The Orphan

Chapter Thirty-Nine.

Autumn-

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath in, smelling the grass and hot food, the noise of the distant screaming crowds on rides, then i opened my eyes to see the crowd squished together a range of all ages with either some type of food in their hand or something they won at the side shows.

I told Ryder we were over...

I exhaled the breath i had kept in for too long.

Lex told me i had to head out of the house, said if i didn't she would kill me, so why not drive five hours to an amusement park?

"Having fun?" A deep voice asked beside me.

I couldn't be bothered taking a look at the owner to the voice, so i kept my head straight, looking at the passing kids with their parents as the sky turned dark.

"Supposedly." I answered blankly.

"I'm pretty sure if you pay to be in an amusement park you should at least go on a ride." He stated.

I turned to glare at him, but as my eyes widened in disbelief i couldn't help but grin madly.

His hair was longer and gelled up, he wore a leather jacket and was looking more confident than i remember, but i will always remember Mason.

In split seconds i had my arms wrapped around him,"Mason!" I gasped and his arms wrapped around me instinctively.

"Hey." He chuckled.

"W-what? Where? How?!" I stuttered breathlessly pulling away and taking another good look at him.

I have to be dreaming!

"Well, I live here." he stated.

Of course.

Another small town.

"And I'm here with indie." he admitted.

My lips formed an o shape, "how is she?"

"Good, yeah, fifteen months now."

"One, Mason. She's one."

We both laughed at how he's become one of 'those parents'

"well, where is she?" i questioned with a smile after the laughter died down.

"With Destiny."

I nodded, "so are you and Destiny... A thing now?"

"Well, yeah i guess." he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"And you and Ryder?"

"Its...complicated."

He let out a deep chuckle.

I raised an eyebrow in question.

"Thats not surprising." he explained jokingly.

I was going to question him on it further but he cut me off, "So, what ride? I mean it is an amusement park, right."

"I don't mind, nor care."

"Of course you don't." he announced, not buying it.

He then took me by the hand and dragged me towards the first side show game that he could find.

I forgot what it was like with Mason, it had only been a little over six months since we first met, and yet i felt like i could trust him with anything!

I forgot how free flowing it was, how relaxed i was with him, how much he made me smile.

***

The bell dinged profusely.