The Colors In Her Voice

☆Chapter 22☆

"Oh, my goodness!!"

I was startled and pushed myself away from Mason on instinct. He was bowled over because of my actions but recovered quickly when we both looked behind us to see the intruder.

"Mom?" I gasped, my face getting hotter. I could see Mason blushing as well from the corner of my eye. His head was hung low as if to hide his expressions.

"Yeah, that'd be me. Your mom."

"You - you're home," I mumbled, chuckling nervously.

"And yes, you're right again, captain obvious," my mom replied, giving me a wry smile. I could tell that she was mad because of the calm exterior she was exuding.

"Um..." I was speechless. I didn't know how to get myself out of this tough situation. Mason was giving me a wide eyed look and I took a deep breath.

"Care to explain about what I just saw right now?" She sounded so stern, leaving no space for any nonsense. "And who might you be?" She pointedly asked Mason, directing her sharp gaze toward him. 

Her eyes further narrowed when she looked at my head and I mentally groaned. I had entirely forgotten about how she'd react looking at my dyed hair. This whole thing was getting bad each passing second. 

I knew what her next question was going to be before she even uttered it. "And Rachel Maia Winters, you better have a good explanation for what you've done to your hair!"

The fact that she took my full name regarding the hair situation and not for what she just witnessed a few minutes ago was relieving but concerning at the same time. The moment she took my full name, I knew that I was doomed.

"Umm..." I muttered again, gulping. "I am... I am 17?" It sounded more like a question than a statement.

"And I am 44," she retorted back with a glare. "So?"

Before I could say another word, Mason decided to meddle in. "Hello, Mrs. Winters. I'm Mason. Mason West," he replied smoothly, giving her a genuine smile and my mom's face softened.

"He's teaching me guitar," I said, hoping she didn't remember his name because I had told her that he's just a friend and no sane person kisses their friend on the lips. 'Or do they?'

"Oh, yeah, honey. I got that part already. Your friend, I know but what troubles me right now is that you guys were kissing," mom said, going back to being her stern self. 'Oh, so she does remember then.'

My face reddened again and I stared down at my hands. I didn't know how to answer that.

"Do you guys like each other?" She continued with her interrogation, folding her arms across her chest.

"No!" I stated instantaneously, not wanting Mason to get any wrong ideas even though it's true. I couldn't accept the fact that the kiss we just shared was only a one time thing and that he wouldn't return any of my feelings.

When I looked at Mason, his lips parted and I thought that I saw hurt swirling in his eyes but it was just my imagination because he looked merely shocked at my outburst.

My mom wasn't expecting that answer either by the looks of it. 'What does she think? That I'll flat out tell my feelings in front of the guy who's solely responsible for them? No way.'

"Okay," she replied, clearing her throat and nodding her head. "Although, Blue, I'll be honest here, I am still not happy about that colour you've dyed your hair in. What's it again? Is it - is it blue or green or what?" She squinted her eyes to get a proper look at it but it was too dark to notice.