Chapter dedicated to @IreneTadros ! Go give her a follow, along with me! :)

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I know Mason is looking. I can't help it. All my pain and hurt just starts flooding out all at once.

"Leah" Ellie coos, hugging me.

"I'm okay, just emotional" I pull away.

"I brought tissues just incase" Ellie hands me a couple. I wipe my eyes carelessly.

"Brooks is trying to talk some sense into him. He was really stupid" Ellie offers me a sympathetic smile.

"No, a warning just would have been nice. There's obviously still feelings present on both ends. I don't want to be the other one. I'm left in the dark on this. I wish he could just tell me what all of this is about" I sigh.

"He will. I'm not sure when but he will" Ellie assures me, tears forming in her eyes.

"He wants to talk to you" Ellie says after a little bit.

"I just need a minute" I say, putting my head in my hands, the uncontrollable sobs starting again.

Ellie runs her hand up and down my back in a comforting manner.

"Okay, I'm ready" I wipe my eyes with a tissue.

"I'll send him out. Text me if you need anything" Ellie hugs me.

Soon pounding is heard behind me.

"Leah, please let me explain some more" Mason chokes out.

I nod, patting the spot next to me.

"I need it all Mason. Don't hold back. Please" I swallow down my tears.

"I will, I promise" His face falls at the sight of my blotchy skin, bloodshot and swollen eyes and quivering lip.

"My family has had this house for years. I would come here every summer for the longest time. Across the street lived my best friend, Mario. He was a couple years older than me. A few years after Mario and I started getting along and developing a deep, personal friendship, Alexis and Elijah moved in next door. Elijah developed a crush for Mario's sister, Sofia and Alexis developed a crush for me. She would always yell at Mario for taking me from her. I ended up falling for her, at least I thought I did. One day Mario got into bad things. He was only 13 but was getting into clubs because of his friends. I warned him, told him to stop. I didn't want anything bad to happen to him. Around the same time Brooks and I started becoming close. We were only 7 at the time, I felt like his father. He ignored me of course. One day, his friend was driving home from the club they were at and got into an accident. Not only was he drunk but he was also high. Mario-" He hiccups, trying to continue the story.

Shįt, I didn't realize it was this. He should be able to tell me this on his own time.

"Mason, you can stop" I grab his hand.

"No, I have to tell you" He wipes his eyes.

"Um, Mario being the smallest was sitting on his friends lap in the back seat. He wasn't wearing a seatbelt or anything. He didn't make the crash. He was in a coma for weeks but we all knew he would never come out of it. Everyone else made it out alive. Elijah was there for Sofia and Alexis for me. I was crushed, not a day would go by that I didn't breakdown. For months his memory haunted my night. I still suffer from nightmares at times. They mostly stopped when I met you. Alexis and I developed deeper feelings so I though. Really, she was a distraction to my 7 year old self. Almost 11 years have passed and she still flings herself at me. Its pathetic really. I broke up with her at the end of every summer for two years. I never realized that it was just a distraction for me. That I never really had feelings for her. As shįtty as that makes me sound, I toyed with her feelings for two years. Now wether she threw herself at me for my money or me myself, I'll never know. But I do know I never liked her, not like I do with you. You are the only girl I've wanted to be around. Anyone else has been a one day thing. It makes me sick to think that I did that. I would never do it again, and I wish I had gained the balls to talk to you years ago like I wanted to. I would have realized that without you, I feel empty. I really do Leah, you don't have to believe me. I get it, but please just think about all of this" He says, tears falling out of his eyes.

"Mason, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry you went through that. That's terrible" I say, unwelcome memories flooding into my head causing tears to stream down my face.

"It's okay, I just wish it wouldn't of happened. I promise you that's the truth and all of it. Go ask Ellie, my mom, my dad. Even Elijah. I'm not lying, I would never. And I don't have feelings for anyone besides you, I never have and never will" He wipes my tears.

I nod, not trusting my voice.

"Please say something" He chokes out.

"I-I need a minute" My voice cracks. He kisses my hand, some tears falling onto it.

"I just need you to promise me that you do have feelings for me and you aren't just trying to toy with me or lead me on" I look at him through my tears.

"I promise. I'll do anything to prove it Leah. I would never do that to anyone ever again, especially not you" He says, sadness in his eyes.

"Okay" I breathe out, trying to slow the tears. They just keep coming.

"A-are we okay?" He nervously asks. "Yeah, it might take me a little bit but we're okay" I nod, relief flooding his face.

"Oh thank God. But why are you still crying then?" He says worry filling his face.

"I'm-I'm not really ready to tell anyone yet. That story just made me think of something" I hiccup, Masons face falls again.

"I'm so sorry" He hugs me. "No, I am. I would have never made you tell me all that. You should have been able to tell me whenever you felt comfortable" I wipe my eyes.

"I've been meaning to tell you for a while actually. It's okay, don't apologize. I brought it upon myself" He kisses my forehead.

I hesitantly lean my head on his chest, closing my eyes to try and slow the tears. I know what's coming tonight, I just need to put it off as much as possible.

Mason wraps his arms around me protectively smoothing my frizzy hair down.

"I'll tell you soon. I just can't today" I hiccup, looking at the door to see Ellie and Brooks stealing glances at Mason and I.

"Can we go inside?" I stand up, brushing the grass off of my dress.

"Yeah, of course" Mason wipes his red eyes and nose. He still looks amazing. I probably look like I just got run over by a train.

We walk in and Ellie and Brooks pretend to be doing something.

I laugh at their attempt to not be eavesdropping.

"Y'all are cute" I smirk, shaking my head.

"I'm going to go clean up a little. Leah, come with?" Ellie gives me the 'come with me and spill everything sister' look.

"Yeah" I give the guys a soft smile and follow Ellie. The second her door closes she's attacking me with questions.

"Shh, I'll give you the sum up for now. He told me about Mario" I shakily answer, holding back the memories of my horrific past. "And he explained to me how I made him realize that he's only ever had feelings for me" I explain, a thoughtful look on Ellie's face.

"What did he tell you about Mario? All of it?" She sucks in a breath.

"Um yeah, I would rather not repeat it. But it was pretty lengthy" I answer.

"Okay, so are you guys okay?" She asks.

"Yeah, it might take a little. Not because he was hiding this away, but because he didn't stand up for me in front of Alexis. I trust him to have female friends, it just hurt when he made me look like an idiot" I explain.

"Yeah, I would be furious. You handled it very well" Ellie hugs me.

"Thank you" I give her a small smile.

Ellie has been such a great friend, she drives me nuts with her outfits sometimes but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

"Now, lets go get you cleaned up" She smiles.

I nod, grabbing a makeup wipe and wiping my face down from the streaky makeup.

We do a light face of makeup and then head back downstairs.

When we go downstairs there is a knock at the door. "I got it, you can go with Mason and Brooks" Ellie smiles.

"Okay" I whisper walking into the kitchen.

"Wait, Le. It's for you" She smiles.

"Me?" I question, peering around the door to see Elijah.

"Oh, hi" I step outside, closing the door.

"Hi, I'm really sorry if I interrupted anything. I just needed to apologize for Lexis behavior. She's not usually like that, I don't know what got into her" He defends his sister.

"It's okay, really. I understand. Mason told me everything" I give him a sympathetic smile.

"He did?" He questions, I nod.

"Damn, you've got him wrapped around your finger" He chuckles.

What does that mean?

"Anyways, I really just wanted to apologize for Lexis behavior, if she wasn't my sister I wouldn't be half defending her. She was terribly wrong, I'm very sorry and I hope you and Mason work it all out. I do know that nothing has been going on. You can take my word. Now, I'm going to get back to giving her hęll" He laughs, walking away.

"Thank you" I thank him and walk back inside.

"Who was at the door?" Mason looks nervous.

"It was Elijah, he was apologizing for her behavior" I pop a grape in my mouth.

"Oh" Mason mumbles.

"So, what are we doing? As beautiful as this house is, I want to get out of it. Explore a little. Its my first time out of California, never mind the country" I laugh, trying to ease the awkward tension.

"Good idea. I can figure something out. Gotta get you to see the world" Ellie smiles, taking out her iPhone.

"Hey Elle, remember that really good gelato place we always went to as kids? It's right down the road next to the old church and strip mall" Mason explains.

"Of course. I loved that place. We can go shopping and then get some gelato" Ellie suggests, branching off of Masons idea.

"That works for me" I shrug, putting my boots back on.

"How about we walk?" Brooks suggests as Mason grabs his car keys.

"I could use the exercise" I pat my stomach dramatically.

"We should go to the club tonight" Ellie beams, her eyes twinkling.

"I don't know Elle" Mason scratches his neck.

"Its okay with me, if that's what you're worried about" I clarify.

No, I don't like alcohol but I won't let it drag me or anyone else down. I don't need anyone walking on eggshells around me.

"Its decided. We'll leave at eight" Ellie claps her hands, embracing me in a tight, lung restricting hug.

Question: What year of school are you in?

Answer: I'm a junior in high school!

17 votes and 250 comments

Word count: 2055

~Leah