Off Limits

Evil Glares and Quiet Stares

                   After fearing my life while Mason drove like a maniac for what felt like a lifetime, we finally made it to the lake.  Much to my surprise, it was nothing like the puddle in the middle of a wasteland I had first imagined it to be when Mason first brought it up.   Instead the lake was glistening and beautiful under the afternoon sun.  Equipped with a little cabin, pier, and rope swing, it was absolutely perfect for a warm summer day, or if you were in Arizona, a boiling summer day.

                 The only downside to the lake was the amount of people that seemed to be there.  Much like the local pool I had in my hometown, there were at least 40 kids that I could see.   

                “It looks…crowded”, I told him warily as I walked up to where he was standing. My brain was already on high alert, nearing panic mode.  Meeting tons of new people wasn’t a good thing for me.  New people meant small talk, and small talk meant more chances for me to look like an idiot.  I was already surprised Mason didn’t think my IQ was lower than a squirrel’s.   

               Mason just shook his head in agreement as he looked down at me, “The more the merrier, as I always say.”  A grin spread across his face as a scowl grew across mine.  “Loosen up, Lilly.  You’ll be fine”, he added as he noticed my darkening demeanor.

               “What are you talking about? I’m loose…I’m always loose!” I laughed weakly, not wanting Mason to have a reason to tease me, “You’re the one that’s tight.”  I knew what I had said was stupid as soon as it left my mouth and I mentally smacked myself in the face. 

              Why do you talk so much Lilly? I  chastised myself.  Instead of trying to correct my previous statements I decided to save myself further embarrassment and just muttered a quick, “Let’s just go.”

                 As I finished I grabbed his hand and began to pull him to the water’s edge which was where the largest group of people wasgathered around it.   My progress foward was suddenly halted when a group of giggling girls descended on us.  I quickly tried to look for an escape but they had us on all sides, forming a ring of tanned beauties. 

               I knew what they didn't want me, the awkward girl, but instead the incredibly hot guy beside the awkward girl.  The self preserving part of my mind went through a couple of situations where I just pushed Mason into their arms and ran for it, but another faint part made me hold onto Mason’s hand tighter.  I just couldn’t tell why that part of me did that.  It would be cruel to leave him to deal with the mob alone, I excused myself in my head.

              “Hey there Mason”, One girl with shiny blue eyes and a perfect face said as she pulled Mason into a hug.  This caused me and Mason’s hands to fall loose from each other and my dislike for the girls grow.  

             The girl who had wrapped Mason in a hug looked straight at me from over Mason’s shoulder.  A a smug look was plastered all over her face that could have easily translated to “Ha I win”.  Before I even realized what I was doing, I glared at her.  This only seemed to make her more arrogant and her lips curled up into a smile.  Note to self: Publicly glaring at people is not a good way to make friends.

            “Hi Madison”, Mason responded in a typical Mason-y sort of way, all full of his usual good humor, “how has your summer break been?”   This seemed to bum me out even more.  I was hoping, in the deepest part of my mind, that he would be revolted by the girls that surrounded him.  But he wasn’t even affected by their touching or flirting; in fact he seemed to be just fine. 

                 Well, he doesn’t seem to need my help with the mob after all, I decided.  So instead of waiting for Madison and her groupies to tear me into pieces for walking in a four foot distance of Mason, I bailed.