United

Chapter 14: Janessa

Janessa:

"Come back here!"

I turn around and grin back at him. "Nope."

He frowns. "That was my pretzel!" He complains.

I smirk and wait for him to catch up. "Geez, Mason. I know that Gia calls you baby, but it doesn't mean you have to act like one."

He turns his nose up at my statement. "Ew, I hate names like that."

I nod. "I know. I do too. We dated, remember?"

He stiffens at that, and I roll my eyes. "Dude, it isn't a crime to talk about something that happened way back when we were in high school."

He nods, but he isn't convincing. "I know. It's just that I haven't explained to you why I'm dating Gia."

Okay, the conversation is getting a little too uncomfortable. "Mason, you don't have to explain it. You're over me, and you like her. Or love her. It's that simple."

He frowns at my answer, and shakes his head adamantly. "That's not exactly why. It's difficult to explain."

I take a bite from his pretzel before finally handing it to him. "I already told you, you don't have to explain."

We continue to stroll down the streets of New York City, Mason looking at everything in wonder. It's funny how it was me doing the exact same thing when we met.

Finally, he answers me. "But I want to explain it to you."

I reluctantly nod. "Fine, just not now. Let's enjoy ourselves."

He agrees, and I lead him into an alley.

"Ness, where are we going?"

I smirk, "Well, in New York, there's a lot more people, buildings, and cars than Italy, so we get creative."

I push open the door at the back of the building. We enter the spacious storage room of a restaurant. "Michael's parents own this restaurant. His brother is a famous dancer, and he created this place. Welcome to the underground dance hideout of New York City."

I grin as he looks around. The room is filled with rap music, salsa music, pop music, and even country.

People of all different kinds, colors, and status dance to all different kinds of music, dance using all different styles.

Mason looks around, amazed. "This is so different from Italy."

I give him a sideways glance. "Good different or bad different?"

He looks away from the people to me for a second. "Good. Definitely good."

We watch for a second in silence before a blonde haired, blue eyed guy walks up to us. He envelopes me in a hug.

"Jay-Nay! It's been so long."

I roll my eyes. "I told you that I hate that name, Garrett."

He shrugs. "Whatever. So who's the dude?"

I whack him on the arm. "Garrett, you are almost twenty five years old, you should know to use you manners. This is Mason, a friend of mine."

Mason eyes Garrett, assessing him. Seeing that Garrett is clearly a friend of mine, he sticks his hand out. "Hi. It's nice to meet you."

Garrett takes his hand, and they do that weird bro hug thing before Garrett introduces himself.

"Garrett Borden. You might know my little brother, Michael."