one Year in America Mari & Mason 1

chapter 3

I went straight back to the big buffet, where I was once again reminded of why I had a belly and a big butt. I should skip the two pieces of cake and have some salad instead. Just as I turned around, I was terrified. 
"You’re new." Mason was leaning against the wall, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes as he watched me freeze. Jerk. "Really?" I asked. He looked back at the stage. "I don’t recognize your face." 
Wow, he was quite the Sherlock in his field. "Of course not, I just got here a few hours ago." 
I was wondering why I should talk to him. At the same time, I was thrilled that my English was actually working as well as in class. "How did you like the show?" He looked at me again, and I really had to pull myself together not to stare stupidly into his eyes. Bright green eyes. Blue sparkled around his iris. My goodness. 
"It was okay." My mouth didn’t let me down. I didn’t tell him that I missed most of the minutes. "Okay? We’re nearly perfect." He raised his perfect eyebrow. My goodness, the guy looked like he stepped out of a catalog. He probably had soccer player legs and a washboard stomach; his arms were muscular. 
Oh God. What was I thinking?! 
I rolled my eyes at his words, and it was almost as if I felt a wave of nausea rise. "Was that a gagging sound?" he asked, amused. 
Did I say that out loud? 
"You sang about sunshine and beach, sun and love," I said. "Great. But it was obvious you were just rattling off the lyrics." Before I could blink, he furrowed his brow, turned around, and walked away. I shrugged and decided not to deal with him anymore. Soon after, Emily came running towards me, beaming, drenched in sweat, her cheeks glowing. She must have been dancing. "How did you like my speech?" 
"I don’t understand much about such speeches, but I think you did great." 
She beamed at me. "Oh, thank you!!" 
"And how did you like the band?" she asked in almost one breath. 
"They were okay," I replied. 
At that moment, Emily received a kiss on the cheek from the guy with the ponytail coming off the stage, wrapping his arms around her waist. I looked away. I felt pretty lonely in those moments. Like the fifth wheel. 
"Okay?" he said, grinning. "We’re fantastic." Emily rolled her eyes at his self-praise. He extended his hand to me, which I took. "Hi. I’m Shin. Emily mentioned a few days ago that she had to pick someone up. She was quite excited to speak German again." Emily laughed. "Oh, there’s our Miss. New Face," Strike called from behind them. "I saw Mason was just with you. I hope he didn’t scare you?" 
I looked at him. "Scare? I found that he is very full of himself and doesn’t talk much," I replied. It scared me more that I was fascinated by this arrogant jerk from the very first moment. "Unfortunately, you’re a year too late; the sociable Mason has said goodbye," Shin said, and Emily hit him on the arm. "Come on. Let’s get something to eat," she said. I furrowed my brow; apparently, I was meant to not know something, which was completely understandable. I was completely new; it couldn’t get any newer, and other people's business was none of my concern. 
"I’ll pass," I said. "I’ve already eaten too much cake. Otherwise, I won’t even fit into my sweaters." 
"I would sign that too," everyone turned around as Mason’s voice rang out. I looked up at him, annoyed, noticing that annoying, amused glimmer in his eyes. "Mason!" Emily hissed, half annoyed, half surprised. 
"Well, I think you look very good!" Strike shouted across everyone, beaming at me. How could I not feel embarrassed?! Mason looked at him and made a face, as if he couldn’t believe what Strike had just said. 
"Thank you," I said very, very hesitantly. I had never been good with compliments. "But seriously, I have two pieces of cake in me. I should head to my room. I need to be ready for tomorrow morning." I raised my hands in farewell and squeezed past Mason, where I accidentally bumped into him. 
What I shouldn’t have done; the touch ignited something like an electric shock in me. I turned around again, and he was looking at me too. 
Now I was statically charged as well; how embarrassing, I’d probably get shocked every time I touched something in the room. This kind of thing really only happens to me.

It was after eleven o'clock when I opened my eyes. I had slept for about ten minutes when incredibly loud music flooded into my room. I was immediately annoyed. I got up and looked to see where it was coming from; for the first time, I looked out of my windows and saw that the entire residential complex extended two blocks further. The noise was coming from somewhere down there.