I wake up to yelling and decide its not a good day to go to work before school. I text Cody and ask him to tell Sydney that I can't come in because I'm sick. I know she gave me yesterday and today off, but I obviously hate being home. I check my phone to see a text from Mason

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Mason: Good morning, I have football practice tonight, so if we can go anytime before 6 that would be amazing.

Me: Yeah sure, we can go right after school if it works for you and Ellie.

Mason: Perfect, I'll pick you up. Address?

Me: It's alright, I like to drive.

-------

That was close

I don't want Mason knowing where I live just incase. I don't want my secret getting out to anyone. Plus, Mason and I just became friends. He may not even be my friend. Maybe he feels bad or it was a dare. I wouldnt doubt it.

With these thoughts running through mg head I sluggishly make my way over to the closet and chose a navy blue hoodie and a pair of black skinny jeans with my converse. I curl my hair and throw it into a little updo. My makeup is my signature and I cover any bruises on my neck.

Once I get ready I sit down feeling a little winded.

That's never happened before, I only got dressed and ready. Must be from yesterday.

I finish getting ready and sneak out of the house making sure I have money just incase things go well today.

Gym is my first class of course so I quickly faked a sick note from my parents since I could barely walk up the stairs without getting winded.

"Alright Williams, work on your homework or something. I don't care" Thats all Mr. Todd said before he left me in the dust.

I try to hop onto the bleachers but don't end up getting too far.

"What are you doing Leah?" I hear from behind me and turn to see Ellie.

"Oh, hey Ellie. I didn't know you were in this class" I say playing with my ring.

"I just got switched into here. Are you alright? You look really pale" She says feeling my forehead.

"Oh yeah I'm fine, Just sick" I say getting a little lightheaded. "I just need to sit down" I stumble and quickly feel a hand grab my arm while Ellie calls for her brother.

"What happened?" Mason says hurrying over to us and sitting me down on the bleachers to look at me.

"I don't know. I was talking to her and told her she didnt look good and then she started stumbling, like she was going to pass out" Ellie says nervously playing with the hem of her shirt.

"I'm fine guys. I just got a little light headed" I say unsure and hoping Mason doesnt make me go to the nurse.

"Stay here" Mason says and he jogs over to Mr. Todd. I see them talking and Mason runs into the locker room and soon walks out with a rag. He gets stopped by someone from the football team and exchanges some words until he runs back over to me.

"Okay Elle, I have it from here. Thanks. Come on Leah" Mason says picking me up bridal style and placing the rag on my forehead. His hand lightly brushes against my bruise and I wince. "Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself when you fell?" Mason says worried and I shake my head. "Something like that" I mumble making sure he wouldnt hear.

"I can walk" I say getting uncomfortable. "Leah" Mason says and I cut him off. "Mason, please" I say and he gives in placing me on my feet. I take the rag away from my forehead and we walk to the nurses office. I hate this place.

"I need water" I say a few minutes after Mason placed me down. I was now out of breath from walking up two flights of stairs and a couple hallways. My school is huge and the gym and nurses office is on different sides of the school.

"Are you alright?" Mason says seeing I'm out of breath" I nod answering him. "Yeah, just really out of shape" I giggle ignoring the sharp pains. "I can help with that" Mason says winking and me causing a little blush to creep up my face. What? I can't help it, hes hot.

"Hi Aunt Scarlet" Mason says as we walk into Mrs. Whites office. I never put two and two together. "Hi Mas, now what did you do now? Don't tell me you got into another fight? Did you hurt this girl? Mason-" She starts blabbering causing me to giggle. "No Aunt Scarlet, this is my friend Leah. She is sick and almost passed out today in gym. Mr. Todd told me to bring her here" Mason says and Mrs. White stands up and feels my forehead. "Alright, go back to class Mas" She says and he just sits down on the chair next to mine. Mrs. White rolls her eyes and tells me to go into a separate room.

"Okay, so what seems to be the problem?" Mrs. White says and I make up some büllshįt lie about how I fell and have a bruise on my side, also that I'm sick. "Alright, let me take a look" She says and stiffen up. "Um, its okay. I feel better now. I think I'm just going to go back to class" I say and she gives me a stern look causing me to give in.

Mrs. White gently pulls up my shirt and grimaces when she sees the big black and blue covering most of my side. "Yup, that'll do that. You might have a couple of broken ribs with a bruise this big. We should put some ice on that. Mas, get me ice please" She says and turns around getting an ace bandage while Mason walks into the room with a bag of ice. His eyes widen when he sees the bruise on my side and I mentally slap myself for the future questions I'm going to get. "Out" Is all Mrs. White says once she takes the bag and Mason slowly backs out of the room, his eyes still on my side.

"We are going to put the bag of ice wrapped in a paper towel here and secure it with this ace bandage. Come back so I can give you more ice and redo the bandage during lunch. I think Mason is still outside so he'll walk you to class. I'll have him give you one of your sweatshirts since you will definitely be cold with the ice and air conditioning" Mrs. White says and I quickly thank her. Mason and I head off to his locker and he hands me a sweatshirt which I slip on. He turns to me and says three words.

"What the fück"

"I walked into the corner of my island yesterday" I say trying to explain why theres a huge bruise on my side. "büllshįt" He says and grabs my hand dragging me to his car.

"Thats why when i touched your side you winced. And got out of breath so easily, along with almost passing out" Mason says sitting in his trunk and I nod.

"Its not a big deal Mason. We are still on for tonight" I say and he nods handing me a bottle of water.

"Drink this, Scarlet said you're also dehydrated" Mason says and I quickly chug the water ignoring the sharp pains.

"Lets go to class" Mason says and we slowly make our way to class so I don't get out of breath.

"Can I ask you a question?" I say and Mason turns looking at me while leaning against a wall. "Is this whole being friends thing a dare?" I say wanting to know the real reason the Mason White, the quarterback all girls fawn over. The 'it boy' who gets girls to fall at his feet is talking to me. "Not at all, I know I'm known as a jock but I'm nothing like the guys on the football team. They only care about the popularity. Me? I couldn't give two fücks about that. I care about my favorite sport. When we bumped into each other and I got to speak to you a little, I realized how nice you are. Your the type of person my mom told me to surround myself with. I want to be friends with you for you" He says and my jaw drops. "Oh, well in that case Mr. White. I guess we are friends now" I say smiling and we continue to class.

Class went on like usual until lunch came around. I found Mason waiting for me outside my class as I tried to slip past him to go to my table and not go back to the nurses office. "Not so fast Williams" Mason says grabbing my arm and I turn to see Ellie walking up to us.

"Hey guys, Leah you alright?" Ellie says and I smile. "Yup, I'm gonna be perfectly fine" I say lying through my teeth.

Who knows how I'm gonna be a week from now. For all I know I could be dead or dying. But its not like anyone cares.

"I'll meet you at the table Elles. I'm bringing Leah to Aunt Scarlet so she can get checked again" Mason says and Ellie nods as she walks away.

We go to the nurse and Mrs. White changes my bandage and gives me more ice and we go to lunch.

We walk in and I remember I told Christine I would sit with her today. "Hey Mas, I told Christine I would sit with her today" I say and Mason nods and points over to a table.

I turn to look that Christine is sitting and talking to Ellie. Thats right, Ellie and Christine are both cheerleaders. They are actually the captains.

"You're not getting away from me that easily" Mason jokes slugging an arm around my shoulders causing me to laugh. "Damnit, I guess not" I say joking back and we sit down at the table.

"Oh, did someone forget to throw out their garbage?" Patrick says as soon as I sit down. "Yeah, i thought I smelt something. Oh wait, it's you" Christine says as everyone oohs. "Hey Leah" Christine says and I smile at her. I'm seated between Ellie and Mason and Mason still has his arm around me.

"I'm going to get get some food. You want anything Le?" Mason says and I shake my head quietly thanking him. I don't want him spending his money on me.

"I'm getting you something" He says standing up and walking away.

"So, are you Masons fück and dump?" Another guy says and Patrick fist bumps him. "Shes our friend dįck" Ellie says and I quickly stand getting light headed. I run out of the cafeteria ignoring the pain and my name being called.

I find myself going to the last place I would ever go, Mrs. Whites office.

"Leah? What's wrong?" Mrs. White says as I rush into her office. "Can I stay here till the end of school? I don't feel good" The words slip out before I can stop myself. "Yeah of course. I'll email your teachers and tell them you're sick. Do you want me to tell Mason?" She says and I shake my head no.

I've never done anything like this before.

"Go lay down sweetie. I'll get you some water" Mrs. White says and soon I am surrounded in darkness.

Hey guys, so I'm currently driving to my next location on my trip. So I decided to write a little and update you all. Sorry for spelling mistakes...again I don't have my computer so I'm writing on my phone. A lot happened in this chapter but it should be easy to follow along. I hope you enjoyed!

~Leah