The Boy Delivering My Flowers

Ch. 23: Brothers and Hurt

Secret POV:

If only she knew... how much I really cared.

Syrena's POV:

I didn't say it back. Well, I have said it back, because I only half love him. I don't love Mason McCarthy as more than a brother, as more than family, and I can't lead him on anymore than I already have in the passed. So, what did I say when he told me that he loved me?

Love you too.

The kind of thing you say to someone when you know that you don't feel as strongly about them as they do you. The kind of words that if someone says them to you when you profess something so huge, you shudder at the sound of them. They feel like the leftover sand that scrape your feet on your flip flops coming back from the beach. Words like these hurt, they sting, just to let you know they're there.

But I didn't love Mason. I just loved him I guess. If that makes sense.

Besides this, Ash asked me to prom last night, just as I got home from the lake...

We sat on my porch swing when he suddenly looked at me with great admiration.

"Syrena West, will you go to prom with me?" He asked, and I jumped up from the swing, (which I happened to be on a lot lately, a great thinking spot really), and hugged him to death. "Oh Ash, yes yes yes I will!" He swung me around, and I kissed his cheek.

"I love you." He whispered in my ear, and put me down abruptly. I looked up at him, the blood drained from his face, and I assumed my face was the same. I was, shocked.

"Oh my..." I stood there, dumbfounded. "I- I'm sorry, it's just- I really like you Syrena." He told me, and the color returned to my face. "Ash. I love you too." This time I meant it. Did I feel awful for accepting these words and returning the, when I just rejected another only hours ago?

Yes.

But did I mean it?

Also yes.

"Really?" He asked, smiling. "Really." I told him, and he kissed me passionately. "Good! Because I love you so much!" Then he picked me up again, and spun me around, still kissing me.

Present day:

So that's what went down, literally. But I haven't been this happy for a while. Prom is next Thursday, which means, I graduate next friday. Am I ready? I sure hope so...

My mom says she'll come down with Will to see me graduate, and I cannot wait. I really miss her and Will, the family hasn't been together since I got back from Paris, and Ayla, died. So like late December early January. It's May. Hm.

I got my dress, and I like it, but I might change it. Prom this year is going to be amazing. It's called, 'Back at Midnight', which I'm assuming is a fairytale theme to Cinderella, which if you remember, is my favorite Disney movie, and she is my favorite princess. She is amazing!

Ash said he doesn't want to see my dress until prom, which I can agree to, but only if he lets me see his tux ahead of time, just in case we don't match at all. That would be tragic.

I scrolled through my instagram feed when Mason called me.

I answered, and heard him breathing heavily. "Hey, Mase."

"Hi Syrena, can you come over right now."

"Sure, why? What's wrong?" I asked, and he wheezed. "Just come, please, qui..." He paused, and I heard the phone fall.

"Mason? Mase? You okay?" I asked, my concern growing. Oh my gosh. I ran to the door, throwing on my sweatshirt, and grabbing my keys. I drove as fast as I could till I got to his house.