𝐃𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐒 - 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴

nineteen.

THE GROUP OF SIX HAD to split up because the cabs they were getting in couldn't fit more than two people.

And for Natalie and Masons luck, they had a cab together. The driver put up this soundproof thing, so until they were back to the hotel, they were alone together.

"I-" Mason tried to speak, cutting himself off.

"What'd you say?" Natalie looked up from her phone.

"Nothing, I just tried to clear my throat and it came out wrong." Mason came up with an excuse.

"Okay." Natalie said, chuckling before she replied because she definitely didn't believe it.

"Look, we need to stop arguing and you need to stop acting like this." Mason confronted her.

"Acting like what?" Natalie questioned.

"Like everything's okay. Listen, I think about you a lot, and I'm not afraid to say it." Mason said.

"Who said I'm acting like everything's okay?"

"You don't think about me?"

"Mason."

"Answer me. We still have ten minutes in this cab."

"Yes, I do."

"You do what?"

"Think about you." Natalie mumbled.

"I love you, Natalie."

"No, you don't."

"I love you, Natalie."

"I'm rude,"

"I love you, Natalie."

"I'm a prick,"

"I love you, Natalie."

"I kicked you out because of a little word,"

"I love you, Natalie."

"I'm dramatic,"

"I love you, Natalie."

"And you were right, I'm a bitch."

"Natalie."

"What could you possibly need to say?"

Mason grabbed Natalie's face, pulling her in and kissing her. He didn't even care that they were in a cab where the driver could easily look in the mirror and see them kissing, he just held her closely.

Natalie's eyes widened like bug eyes, before they slowly started closing as she kissed him back. She felt the butterflies in her stomach as she was thoughtless. For the first time in a while, she felt as happy as she could be.

He pulled away, his eyes sparkling as he looked into Natalie's eyes.

"I love you, Natalie."

"I love you, Mason."

"And I'm sorry." Mason added.

"I'm sorry, too." Natalie agreed. She leaned over to Mason, embracing him into a big hug, feeling so much guilt that she kicked this sweet boy out of her hotel room.

"I just... was a little mad that you were keeping those secrets."

"Sorry."

—

NATALIE WAS ON THE PHONE with Nathan two days later, listening in on what was happening at school while she was gone. But Masons hotel room was finished with the work on that door, so he was staying in it again. Nathan was shocked when Mason came in and flopped on her bed.