Dodge Mason // Mystery Boy

8

*honk honk*

—

*beep beep beep* I turn off my alarm and check my phone, and I see a text from Bishop.

Bishop🥸: Picking you up in an hour.

Me: Sounds good.

I reply and get ready for the day.

—

*honk honk* I shut the door behind me and start jogging to his car. "Heyyyy hold your horses will ya?" I say getting into the passenger. "What's going on?" I ask.

"I have a plan," he explains.

"A plan?"

"Yes a plan,"

"This cannot end well," I joke.

"Ha ha ha, so funny," he replies sarcastically. "But seriously," he says beginning to drive. "Nat is at my house right now and we're going to get Heather and bring her to my house so they can make-up."

"Hmm, sounds good to me," I add turning up the radio. We go to get Heather and bring her back to Natalie who is sitting on Bishop's porch steps.

"She's still your best friend," Bishop says while putting the car in park. We all get out and walk over to Natalie. "Alright, remember the court rules, no cursing, spitting, hitting, or crying... because I think I ran out of tissues," Bishop says plainly.

"I think we should just... give them a second," I hint to him. Bishop nods and we head inside. We keep an eye on them through the window.

"Lemonade?" he asks.

"Sure," I reply. I sit on a stool at the kitchen island and check my phone. I see a text from Dodge while Bishop pours me a glass and places it in front of me. "Thanks."

"No prob," There's a bit of silence as I read the text.

Dodge🤠:  Visit me at work today?

Me: Sure, why not? I could go for some fries and an apple juice :)

"So, how are things going with the new kid?" Bishop asks me.

"Hmm?" I hum looking up.

"Heather told me you guys had a little date," he clarifies.

I let out a small laugh "Yeah, it was really nice," I respond.

"So?" he asks raising his eyebrows staring at me.

"What?" I laugh a bit confused on what he's trying to ask.

"Well do you like him??" he pries.

I think for a second. "Yeah," I answer. "I do," I blush.

"AHHHHH!" He shrieks running around the counter to give me a hug.

"AHHHH" I laugh as he shakes me.

"Do you think he likes you back?" he asks like a little kid as he sits next to me.

"Maybe," I respond. "Hopefully," I say honestly. "Oh," I remember. "He wants me to visit him at work today. Maybe after Heather and Natalie make up we could all go together?" I suggest.

"Yeah sounds good!" He responds. "We should go check on them," he remembers and I nod in agreement.

We step out to see Heather and Natalie hugging. Thank God. It can be really awkward when any of us are fighting so I'm glad we fixed this right away.

"Are you guys gonna make out?" Bishop asks joking.

I fake gasp offended "Without me?" I laugh.

"You wish," Heather responds.

"Really?" Nat replies to Bishop. We all share a laugh.

"So, all good? You guys friends again?" Bishop questions.

"Partners." Natalie responds with a cheesy grin and a look at Heather. We tell them about going to the restaurant and we all head to Bishop's car.

—

We all sit together at the end of the bar sharing a basket of fries. I have my chin resting in my hand as take a bite of a fry when suddenly Natalie snaps her fingers in front of my face. I jump back a bit, startled.

"Hey are you done staring?" she asks laughing. I blush and my eyes widen as I realize that I had been staring at Dodge working the entire time.

"Yeah keep your eyes where they belong," Bishop teases.

"Shut up," I reply embarrassed. Dodge looks over and smiles at me and I smile back.

"He definitely likes you," Heather blurts. Bishop and Natalie nod and agree.

"Shut up!" I laugh turning even redder. "You guys think so?" I ask. They nod violently to my obliviousness.

"Hey do you think now that the judges know who we are that they're watching us?" Heather asked changing the subject.

"Of course they're watching," Natalie replies. "How else are they gonna get intel on all the players?" We all listen in to what she's saying. "They're probably tracking where we work, and live, and hang out, watching what we do when we think there's no one watching, keeping tabs on who we're with. They're studying all the players," she finishes taking a bite of a fry.

The door opens with a squeak and a ding and someone steps inside. Ah if it isn't the insufferable Ray Hall.

"What... no invitation?" he asks fake offended.

"No," Heather mumbles as he snuggles his way between Bishop and Heather.

"Uh, we were, actually, just leaving," Bishop says as Ray turns to Heather staring at her only 3 inches from her face.

"I'm just saying hello to the new kid," Ray responds heading over to the middle of the bar.

"Let's get out of here," Natalie says getting up. I look over at Dodge and make eye contact with him one last time and he gives me a reassuring nod. We all walk out together as Ray begins to pester Dodge.

—

"So Diggins really hasn't said when the next challenge is gonna be yet?" Heather asks as we walk over to Bishop's car.

"Well don't look at me, I'm not trying to be an accomplice," Bishop replies going to open the car door.

"Uh guys?" I notice the sign above the cinema.

"What's that?" Natalie asks. The sign that used to read "CONGRATS SENIORS! CARP LOVES YOU!" now read "CON   TS SE IORS! C  P LOVES  OU!"

"Typical," Bishop sighs as we get closer to it. "Only a couple days after graduation and already half the letters have dipped out." I walk even closer and see a red spray paint marking on the ground underneath the sign.

"Hey it's a clue," I explain. I look back at the sign. "The missing letters spell something," I examine. "G-R-A-N-A-R-Y."

"Granary," Heather finishes.

"So we know where the next challenge will be. The question is..."

"When?" Heather finishes again. "So i guess we're looking for a start time."

"Maybe we'll find it at the granary," I suggest. We all get into the car and start our drive.