TWENTY THREE

I breathed in the fresh air as I smiled at the atmosphere around us. Little kids were being pushed down slides by their parents and they would let out a tiny scream every time they went down. It instantly brought a smile to my face just to know that kids were having a better child hood than mine.

I was envious, but no-one deserved the pain I went through. Being motherless for the majority of my life had been so difficult. Kids in my class at school would often wonder why I wasn't making a card for mother's day. It was just a mystery as much to me than them. I mean she wasn't dead, so why wasn't I making one? I didn't think they ever found out in the end. But I sure did and it pained me to know that my father was partially the reason to it.

"Let's take a picture by the swings!" Mason proclaimed, sprinting over to them childishly.

I chased after him however he was just too fast. Panting with a face that probably represented a tomato, I grabbed onto the swing set to keep myself upright.

"Y-You r-run fast," I choked out, trying to catch my breath.

Gosh, I was so unfit.

"Come on, Owens. It wasn't that bad," Mason chuckled with a look that had me internally curling up into a ball.

Oh, he thinks I'm unfit. I mean no wonder. I could hardly run that whole way without stopping once or twice.

"Mason we ran across that whole big field and just remember sports is not my thing, capiche?" I glared angrily, feeling absolutely humiliated and hoping the ground would just swallow me up completely.

Mason grinned cheekily before plopping down on the swing. I followed suit, huffing unhappily.

"I haven't been to the park in ages," Mason suddenly exclaimed in awe, staring around him in amazement.

"It's not that special Mason," I laughed out, grinning widely at his adorable face.

"It is!" Mason bickered back. "My mum used to take me."

My face dropped at the mention of his mum. I remembered him telling me that his mum was dead. It must had damaged him beyond repair.

"What happened? I m-mean to your mum," I stammered.

Watching his face morph from excitable to solemn, I quickly added, "If you don't mind me asking anyway."

"Can we take the photos?" He swallowed, a miserable and torturous look in his forest eyes. "Please."

I nodded whilst feeling awful about asking. It obviously was hard for him. Stupid Leia. Always mucking things up.

Taking the camera out of my bag, I began starting it up. I hadn't charged it in ages but luckily it still had a little bit of battery left for a few photos.

"Say 'cheese' or whatever your family says when you want to take photos," I rambled on.

"Take the damn photo," Mason growled out before smiling cheekily at the camera.

Woah, talk about mood problems.

I smiled at the camera but it seemed fake for some reason. It may had been because I asked him about how his mum passed and it was awkward afterwards. It must had been because of that.

Sighing once after enough photos were taken, I carefully put my camera back in my bag. All of the photos were on there so I couldn't lose it.

"Wanna go get an ice cream?" I suggested, trying to lighten the mood. It was my fault so I had to fix it.

"Sure," Mason muttered briefly before springing up from the swing and storming quicker than an arrow gliding through the air.

I watched as the swing, that he had previously sat on, viciously swing back and forth. The swing showed exactly how I was feeling right now. Lost. And not sure which direction to take. It was weird what us humans could get from the tiniest things. We were intelligent that was why. Well...some of us more than others.

"Hurry up, Craze!" Mason yelled from across the field. "I want that ice cream you promised me."

Rolling my eyes at an immature Mason who was stomping his foot like a brat, I got up from the swing and sprinted after him. I wanted ice cream too.

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We were sitting in the ice cream parlour when I started to have a strange feeling that someone was watching me. I began scanning my surroundings to check if anyone was acting suspiciously. Mason had kindly gone to get the ice creams for us but I  did end up paying. I didn't mind though because I had a job.

Yes I had got the job and I was going to be working a lot because I needed the money so badly. Luckily, I hadn't got my bill yet but I knew I would get it soon. I also had to pay them.

"Here you go," Mason came up behind me with two ice cream pots in his hands. "One Caramel Chew Chew for you and a Baked Alaska for me."

Yes, we were at the greatest ice cream parlour to ever exist on the planet. Ben and Jerry's!

Instantly, I dug into my ice cream which was not one of my best ideas. Holding my head in pain, I let out a muffled squeak through my mouthful of ice cream.

"Brain freeze?" Mason asked, chuckling at my mortification.

I nodded, shivering as the coldness of the ice cream had my head going numb.

"So, why Baked Alaska when you could have other delicious ones?" I questioned him, leaning into him for an answer.

"I like polar bears," Mason giggled babyishly but soon pouted at me when I started to take the Mickey out of him.

"I'm being serious!" Mason grumbled, still acting like a child.

"You're cute," I smiled, staring at his pouted lips.

"Nah, you're the cute one," Mason claimed, poking my nose gently.

Crossing my eyes and sticking my tongue out, I goofily asked, "Am I cute now?"

"Still adorable," Mason grinned charmingly, looking almost adorable himself.

Scrunching my nose and showing my two front teeth to him, I tried to repeat, "Am I cute now?"

"Yes!" Mason cheered loudly, making a few heads turn around to us. "You look even cuter like that. Much cuter than your first normal face."

Growling at him, I whacked him painfully on the arm. It made him hiss, which had me grinning like the Cheshire cat. However, Mason's arm was solid like rock and that had left my hand with a stinging sensation.

"Only kidding, Craze," he cheekily responded, patting my back faintly.

The touch had sent tingles around my back and it was only a simple brush of his fingertips. It had made me feel giddy inside and that seemed like danger to me. No-one had ever created feelings like that inside me. It was the same for when we kissed.

After that kiss we shared, we never spoke about it. Mason seemed like he wanted to ignore it. That was fine with me, but it still hurt a little and brought a pang to my chest every time I speculated it.

With that quick thought, I knew one thing. I had feelings for him. I fancied him. Mason. The egotistical guy I had to work with for an English project. The guy who was friends with people like Angela and Kane. Popular people.

In the back of mind, it told me to follow my heart but since when had it ever been right. My brain was meant to be the organ to think with and that was what I was going to use it for. Thinking everything through.

Sorting my life out came first before any silly crush.

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"That was fun, wasn't it?" I beamed.

"Yeah," he agreed, walking with me to my front door.

It was silent for a while before he spoke, "I guess I should leave. I've got a lot of homework to do."

My smile fell a little, but I managed to maintain composure, "It is getting quite late and me too. We get way too much homework."

Backing away, Mason glanced my way shortly.

"My father killed her," Mason blurted out leaving me stunned as I stood in front of my house door. His mum?

"And I loved every second of it," another voice chuckled bitterly, appearing from out of the shadows.

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Oooh, how was that? I hope that left you suspicious because that was the effect I was going for. Please VOTE and don't be shy to COMMENT. I will see you soon my lovelies <3

Gem Gems