and burst into a fit of laughter. "You should have seen your face." He said through laughter. "Priceless."

I glared at him when I realized he was only pulling my leg. "You're not funny."

He pulled funny faces at me and said, "I begged a differ."

Mason stopped the car in front of another gigantic mansion and declared with a smile. "Milady we have arrived at your destination."

I scrunched my nose in confusion and looked around. Mason drove inside the gates, and the name to whom the mansion belonged to made me pull at the door handle.

Vote & comment.