Waiting To Exhale

Thirty-one

   So I'm changing the name around. I got a couple ideas but if anyone wants to add that would be great.

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   By the time I get back to Mason's place in exhausted. I'm so happy he isn't here right now. Sometimes I just need a break from him. Today was fun. I never knew laser tag would be so much fun. I'm definitely going back some time soon. I slip off my backpack and my shoes. A nice hot shower is what I need right now. I'm still a little sweaty from earlier. That room was hot.

   I strip out of my clothes and run my hand under the shower, waiting for it to warm up. Once it does I fall under the comfort of the warm water as it cascades over my small body. I wash myself down with soap then rinse, careful not to get any on my hair. I have gotten a couple complements on it.

   When I'm done I throw on one of Mason's shirts. It comes down over my butt just barely. I slip on some panties and decide not to bother with a bra. My breast are small anyway. I fix me a bowl of mixed fruit and climb in bed to watch t.v. I hope Mason doesn't even bother to come home tonight. It honestly won't bother me. I got mad love for Mason but not when he gets angry with me. He can be scary and I hate that.

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   I wake up the next morning and realise Mason still hasn't come home. I hope he's okay. He sell drugs for a living. Anything could have happened to him. He's never not come home. What if he doesn't? I hate that he's putting me through this. He could be anywhere.

   As much as I would rather stay home and wait for him I can't. I can't afford to miss any more work. He probably crashed at one of his friend's house. Or maybe even another girl. He always talks about having to find someone else if I don't give him what he wants. Maybe He already has. Could be really hurt me like that? Would he really want to hurt me anymore than he already has? There's not too much I can put past him. Not with the way he's been acting lately. I still don't even want to know what he meant the other morning when he stayed out late. So many possibilities are running through my head. I haven't seen Alfonso or any of his boys around.

   Mason probably scared them into moving. Or worse. I really hope he isn't capable of worse.

   I get dress in some Pink sweats and t-shirt with a pair of Jordans to match. If Mason sees me going to school like this he will flip. He says these types of clothes are meant for lounging around the house. I'm his girl so I need to look as good as possible when I leave the house. Well he's not here so I'm going to wear what I want. Its not a big deal for me to wear sweats to school. Before Mason I use to go to school dressed down everyday. I'll admit it's nice to be able to dress up but sometimes I just don't want to. He needs to understand that.

   I call Jen to come pick me up. She doesn't stay too far away so it's not out of the way. I collect the rest of my school stuff. I sit on the couch and take out my phone. Jen is going to call me when she gets here. As I'm sitting here I hear keys giggling in the front door. Mason is home. I should have left out early. I don't want to change my outfit. Mason comes in smelling and looking like a fresh shower. He hugs me and plants soft kisses on my neck.

   "Where were you?" I question.

   "I was out with some friends. We got a little drunk and I didn't want to drive home. You look beautiful. You ready for me to drop you off at school?"

   "Thanks. Jen is picking me up." That's weird. He said I look beautiful. I mean it's not weird for him to call me beautiful, only when I'm dressed like this it is. He hasn't said one criticising thing yet. Now I really wonder where he's been. I can't honestly say I believe he was out with friends.

   "Okay. We still on for our date this weekend?" He's asking me?

   "Um...well the girls want me to go to this lake house Kenyan's grandparents own up in Georgia. It's a nice offer."

   "It is but can't you just reschedule?"

   "They're only letting her get the house this weekend."

   "Okay. We can do something next weekend. Just don't change our plans." He plants a kiss on my shoulder then walks off to his room. He's in a good mood today. I wonder what's got into him. He hasn't been this sweet to me since we started dating. I like this change. Maybe he's had time to reflect on how he's been treating me lately.

   I get a text from Jen telling me to meet her outside. I yell to Mason that I'm leaving. I lock the house up behind me. The elevator is at the end of the hall. Sometimes I take the stairs but today I don't feel like it. I'm the only one in the elevator and I like it. The lady at the front desk greets me in a welcoming manner. I return the gesture. I must be the first person she's spoken to all morning. The loby is cometely empty. The doorman opens the door. I kindly thank him before heading out. I have seen people come through here and not even utter a word to the staff other than "go fetch this," or "grab that," or "move." They think their too good for anybody. Walking around with their heads held high and their expensive things. They're no better than the rest of us. The only thing that separates them from everyone else is money. But what happens when you don't even have that?

   I hop in the car and throw my bag in the back. Jen gives me a weird look. "What?" I ask, curious.

   "Nothing. I'm just shocked Mason let you out the house like that. He usually has you all dressed up."

   "I don't need Mason to approve everything I wear, Jen."

   She throws her hands up in surrender. "Okay. My bad." Everyone is always so worried about me and Mason's relastionship. I wonder if Jen knows how her brother treats me when he's angry with me. I wonder if she's known all along. She wouldn't be a very good friend for that. I watch closely as she starts up the car and drive off. I'm sixteen years old and I don't know the first thing about driving. I haven't even gone to get my permit. Before I didn't even have time or money to think about it but now I do, courtesy of Mason. I really shouldn't be so dependent on him. I use to go out and make my own money. It wasn't nearly enough but it was mine.

   "Ah crap. I left some stuff at my house. Can we swing around and go get it?"

   "Your house, your house? Or Mason's?"

   "Mine."

   "Sure."

   When we get to the house I tell Jen to wait outside. Its not like she was actually going to get out anyway. I run inside and am hit with an awful spell. It smells like a mixture of puke and cleaning supplies. Gabriel must have had a long night. I knew all that carp about him getting sober was a lie. He loves his liquor way too much for that. I scan the house only to find no Gabriel. Shrugging it off, I grab my stuff and rush out the house. He's never going to get sober. Now he's just trying to cover his tracks up. He's getting sneaky.

   "You got everything?"

   "Yeah. Lets go."