Number Seven

013

Sophia stood there, her hands trembling slightly as the cool breeze stirred her hair. Mason's gaze was intense, filled with an emotion she couldn't quite place, but one thing was certain: he didn't want to lose her. She could see that now, in the way his lips parted as he tried to find the right words to explain himself.

But she wasn't sure she wanted to hear them. Not just yet.

The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating, and Sophia fought against the overwhelming urge to turn around and walk away. Her mind kept replaying the moment she'd seen that picture—the image of Mason with the blonde girl, his arm around her like it was something natural, something he didn't mind sharing with the world. And while he was here now, apologizing and telling her it wasn't what it seemed, the doubt lingered in her mind.

It wasn't just about that picture, though. It was the weight of everything else that had been building up inside her. The pressure from school, social media, her family, her friends—all of it had taken its toll. She didn't want to let herself be vulnerable again, not so easily. And she couldn't keep pretending like everything was okay between them when it wasn't.

"Thank you for being honest with me, Mason," she began slowly, her voice steady but a little shaky. "But honesty isn't enough. I saw what I saw. I felt what I felt. And I can't just ignore it because you tell me you care."

Mason took a step forward, his brow furrowing as if he were trying to process the weight of her words. He opened his mouth to speak, but she held up a hand, stopping him.

"No, Mason. Let me finish," she said firmly, keeping her gaze locked with his. "I'm not angry. I'm hurt. I've been hurt by more than just that photo. I've been hurt by the way I've let myself get swept up in something that felt too good to be true. And I'm tired of pretending like it doesn't bother me."

Mason's eyes softened, his face a mask of vulnerability now. "Sophia, I swear to you, it wasn't like that. She's just a friend. I don't even know how that picture ended up like that, but I swear to you... it was nothing."

She shook her head, the frustration building up in her chest. "I don't want to hear your explanations, Mason. I don't need them right now. What I need is for you to understand that trust doesn't just come back in a moment. It doesn't just get fixed with words. You broke something, and I'm not going to ignore that just because you're sorry. You have to earn my trust back."

Mason's face fell, and for the first time, Sophia saw the full extent of how deeply he cared. His eyes were wide, searching hers for some sort of reassurance, but she couldn't give it to him—not yet.

"I know I've messed up," Mason said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I know I hurt you. But please, don't let this be the end of us. I'll do anything to prove I'm serious about you. I'll do anything to make it right."

Sophia felt her chest tighten at the sincerity in his voice, but she stood her ground. "Prove it to me, Mason. Because words are easy. But actions speak louder than anything. And right now? I need you to show me that I can trust you again. I can't just forget what happened, and I'm not going to pretend like I can. I need to see that you're willing to fight for us—fight for my trust."

Mason's eyes darkened, his jaw clenching as if the weight of her words was hitting him harder than he'd expected. He took a step closer, his hand reaching out as though he were trying to bridge the gap between them. "I will fight for you, Soph. I swear. I'll do whatever it takes. I don't want to lose you. I can't lose you."

Sophia's heart fluttered painfully in her chest, but she didn't let the emotion show. She wasn't about to be swept up in his words this time. She needed him to prove it.

"Then show me," she said softly but firmly. "I don't care how long it takes, but you have to show me that I can trust you again. You can't just walk back into my life and expect me to forget everything. I can't do that. I'm not like that."

Mason took a deep breath, his whole body shaking with the weight of the moment. For the first time, Sophia saw just how deeply her words had cut him. His eyes were filled with desperation now, the kind of desperation that was hard to ignore. He wasn't just standing here because he wanted to make things right—he was standing here because he knew what he stood to lose.

"I don't want you to think I'm just asking for a free pass, Soph," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I know I've messed up. But I swear to you, I'm not the same person you saw in that picture. I want to be the person you can trust. I want to be the person you can lean on, not the one who makes you question everything. I'll do anything. Anything to prove to you that you're the one I want."

Sophia felt the tears threatening to spill, but she blinked them away, unwilling to let herself be caught in the rush of emotion just yet. "Then you're going to have to work for it, Mason. And it's not going to be easy. I need time. I need space. But if you're willing to fight for me, if you're willing to show me, then maybe... just maybe, I'll let you in again."

Mason's hands gripped her shoulders gently, his touch trembling with urgency. "Please, Soph. Don't shut me out. I'm begging you. I know I messed up, and I know I have to earn your trust back. I will. Just please don't walk away from this. Don't walk away from me. I'm asking for a chance. Just one more chance to prove that I'm the guy you think I am."

Sophia could see the raw honesty in his eyes, the desperation that made him appear smaller in a way, vulnerable in a way that she hadn't seen before. It wasn't just about the photo anymore. It was about him, standing in front of her, willing to bare himself completely, asking for her trust, asking for her to believe in him again.

"I'm not walking away from you, Mason," she said quietly, her voice softer now, the edge of her earlier resolve slowly melting. "But I need you to understand that this isn't going to be easy. It's not going to be something I can just get over overnight."

He nodded, a tear slipping from the corner of his eye as he reached out to brush it away, his thumb lingering on her cheek. "I know. I'll wait. I'll wait however long it takes, Soph. I won't give up on us."

Sophia swallowed hard, the vulnerability in his touch, in his words, making it harder to keep the walls up. "Then show me, Mason. Show me that you're willing to work for it."

Mason pulled her into a tight hug, and this time, she didn't pull away. She let herself sink into his embrace, feeling his warmth, his sincerity, and the promise of something real. It wasn't perfect, and it wasn't easy, but it was a start.

And that, for now, was enough.