Without Your Love

Without Your Love; [9]

"Hal?"

"Mason!"

"Hallie?" I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes. I glanced down at the place where she had fallen asleep. It was empty, a mess of tangled covers and pillows lying in their place.

"Mason!"

I swung my legs over the head of the bed, using my hands to push me to my feet. I scanned the room in search of Hallie, before opening the door to leave the empty room. As I went to close the door, I noticed the window was open. I walked back into the room, leaning over the open window.

"There he is!" Maisie screamed from outside. A bunch of little faces looked up at the window, and I smiled.

I smiled at Hallie, and she smiled one of those, "save me" smiles. I nodded, closing the window and turning towards the door.

***

I had to walk through the kitchen, where everyone was staring at me. And then I heard the voice. The harsh words.

"Oh. Mason." Hallie's mother's voice echoed through the kitchen, "I didn't know you stayed the night."

"Oh. I'm sorry, Mrs. Thompson. It was late, and--"

"I don't care what your excuses are. You're lucky I let Hallie bring you yesterday. This is a family matter. You should go now."

"Uh,"

"Not uh. You should be saying 'Yes Ma'am'."

"Yes, Ma'am." I smiled, nodding, "I'm just going to tell Hallie."

"No! I want you out, now. I'll tell her you left."

"Yeah, okay. Thank you for letting me stay. I'm sorry for your loss."

"Right. Yeah, bye. Thanks for everything you've done Mase. I'll tell her you had to leave."

"Yeah, thanks Mrs. Thompson."

***

Hallie

I walked into the kitchen, pausing to close the screen door behind me to prevent the bugs from entering the house. I could hear the little laughs and screams coming from the backyard still. I smiled at my family, before walking up the stairs. When I pushed open the door to my room and it was empty, I expected Mason to jump out from behind something and scare the crap out of me.

I waited and waited.  Nothing happened.

I scanned the room before going to check the bathroom. I knocked on the door, but I didn't hear an answer, so I pushed it open. He wasn't in there.

I checked Mikey's room, and he suggested that I checked the driveway for Mason's car. It wasn't there.

"Mom?" I called out, walking into the kitchen. She was leaning against the counter, a coffee cup in her hand. Our relatives were spread out in the room, one in the fridge, a few at the wooden table.

"Yeah?"

"Mom, where's Mase?"

"Did he leave?"

"I don't know. I'm asking you."

"He must have just left. That asshole. He didn't even tell you he was leaving?" I noticed her shooting some of the family members at the table looks, but they didn't say anything. "He didn't tell any of us, either."

"Are you sure? That look says otherwise." I turned around to face them, and they all lowered their heads. I shook my head, grabbing my cell. "I'm going to call him. He's coming back."

"No, wait." She stopped me, setting down her mug, "I did hear him. I think he was on the phone. I wasn't going to tell you, but I heard him say, 'I'll come over as soon as I get out of this hell hole. I love you, babe. Don't be mad at me, I'm going to break up with her as soon as her family all leaves. I don't need a bunch of her family members coming after me.' I'm so sorry, Sweetie."

"You're lying," I whispered, not believing her. But, I had to believe her. Who else could I believe right then and there? It's not like Mason was on the other side of me telling me it wasn't true.

And then Mikey walked into the kitchen. "Still no sign of Mason?"

"Nope." I hissed, wiping my eyes. "He left. He was going to his other girlfriend's house."

"Wait," He paused, looking up, "What?"

"You heard me." I growled, pushing past him. I went up to my room and cried. I felt truely alone.

***

"Hallie?"

The door opened, and Mikey stepped in. "Hey. I'm sure Mason doesn't have another girlfriend."

"How do you know?" I sniffled.

"Did you ask him?"

"He's not going to tell me the truth."

"I will." Mikey smiled at me, sitting down on the bed next to you. "I'll tell you the truth."

"Okay, what's the truth?"

"He really, really loves you. He doesn't have another girlfriend. He wouldn't hurt you."

I sniffled, "How do you know?"

"I just, I do."

"Should I call him?"

"Yeah,"

***

I walked down towards the kitchen, but just before I reached the doorway, I leaned against the wall and dialed Mason's number.

"Hello?" A female voice giggled. There was a strange echo, but I couldn't put my finger on it. The voice sounded familiar, yet disguised. This chick had a weird voice.  I heard a low moan, and the girl giggled again. It echoed.

"Oh, yes Mason! Harder!" The voice moaned.

I peaked around the corner into the kitchen, and my mouth dropped open. The phone fell from my hand, clattering against the ground, probably breaking, but I was too in-shock to look down. Oh. My. Gosh.