How to Steal Mason's Heart

FOURTEEN

“The first group to present,” Dr Williams’ voice roared around the four corners of the History room, as my heart started beating in a fast pace, “is Ms. Hudson’s group.”

Daniella’s eyes widened, sending us glances while I shrugged, my palms sweating in nervousness. I hoped I wouldn’t screw the oral presentation. I already had enough dose of humiliation and with Andrew’s presence emanating on me as we walked in front, my stomach couldn’t help but churn displeasingly.

“Dumb-hat,” Andrew called to someone, and my head turned. He laughed silently to where he stood while I clenched my fists, restraining myself to punch him right there and there. Blake already set the projector and his laptop, our Powerpoint presentation spreading across the whiteboard. My heartbeat was skyrocketing to a mile and if it didn’t stop increasing, soon, I would end up having a heart attack.

“We can do this,” Daniella whispered to all three of us. Blake was nonchalantly smiling at her, a confident look etched on his face. A crease was not bothering to draw on his forehead, clearly he got used to this kind.

I had been practicing my words all night, with Courtney aiding me memorize. I was glad she was always there to help me when I was struggling reading sometimes. But last night there was some unspoken tension hanging in the atmosphere, especially I threw her knowing looks about last Saturday at the ice cream store. She would not look at me in the eye but she would bite her nails—a habit she was accustomed to—as if it was the most interesting to do in the planet.

I did not force her, though, I let her wait to open up about her feelings for Jase and although it left my gut wrenching in pain, I should ignore it, and support her all the way then. Jase liked her and she liked him so there would be no problem setting them on a date.

My lips turned up in a smirk as I scanned the room, the looks of my classmates’ boredom purely clear on their faces. Except for some, they were too interested in the lesson.

I was the first one to speak and walk in front, my sneakers squeaking on the floor. The whole room was filled with silence, I could feel Dr Williams’ stare at me and Andrew boring holes at the back of my head. I wanted to prove Andrew wrong today, because he was an asshole, and the second, I wasn’t dumb. But I wasn’t that smart either.

My throat cleared awkwardly. “The Nazis and the Jews had s-something…” I stuttered, my breath heavy as my heart was lunged onto my throat. Suddenly I couldn’t breathe properly, my knees growing weak, my nails digging already onto my palms.

“Go on,” Dr Williams encouragingly said, his eyes wide with hope.

I cleared my throat again as I took a deep breath, all pairs of eyes suddenly staring at me.

I parted my mouth. “The German economy suffered severe setbacks after the end of World War I, partly because of reparations payments required under the 1919 Treaty of Versailles. The government printed money to make the payments and to repay the country's war debt; the resulting hyperinflation led to inflated prices for consumer goods, economic chaos, and food riots.”

Words fluidly flew out of my mouth and as I took a quick glance at Andrew, his jaw dropped, his eyes widening in astonishment. Served him right.

+ + + +

Our lunch table, consisting of Mason’s squad—yes, I called it a squad because circle of friends were really a mouthful—and Courtney and I.

“I am so proud of Alexa back there when she presented the report. Andrew’s face was priceless!” Blake exclaimed, narrating animatedly, his hands flying elsewhere and almost hit Jase’s face. I snickered when Blake’s hand landed on his nose. His face scrunched.

“That’s good,” Mason complimented, his blue eyes gazing over me with awe, sparkling in a different light. Butterflies rampaged on my stomach, the loud pounding of my chest echoing in my ears. “Served that bastard right,” he added, a frown accompanying his statement.

My cheeks were surely on fire, sporting two large circles in between my nose.

“The tutoring really helped you,” Courtney said, smiling kindly at me. She wasn’t sitting beside Jase. If possible, Mason was sandwiched by Courtney and his younger brother. She hadn’t talked to him ever since. Jase gave me a look of worry, his face crumpling whenever Courtney would avoid him or dodge him. I shrugged at him.

I needed them to talk together, and make them together because god, their chase was killing me. They were acting cowardly—although I was one of them but I didn’t know if Mason liked me back—and Courtney not talking to him was giving him signs. He would think she didn’t like him.

I never told Jase Courtney reciprocated his feelings. It was better the two of them confronted each other.

“Thanks, Court,” I told her gratefully.

“I’m so sorry, guys, but I need to get back to class,” Salve interrupted, her feet rapidly walking out of the group. We waved her goodbye. She was running swiftly on her feet, as if she caught fire or something.

Cherry, who always liked to look at her Japanese flag nails or any painted flag nails for the lack thereof, excused herself as well. She was ditching class with Ryan. Apparently, they were secretly dating, not behind our backs, and they disliked if word would spread out of the school. The rumour mill was the least of what they wanted to happen.

That left us Blake, Courtney, Jase, Mason and I. The school bell rang, which was the perfect time for us to go separate ways and into our respective classes. Courtney and I only shared physical education, unfortunately.

What was more unfortunate was the fact Jase and I shared four classes. Chemistry, Speech, Maths and Lit. He was already jogging beside me as my feet took me to our next class, the room brilliantly coloured in baby pink, the number S25 written in red letters.

“Is Courtney alright?” Jase asked, his eyes filled with concern.

“It’s best if you talk to her,” I answered, giving him a rueful smile. “I think what she needs right now is space.”

“Space for what?” he queried, his blue eyes filled with nothing but wonder.

Before I could give him a reply, the teacher emerged inside the classroom. Ms. Rosedale wore a pink floral dress with pink shoes, and what was even worse, she dyed her hair pink.

She should sign up for Teletubbies. Everything surrounded her with ultra-pinkness. I cringed at the whole sight of her classroom. Jase decided to sit beside me for the period while I shot him murderous glares for attempting to enclose his presence around.

“Did you know that calcium is found in chalk?” Jase trivially said.

I shrugged. “Shut up, Loser. Why are you even polluting my presence?” I was lying. I liked his presence around me. And look, I should slap myself multiple times for feeling this way around Jase.

“Ouch,” Jase said, placing a hand on chest while a mock hurt filled his features. “You hurt me right there Alexie Pixie.”

“What the hell is a pixie?!” I murmured under my breath, practically glowering at him. He smirked triumphantly.

Ms. Rosedale, the epitome of all shades of pink, interrupted our conversation. “We are going to sing today!” she chirped.

Hell no. I wasn’t a good singer and singing would mean the whole world would experience an earthquake, which was the least of my plans.

“Find a pair or go solo if you want. This is to practice aspirating the p, t, c and k,” she said, clapping her hands. “Now go ahead and find a partner and choose a song. You will present this next week. I will give you time to practice.”

I groaned. “It’s fine if you don’t have a nice singing voice. You just have to properly aspirate the right words,” she assured. I heaved a sigh, still not relieved with what she was speaking.

“Let’s be partners, Alexie Pixie!” Jase literally exclaimed, grabbing my arm, forcing me stand up. I did not budge nor give in to his demands.

“Stop calling me Alexie Pixie!” I complained, huffing grumpily at him.

“Give me a name that you will call me then,” he said, grinning widely at me. I rolled my eyes at him and stood up, following him at the corner of the room.

“Jason Coleslaw,” I replied bored. “Why did we have to stand when we can actually just stay on our seats?”

“Because we need to have a breathing exercise,” he answered, steadying my shoulders. My eyes wandered to his hands, then back to Jase’s oblivious face.

“We’re not in a theatre, hello?” I rolled my eyes.

“I forgot to tell you I join a drama club.”

My mouth produced a rich sound, my stomach aching as I clutched. My hand grabbed a support on the wall, laying perfectly still as I tried to regain seriousness but then I burst into laughing fits again. Damn that was so good.

“Aren’t you tired of the drama?” I asked him but my mouth was producing another wave of laughter.

His eyes masked hurt, his eyebrows drawing together while he pursed his lips. He was silent. My brown eyes looked at him.

He was upset. I didn’t know he was passionate with that.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized, giving him a rueful smile. My hands unknowingly made its way to his chest, enclosing him into a hug. He stiffened by the unspoken contact but relaxed as he snaked his arms around my waist.

“I was just upset,” he answered, breaking the contact away.

“So what are we going to sing?” I asked in defeat, my shoulders slumping. He smiled at me, the crinkles creasing at the corners of his eyes.

“Glad you asked.”

I raised a brow.

“We’re going to sing Love is An Open Door!” he squealed, and I didn’t know if I should laugh at him squealing or flick him in the forehead.

“Frozen sucks.”

He pouted. “But we were singing it last Saturday!”

“Here’s your jacket,” I said, handing him the jacket I had been wearing ever since I stepped in school. It was cold so there was no other reason why I wore it. I hated bringing too much stuff on my sling bag.

“Thanks,” he said, accepting it from my grasp and smelled it. “It smells the lovely Downy Passion.”

“Oh my god, Jason Coleslaw let’s just sing the song,” I complained.

“I like that. Jason Coleslaw!” he bellowed, raising his hands in the air.

“Alexie Pixie is lame Jase.” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at him.

“But it suits you. You look like Tinkerbell because she has small boobs and big butt.”

I flicked him the forehead. His expression was priceless.

His eyes lit up. “I know what to call you!” I waited, tapping my shoe on the pink ground.

“Allie Bell!”

“That just sounds worse from your mouth.”

“But you love it.”

I did.

+ + + +

“Where are we going, Alex?” Courtney asked as I led her into the football field. Football players were already practicing for the upcoming games. The night was falling hard into the sky.

“We’re here,” I announced, waiting for Jason Coleslaw to appear. And even though it pained me to call him that, he would not stop calling me Alexie Pixie. It was the worst nickname he gave ever.

“Just wait here,” I told her before she could go away and run to the other side. “Whatever happens do not run.” My eyes met with hers and she nodded, my hands placed on her shoulders.

I jogged to the bleachers, hiding, my eyes perfectly set at Courtney and for Jase. I might have placed a chip on her shoulders (don’t ask me why) so that I could listen to their conversation.

Jase walked agonizingly slow towards Courtney. She was fidgeting on her place, her head darting sideways. I could tell she was nervous. Even though she was sassy and all neutral, Jase was the only person who could turn her into a lovely ball of goo.

“Courtney,” Jase breathed as if she was his air. It sounded cheesy in my head but I kept silent.

“Jason,” she replied in the same manner. Wow, these two were in too deep for each other.

“Alexa?” Mason’s voice made me jump.

I cursed.

“Yeah?” I asked him, feeling nervous, my heartbeat spiking up. Now was not the good time for him to appear.

“What are you doing?”

“Sitting down.”

“I’ll probably sit beside you,” he said and without permission, his presence warmed the cold ambiance.

What the f**k.

“What do you want to tell me Jason?” Courtney asked quietly.

“I-I.” I could feel Jase scratching his neck timidly. “I like you, Courtney.”

I squealed while Mason gave me a funny look.

“What are you listening to?” he asked. Without permission, he grabbed the chip in my ear. My face was drained the life out of me.

“Don’t—“

But Mason’s face scrunched into sadness. He looked at me with a hurt expression as if he was kicked puppy.

“What did you hear?” My mouth was even able to form a coherent question.

“She likes Jason, too,” he said in the most painful sound. He was clenching his fists.

My hands suddenly made their way to his fingers, uncurling them. He interwove his fingers on mine, his palms soft. His fingers were long, his hand covering my small one. My heart was jittery.

Holy cow I was holding hands with Mason Ward.

“Uh, Alexa?” he asked awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck before giving me a smile.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks.”

“For what?”

“For helping Jason end up with Courtney.”

“Did you know?”

He nodded, looking at our interlaced fingers. I badly wanted to remove my hand from him but I liked the feeling holding his hand. “Jason likes her and I can see it. But f**k, I keep on denying Courtney likes him, too. She literally glows whenever he’s around.”

Why did my heart ache when he stringed his feelings into sentences?

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I should have known she likes him just as much as he likes her. And yeah, Jason told me you’re helping him how to get the girl he likes.” He was so sad and down and all I wanted to do was whisk him away and take him to the ice cream place and eat a lot of tubs of ice cream.

But when his words sank into my head, I realized what he just said. “D-did he say something else?” I asked, my hand sweaty against his hand.

“Nothing.”

I felt the weight lift up from my shoulders. I thought I was going to be dead. I sighed in relief.

Courtney was squealing at the other end of line. I could sense she was wrapping her arms around him. My stomach churned.

“You know what?” I asked him, throwing the chip away I bought yesterday. “Let’s go to an ice cream store.”

“But it is cold and eating cold food is not my interest right now.”

I frowned. “Let’s go to Pizza Republic then. My treat.”

Mason nodded hesitantly and all I could feel was happiness lingering in my chest. I might have shot two birds with one stone tonight.

But I still couldn’t get out the thought of Jason and Courtney—who were probably officially in a relationship—together.

“Thanks, Alexa.”

“It was no problem, Mason.”