"What the hell!" Kayla screeched as she flew off of Mason. I lowered the hose and looked right past her and settled my gaze directly on Mason. He parted his lips in shock and I watched as his face suddenly fell before he outstretched a hand towards me.

But before he could say anything Kayla stormed towards me, her fist clenched tightly as she charged forward, her hands in the air ready to strike me. I dropped the hose onto the floor and caught her punch mid-air. I wrapped my hand around her wrist and tugged her towards me.

She squealed, her fearful eyes peering into mine as I glared down at her, rage coursing through my veins as I tightened my grip on her wrist until she hissed in pain and her eyes watered. Not so brave now huh Kayla?

"I warned you last time if you came to my house again I'd kill you. GET OUT BEFORE I MAKE GOOD ON MY WORD!" I screamed down her neck and she snatched her hand from my grip, her eyes darting around us in embarrassment when everyone in the kitchen stopped to witness this.

She quickly grabbed her bag off the counter and rushed past me and out of the house. I flickered my gaze towards Mason and chuckled humorlessly before pivoting on my heels and exiting the kitchen. I ignored his shouts of protests as I maneuvered my way through the crowd of people and into my backyard.

I made my way towards the garden, away from prying eyes and the booming sound of music. I needed to clear my head, to think straightly or I'll do something I'll regret. Because seeing Mason kissing Kayla, right after I broke up with Brandon for him didn't just hurt, it angered me.

After everything we've been through since he "dated" her he would betray me like this? If he kissed any other girl then I wouldn't be as angry because he wasn't mine and he didn't know I broke up with Brandon. But it's Kayla, he knows Kayla and our history, he contributed to that toxic history as well.

I lowered myself down on the bench overlooking the pond and gripped onto it tightly as I tried to let my anger surpass. At the sound of leaves crushing behind me, my grip tightened even more and I prepared to scream my lungs out if it turned out to be Mason.

But it wasn't and I relaxed as Tristan appeared before me, a small smile on his face as he sat down beside me. "Hey," he mumbled and I flickered my eyes towards him as my lips tugged upwards, "hey."

"What you saw back there was not what it looked like." He said as he averted his eyes from mine and clenched his jaw tightly. I frowned deeply and sat upright as I assessed his face, "what do you mean? Mason was making out with Kayla and unless that was his identical twin brother, I don't see why I should believe that." I said and he shook his head slowly.

"Kayla came into the house only minutes before you. She came into the kitchen and saw Mason leaning against the wall. From where I stood I watched her go up to him and they exchanged a few words before Mason pushed her away from him. He tried to leave but she grabbed his hand and pulled him back, then she kissed him right when you walked in. . .like 2 seconds before."

Seriously? He isn't just saying this to make me feel better right?

No, Tristan wouldn't lie about something like this. He wouldn't lie for Mason.

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked confusedly.

"Because Michelle, you love him. Even a blind person can see it. I've never seen you fall for someone so quickly before, get so attached, not even with Kaleb. And no one is that crazy to trust a strange person who entered their life so quickly unless they're in love.

I mean I don't like Mason, not one bit because I still think he's a bad guy. But if you love him and he makes you happy and you won't listen to me what else can I do? I don't want to see my best friend angry and depressed over something she misunderstood. So despite my obvious disliking for Mason, I need to tell you straight from someone that isn't him that he didn't kiss Kayla nor did he instigate it."

Wow. I knew that Tristan was a good guy but this tops every compliment I've ever given him in my life. I've never met someone as selfless as him; someone who doesn't put his wants before anyone, not even himself.

It was no secret Tristan liked me, I mean I'm not sure if he still does but if he did, that was one of the most selfless things someone has ever done for me.

I hope you find someone who truly loves you, Tristan.

But that person can't be me.

"Thank you, Tristan, for telling me this. You're the best friend I could ever ask for." I smiled as I pulled him into a hug. "Yeah, well don't get used to this." He chuckled as we pulled away, "you should probably head back in, Mason was looking for you." He said and I nodded my head as I rose up from the bench.

"See you later?" I mumbled and he nodded his head softly as he averted his gaze from me. I sighed deeply and trekked back towards the house. As I walked further towards the doors, the music grew louder until I was standing in the center of the commotion.

I didn't want to stay and linger here. I'll look for Mason upstairs first and if he isn't here later then he'll find me after the party. Despite this being a successful day, I'm in no mood to party.

I sauntered up the stairs and made my way down the hallway. "Mason?" I called out as I opened up the first door to my right. As I pushed it open and peeked inside, a squeal escaped my lips at the two naked bodies on the bed.

"GET OUT!" An unfamiliar voice shouted and my eyes widened as I replied that I was sorry before closing the door behind me.

Wait what the hell!?

This is my house.

I kicked the door open and stormed into the room. They sprang apart from one another and the unfamiliar guy shot me a glare until he recognized my face and his lips parted in shock. "Grab your shit and get the hell out of my room." I spat.

The girl tumbled off the bed before him and the bedsheets before wrapping it around her. I tutted and snatched it away from her, "no, no Hunny, these sheets are silk and brand new, they probably cost more than your house so you're not taking them with you." I said and she bowed her head lowly as she stumbled around the room looking for her clothes.

When she finally found it, she stumbled out of the room frantically. "You could have joined if you wanted." The guy said and I smiled sweetly as I motioned to the door, "I have a better proposal. Why don't you take your sex stenched ass out of my room and I don't beat your ass up." I smiled and he frowned before rolling his eyes and disappearing down the hallway.

I groaned in disgust and dropped the sheets onto the floor as I rushed out of the room and into mine. I made a mental note to myself to burn them when the party ends. These sheets cost fifty dollars, we can get more.

I know what I said about it costed more than that girls' house but I was exaggerating.

I closed the door behind me and leaned against it. Too many things are going on today, I just can't keep up.

I sighed deeply and pushed myself off the door as I sauntered towards the light switch. But before I could something shuffled beside me and I pivoted on my heels, preparing to attack whoever had made their way into my room until a familiar voice called out my name.

"Mason?" I mumbled in confusion when a warm hand slipped around my waist.

"I'm sorry." He whispered softly as he lowered his head into the nape of my neck and pulled me closer into him. "It's okay, Tristan told me what happened. I'm sorry I sprayed you with beer, that was impulsive." I said and he chuckled softly but never let his hands fall from my waist.

"I can't be mad at you right now, not at all. Not after what I did." He exclaimed and I frowned deeply, "but I just said Tristan told me what happened, what's there to apologize for?" I inquired and suddenly his grip tightened and his breathing grew more rugged.

"Mason, what is it?" I drawled out and he sighed deeply as he pulled his face away from my neck. "Please don't look at me any different when I tell you this. I-I thought he would have kept his word but he didn't. I only wanted to scare them, to scare them into leaving you alone."

"Mason what did you do?"

"I was trying to protect you."

"Mason, WHAT DID YOU DO!?"

"I was the one who hired those guys who killed Damien. I-I mean I didn't hire them but they owed me a favour. Michelle, I swear to god after everything I've been through with those guys I didn't think they'd betray me and shoot Damien. They were only supposed to beat them up and leave." He exclaimed frantically as his eyes searched through mine desperately.

"Mason, oh my god! Someone is dead, someone is goddamn dead and you're telling me you're behind this!?"

"He tried to rape you, Michelle! Good fucking riddance! I-I mean I didn't plan for him to die but I'd be lying if I said it didn't feel good to see the sucker take his last breath." He spat and I chuckled humorlessly as I pulled away from his touch.

"Why would you do something like this!? Why, Mason? Answer me!"

"Because, goddammit Michelle! I promised to protect you, from Kaleb, from the gangs, from your own father and from anyone who's trying to physically hurt you!" He boomed. I raked my hands through my hair and kicked the chair sitting beside my computer desk.

It crashed against the floor and I whipped my head towards Mason as tears of anger began to streak down my cheeks. "You could have been found out! You could have been arrested, Mason! Don't you get that! I don't need your freaking protection! He. Is. Dead. Despite every shitty thing Damien has done he doesn't deserve death."

"Are you seriously taking his side right now?" He spat and my lips fell agape as a humourless chuckle escaped them. "I'm not, Mason. I'm just saying-"

"You're taking his fucking side! You don't even care that I did this, you just care that he's dead, not that I did something to protect you!"

"OF COURSE I CARE!"

"NO YOU DON'T!"

"I DO BECAUSE I LOVE YOU, MASON!"

"What?" He whispered, his features softening as he peered into my eyes. I wiped away the tear that streaked down my cheeks and bit down onto my lips nervously as I sucked in a shaky breath.

"I don't care if you can protect me or not, Mason. I don't need protection, all I need is you. And if you had gotten arrested I don't know what I'd do."

"What did you just say?" He inquired in disbelief, his eyes still searching mine slowly. "I said I don't need you to-"

"Before that." He said, cutting me off abruptly. I flickered my eyes away from him and fumbled at the end of my shirt nervously. "I said I love you. A-and I know we're not dating, and we never had and this is all so crazy and so fast. I don't wanna scare you away-"

I didn't have time to finish my sentence because in the next second there were lips against mine, kissing me softly. Hands around my waist pulling into a hard chest and fingers caressing my cheek as lips moved against mine like a brush against a canvas.

I kissed back immediately and as our lips moved in sync all my troubles and doubts were washed away. I was lost in the sea of his touch, of his scent, of everything that made him him. And for a moment the argument we had seized to exist and my mind grew hazy with love and adoration.

I pulled away slowly to catch my breath and leaned my forehead against his as I breathed in and out heavily. Silence passed between the both of us and I feared that he wouldn't say a thing until I felt his finger brushed away a strand of my hair.

"I love you too."

"What?" I mumbled in astonishment as a tear suddenly streaked down my cheek. He frowned deeply and lifted a finger against my cheek before swiping it away, "what's wrong, baby?" He pouted cutely and I giggled softly as I caught his hand against my cheek. "Do you mean that?" I whispered and he nodded his head as his arms tightened around my waist.

"You want me to show you how much I mean it?" He exclaimed and I frowned in confusion before he suddenly hoisted me into the air. I squealed in surprise before quickly wrapping my legs around his waist and holding onto him tightly.

He shuffled towards my bed and crawled onto it with me still in his arms. He lowered me down and placed a kiss against my right cheek, then my left, then my forehead, my nose and then his lips hovered over my mouth before he lowered them onto mine.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. His hands trailed over my chest until his fingers hooked in the button of my shirt. "Michelle," he mumbled and I shook my head, knowing exactly what he was about to say.

"It's okay, Mason," I responded and he smiled as he caressed my cheek softly, "I love you, dollface." He said and I chuckled softly as I ran my hands through his silky hair. "So you've told me."

And they did the devils' tango! No smut scenes, sorry not sorry, I'm not that type of gal. Smut scenes kind of make me cringe, even typing out the details of them kissing makes me cringe sometimes so I wouldn't be able to handle the. . .you know the devils' tango!