How to Steal Mason's Heart

FIFTEEN

There was a heavy silence surrounding us, the duo, as we walked—more likely trudged—our way to Pizza Republic. Mason never talked ever since the heart-breaking confessions of Courtney and Jason, his fists clenching and unclenching at the sides of his frame. I wanted to hold his hand, that had been my long-time dream, but I was afraid he would not let me, seeing he was not in his good mood. He had comforted me twice but I couldn’t even have the guts to hug him and say everything would be fine—which wasn’t the case at all.

He seemed to stare at a blank space, the sky darkening as the lampposts flickered. Some were still functioning properly. The others, they were like people. They were good at the first day of job but as time would go by, they would not work well, ending them up getting thrown in the junk.

We arrived at the place, the smell of pizza making my stomach growl. I heard Mason chuckle beside me and it was beautiful, the sound of his laughter imprinted in my head, replaying again and again as if it was the only song on my playlist.

We walked over to the short line, the customers in front of us contemplating on which toppings to put on their pizzas until it was our turn to choose the toppings we wanted.

“Alex!” A voice roared, making Mason and I turn our heads to where the voice came from. It was Courtney and Jason, holding hands together and it was official, they were a couple. My stomach clenched in disapproval while Mason stood stiff beside me, his frame growing nearer and nearer, his arm brushing my arm, sending tingles at my back. I shivered.

“Court!” I replied with the same enthusiastic voice she held, as the pair trotted their way towards us. Courtney gave me hug while Mason and Jason exchanged curt nods, the two of them smiling, looking like they were constipated.

“What are you guys doing here?” Jason and I asked in unison.

“Jinx!” I yelled at him. “You owe me a soda.”

He smiled politely, his eyes dimming a little bit. His smile wasn’t the kind of smile he gave me before. He had a playful smile, meaning he had fun. His eyes were bright like a town but now, I couldn’t figure out why he looked like he lost me. He never lost me. He just never stayed in the same place.

“Sure,” he replied, not even trying to argue with me. Whenever I said something to him, he would argue with me until someone or something would snap out of us. If that was the price of Jason and Courtney getting together, then I should have not done this matchmaking thing in the first place.

I considered Jason as my friend, counting the times that we hung out together. I smiled at the memories that we had, his playful aura missing in my heart. He was different right now and I didn’t like it.

“So what are you guys doing here?” Courtney asked, breaking me from my reverie. I looked over at Mason who was still, his lips pursed into a straight line. His eyes looked haunted, broken and I wanted him to be anywhere but here.

“We were just leaving to eat ice cream,” Mason replied, scratching the back of his head with a little embarrassment. “Right Alexa?”

“We are?” I asked dumbly but immediately, I nodded, giving them rueful smiles. “See you soon, Courtney and Jason.”

We walked outside of Pizza Republic, realizing I wasn’t hungry anymore for pizza. I was now craving for ice cream, the chilly milked cream running down to my oesophagus until it would reach to my stomach. The sweetness of chocolate running on my taste buds. It was always refreshing no matter the weather or the season or the place.

I nudged Mason with my elbow. He still seemed dazed at the scene back there and my heart was shattering, breaking like a glass. How foolish of me. Of course he couldn’t get over Courtney in just a miniscule blink of an eye.

“Let’s go to the ice cream place you told me,” he offered, smiling at me but it never reached his eyes. I nodded and the surprising thing happened, he held my hand.

Holy moly the father of what the cows! I couldn’t process what was happening but Mason was holding my hand! Mason was holding my freaking hand! What f*****g flying pigs!

My stomach was herded by zoo animals, elephants stomping on my gut while my heart rampaged like a moron. My day was from good to best. Damn, how could Mason do this to me?! He was oblivious to what he was doing but my cheeks were hot, probably they were red by now.

“Uh…” I stared awkwardly at our intertwined hands.

“Hmm?” Oh my god Mason stop being so freaking adorable.

“Y-You’re holding my hand,” I said timidly, my cheeks getting hotter and hotter on my face. f**k, my deathbed was waiting for me at the end of the line.

“Oh.” He took off his hand on mine and I regretted the moment he let go, coldness enveloping, and the absence of his warmth making me frown. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.”

Stop being so cute, Mason. My heart was palpitating loudly against my chest. “It’s fine.” This time, I boldly took the move. I wrapped my fingers against his large hand. It was soft compared to Jason’s rough palm. Mason’s fingers were long, like candles, his thumb painted in manicure. I didn’t notice that until I looked at his hand.

Mason chuckled. “Why are you staring my hand?” he asked, lifting a brow. I looked away, my cheeks producing a gigantic amount of blood. I didn’t know that I would act around like this with Mason.

“Your manicure, who did this?”

“Greyson. He does experiments on us sometimes.” I almost giggled. Greyson was literally good at make-ups and girly stuff. I didn’t know he was applying it to his older brothers. The manicure looked good, by the way, an intricate spade painted in black with a white background on it.

“Mason such a softie?” I teased. He smiled, and now his eyes were smiling too. If they could produce a sound, they would be laughing. My mouth let out a giggle when his dimple caved into his cheek.

We arrived at the ice cream store, the customers not bustling the business. It was almost December and eating something cold in the chilly environment was not a thing the residents would do.

“What ice cream do you want to eat?” I asked Mason when we settled down at a secluded corner, the wall covering us.

“Cookies and cream,” he answered, with a proud smile on his face. I betted that was his favourite ice cream.

I scrunched. “Cookie dough is way better, I guarantee it.”

“Okay. I could try some new flavours.” His voice was mellifluous like he was singing all the time. It wasn’t high-pitched like Justin Bieber’s prepubescent voice nor was it really low like a beatboxer. He could be a tenor if he sang, like Sam Smith voice.

Leave Your Lover was currently on cue, playing at the background. The atmosphere suddenly turned gloomy, my eyes darting at Mason who was fiddling with his fingers. His shoulders were hunched and he still looked blue, like the time he saw Courtney and Jason holding their hands.

“Two tubs of cookie dough ice creams please,” I told the cashier. She gave me a wink, her eyes gesturing towards Mason who looked distantly out at the transparent wall, a grim line on his lips.

“He’s just a friend,” I said, even though she did not ask a question.

I placed the cookie dough ice cream in front of his face. He broke away from his faraway thoughts, his blue eyes focusing on what was in front of him. He took a small scoop and tasted it with his tongue, the pink muscle sticking out a little. He smiled satisfyingly, taking large scoops onto his mouth, his cheeks puffing.

I just stared at him, not minding if my ice cream was melting. I could always request to have a frozen one, and return this to them—of course, if I did not touch them. I had been a regular in this place.

His blue eyes looked at me, noticing I had been gazing at him for the whole time. I immediately averted my stare to my food, eating them simultaneously.

“So, you’re a junior?” he asked casually. I realized he was finished eating his ice cream. I was still halfway and I was almost full. I nodded in reply, covering the tub.

“You sure you’re not going to finish that?” he questioned, pointing his index finger to my ice cream, raising a perfect eyebrow.

“I will but not here,” I answered. Suddenly, a wisp of my curly hair fell astray at my temple. Before I could tuck it behind my ear, Mason beat me to it, his blue eyes gazing deeply. My mouth was left tongue-tied, my eyes widening, dumbfounded as to what he did. He awkwardly cleared his throat, scratching the back of his head.

“You want my ice cream?” I asked, pushing it to him. He nodded feebly, my heart warming at his actions. He scarfed it down like a lone wolf.

“I never thought I would eat ice cream in such a cold weather,” he murmured. His eyes still looked sad though. I squeezed his hand softly.

My phone suddenly rang, breaking us from our moment. Why would phones always break special moments like this? I was actually thinking we were going to kiss! Kidding. Even though Mason had quite plump lips, I wouldn’t bother to smother my mouth to him. They were chapped, and what if when we kissed I had a bad breath? God, why was I even thinking of kissing him?

“Yellow?”

“Where are you?” mother asked, anger laced around her tone. She sounded distressed. “It’s already nine in the evening!”

My eyes widened in surprise. I did not notice we were out for so long. I looked at Mason, an apologetic look on my face. “Go home now!” mother screeched at the end of the line and I nodded, albeit she could not see me.

“I have to go, Mason. I’m so sorry!”

His lips curled upwards. “That was no problem. I should probably get going, too.”

We stood up together, walking outside the ice cream store. The night was growing old, the full moon hanging on the blanket of sphere.

“So this is goodbye,” I concluded.

Mason wounded his arms around me, engulfing me into a tight hug. It lasted longer than five seconds, his muscles taut around my body. His quite chiselled chest bumped against my almost flat chest, my round stomach smashing against his toned one.

“Bye,” he said. He walked the opposite way while I waited for a cab, extending my arm towards it as I gave the address.

The smile on my face never dimmed, not even mother who was reprimanding me about not going home early.