What We've Become

Chapter Eight: Life Behind The Mask

Chapter Eight: Life Behind The Mask

Cody's POV:

After they've walked at least a half a mile down the practically deserted beach, Cody asked her, "So how's New York?"

"It's great," she replied with a deadpan expression.

"What's wrong?" he asked her seriously, knowing her all to well.

"It's so different from here," she admitted. "There's a strict schedule, and there's never any free time to do anything. I'm lucky I have any time at all to breathe. It's so...restricting, and I feel like everyday is the same as the one before it. The same thing goes on, over and over, time and time again. I feel like my life is one continuous loop, and there's no way to break free from it."

She let out an exasperated sigh as Cody took the time to digest this new information she gave him. He can't believe what he's hearing. He remembered her telling his mother how amazing her life was in New York.

However, he DID hear a different emotion in her voice she was trying to mask with happiness. When she moved to New York, he thought that was her dream place to go, and that she couldn't think of anywhere else she wanted to be.

He looked down at her to find her looking at him with the saddest expression he'd ever seen on her face that broke his heart to fragments inside. All he wanted for her was to be happy. Why did things have to turn out so differently than what she imagined? That shouldn't have to happen to such a phenomenal person as her. She deserved better than that.

After a little while, he asked, "Then why do you stay?"

"Because I have a good paying job, a house, almost everything I need," she replied.

"Almost?" he questioned, not missing that tiny detail. He never does when it comes to Spencer.

"Happiness," she quietly murmurs, surprised he heard the word at all.

No. That can't be right. If Spencer isn't happy, than nothing is right. Tears threaten to spill off of his face if they ever fall from Spencer's eyes because his whole being is centered around her. If she's sad, than everything is wrong. And he can't stand to bare that pain.

"Then why don't you move somewhere else?" he quietly suggested.

"Because of..." she started but stopped short.

"Because of what?" he encouraged.

"Never mind," she said, dropping the conversation, kicking a bit of dry sand so it landed on the water in tiny wisps.

After contemplating various solutions, he decided to try and find a way to at least temporarily cheer her up.

"So," he started off thinking of what to say.

"So, what?" Spencer asked, trying to keep the conversation up.

"So," he resumed again. "I guess I'll just have to find a way to cheer you up."

"And how do you plan on doing that?" she asked, curiosity plainly showing in her voice on how he will carry out his latest action.

Before she had any time to react, he reached for her, grabbed her waist, and spun her around. She laughed and screamed for him to put her down as he spun her around in circles time and time again.

When he started to get slightly dizzy, he put her down, still holding onto her waist.

"Cheered up?" he asked, his laughing subsiding.

"Tons," she answered, still giggling uncontrollably, covering her face in his chest.

"We should go so we can make it to the Go Karts before dark," he told her taking a step back from her after she removed her face from his chest.

"Sounds great," she replied, putting a hand over her gorgeous lips since she was still laughing.

They started walking back the same way they came, and Cody stole glances at her occasionally. Even though she didn't know it, he saw her sneak a few looks at him, too.

It took a short amount of time to get there from the beach, so by the time they arrived, it was only 6:00. He didn't even realize how long they had been there until he checked his phone.

Time flies when you're having fun, and they were having tons.

After pulling on a spare shirt and sweatshirt he threw in the trunk before they left and Spencer put on the pair of shorts she left with still wearing his shirt, he bought their tickets for them for the Go Karts, and they took their place in line. After what seemed like an hour of waiting, they made it to the front of the line.

Spencer always went for the green car since it was her favorite color, and he always went for the blue one.

They handed their tickets to the man running the place, and took a seat in the Go Kart color of their choice.

Things were about to seriously go down. All or nothing.

Author's Note: Thank you so much to my readers! I'm so glad that you're reading this!

Please vote and comment!

Peace, love, and Hershey kisses,

I.M.