Long Distance

Tears.

"I'm sorry." He looks down and I know that he feels bad for the entire incident at the party. I couldn't stay mad at him though, he was only trying to protect me.

"I forgive you," I run my hand down his back.

We spent the rest of the night watching TV on my bed.

We were three episodes away from finishing the third season of Prison Break when I began to hear light snores sounding throughout the room. I turn to see Mason, peacefully asleep. I try moving my leg from under him to get up from the bed, which only causes him to wrap his arms around me tighter. I manage to reach my phone and dial his mom's number.

"Hello?"

"Hi Melissa," I speak quietly. "Sorry to bother you, I know it's late."

"Oh honey, don't worry!" She chuckles. "I've been up working on this case for hours."

"Well I just wanted to let you know that Mason's with me, and he's asleep, so I guess he's sleeping here tonight," I laughed as I watched my boy sleep.

"Oh okay," she said calmly. "Thank you for letting me know! Are you sure it's not a bother?"

"Not at all! I'll set up the guest room for him," I responded.

"Thank you Aria," I could imagine her bright smile as she spoke. Mason definitely had some of her facial qualities.

"No problem Melissa," I yawned. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight sweetheart."

I tapped Mason on his shoulder trying not to startle him awake. He stirred a little and tightened his grip on me even more. I admired the way his eyebrows furrowed in his sleep and how he crinkled his nose when he began to wake up.

"What happened?" He rubbed his eyes, his voice deep and raspy, which I loved.

"You fell asleep, but I called your mom and told her you'd be staying here," I whisper.

"Okay," he yawned, stretching out his muscular arms. "I'm gonna go brush my teeth." I nodded as I stood up and walked to my dresser. I picked out a pair of Mason's varsity joggers along with a solid black v-neck I had borrowed a while ago. I shuffled down the hall and into the guest bedroom where Mason sat on the edge of the bed.

"I have these that you can wear to sleep."

"Ha, I forgot about these," he chuckled, picking up the joggers.

"Goodnight Mase," I yawned.

"Goodnight babe," he pecks me on my cheek, and I leave the room, shutting the door behind me.

I returned to my room and turned off the TV and bedside lamp, before trying my best to fall asleep.

_____________

I bolted awake to the sound of a knock on my door. I groggily lift the covers from my body and walk to the door. I open it and smile as I see Mason yawning.

"Good morning," he grinned cheekily.

"I'm hungry," I blurted, earning a laugh from the both of us.

"Well get ready, we can go to that place you like."

I clapped, hopping back into my room and shuffling into my bathroom. I stepped out, quickly choosing something to wear.

_____________

We were seated at a booth and given menus by the waitress who I was seconds away from snapping at. She had been eyeing Mason since we got here, and it was becoming really annoying really damn quick. I rolled my eyes subtly and looked over my menu deciding what I wanted.

The waitress returned with our drinks and retrieved her notepad to take our orders. I noticed all four buttons on her shirt had been undone, and I couldn't help but laugh at her ridiculous attempt of getting Mason's attention.

"Okay what would you like?" She bit her lip at Mason, who was still glancing at his menu. I glanced at her nametag which read Rebecca. She wasn't ugly. She had long, golden blonde hair, blue eyes, and a thin figure.

"I'll have the avocado toast and poached eggs." He asked still looking down at his menu.

"Sure thing," she winked.

I snort at her pathetic gesture earning a confused look from Mason and a dirty glare from the girl.

She then turned towards me.

"What would you like?" She gives me a fake smile.

"I'll have the nutella and banana crepes," I smile. She takes my menu and sways her hips as she struts off to place our orders.

"Well she's desperate." I roll my eyes.

"And why is that?" Mason chuckles, still not aware that the waitress had been relentlessly flirting.

"She was all over you Mase!"

"Seriously?" He laughs. "I hadn't noticed."

"Yeah yeah."

"I'm serious," he grabs my hand over the table. " You're the only girl I notice, and the only girl I ever will notice."

His words tug at my heart and I notice Rebecca strutting towards our table. I quickly take action and pull Mase's collar, pressing his lips onto mine. He kisses back immediately and I pull back, leaving him surprised and out of breath.

I smirk at Rebecca who stood there awkwardly.

"Sorry, can I help you?" I asked, my smirk never leaving.

"Uh n-no," she turned around and walked into the kitchen.

I turned to Mason who had an amused smile on his face. His lips were a darker shade of pink and his cheeks were a bit tinted. He ran a hand through his hair as he spoke up.

"You are something else, Aria Mendez."

_____________

My weekend with Mason came to an end and it was unfortunately time to face reality and go back to school. As I made my way downstairs and greeted my mom, there was this awful realization plaguing my thoughts. Mason would be leaving for New York soon. He would be leaving his life down here behind.

I shake my head and try to clear my thoughts as I enter his car and fasten my seatbelt.

"Hey, babe." He says cheerily as he leans over to kiss me. I kiss him back and greet him before we fall into a comfortable silence for the rest of the ride.

"Aria, what's wrong?" Mason pulls into the parking spot and grabs my face in his hands as the tears fall down my cheeks.

"I'm sorry, I'm just gonna miss you so much." I sob and he embraces me into a hug. We sit like that for a while. Mason holding me in his embrace whispering sweet nothings into my ear and in this moment nothing mattered. Not even the fact that we would be late to school. In this moment it was just me and Mason. Mason and I.