I wake up in my bed. I sit up quickly and check the clock. 7:30. Too early for my parents to be up. I decide to lay back down and think about yesterday.
My cheek is slightly sore and bruised from where Mother hit me, but its not that noticeable. I hope Mason didn't get in trouble like I did. I don't think his parents hit him, because he never seems to be bruised or scratched. Who would strike a beautiful piece of art, anyway?
I want to see Mason today to make up for yesterday. It was my fault that my mother yelled at us. I wish she just, wasn't here. But she's always here. Its my dad who's never here, because he actually works. Close to 20 hours a day, in fact. So my dad is no problem, its really my mother that I would get in trouble with if Mason ever stepped foot on our lawn again.
Then, a crazy weird idea pops into my head. I want to see Mason, but not have my parents there. So why don't I just go see him for myself?
I don't want to say I'm sneaking out of the house, but I'm sneaking out of the house. I don't want to think of it as bad and disobedient, but its pretty bad and disobedient. I'm just going to slip out of the house quietly, walk to Mason's house, apologize, ask if we could meet up tonight, then walk back and slip back into the house. All before my parents wake up. Not so hard, right?
-
I don't need to wander around until I find his house, I know the direction by heart. Its the next block down, and three houses over on the left side. By the time I arrive on his street, though, it's already 7:50. I need to hurry. I start walking faster. His house comes into view, it's big and beautiful, covered with bits of sparkling white snow. I see Mason in his driveway, throwing a basketball into a hoop. I smile as soon as I see him, and walk towards his direction. We lock eyes, but his don't seem as friendly and gleeful as normal. They look scared and nervous to see me. My smile quickly fades, and I realize why he isn't happy to see me. The front door swings open, and three gigantically tall guys walk out, laughing to each other. The shortest one - who is still taller than me - looks at me first, and stops laughing. He looks perplexed and confused about my presence.
"Hey, who's this kid, Greenly?" He calls out. Mason doesn't respond right away, he just turns and acts like he doesn't see me.
"Oh, uh," He starts talking when the group of boys walk closer to us. "Him? Yeah, I dunno. Some kid from my dad's church. I dunno why he's even here. Kinda weird, yeah?" He says in a voice I've never heard before. One of the taller boys examines me closer, I hold my breath as he does, like I'm paralyzed.
"Hey, I've actually seen him around before," He bellows. Oh no. "Yeah, he in them smart classes at school with muh sister. You ain't flirtin' with muh sister, are ya?"
I stand still for a second, blink, then shake my head no. Which isn't a lie, because I don't know who this guy is, let alone his sister.
"Yeah," The short one perks up. "Because he's busy flirtin' with Greenly over here."
"Shut up, Max." Mason jokes, and all the boys chuckle. "You know I ain't gay."
First of all, that's a lie. Second of all, since when has Mason ever used the word "ain't"? Third of all, what the hell is going on?
"Sure," The guy who's apparently named Max coos. "I've seem y'all in Youth Group. You sat down right next to him last week."
Oh no. That's not a lie. I shoot my glance over to Mason, who seems to be burning up, even though its winter.
"Oh, yeah," Mason lets out a nervous chuckle. No one chuckles with him that time. "My dad makes me sit next to the...more lonely kids sometimes. He takes pity on them. I mean, who wouldn't? Just look at him. He's so weird and out of place here. I mean, he's the only black kid here, so of course he doesn't have any friends."
My heart stops for a full 30 seconds. Mason is my best friend, let alone my boyfriend, how could he say that? The boys start laughing again, shouting "You're right!" and "Dude, truuue."
I start to walk away, back to my house. Thankfully, no one grabs me or punches me, but they do start yelling some offensive slurs at me. I hear Mason's voice shouting those thinngs, too.
I get home at 8:30, heartbroken. •
