This chapter is dedicated to @TaraOrtega7 ! Go give her a follow, along with me! :)

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Words are spewing out of Leah's mother's mouth faster than a volcano erupts. I'm watching Leah, knowing her walls are slowly breaking and her heart is racing.

I wrap my arm around her waist, whispering in her ear, 'Deep breaths' She nods, leaning into my chest.

"Mason, sweetie, thank you for protecting my daughter. I don't know what I would do without you" She turns her attention over to me.

I nod, withholding from the long line of profanities I wish to let out.

"I know you don't like me, and that's understandable. But I hope you both will forgive me" She continues.

Neither of us answer and she presses the issue. I can feel Leah slipping away. Each word her mother says, more and more pressure is being put on me to hold her up. She physically is struggling to be present in the conversation, I can only imagine how she is feeling mentally.

"Mom, please" She whispers, her grip on my arm tightening.

"Leah, you need to forgive me. You're my only daughter. You're all I have left" She cries.

"Mrs. Williams, with all due respect, Ma'am, I don't think Leah is in the right state to make a decision like that. You both have put her through a lot emotionally and physically and she needs time" I stop her from going on.

"Heather, you're better off without her. So are you Mason. She's just a burden. Kait was much better" Her father sneers, rolling his eyes.

"Coming from you" Leah mumbles.

"I think we should go. We have somewhere to be" I clear my throat, needing to escape this toxic environment. Leah doesn't need this on her plate. She has much more important things to be focusing on.

The second we leave the room, tears cascade down her face as she falls to the floor.

"Shįt" I curse, squatting in front of her.

"Baby, come on, let's get to the car. You're okay" I pick her up and rush out of the rehab center, thanking the lady at the desk.

When we get to the car I slip into the backseat, needing the room.

"Come on Le, they aren't worth those tears" I wipe her eyes, rocking her back and forth.

"Take me home" She stares up at me with sad, empty eyes.

My heart shatters hearing those three words. She sounds so lost.

"Of course, my love. I'll take you home" I kiss her forehead before moving her to the passenger seat.

The drive back to her house is silent. The radio plays all the songs that are typically lost by her voice. The once clear sky grays over as raindrops the size of baseballs pound against the car's windshield. The whole atmosphere has changed, and I fear what's to come next.

"Okay, Le. I'll pull up to the front door so you don't have to walk in the rain. Head up to your place. I'll be right up" I look over at her, she's staring out the window, a blank expression on her face.

When I pull up to the front, it takes her a second to register. She slowly opens the door and drags her feet through puddles, stopping to look down at her once dry feet.

I quickly park in a visitor's spot and rush to her, helping her up the stairs.

When we get to her apartment we're both soaked.

"Come on baby, I'll run you a bath" I guide her to the bathroom, walking past a worried Cody.

She sits on the toilet, while I run the water, getting everything ready. I get out a pair of white sweatpants and a pink crop top. I get some fuzzy socks and a clean pair of undergarments.

"Let's get you in the bath," I say, staring at her. She stares at me, her eyes tired.

"Can you stay?" She whispers, looking down.

"Of course baby, I'll stay as long as you need" I push her hair out of her face.

"Don't leave me. I can't ever lose you" She sobs, violently shaking.

"You won't lose me. You can't lose me. I won't let you" I hug her, wanting nothing more but to take all her pain.

Once she calms down she gets into the bath. I sit against the tub, facing away from her. Giving her all the privacy she needs without actually leaving the room.

"I don't know what to do" She sighs after a few minutes of silence.

My mind is hazy. I can't think straight. I'm not even sure if I heard all of what my mother said. How do I know if it was truthful?

"Tonight you do nothing. Tonight we'll just chill out. No phones, no distractions. Just movies and snacks" Mason answers.

I feel awful putting him through this. I shouldn't have made him come. I shouldn't have made him stay.

"You don't have to stay here" I sigh, grabbing my robe off the hook.

"I want to, Le. Just let me take care of you for a change" He kisses my forehead, cleaning up the bathtub.

I shake my head, helping him clean. "Babe, stop it" He smiles, gently pushing me away.

"I want to help" I frown.

"Fine, you can put the towels in the hamper. Then go into your room. Change if you want, I'll meet you there" I nod, accepting the task. At least it's something.

I changed into the clothes Mason picked out. He knows my go-to outfits.

I lay on my back, staring up at the ceiling. Bella nuzzles into my chest, resting her head in the crook of my neck.

It doesn't take long for Mason to clean the bathroom.

"Le" He lays down next to me, propped up on his elbow staring at me.

"Hmm," I hum.

"I'm going to make us some lunch and then I'll go pick us up some ice cream. Okay?" He smiles.

"What are you making?" I look over at him, the blue eyes I adore glossed over with worry.

"Haven't decided yet. Any ideas?" He brushes through my hair with his fingers.

"A grilled cheese sounds good" I smile.

Grilled Cheese sandwiches are definitely my go-to comfort food. Especially the way Mason makes them. They have the potential to turn my whole day around.

"A grilled cheese it is. I'll be right back" He kisses my cheek and heads out of my room.

I hear rustling and talking and pay no attention to it. Soon enough Mason is back with our food.

A grilled cheese sandwich is on the plate with some grapes and chips on the side.

I thank him before we start to eat, the TV playing a movie I've never heard of.

"So, do you have to go back to the hospital today?" I ask, giving Bella a piece of the crust.

"Yeah, we were supposed to originally" He nods.

We? What does he mean by 'we were'?

"Did you say 'we' or am I just crazy?" I laugh.

"No, I said we. Ms. Price really wants to meet you." He smiles.

"Oh okay. When are we going?" I nod, eating a chip.

"Oh, no. We aren't going. Not anymore" Mason shakes his head.

"Why not?" I ask, finishing my sandwich.

"Babe, you're playing right?" He smiles at me.

"No, I'm serious. Do we have other plans or something?" I grab my pillow, hugging it.

"Do you have a twin or something? Did you forget what happened two hours or so ago?" He points behind him, looking confused.

"Mason, I'm done letting them control me. I'm 18 for god's sake. I've been paying for myself for years. I'm not letting a minor inconvenience stop me from living my life. Not anymore. I was stuck living like that for way too long" I play with the seams of my pillow.

"I get it, I do. And I'm glad you want to move on. They don't deserve you, at all. You're too good for anyone around you. I mean that. But that whole thing messed even me up. There's no way you don't have shįt running around your brain right now. The last thing you need is to see Brooks's sick mother in the same hospital room you were in. If I'm being selfish, I can't deal with it tonight" He shakes his head, looking down.

It must be hard for Mason to see his best friend's mom like that. Brooks and Mason have been best friends forever. They grew up with each other. Mason must be feeling so overwhelmed with everything. I don't know how he can stay strong like this.

"Mas" I whisper. His now dark blue eyes meet mine.

I wrap my arms around his neck. His arms find my back and he lifts me into his lap.

"I'm so sorry" I cradle his head, scared to let go.

"I'm okay" He pulls away, cupping my cheeks in his hands. "I am"

I watch as a single tear slides down his cheek, a soft smile playing at his lips.

"You don't have to put the tough front on with me, you know that" I push his hair off his forehead.

"I know, Darling" His hands fall to my waist, causing chills to run down my spine.

A few seconds pass before Mason's voice fills the room again, "Oo, my sandwich" I laugh, getting off his lap.

"It was really good," I smile, tossing a small chip to Bella.

"Thank you, my love" He kisses my cheek.

I lay back down, flicking the tv to a different channel.

Mason finishes his food before bringing our plates to the kitchen.

He lays down next to me, pulling me to his chest.

"Do you have practice tomorrow?" I run my finger over his shirt, tracing the pattern.

"I do, it's an early one tomorrow. So, unfortunately, I need to go home tonight" He sighs.

"Oh okay, that's okay. I have work tomorrow anyways" My chest tightens at the thought of the nightmares I'll have tonight.

"You can come with me, babe" He chuckles.

"Really?" I look up at him.

"Please" He smiles, kissing my forehead.

The chest pains ease immediately, causing my breathing to even out.

"There it is" He squeezes my side, causing me to flinch, a laugh escaping my lips.

"There what is?" I sit up.

"The normal breathing" He pulls me back down, hovering over me.

"You could tell?" I ask, confused.

"Of course I could tell. You turn stiff as a board, your breathing changes drastically, not to mention the shaking, the change of color to your eyes, cheeks, and complexion. It's pretty easy to tell when you're anxious. For me, at least" He pushes my hair off my face.

I blush, getting embarrassed. I guess I never realized it was that obvious or dramatic. "That's embarrassing"

"You have nothing to be embarrassed about" He kisses the tip of my nose, his cold hand resting on my bare hip.

I squeal, not expecting the sudden contact.

"Do you want a massage?" He smiles, wiggling his fingers.

"I think you need one more than me" I smile, propping myself up on my elbows.

"I won't fight you on that" He laughs, dropping next to me.

I laugh, straddling his back so that I can massage him.

I work out a bunch of knots starting from his shoulders to his lower back. Around half an hour later and a few thousand laughs later, Mason is standing up, stretching.

"Shįt, Le. You're a miracle worker" He pretends to throw a football, a smile plastered on my face.

"It's what I do" I shake my head, laughing.

"Those hands do wonderful things" He winks at me, causing my cheeks to heat up and a gasp to escape my mouth.

"Mason, keep it PG" I throw a pillow at him, a smile breaking his face.

"It's just you and I, my love" He lays on his stomach, facing me.

"I know it is, but keep the inappropriate comments to yourself" I smile, laughing when his arm wraps around my waist, pulling me to him.

He lifts part of my shirt up, exposing most of my stomach. He blows a raspberry on my stomach, causing me to laugh, pushing him away.

He grins at me, sitting at the top of the bed. I shake my head, standing up to sit on my floor against my bed.

"What are you doing?" Mason laughs.

"I sit here a lot. It's comfortable" I smile, thinking back to when Kaitlyn and I used to sit on the floor in each other's rooms, talking for hours.

"How about we go get ice cream and then go back to my house? I'm sure my mom and dad will be happy to see you. Elle too, if she's home" He pulls his wet shirt over his head.

It's still wet from the rain. I had wanted to throw it in the washer and dryer but he insisted that it would shrink.

"Okay, just let me change and get you a clean and dry shirt" I hold my arm out for help.

"Don't change. I like the comfy look. And I'm fine. It's still raining a bit, plus I'll shower when I get home" He shakes his head, pulling me out the door.

"I don't have shoes or my wallet, hun" I laugh.

"So? I'm paying and I'll carry you" He smiles, stopping to let me get shoes on. "Do you need to pack clothes?"

"No, but I do need my car. I go in late tomorrow and close" I grab my wallet and phone, shoving them into my pocket.

"You can just take mine. I'll have Brooks drive tomorrow" He interlaces our fingers.

"I don't want to strand you for the whole day" I shake my head.

"There's my parents' car and Ellies. I'll be fine" He leaves a kiss on my temple.

"Okay, you can also take mine if you need. I don't mind. Thank you" I smile.

Mason's car is absolutely stunning. I will forever adore it.

We get into the car and head to the ice cream shop.

"What are you going to get?" I smile, getting excited.

"Chocolate is usually my go-to, but I'm thinking chocolate peanut butter" He looks at me, smiling.

"Moose tracks are better" I stick my tongue out at him.

"You wish" He laughs, squeezing my thigh.

We get our ice cream and head back to Masons once we finish.

"Le, it's been forever. How are you?" Ellie shrieks, hugging me.

Brooks walks out behind her, looking tired.

"I'm good," I smile.

"Hey Brooks, I heard about your mom. How is she?" I hug him, knowing he needs it.

"She's doing okay. She was better today" He nods, hugging me back.

"Good, that's good. Please keep me updated. How are you doing?" I give him a half-smile.

"Not great, but that's expected" He shrugs.

"I know, it's hard. If you need anything at all don't hesitate to reach out. Please" I lean into Mason.

"Thanks, Leah, it means a lot. Really" Ellie snakes her arm around his. I nod, smiling.

"How did it go today? You went to see your parents, right?" Brooks asks, the smile immediately leaving my face.

Ellie nudges him, hinting to not ask questions. Mason must have told her what happened. I guess Brooks never got the message.

"Um, it wasn't great" I looked down, kicking a rock.

"Oh really? I'm sorry. That sucks" He looks around nervously.

"Yeah, seems like the world is full of disappointments recently" I sigh.

"I talked to Christine earlier. Her and Dani want to have a girl's day" Ellie pipes in, turning the conversation around.

"Okay, that sounds good" I look to the side, feeling the tears pricking my eyes. I quickly blink them away, not needing to cause any more awkwardness.

"Okay, we're going to head in. It was good to see you guys. Brooks, you're driving to practice tomorrow" Mason daps him up before we go inside.

I follow Mason into the kitchen where he makes us a cup of coffee.

The events of today swirl around in my brain. Do I even remember any of it correctly? It all feels like a horrible nightmare.

"Le?" Mason's voice rings out, his hand resting on my arm.

"Hmm?" I look at him.

"Did you hear what I was saying?" He looks at me concerned.

"No, I'm sorry" I sigh, guilt consuming me.

Mason has done nothing but give me his undivided attention and support. I should be doing the same. I can't believe I'm treating him like this.

"I'm worried about you. You've been distracted all day today" He rubs my arms.

"I know, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't be acting like this, I expected it. It's not like it's your fault. I'm sorry for how horribly I've been treating you" A few tears escape my eyes.

"No babe, that's not at all what I meant. You're not treating me poorly at all. You're upset, I get it. You have every right to be. It's awful that you expected that treatment. It's okay if you hoped for a different outcome, I did" He cradles my face in his hands.

The mixture of his soft, caring touch, his scent, the worry on his face, and his words push me even closer to my breaking point. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, my hands grip the edge of the chair like I'll fall off.

"How about we go upstairs, yeah? Just chill for the rest of the night" He pushes my hair away from my face.

I nod, standing from the chair.

We make our way upstairs, Mason's shirt slipping off as soon as we get into his room.

"Are you okay if I shower really quick?" He asks when I sit on his bed.

"Yeah. Please don't let me stop you. I'm okay" I give him a small smile.

"Okay, baby. I'll be right back" He kisses my forehead before making his way into the bathroom.

"I'll leave the door open in case you need anything" He starts the water, telling me to put something on the TV.

I get under his covers, grabbing the book on his night table. Harry Potter, an interesting pick for him.

I open it up to the first page, starting the book over again for the hundredth time.

Mason's shower is quick, yet I find myself struggling to keep my eyes open. It's only 10:00 but I hardly got any sleep last night. I know Mason didn't either.

I put his book back, smiling when he walks out of the bathroom with the towel tied around his hips.

"Miss me?" He smiles, grabbing some boxers and a pair of basketball shorts to change into.

"Yes. I'm so tired" I laugh when he jumps into the bed next to me, pulling me close to him.

"Okay, goodnight my love" He leaves a bunch of kisses on my neck before setting his alarm for the morning.

"Goodnight, wake me before you leave" I kiss his chest, hugging him close to me.

I don't even have time to think about the possible nightmares I'll have. Within a few seconds, I'm encased in darkness.

Hello, my angles. Happy Thanksgiving! The last chapter did not reach the goal so I lowered it. Here's a chapter to show how grateful I am for each and every one of you. You all have changed my life and given writing a new meaning to me. Thank you for all you've done for me! I could never thank you enough. Don't forget to like, comment, and vote!

Question: Did you celebrate Thanksgiving?

Answer: Because of COVID, thanksgiving this year was small. We did follow the restrictions and did have less than 10 people as well. It was great, but I did miss the rest of my family!

15 votes and 75 comments?

Word count: 3357

~Leah