Holly's POV

I've felt out of it for the past week. Like a zombie, going through the motions of everyday life. The only way I've managed to keep sane enough to keep going is thanks again to Mason.

About two days after I ended things with Kyla I found a note in my locker. Mason had given me his number with the message to contact him as soon as I could. I waited until after school before I sent him a text.

We agreed to meet up at a coffee shop in town a few days later. I'd only ever stopped in here once before and it didn't really seem like the place for high schoolers. We'd got a few uncomfortable looks off people. Though maybe that was just because I was with Tanya and she always seems like she's had ten cups of coffee from the moment she opens her eyes in the morning. Yeah, her loud and sometimes brash ways were probably too much for this laid-back atmosphere.

I get a hot chocolate with loads of whipped cream and find a place to sit. A comfy mis-match set of armchairs that are positioned around a small round wooden table. I've barely made a dent in the cream mountain on my cup before Mason walks in. I continue with the whipped cream until Mason is sitting down across from me with his own drink.

"Hi, sorry I'm a little late. My sister was down the street with my nephew so I had to stop and talk."

The façade of hard-man wrestling captain is so long gone when I see Mason now, I just want to go 'ahh' when I hear that. I bet any number of girls in the school would love a chance to see Mason in this light, they already think he is sex on legs. Especially with the fact that he doesn't date anyone in school, it just adds to the rumours about him, making the girls want him even more. The fact that none of them have a chance with him because he like the guys instead is not even computable to them.

"That fine, I wasn't waiting long." I say wiping my face to make sure I don't have a whipped cream moustache.

"I didn't think I was going to get away from her, it only made it worse when I said I was meeting a girl. She asked whether I was using you as a beard."

I choke a laugh at that, using someone as a beard has never crossed my head. Then again when I realised I was gay I was already pretty deep in with Kyla. "You're not the type of guy that would use someone like that." I say without thinking but mean it all the same. I may not know him that well yet but from what I have seen that is just not in his style.

"I'm glad someone thinks highly of me. I had her basically telling me off. 'you shouldn't lead the poor girl on.'" He says in a higher pitch impersonating his sister I assume. "I had to practically run away from her."

We're quiet for a moment as we both take a sip of our drinks. "So, why did you want to meet up? I'm assuming it's not because you need a beard."

He smiles, "No, I'm fine being single. I wanted to meet up because I got the feeling you needed someone to talk to."

Have I been that transparent recently? I look down because I don't know how to respond. He's right that something has happened that I need someone to talk to about it and he's spot on in knowing that it's a topic that I've got no-one to talk to. Can I put this on him again though?

"I don't want to force you to tell me, I just assumed it was something that you couldn't talk to anyone else about. So I thought I would remind you that I'm an excellent listener." He continues, with a light smile. It's a shame he's the wrong gender because he has an easy calmness to him that makes me comfortable around him. Not that I'm looking for another relationship, I asked for a break, not a break-up. I seriously hope that one day me and Kyla can get through this rough patch and get back together I just hope I haven't ruined things long term for us.

I nod, gathering my thoughts. "Thanks. Well to catch you up. I took your advice and listened to what she had to say and you were right, she was innocent. She was just as surprised as me that he did that. Apparently it was all down to her prom queen campaign, her mother and Derek's mother have taken over her campaign and think Derek would be a good date option. He took that to mean they were together."

"Man I hate that guy, even his pretty looks don't disguise the ugly soul." Mason says shaking his head. I can't help but giggle at hearing him openly call a guy pretty.

"I'll take your word for the pretty looks comment." He shrugs at my comment. "So, she told him she only wanted to be friends with him and we kept going as normal. Until I couldn't take it anymore." I take another sip of my drink to compose myself. "I told her on Monday that I wanted to take a break."

He takes a few more sips of his drink, taking the time to digest everything I've told him. "Okay. A break is better than a break up, you're both just saying you need time to sort yourselves out for a while."

"It feels like it's over." I admit, squeezing my eye's shut.

"I can imagine it will, you two have been together for a long time. For a high school relationship that's practically a lifetime. Now the question is, what are you going to do with this new freedom?"

What am I going to do? "What do you mean?" I plan to wallow in self-pity until after prom, isn't that enough.

"You chose to take a break in your relationship instead of end it. So use this time for something productive. Don't waste time feeling sorry for yourself, use this time to improve yourself. That way when the two of you get back together this won't seem like a mistake, instead it will be part of your story."

How old is this guy?

Interesting way to look at it though. He has a lot more faith that Kyla and me will have a future than I do at this point. "This is why every girl wants a gay best friend." I deflect with humour, as per norm for me.

He laughs loud and hard. "Is that what I am? Okay I'll take that but only for you."

I puff out cheeks. What can I do to improve myself? Well if I'm honest I want to expand my radius of people that know the truth about me. This past week has highlighted how lonely I am without being able to talk to someone about how I'm feeling. Already I feel a load calmer just talking to Mason for twenty minutes. Would it help settle my life if my family and friends knew and accepted my true life.

"There's an idea forming in that head of yours, isn't there?" Mason deduces.

"I think I want to tell my parents the truth." I say warily, a little unsure about whether he will think it's a stupid move.

"Wow, going for the big one. If this is what you want to do, then let's form a plan of action."

"You don't think this is silly?" I really want his opinion on this, if he thinks it's a stupid move then I won't do it.

"Only you can decide when you're ready to tell people. Unfortunately, we're going to have to get used to coming out to people because everyone automatically assumes a person is straight."

He's right, it's not something you just get off your chest once and it's done. There are going to be plenty of new people in the future to tell. It's not like I can go around with a badge on saying I like girls. Well I could but I would probably get some weird looks.

"You are way too logical." I chuckle. Enjoying the easy friendship, we have building.

"Not bad for a dumb jock." He smirks.

"You are anything but dumb." I state. This guy whose given me nothing but great advice since I met him can not claim to be dumb. He blushes. The big bad wrestling captain really is a softy at heart, and I'm so honoured to be the one to see this side of him.