ANIMA

30. Questions

Tomas

Exams start tomorrow so we have been taking advantage of being allowed off campus to have lunch at Café Trin occasionally in hopes of running into one of the ANIMA members. So far we haven't run into anyone that looks familiar or suspicious though.

Aiden, Sierra, Mason and I are just getting ready to leave when our phones go off. I guess whatever text we just got was scheduled yesterday.

"Oh my god." Sierra says and then looks at me.

Is it about me again? I check my phone.

WTH!?

"Why didn't you guys say anything?" Sierra asks with a smile.

"Exactly! We could have been going on double dates...wait is this a double date?" Aiden adds.

"This is not a double date, Aiden. We are not a couple" Mason says.

"Dude, you literally have your hand under his shirt in that picture." Aiden says.

"Maybe it was a one-time thing. Was it a one-time thing, Tomas?" Sierra asks me as we walk to Aiden's car.

"It's not any type of thing. Mason just tends to do that in his sleep." I reply.

"Oh my god, he cuddles in his sleep. So cute!" Sierra says.

"I am so sorry. Because of me everyone is probably going to be in your business for a while." Mason says.

"That's not your fault. I blame whatever creep took the photo" I say.

"How did they even get into our suite and into your room?" Aiden asks keeping his eyes on the road.

"Oh my god, where they watching us all sleep?!" Sierra says, probably just as creeped out as I feel.

"I just sent Mr. Han an email asking for the CCTV footage. This is our chance to unmask ANIMA at last." Mason says.

There are some wolf whistles when I enter the class but the teacher enters right after me and begins the revision lesson.

All through class I can feel Trent looking at me and I ignore him.

When the class is over I start gathering my stuff.

"I told you to stay away from them and you go and sleep with one of them? What is wrong with you?"

I guess the question is rhetorical since he walks off right after.

The rest of the day is filled with even more stupid questions.

"Have you always been gay or is this a new thing for both of you?"

"Are you guys really a couple or just hooking up?"

"How long have you been dating? Is he the one who got you into Wellies?"

"Oh my god, you guys look so cute together. I definitely ship you guys!"

Well that last one is not really a question but...argh am I part of a ship now?

I barely get back to my room and change out of my uniform when I get ambushed by Kenzie and Ava.

"I can't believe I didn't notice this earlier. This has been going on since our trip to the W. Why didn't you say anything? Is it because it's still new?" Kenzie says talking a-mile-a-minute.

"You guys are so cute! I absolutely approve by the way." Ava says excitedly.

"Sorry to burst your bubble guys...Mason and I are not dating"

Kenzie exclaims, "What?" while Ava just takes out her phone and shows me the picture.

"Mason just turns into a koala when he sleeps" I shrug.

"And the hand under your shirt?" Kenzie demands.

"Nothing happened." I say enunciating every word.

"But you wanted it to?" Kenzie prods.

"I...what?"

"Don't worry we will help you. Kenzie and I will come up with a plan to make MASMAS a reality." Ava vows as she leads Kenzie to the door.

"MASMAS really? Why not TOMSON?" Kenzie says.

"Oh that's a much better ship name. TOMSON it is." Ava proclaims closing the door behind them.

What is my life?!

A few minutes later I am putting away my books when there is another knock at the door.

What now?

"What is with you Malachis?"

"Excuse me?"

"First your sister inserts herself in my family and tries to take everything from me including Mason and now you are sleeping with him?!"

"Firstly, Kenzie did not insert herself anywhere. Your mother gave birth to her, lied about it and then lied some more to bring her into your family. Secondly Mason is not a thing that you own and as he explained himself, anything that happened between the two of them, he initiated and she rebuffed him. All in order to get you to leave him alone." I say losing my patience.

"And one more thing, since Mason does not belong to anyone but himself, what he and I choose or choose not to do is none of your business." I add and close the door.

To be honest I wanted to slam the door in her face but mom's frowny face pop into my head and...I chickened out at the last second.

The next morning I am having an early breakfast and trying, with no success , to block the very loud conversations going on around me.

"Really that's him? I thought he would be better looking. I mean this is Mason we are talking about here. He really went from Cassie to that?"

"I know right? And he is here on scholarship too. Imagine going from dating thee Cassandra King to hooking up with a no-name peasant?"

"And that's exactly just what it was supposed to be hooking up behind closed doors and nothing more. That's why they went all the way to the W, he was supposed to be Mason's dirty little secret. If ANIMA hadn't exposed them, he would have remained a secret. Instead, now some people think they are an actual couple."

"Maybe he is ANIMA"

"I even saw some people actually shipping them. They are not an actual couple people! Do they really think Mason is going to show up at the Oakwood ball with him?"

They all laugh.

Can't I even have my breakfast in peace? I thinking of just leaving when Mason sits down next to me.

He leans in so close I am sure to our classmates it looked like a peck on the cheek.

"Don't tell me you are thinking of leaving already?" he asks nonchalantly.

What game is he playing?

"Um...I kind of lost my appetite."

"You know what they say, empty cans make the most noise. Don't let them ruin your breakfast. Besides you will need all your energy when we see Emilio later."

"Emilio?"

"The tailor. It has been months since he took our measurements, he wants to see if he needs to make last minute adjustments to our outfits for the ball." Mason says loud enough for surrounding tables to hear.

Then he leans over and says, "Just play along"

"I forgot that was today."

"Don't worry since we can't go to him he will be coming to us. Just come over to my room after class."

"Okay"

We eat the rest of our breakfast in silence.

Our classmates' whispers only intensify.

"They made plans for the ball months ago?"

"I guess they really have been dating this whole time."

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