Leap of Faith

Chapter Five

Mason

When I got home that afternoon, I pulled a can of Sprite from the fridge and sat on my bed. I shut my eyes as I leaned back against the headboard, the can cool in my hand. During school I built up a dam, holding the thoughts back in my head so that they wouldn't show on my face, but now, at home, they flooded my mind - swirling around and slapping together in a mindless panic to be heard.

I couldn't stop thinking about her. It was insane. After our little chat in the library, I had once again bolted rudely because I could already tell that Rebecca was someone I would get attached to.

I even checked out a book just to keep talking to her! The Probability of Love or something like that. I just grabbed whatever was nearby and stared at her while she talked, remembering the feeling of her back underneath my fingers.

Ugh! I needed to stop this now! I was acting like a creeper - some pubescent boy obsessing over his crush. I was about to take a jog when my Mom came home, the screen door flapping loudly behind her.

"Hi sweetheart!" she said happily, "How was school?"

"Fine," I grumbled. Mom and I were close once upon a time. But that was before the divorce and the creepy stalking of my Dad. Okay, so it's not stalking but it's weird and obsessive and affects my life perpetually so I think I can call it what I want.

Now, I barely spoke to my Mother unless I needed to.

"Did you make any friends?"

"Yeah Mom, loads." I said, holding off on the sarcasm.

"Oh good! I'm so glad, Mason!" Here's the thing about Mom. She doesn't realize what she's putting me through. She doesn't realize that I've been condemned to a life of eternal friendlessness because of her decisions. I don't even talk to my Dad! Why would I need to be close to him?

I stomped up to my room, and lay down on the bed. I needed to get wasted. I know, I know. Drinking is bad etcetera, etcetera, but right now I needed to forget about why my life sucked. And suck it did indeed! Each day I swam through crowds of happy, smiling people, a river that ebbed and flowed right around me, leaving me stranded in my own bubble of personal solitude.

It was Friday night, even in this small town there had to be some decent parties with booze right? No, I thought to myself. Exercise! Releasing of hormones and stuff! Let's try that.

I put on my running shoes and started jogging down the block, keeping track of the turns so that I could find my way back. I focused on my feet pounding the sidewalk, heart thudding in my ears, and that's when I crashed into her.

Rebecca

When I got home from school that afternoon my older brother Seth was already home. And guess who was with him? None other than Jenna. I walked into the living room to find them making out on the couch. I shrieked.

"Oh God, Oh God! Eeewww!!!" Jenna covered herself quickly and my brother sat up scratching his head.

"What are you doing here?" he snapped looking irritated.

I glared at him. "I live here dipshit."

"I thought you weren't coming home til four?"

"No! That's on Thursdays, Seth!"

"Oh. Well, do you mind?"

"Oh, sorry," I snapped, "did you want me to leave?" He nodded.

"Well sucks for you, I'm not going anywhere." I stormed up the steps and into my room and shuffled around, picking up my belongings. And then I heard the moaning. And the giggling. Oh God, I couldn't take this.

I slipped on my sneakers, a pair of my volleyball shorts, and a hoodie and practically barreled out the front door. Anything to get away from them. The last thing I needed to hear on Friday were sounds of my brother and his plastic girlfriend making out. Gross.

I jogged pretty slowly until I felt my legs cramping, aching for motion, then I took off at a hard sprint down the block and around the corner. I stared down at my feet hitting the sidewalk, the sound reverberating up legs and into my abdomen, and inhaled sharply when I ran into something hard.

"Holy Shit," I breathed, and then I felt myself falling, falling, until the ground was inches away...

And I never hit it. The strangers arms came around my waist and yanked me up into them. You know - the way it happens in all the movies only clumsier and with more flailing limbs.

"Rebecca?"

Shit. I knew that voice.

"Oh, h-hi Mason," I stammered looking up into those big green eyes. He gave me a small smirk.

"Are you alright?" he asked his arms still around me. I nodded quickly. "You should watch where you're going."

"Excuse me?" I gaped, "I think you're the one that ran into me, Mister." I poked him in the sternum and felt the hard muscles beneath my finger.

"Umm, last time I checked I caught you, not the other way around." I snorted.

"You caught me because chivalry isn't dead and when a guy runs into a girl he helps her up." He gave me a look and I smirked.

"Touché." I dusted myself off, even though I never touched the ground, just for something to do. Being around Mason made me nervous.

"So," he said, as I started jogging back towards my house. To my joy and dismay he kept up with me and continued talking. "Why aren't you running with your boyfriend or something?"

"That was so smooth," I snorted and felt my face heat. Part of me was irritated that he was asking and part of me was thrilled.

"I don't have a boyfriend," I said eventually. He frowned and looked down at me.

"What about that guy who you were with this morning?" I thought for a minute because I was pretty sure there were no guys with me that morning.

Then, I nearly throw up.

"You don't mean Seth, do you?" He nodded slowly. "Holy Shit, that's my brother, Mason! Gross!"

He laughed. He actually laughed! I couldn't help but wonder what the deal was with Mason Hawthorn, and what kind of role he was going to play in my life, if any.