Protecting Zoey

Chapter 12 Shattered Routine

Mason stretched his arms high and took a deep breath as he continued walking to the Pike's home. His mind was still reeling over everything that happened over the last few days. He hoped the incident downtown wasn't too traumatic for the girls, but he knew they were strong, he'd grown to care for them over the short time they'd spent together. As he walked, he continued to think heavily about them.

Olivia, she's a bit strange but she's a great girl. I was worried initially about how heavily she flirted with me, but it all seems to be in good nature, at least so far. She can be a bit overbearing but that just seems to be her personality.

Zoey reminds me a lot of Natalie; they have a lot of similarities and yet so many differences. But there's always something different when I think about Zoey, I just can't seem to put my finger on it. Right now, I just want to make sure she stays safe.

Still wrapped in thoughts he continued his way up the sidewalk ignoring Olivia's waving hand in the distance. This inevitably caused her to start sprinting toward him as he continued staring at the ground.

"Hey!" Olivia shouted just as she reached him causing Mason's head to snap up just as she jumped at him.

Fortunately, he braced himself before she struck and wrapped her arms and legs around him. He dropped one of his arms beneath her and one behind her back to hold her up.

"Good morning to you too," Mason said as a grin spread across his face. "To what do I owe the surprise attack?"

"I was waving at you," Olivia said as she pulled her head back doing her best to imitate a pouting look

even though she wasn't upset. "You ignored me, that's not a very nice thing to do!"

"Well, we can't have that now can we," Mason replied carrying her back toward the Pike's house and up the pathway. "When I set you down you can wave again, and I promise I will reciprocate appropriately since I was way too distracted to do it before."

"Nah, this is better." She said in a sultry tone as she leaned her head into his shoulder. "Can you just carry me like this all the way to school?"

"Not happening." Zoey's voice called out as she exited the house glaring at the two of them. "Get down Olivia! You know that's not appropriate, what would my mother or Harrison say if they saw you two like that?"

"Awe, I forgot how jealous you can be," Olivia stated as Zoey began turning red. "I'm sure he can carry you too, we aren't that heavy."

Olivia finally released her grip on Mason and slid down running up to Zoey who turned away from her immediately as her face turned bright red.

"What are you doing Liv?" Zoey asked crossing her arms with her back still turned to her.

"Just trying to get a rise out of you," Olivia said innocently as she leaned into Zoey's back.

"I know you like him a lot more than you want to say." Olivia finished whispering in Zoey's ear causing her to blush even deeper.

"Yeah, I know," Zoey replied clearly still annoyed before whispering back. "I don't want to talk about that right now."

Mason just stood there awkwardly as the two girls began bickering back and forth slowly raising their voices before Zoey finally relented and the three of them began walking to school.

"Are you two doing all right?" Mason asked as they walked side by side down the street, his ultimate concern was if they had a form of post-traumatic stress from the incident.

"I'm fine," Olivia said immediately. "I mean I was a little freaked out at first but I'm okay now, it took me a while to fall asleep last night though."