Escape

Chapter 16

1:03 pm

About an hour later I wake up and rub my eyes. I was cuddled up with Mason who is now asleep and Austin who is also still asleep in my arms. Yawning, I try to reposition myself without waking anyone. Sadly it doesn't work. Austin faintly cries and I can feel masons chest rise and fall as he inhales and exhales, now more heavier than before. His arm rises to his face and he wipes his eyes.

"Morning..." he groggily groans and I laugh as I grab my iPod and press the power button.

"It's actually 1:05 in the afternoon." I say reading the time display on my lock screen.

"Oh sorry.." he says and I can feel the vibrations through his chest from his laugh.

I smile and then sit up.

"Where are you going?" Mason asks, sounding a little more awake and alert.

"Just to see Julia." I say and stand holding Austin with his chin resting on my shoulder.

"Don't be long!" he calls after me as I walk down the hall to the stairs.

As I reach the bottom of the stairs Julia is looking at me from her bed.

"Hey." I say and walk over to her.

"Hi." she says and smiles. "How are things going?"

"Really good," I start "we're kind of... A thing again." I say and smile.

"OH MY GOD!" Julia yells at me.

"Shut up Julia!" I shout back in a whisper.

"Sorry..." she apologizes and I keep talking.

"But yeah. He loves Austin and said that he wants to get back together and then we all fell asleep."

"Oh." Julia says "you two were always my favourite couple." She gushes.

"Suuuuuure..." I say and laugh.

"Anyways, what are you up to?" I ask.

"Nothing really. Watching Netfix mostly." She shamelessly says gesturing to her flatscreen.

"Ahhh I see." I reply.

"Mhm..." she mumbles back. "Can you make me popcorn?"

"Sure?" I say and skip back upstairs.

I make my way to the kitchen and try to successfully make popcorn while holding Austin. Surprisingly it wasn't that hard. I opened the microwave door and toss the popcorn bag into it, setting the timer for about 2 minutes. Then I jump as Mason wraps his arms around my waist.

"Whatchya doing?" he whispers in my ear.

"Making popcorn for Julia?" I reply and smile.

"Don't be long.." he smirks and walks back to the couch.

I finish making Julia's popcorn and walk downstairs with Austin clinging onto my shirt.

"GIMMIE!" Julia says, reaching her arms out like she's five.

"Hmmm....nah, I'm going to eat it all!" I say and laugh, holding the bowl behind me.

"You're a jerk." She says and crosses her arms.

"Here." I laugh and hand the bowl to her.

"Yay!" She cheers and stuffs her face with popcorn.

I laugh and then turn to go upstairs.

"I love youuuuu!!!" Julia calls

"Love you too!" I call back and then reach the top of the stairs.

"Ou I love you, ou I love you too!" I can hear Mason imitating Julia and I in little, squeaky, high-pitched voices.

"Oh hush." I say as I sit back down beside him.

I sit Austin in my lap and turn to Mason.

"What?" Mason says, his eyebrow raised.

I brush him off and then turn my attention to Austin, who is drifting off to sleep in my arms. I stand up and walk over to his playpen. I lay him down in it, tuck him in and then kiss the tips of my fingers then gently press them to Austin's forehead.

"I should probably get going..." Mason says as he pushes himself off the couch.

"Aw.. Do you have to?" I say in a sweet little girlish voice.

"Yeah, I'm meeting up with some old friends.." He says, staring at his phone. "But I'll text you tonight?"

"Yes you will." I say, wrapping my arms around his neck.

He hugs me back a bit tighter than I'm hugging him and then he picks me up and spins around slowly. He places me gently back down onto my feet but I keep my grip around him. Changing position, now clinging around his torso and I bury my face into his shirt, deeply inhaling his cologne.

"I've missed you." I say, my voice muffled.

"I've missed you." He replies, resting his cheek on the top of my head.

I feel him plant a soft kiss on the top of my head and then he throws on his boots, grabs his keys and heads out the door. Then I sigh as I watch him drive off.