That morning I sung the song over and over while I cooked breakfast and got my things ready for class. I was feeling a lot better after a weeks rest but singing just gave me an extra burst of energy.

"Are you serenading me out of my bedroom because you love me that much?" Lexi joked slipping on her shoes. She tied up her short brown hair into a pony tail and demolished the bacon and eggs I'd made.

"Although serenading you sounds enticing, I'll leave that as a last resort I think. I'm just getting last minute practice in for the exam today." I started washing up the dishes.

"Well you sound remarkable Quinnie. You have nothing to worry about, it's an easy A for sure." She said walking over to get her keys. I thanked her on our way out the door and she started her Zach rant of the morning.

"I'm completely head over heels for him. Did I tell you he bought me a rose for every day we'd known each other?" She continued with little breath in between sentences as she drove us to class.

"Music first for me lover girl. I'll catch up with you at lunch?" I held the door open for her.

"Lunch date it is babe." She waved as she sped up to meet Zach.

When I arrived the classroom was alive with people scattered everywhere. I automatically looked for Mason and then wondered why. When did I start seeking out Mason instead of avoiding him i wonder?

My phone vibrates in my jacket pocket so I fish it out trying to manage my books in one hand. It was Mason.

MASON: Front row tinny. Loosen up, I can hear your gears churning from over here ;D

I check the front row and there he was watching me. He did a funny girly wave with his fingers to make me laugh and he succeeded. I managed to reach the front row without losing my books all over the floor which was a good start to this class at least.

"You all set?" He asked as I took my seat.

"Yeah, I've got it all down pat. I know it like the inside of my hand." I pushed my gloved palm into his face light-heartedly.

"I'd like to actually see the inside of your hand one day." He said laughing, poking my palm.

"Maybe one day..." I said quietly. I wanted to bare all to him but I had actually grown to like being around him and didn't want to scare him away just yet. Am I really thinking of letting him into my personal bubble?

He opened his mouth to say something else but the bell rang and Mrs Roberts called the class to attention.

"Today is the day for beginning of the year practical exams. You will be marked on precision of tone, precision of time signature, precision of lyrics but also originality. Please show your appreciation for the band who has willingly given up their time to be here." The room echoes with an assortment of claps and cheers.

"First we have Mr Ambrose and Ms Eden. Would you so kindly join us up the front please." Mrs Roberts swept her hand across the front of the room for effect.

Once we had stepped onto the slight rise of the platform we filled the band in on which song we were performing. All the band members plucked the sheet music from their books and placed them where they were readable. The guitar player helped us find the beginning note by plucking the first few chords.

"Quinn, follow my lead. I wanna try something." Mason whispered as the band finished setting up.

"Okay?" I was confused but decided to go along with it hoping he wasn't going to do anything crazy.

The drummer counted us in...

"1, 2, 3, 4."

Mason pointed to me and I sung solo. Then he pointed to himself and I hung back listening to him sing the response to my call. I smiled with the microphone up to my mouth and moved my body to the beat. Seeing how much fun he was having made it that much easier to roll with it. He took my hand and sung the chorus looking me directly in the eyes then kissed my hand in between verses. It sent tingles up my spine but I tried not to let it show. He really is taking this performance seriously.

During the second verse he walked along the stage circling me. When it was my turn to sing I took his hand and walked backwards towards his microphone stand. Then I turned my focus to Mrs Roberts, putting as much enthusiasm into my performance while she was bopping her head to the music. I desperately wanted an A for this performance so I didn't just need to sing, I needed to perform with the rest of my body as well.

We both returned to our microphone stands and clipped them in place to raise our hands above our head and start encouraging the class to clap along. When the music quietened down Mason and I looked at each other from our positions. He nodded his head and and smiled from the corner of his mouth. I kept singing wondering what he was up to.

Mason suddenly took his microphone off the stand and jumped onto the teachers desk and sung

"I really really really really really really like you!" pointing at me. He jumped off the desk and got on his knees in front of me while he sang. I could feel myself start to burn up in the face so to take the attention off me I took his hand and pulled him up.

I held my microphone out in front of his mouth and he understood what I was going for and held his out to me.

The classroom became a standing ovation, even Mrs Roberts was standing. Our classmates were throwing their hats and shoes at us, whistling and clapping loudly. Mason and I turned around to thank the band, high fiving every member simultaneously in a mess of hands.

"You're crazy, you know that?" I punched Mason's arm unable to wipe the smile off my face at the thought of him jumping on the desk. I returned the microphone and sat down at his desk in the front row.

"You never know unless you try. Zero regrets." He began rocking on the two back legs of his chair with his arms behind his head.

After the classroom settled Mrs Roberts began to introduce the next duet. For the rest of the class it felt like adrenaline was thrumming through my body, I was unable to sit still. I kept drumming my pencils against my paper and switching sitting positions every five minutes. The thrill of performing was an amazing natural high but my thoughts kept skimming over the performance over and over.

I started over analysing Mason's movements and performance that I just needed some fresh air to pull my mind back into focus. How did i get from solely focused on my 5 year goal to now thinking about Mason and the way he makes me feel almost all the time?

He may be my friend but if I overstep that line there's no going back. What if he's incapable of commitment? So why start something if he's not going to stay? But he's so kind and sweet when he wants to be. But what about all those girls I've seen him with? I have't seen him with any since we started talking like friends i guess. Why am i making excuses for him? Last chance remember? Parental acceptance ring a bell? Stop losing yourself in ridiculous emotions! You know that love is conditional, always.

I slowly feel my walls building back up as i contemplate my predicament.

It frightened me how much i could feel for one person in such a short amount of time. I felt a light tap on a pen on my forearm then watched Masons pencil tap to the writing on my paper.

MASON: You owned that performance girl!

MASON: You okay? I can see you've travelled off with the fairies again

He'd written to me and didn't even notice.

ME: Yeah I'm fine

MASON: You look like your mind is running a million miles an hour AmicaMea. Wanna spill?

I wondered if I should start sharing a little bit with him now. It might actually make him think I'm an emotional bank of problems and he'll move on to the next conquest.

That's all I am, is a conquest. I'm nothing special to him. He's just being polite. Don't get emotionally involved.

ME: Well, my parents kicked me out of home because I 'disgraced' them and that's why I moved here with Lexi to try and win their approval so they'll forgive my mistakes and accept me back so that's why I'm 'tinny' all the time.

I sighed as I dotted the period at the end of the sentence and chewed on the end of my pencil waiting. I watched his eyes darting across the paper as he licked his lush lips. He ran his fingertips over his mouth and started writing. I shouldn't like how he does that, but I do.

MASON: They should accept you now, as you are, you're perfect.

My stupid heart skipped a beat.

ME: I don't know what you see, but I think you need glasses.

I adjusted my glasses and I looked at him shaking my head. His hand hovered over mine before he took it in his. He squeezed gently and shook his head.

I was saved by the ringing bell. I pulled my hand away and packed up as hastily as I could. The way he made me feel was dangerous. When we touch I forget all about my past and his track record. His touch made my resolve weaker. He was the worse kind of addiction. I wanted him in my life but I wasn't good for him and he certainly couldn't be good for me.