Everything's an Illusion: A Dark MM Enemies to Lovers Romance

Chapter One

Two years later

Mason

The longer I stare at my laptop screen, the more the words blur together on the page. I know the essay isn't due for another week but with Halloween coming up, a holiday more beloved than Christmas to the Arsonists, I know the sooner I get this done, the sooner I can spend my next few days at the bottom of a liquor bottle.

A knock sounds on my door and I roll my eyes. No one respects the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on my door. To be fair, I do leave it on there 24/7. Maybe I should invest in a second sign that says 'I really mean it right now'.

The door swings open and Jonah saunters in. When I see it's him I'm actually shocked he bothered to knock. Jonah and closed doors aren't on a first-name basis. I don't even dare to lock my door anymore since one time he tried barreling in so fast that he broke right through the wood and collapsed into my room in a heap on the floor.

"You knocked?" I question, stunned.

"Thought you were asleep. Wanted to make sure you covered up your dick before I had to see it again."

Ah, another jab at me for sleeping naked. Sorry that I don't like the feeling of my balls trapped in fabric while I'm trying to be comfortable. "Why the fuck would I be asleep before 7 P.M. on a Friday night?"

"There was no light coming from under the door."

I finally look around and realize my room is pitch black. The sun was up when I started writing this paper. I lean over and turn my desk light on, groaning and covering my eyes when I'm momentarily blinded.

"What's up?" I ask him, my eyes adjusting to the surroundings as they land on him again.

"Halloween party tonight. This girl I've been talking to invited me, but her cousin is with her. So..."

"So... You want me to come preoccupy the cousin so you can get laid?" I deduce.

He gives me his signature cocky grin. "See, this is why you're my best friend. You're so in tune with my thoughts."

"I'm your best friend because I'm the only person who can stand you for long periods of time," I tease, but I'm grinning right back. "Halloween isn't until Tuesday though. Who would be throwing a party tonight?"

"Yeah, so, about that..." Jonah starts, his lips pulling back into a slight cringe and I know I'm not going to like his answer.

"Absolutely not," I say. "No. Don't even start."

He closes the door and comes to sit on the edge of my bed. I can already see he's going to be using his pleading puppy-dog eyes.

"Technically, it's not on their campus," he tries to placate me.

"But it's in Arthurmoore." It's not a question.

He gives a sheepish smile.

"Where the fuck did you even meet this chick?" I question, turning back to my laptop to save my progress. I already know no matter what, I'm finished with schoolwork for the night. My mind is officially fucked for the foreseeable future.

Shit between Flint and Arthurmoore has been... Well, strained at best and catastrophic at worst. Ever since Kennedy was killed two years ago. Since Xavier Guzman was arrested and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder to avoid going to trial, earning himself 15 years behind bars. Our schools were never the best of friends before that, but we subsequently haven't been able to be in each other's company without violence. I haven't even seen Ash Brighton since that night.

Well, that isn't entirely true. I see him all the time, his red-rimmed eyes, covered in his brother's blood, his mouth open in a shout, my name forming on his lips over and over again. It's a visual I see far more often than I'd like.