Careless and Reckless — Chapter 14

Any guesses as to what I did with the rest of my weekend? I studied. Yep, exciting I know but I had a lot of homework to catch up on. Let's just say that I managed to write my entire RS essay so now I won't have to worry about it and do it next Sunday, which is the day before it's due. I usually do all of my work last minute but this year I've promised myself that I'd stay on top of things and that's exactly what I plan on doing. So far, so good.

Anyway, it's now Monday my favourite day of the week—note the sarcasm. I eat one of mums delicious breakfasts as per usual and then scurry out the door once I hear Ava's car.

"How come you didn't reply to my texts and calls at all on Saturday?" Ava asks as soon as she's started the car, preventing me from jumping out to avoid the conversation, curse her for planning ahead.

Ummm. What do I say? I don't want her knowing about Wyatt. I don't want anyone knowing about my involvement with the Kings in general, not even my best friend. If it gets out I'll be the centre of attention all over again and I can't deal with that.

"I kinda slept most of Saturday away if I'm honest. You know how draining last week was for me, I just needed to catch up on some well-deserved sleep, sorry." Lie.

Ava nods and changes the subject but not before sending me a sympathetic look. Huh, I guess I'm better at this whole lying thing than I thought. I'm not sure whether that's a good or a bad thing.

~*~*~

The next few days pass in a blur. They all consisted of me actually doing all of my work well before the deadline and not sleeping due to my obsession with reading at night. The usual, apart from the work stuff, that's new.

I haven't actually spoken to Wyatt since Saturday but I have caught his eye every now and then but it only lasts for a few seconds at a time. Nothing too obvious so no one has noticed, thank god.

It's finally Friday, last period might I add so the weekend is near and I can hear it calling.

The seconds tick by ever so slowly. I feel as though the more I will the hands on the clock to move the slower they go, typical.

Finally, after what feels like a lifetime, I hear that deafening bell and I run out of class like a mad woman.

I drive home with Ava as per usual but then I remember I completely forgot to find out about what has been troubling Mason. He's been acting weird for two weeks now but my minds been too preoccupied with other things recently to find out what has been going on.

Enough is enough, I'm going to see him tonight.

I quickly finish off the remaining homework I have and scarf down my dinner before grabbing the keys to the seventeenth birthday present that I hardly ever use.

Don't get me wrong, I love my car but I'm just not the best driver. I can drive, only last week I drove to Ava's, it's just that Mason's house is a bit further away and that can cause a few issues, totally minor ones though.

One time I completely wrecked mum's car, I'm talking beyond repair. I've also damaged it quite badly a few times in the past. That's why she was hesitant to get me my own in the first place but after realising I would keep destroying hers she finally gave in. Lord knows how I even managed to pass my test, sheer luck, that's all I've come up with.

I've never been the best with cars. Bikes are much more my thing but I haven't been one in years, not since a while before we moved actually. I've just never been able to bring myself around to do it again, I doubt I'll ever be able to if I'm being honest.

The drive to Mason's house was–shall we say–interesting but all in all not terrible. I only was in the middle of two lanes about seven times in total–a new personal record. I also only endangered the lives of two animals this time–both pigeons who wouldn't move off of the road no matter how much I honked at them, it was bloody annoying I tell you. And I didn't hit any cars, not even a scratch, I'm pretty chuffed about that actually. So overall I think it's safe to say it was quite a successful drive there.

After parking my car–again pretty successfully–I walk up the familiar drive to Mason's house, smelling the gorgeous pine trees and lavender bushes as I do. Once I make it to the door I ring the doorbell, knock thrice and then begin to fidget with my fingers as I wait. I do that sometimes, fidget I mean, usually it's when I'm nervous. I don't know why I'm nervous about this, it's probably nothing and I'm overreacting but for some reason, I just have this bad feeling. It's making my stomach do horrid flips and every second that ticks by with me just standing out here in the cold only adds to the uncomfortable feeling.

I've been standing outside for two minutes now and the bitter coldness of autumn is starting to kick in, I probably should've brought a coat with me. Getting impatient, I knock on the door again, much louder this time and proceed to ring the doorbell again. Nothing.

I'm pretty sure Mase is home so I decide to put my ear on the door. When I do I hear muffled shouts that I can't decipher. It doesn't sound like Mason though, or his parents. Strange. Maybe this was bad timing. I would go back but I actually drove here on my own, unscathed, so I'm determined to see this through to the end. I ring the bell three more times before I start my continuous knocking, if I were on the other side of the door I'd be extremely annoyed by now but it's his fault for not answering.

After another five minutes–yep, five freaking minutes of me standing in the freezing cold–I hear a loud crashing sound followed by some scuffling, then the door is finally opened, halle-fucking-lujah. I look up to see a breathless Mason, panting, a sheen of sweat on his forehead. But that's not what catches my attention, what does are the shouts in the background that sound ever so familiar.

"Ari?" Mason questions, bringing my attention back to him. "What are you–" he's cut off by another crashing noise. "You know what, never mind that, I need your help." After saying that he grabs my wrist and yanks me inside his house.

"What the hell Mas–" I stop when I hear shouting, now I'm inside I can actually hear what's being said.

"YOU'RE A COMPLETE A-CLASS BITCH JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

"ABSOLUTELY NOT! YOU'RE BEING AN ABSOLUTE FUCKING COCK SUCKER YOU PRICK!"

"ARSEWIPE!"

"SHIT HEAD!"

"CUM DUMPSTER!"

"WANKER!"

"THUNDER CUNT"

"JIZZ-INHALING GERBIL FUCKER!"

That last one was pretty ingenious, not going to lie.

Wait, I recognise those voices. It's Oliver and Rebekah. God, not again. I've mentioned in the past that they're not the most functional or rational couple. This is the norm for them.

"Why the hell are they at your house Mason?" I whisper-yell at him.

"I haven't a bloody clue. They came here about half an hour ago, something about needing my opinion on something because I'm fair and unbiased then suddenly my house turned into a war zone and Word War III started. I'm so glad my parents are away for the weekend but I've no clue how to shut them up, help me," he pleads.

I sigh and run my hands through my hair. "Mase, you and I both know the best way to handle these two is to let them shout for a bit, we both know they'll end up having make-up sex and then they'll be fine."

"I know that but I don't want that to happen in my house," he grumbles, putting his arms across his chest.

"I get that but trying to stop them now is suicide, they'll probably throw something at you, you've heard the crashes, and I bet you it'll be heavy."

Mason looks towards the hallway and winces at yet another object being broken before hanging his head in defeat. "I guess your right," he sighs.

"Of course I am. How about we go for a drive whilst we wait for them to calm down?" I suggest. It's the perfect way to find out what's been going on with him.

"Sure but I'm driving, I want to come home without having to visit the hospital."

I put my had and my chest in mock hurt. "My driving isn't that bad."

He gives me an are-you-shitting-me look and I end up putting my hands up in defeat.

I hop into Mason's car, relaxing in the comfortable leather seats. Soon the engine hums to life and we being to drive aimlessly around his neighbourhood. "Mase, I've been meaning to ask you something for a while now," I start, deciding it's best to get straight to the point.

He hums in response, waiting for me to continue, his eyes focused on the road ahead.

"What's been bothering you?" I ask.

"What do you mean?" He asks, keeping his composure.

"Well," I begin, "something has been on your mind for a while now, I can tell. Whatever it is, it's troubling you and I want to help. So tell me, what's wrong?"

He clears his throat. "Why'd you think this?" His voice is slightly strained now.

"Mase, don't be stupid, you've been one of my best friends for years. I can tell when you're acting off. Just like how you could tell that something was troubling me that day when James broke up with me." That last bit was hard to say, even after two weeks I'm still struggling to believe it.

He sighs. "It's nothing, Ari, don't worry about it.."

I give him a stern look, though I'm not sure he sees it considering he's driving. "Cut the bullshit, Mason. We both know that you're not fine. I'm here to listen, you know that. Just let me help you, please." I think the raw emotion in my voice did something because he pulls over and turns all of his attention to me.

"Promise you won't tell anybody?" I nod. "Not even Ava?" Again, I nod. I hate keeping things from here but this is Mason's secret, not mine. "Well, I've been seeing this girl," he starts but hesitates as my eyes light up. Not once in the entire time I've known Mason has he ever mentioned a girl. He's not like most guys I know in that regard. I don't think he's ever kissed a girl before, let alone dated one. Which is surprising because he's very good looking. He's just never seemed into all that. He's always been more focused on his work but that's what he wanted so I never asked him about it.

"Go on," I urge him.

He scratches the back of his neck, refusing to meet my eyes. "Well, she's brilliant, funny, kind and I really like her but she doesn't want anyone to know about us." I raise a brow at him. "She says that it's too early and that she'd rather we keep to ourselves, which I understand, but I hate sneaking around."

I nod in understanding, poor Mason. "Mase, this is making you unhappy so talk about it. The key to any relationship is communication. Come to a compromise or an agreement of some sort. Try that and go from there, things will work out in the end but if they don't then it wasn't meant to be."

Mason smiles at me before pulling me into a warm embrace. "Thanks, Ari," he whispers in my ear.

"Anytime."