Mason followed me all the way home.

He walked a few meters behind me.

He kept quiet.

I could tell that he was thinking.

I could tell that he didn't know what to do.

I could tell that he hadn't been in this kind of situation before.

I could tell that I didn't care. Also, I was mad.

At one point, I dropped my shoes because I was too lazy and too tired to hold them anymore. Then, I sprinted in front because I knew Mason had stopped to pick them up.

It was safe to say that I didn't get very far before I heard his muffled footsteps behind me again, so I slowed down. What was the point in running? It was obvious that he would catch up to me. He was a quarterback.

I let out a tiny sigh of relief as my house, well my dad's house, comes into view. I stop on the sidewalk and look up at the sky slowly turning into dawn.

I turn around and see Mason standing in front of me, very close to me. I reach out, and take my heels from his hand.

As I am about to retract my hand, Mason's own hand shoots out and grabs my wrist. I look at our hands and back at him questioningly. He lets out a tired little sigh and pulls me in towards him, towards his chest.

The next thing that happens surprises me so much. He places his arms around me, like he's hugging me. He is hugging me. I don't know why, but I don't really care. At this moment, I just need a hug from someone, anyone. Even if this is the guy who turned my life upside down in a matter of minutes, the reason why I am in this current state. He rests his chin on top of my head.

I'm the first to pull back after we stand there for a few minutes, his arms wrapped around my waist and mine with my shoes still in my hands, resting on his taut chest.

He steps back and smirks at me, an evil look in his blue green eyes. Right, I totally knew that his warm and kind attitude wouldn't last long. Obviously, I mean he's Mason Butler. I stare at him in disgust, at the mischievous gleam in his bright sparkly eyes, at his plump lips that were on my own just mere hours ago. I was disgusted with him and I hated him. I don't think anyone has ever, or ever will hate one person so much in such little time. But that's how I feel. I hate him, I hate his guts. But, and there was no denying that even if he had come onto me and made me lose my only friend, he was deadly gorgeous. But I wasn't attracted to him. He stared at me thoughtfully, contemplating something.

You know, he's not so bad when he isn't talking. I think to myself.

And of course, that must be the exact moment, he opens his mouth making the whole 'attractive' image I had created in my head a couple of seconds ago crumple to dust in my head.

"Even if you didn't respond to me, I could already tell that you're a horrible kisser. Maybe that's why Evan left you. Because you couldn't kiss and I'm willing to bet my favorite leather jacket that you're not good in bed either." That was a low blow, the tears threaten prick at the corners of my eyes, ready to fall. I won't give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry, again. I won't. I won't. I won't. And I don't. I turn around and walk back to my house. When I get to the door, I remember that I don't have a key tonight. I was supposed to sleep over at Amelia's house. Damnit. I rest my head against the door and try to remember where my mom puts the extra keys.

Under the flower pot? No.

Where the hell would I put a key if I were mom? Under the mat! I'd put my extra key under the welcome mat if I were mum, because she's mom and she's lazy and forgetful.

I step back and bend down to retrieve the key.

"Fuck." I hear behind me. I freeze. Please don't tell me that Mason is still here. I quickly lift the welcome mat up and snatch up the key. I place it in the lock and turn it slowly so as to not make any noise that could possibly wake my parents. Once I open the door enough to slip into the house, I turn around. I look at Mason's neck and say, "Thank you for walking me home." And give him a forced barely there smile. He had a look of shock on his face. It was clear that he wasn't expecting a thank you from me after what he'd said to me. But my parents had taught me to be a good person, and I very rarely was but this was one of those moments where I was. I didn't only thank him because he walked me home, but also because when I was feeling defeated, he had comforted me. Somewhat.

I slip into the house and walk up to my bedroom, strip off and lie down in just my undergarments, falling asleep as soon as my head hits the bed.

* * *

I wake up at around 6. And my head is pounding. I got in late last night at about half past two. I feel like shit, and probably look like that too but I am determined to go to school today. I need to talk to Amelia. I need to explain. I need to restore my friendship. My only friendship.

I go into the toilet and take a hot shower, and stay there for the next thirty minutes. When I realize how long it's been, by looking at my pruned fingers, I quickly rush out and brush my teeth. I almost trip over my own two feet. I go into my room and put on some jeans along with a tee that I found on my floor. I look at all the clothes and sigh. Amelia sure did make a mess yesterday. I'll have to clean all this up after school. I rush down the stairs and am ready to run out of the house with the laces of my sneakers undone.

"Amelia came by a few minutes ago to return your car keys and said that she had to go and told me to tell you to go to school without her. She looked bad, did anything happen between you two?" my mom asked me. I bent down and tied my shoelaces, wondering whether I should tell her.

"Nope, nothing happened. She just has an appointment today." I reply, settling on not telling her. At the moment. She can be really understanding but I really don't want her to come into this right now. I really don't know what she would do to Mason. She might kill him, and if dad found out, he'd resurrect him and then kill him again. I think. That's what he said once anyway.

I decide to walk to school, seeing that I am ridiculously restless today and cannot sit still. I make it to school with just enough time to drop by my locker and take my books. All the way to school and in school, I kept on the lookout for Amelia but she was nowhere to be seen. Which meant that she didn't come to school today after dropping my keys off.

But Mason certainly had no problem turning up.

Guess going to all these parties at night and staying up past my bedtime doesn't bother him anymore.