-Bennett-

"Do you need help figuring it out?" Mason suddenly whispered.

I gawked up at Mason with wide eyes, opening my mouth to muster out some form of agreement before realizing he was chuckling to himself. "Shit. Sorry. That was a dumb joke," he apologized... like a bucket of cold water.

"A joke. Right... duh," I croaked out weakly, forcing myself to laugh because I had nothing else to add to the conversation that wouldn't give away my disappointment. Instead, I focused on the sudden darkness surrounding us, noticing the sky growing dimmer as nightfall quickly approached.

"Do you—uhm—do you want them?" I asked after rummaging for the embarrassing box and holding it out for him, wincing at the distressed quality of my voice as it escaped past my lips.

Mason furrowed his eyebrows, seemingly considering it before another fleeting grin cracked through the otherwise stoic cycle of expressions he usually bore. "Are you trying to find out if they'd fit me?"

"What?" I yelped out of shock, my voice suddenly a squeaky, stammering mess. "N—No, I was just... I—I have no real need for them, s—so I figured..."

...you might. With someone as intimidatingly attractive as you. Someone who's in your league and doesn't avoid your gaze out of a dreadful—yet irritatingly persistent—feeling of inadequacy.

I frowned, uncomfortable with the sudden tightness in my chest. Yet, in the wake of such a bittersweet realization, it was impossible not to feel delusional about the kind of feelings he was stirring up within me. Damn it. I really didn't want to think about his sex life, especially when I couldn't even picture myself ever—anyways.

"You figured I get a lot of action?" he pondered aloud, reaching for the box, and staring down at it. I couldn't decipher the expression that settled upon his features, but he was back to frowning when he glanced up again. "Thanks, I think?"

"It's fine. I—I probably would've just hidden them under my mattress and then thrown them away when they expired," I blurted out without prompting, only realizing how utterly pitiful I sounded afterward.

I narrowed my eyes at my own idiocy, releasing a heavy sigh; why couldn't I keep my mouth shut around him? I was usually awkward, but I was often able to realize when I was digging myself into a hole and stop.

But I couldn't stop digging.

Mason snorted, reaching out to tousle my hair. And I grumbled in response... if only to give the illusion that I minded. Surprisingly, it was easier than melting into his grasp now that I'd shaken myself awake.

"Why were you even in that aisle if you weren't trying to buy condoms?" he suddenly asked, tilting his head. "Did you get lost?"

"No, I—well—"

"The store isn't that big, though."

"Yeah, I..."

Mason frowned. "You okay?"

I could feel the blood rushing to my face as a deep blush crept onto my face. I lowered my head, unwilling to meet his gaze. "I—uh, it's stupid."

"Try me."

I cringed at the mere thought of trying to explain myself, but then I hopelessly caved the moment his eyebrows quirked up expectantly. "I kind of panicked when I saw you walk into the store, so I hid. I—uhm—didn't want you to think I was stalking you or something, since we already bumped into each other earlier today. Y'know what I mean?" I confessed, wincing as I looked up at his face, silently praying I wouldn't find any sort of irritation or disgust present there.

Mason seemed rather amused as he shook his head, sighing deeply as a fond, half-smile found its way onto his lips. "The store is right next to the gym," he pointed out, stifling a laugh. "Why would I—they're right next to each other, Bennett."

I nodded, rubbing the back of my neck because... yeah; I'd definitely jumped the gun on that one. "Yeah, I know. I realized that too, but by then I'd already panicked and ducked behind the aisle."

Mason opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something else before immediately reconsidering it. And just like that, that ephemeral smile was gone once more, albeit with a certain air of definiteness, smoothly replaced by a curious blankness. Mason turned away from me while taking out his phone, carefully searching out across the parking lot.

"So, yeah... I'll get that money and the pass to you tomorrow, alright?" I mentioned off-handedly, suddenly conscious of how long we'd just been idly standing in front of the bodega.

I was probably holding him up. I had to be.

"Yeah, okay," Mason replied distractedly, his voice suddenly laced with that same cold disinterest from earlier today. "Where did I park again?" he muttered to himself while unlocking his phone.

I nodded my head, trying not to think about it too much, or linger on the memories of how he'd looked at me back in the store. Or even the overwhelming way his touch had soothed me down to the core, grounding me in a way I hadn't expected. I knew he'd just been pretending in order to get back at the cashier, so it didn't mean anything. This was fine... everything was fine.

"I'm sorry you have to keep helping me," I mentioned awkwardly. Especially since it's from myself.

"Yeah, no worries, dude." Mason's eyes must've zeroed down on his car because he suddenly let out a sigh of relief, noncommittally waving goodbye with the hand that was gripping onto his phone before starting to walk off.

By the time I processed it and waved back, Mason was already halfway through the parking lot.

"Great. He probably thinks I'm such a fucking loser," I mumbled under my breath once I was sure he was no longer within earshot, wearily turning to look for the bus stop. I rubbed at my arm as a cool breeze blew past, the cold growing considerably more imposing as the sky went to sleep.

It was seemingly a lot closer to nighttime than I'd thought; I had to narrow my eyes to spot the small, covered bench where the bus usually pulled up. I shouldn't have stayed until so late today, but anytime I had decided to stop for the day... I remembered that being done would mean having to go home.

Anyways, I still had half an hour before the last bus for the day stopped by, so that'd give me plenty of time to overthink and stress out about every aspect of both of my interactions with Mason today. Perfect.

"Home sweet home," I whispered dryly, leaning back against the wall before turning to sneak a final glance at Mason, freezing when I noticed him looking my way.

He closed his car's trunk before scratching the back of his head and calmly waving at me, seemingly frowning to himself even as he beckoned me over. "Do you need a ride?" he called out from behind his sleek, black car, curiously tilting his head when I didn't respond right away.

I had to walk half-way through the parking lot for my voice to reach him. I nervously stood by another parked car, unsure of why my feet were so eagerly moving forward.

"What?"

"I—I asked if you needed a ride," he asked once more, a bit more hesitant this time.

"Uhhh—no, thanks! I'm good," I assured him, forcing a smile for good measure. Hell no, screw that! There was no way I was going to let him do me another favor. Not when I hadn't even repaid any of the previous ones yet. "Thank you, though!"

"It's rather late to be walking home by yourself," Mason replied warily, glancing around the quiet, albeit semi-crowded, parking lot. It was certainly late, yet the gym was still somewhat busy even at this time. He frowned, seemingly concerned. "I don't mind, Bennett."

"I'm taking the bus," I responded, even as I walked closer so I wouldn't have to raise my voice. "It'll be here soon."

Mason rolled his eyes, patting the roof of his car. "Not today, you're not. Come on, I'm driving you home," he replied like he'd already made up his mind, signaling me closer before flashing a hopeful smile. "It's too dark out to just be waiting around, right?"

I sighed, caving the moment I saw that lingering warmth cross his face once more, this time in the form of a sheepish grin. Part of me wondered if he knew—deep down—just how easily he could sway me.

It was probably not healthy for a stranger to have such a hold on me.

"Alright."

-Mason-

My heart was racing the entire drive back. I kept restraining myself from looking over at Bennett, genuinely feeling whiplash from how quickly I'd gone from not knowing his name to having him here, in the passenger seat of my car.

Instead, I focused on my phone's GPS, his small fingerprints still visible across the screen from where he'd nervously put in his address just a few minutes prior.

When did I gain such confidence?

The lack of proper sleep was clearly screwing with my brain; that ridiculous stunt back at the convenience store was the boldest shit I'd ever pulled in my entire twenty-one years of existence, combined, and multiplied by infinity.

Pretending to be his boyfriend? Really? Couldn't I have just told the cashier to fuck off like a normal person?

No, yeah, I could've. But that would've been too logical. Instead, I'd greedily taken the opportunity to live out my selfish delusion of Bennett being mine and had absolutely ran rampant with it. I hadn't even realized what I was doing until I was already playing the role, and by then it was far too late to back out.

Fuck, I'd called him babe. And he'd called me babe too. And I was getting so greedy, eagerly craving the freedom to just reach out and stroke his cheek. To cup his face and coax him forward, wiping that pout off his mouth with my own.

But I couldn't, even if I was now somehow able to tear my own comfort zone to shreds.

I knew I would've never had the nerve to act as I did back at the store if it hadn't been for how panicked he seemed. Or even this morning, when I shoved past everyone in line to help him get into the gym, it was solely based on the nervousness present in his voice.

And I would've certainly never asked if he needed a ride home if it wasn't for the sudden realization that it made me more worried to leave him alone in the middle of the night than to let him into my car. Every time I felt myself reaching some kind of self-imposed limit, the only reason I mustered up the courage to ignore my own fears was to reach Bennett on the other side.

It was both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time, this sudden realization that someone I barely knew had me in the palm of his hands without even realizing it. He could easily ruin me if he so wished, and I'd probably let him.

Hell. I was typically the kind of introvert that preferred eating the wrong meal rather than going out of my way to complain to the waiter; it was always easier to brood in silence and accommodate to change and loss than to acknowledge it.

It felt selfish to want more.

It was easier to close myself off than to disturb the flow of things. The stillness was comfortable, in so many ways. And yet here I was, willingly disrupting my own peace.

All I could hope was that I was changing for the better.

"Thanks, again," I heard once more, Bennett's voice immediately pulling me away from my own thoughts. "I'm sorry for today."

I glanced over and stared at his adorable, flustered expression. I realized my glances were too long—likely too intense—but I was still somewhat in disbelief that he was so close once again, sitting right beside me in my car. I'd tried to part ways for the night upon the realization that I was growing too comfortable, but now I could see his cute pout up close.

The fact that he'd been so nervous about bumping into me at the store had felt all too familiar. I'd been so eager to comfort him that I'd almost confessed to my own inability to approach him at the gym, but then I'd remembered just how many days I'd spent longingly watching him from afar while he taught his class and a sudden panic filtered through me.

What were the chances he'd understand? What were the chances he'd accept that I'd just been too nervous to approach him, even if I'd wanted to? Even if I'd tried to muster up the courage every single time, just to find myself unable to do so?

Did any of that excuse my odd behavior?

I hated to admit it, but I would've probably defaulted to considering him a creep if the roles were reversed. I'd like to imagine I would've hesitated, at the very least, but then again...

Perhaps it was selfish, but I didn't want to find out.

Not at all.

I couldn't risk that. Not when we were finally conversing, albeit rather apprehensively. Why would I willingly jeopardize my chances with him now, when we were finally on speaking terms? It had taken me so long just to get here.

"Sorry. Did—uh—your workout go well?" Bennett asked, sounding rather earnest despite his hesitant demeanor. It was surprisingly endearing, even if I couldn't help but wish he felt more comfortable around me.

I slowly nodded my head, wanting to ask him what he'd done after his class before remembering how humid his hair had been when I ran my fingers through it earlier. That only made it easier to notice he smelled faintly of chlorine underneath the typical scent of deodorant and... coconut?

"You swim?" I asked instead of scolding him for apologizing again; he clearly couldn't help it.

"Oh," Bennett replied before smelling his own arm. "I probably reek of chlorine, huh?" he asked, wincing apologetically.

"It's not... bad," I replied, shrugging casually. "I was just curious."

"Yeah, I usually do some laps after working out. The pool's nice here," he explained, before adding, "And surprisingly empty most of the time."

I made a mental note of that, trying not to think about how hot he was bound to look in swimming trunks. Or how, if we crashed, I'd probably have to explain to Bennett and the first responders how I'd been recklessly distracted by my own lewd thoughts of a drenched Bennett slipping out of the pool.

"That's cool."

"Not really."

I snorted. "It is."

---

A/N: Thank you for reading. Please consider voting and commenting; I appreciate it a lot.