Long Distance

Lava Cakes.

[Mason]

I'm gonna kill him. Was all I could think as I sat at the bar taking a swig of what had to be my fourth drink.

How could Aria do this to me? Why didn't she tell me?

Shaking my head I get up and throw a twenty dollar bill onto the counter, nearly stumbling as I make my way out the doors and to my car. I dial Matt's number getting anxious when he doesn't pick up.

I bang my fist on the steering wheel and throw my phone onto the passenger seat before putting on my seatbelt and starting the car.

[Kris (Aria's Best friend)]

"Kris, your father and I are going out. We'll be back shortly, there's money for pizza on the counter." My mother screams from downstairs.

"Okay!" I reply, slipping out of bed. I flinch when my feet make contact with the cold wood floor and I pull on some socks before heading to the kitchen.

I decide to order from Domino's feeling for some lava cakes. The doorbell rings and I roll my eyes thinking that it was most likely my mother coming back to get something.

"Mom did you- Mason?" My eyes widen as I take in his appearance. He was leaning against the wall, his hair disheveled and his eyes slightly bloodshot.

"What are you doing here? Where's Ar?"

"Probably at home kissing Ethan." He slurs his words as he pushes past me and into the living room.

"Are you drunk?" I question.

"Maybe." He giggles and I sigh.

"I'm going to call Aria." I go to grab my phone but he grabs onto my arm and pulls me down onto the couch.

"No, don't."

"What happened between you guys? Why are you here?" I watch him carefully as he leans back into the couch and says,

"Ethan and her kissed. Did you know that?" I go still and when I don't answer he looks at me and scoffs.

"Of course you did. You guys are best friends."

"I'm sorry, Mason but maybe I should call Matt."

I get up and head to the kitchen grabbing my phone off the counter and dialing Matt's number. He doesn't answer and I call again running my hands through my hair in frustration as it goes to voicemail.

"He hasn't been answering my calls either." Mason calls from his spot on the couch. The doorbell rings again and I groan, grabbing the money from the counter.

"Keep the change." I say as I hurriedly grab the box of pizza and lava cakes and shut the door.

"Alright," I say. "Let's get some food into you before you throw up."

[Aria]

I groaned hanging up on the annoying robotic voice of the voicemail for the thirty fifth time. Where could he possibly be? He had been gone since this morning and the only thing that went through my mind was worry. I didn't want him to get hurt. Then again, I deserved to feel this way since it was me who didn't tell him about Ethan in the first place.

I had already called Matt, Maddy, Stephanie, and Alex. I dialed Kris' number praying that she'd answer and that Mason was with her.

"Aria," she answers on the second ring.

"Kris," I breathe. "Mason found out about Ethan and he left and now I don't know where-"

"He's here," she blurts. "I was gonna call you but he said not to. He's really drunk."

I can't help but cry in relief that he was safe. After telling Kris I would be there in a few, I hang up the phone grabbing my keys and running out the door.

I knock on Kris' door impatient to see him. He probably didn't even want to look at me right now but I didn't care. I had to make this right.

The door opens seconds after revealing Kris with a finger held to her lips. I get the hint and walk into her living room seeing Mason knocked out on the couch. His eyebrows are furrowed and a pout is plastered on his face which breaks my heart. Kris leaves me alone with him and I move closer to the couch, sitting beside his legs.

"Mason," I whisper causing him to turn slightly in his sleep.

"Mason," I placed a hand on his arm giving it a slight push. He hums before his eyes flutter open, a blank expression on his face.

"What do you want?" He hisses. I can't blame him. I deserve this.

"We need to talk," I sigh.

"About what? How much you loved kissing Ethan?"

"Mason let me expl-"

"There's nothing to explain Aria!" By now he was fully awake. "You let him kiss you! And to make matters worse you kept it from me."

"I was going to tell you!" I shout back. "I was trying to find the right time."

"Oh really? When were you gonna tell me? After you had fucked him?" He slurs and I feel my heart sink at those words. Did he really think I would do something like that? I wanted so badly to believe it was just the alcohol talking but I knew this was probably how he truly felt.

"You'd really think I'd do that?" I yell anger clear in my voice. He shrugs.

"We've been together for years! You really think I'd fuck another guy while I'm with you?" I continue to shout. "Well if that's the girl you think I am then I guess you've learned nothing about me these past 3 years." I can't hold in the tears that are now gliding down my face.

Mason was at a loss for words and I couldn't deal with his shitty attitude right now. I grabbed my keys off the coffee table and marched out of the house slamming the door behind me.

As I entered my car I couldn't stop the wave of tears that erupted from me. I slipped the keys into the ignition and pulled out of the driveway, speeding out of the neighborhood. I needed some time. So I went to the only place I knew I'd be alone.

I arrive at the abandoned park, the one I hadn't been to since I was 7. The park where I would hide every time I'd be in trouble and my mother was looking for me. Everything was still the way I remembered it.

I step onto the crisp mulch the only sound being that of the wind and creaking swingset. I take a seat on one of the swings letting my body sway back and forth. I closed my eyes letting the cool wind blow against my face as I take a deep breath trying to settle my nerves.

[Mason]

After taking care of my massive headache, I managed to head out to find Aria. I tapped my fingers against my steering wheel looking around the neighborhood hoping I could find her or her car.

I should've let her explain. God was I an asshole. How could I say something like that to her? I know damn well she would never cheat on me yet I threw it in her face as if she were some whore.

I could still clearly remember the pain in her eyes as she yelled at me before storming out of the house. I had to find her. I had to fix this.

The neighborhood lights reflected on the lonely parked black car that I recognized as Aria's. I sigh in relief as I drive closer and see her sitting on a swing, her back turned to me. I park my car rushing out and running towards her.

"Aria," I pant.

"Mase I don't wan-" she starts to step off the swing and leave before I pulled her back to me crashing my lips against hers. She sighs into the kiss and a smidge of pain goes through me once she pushes me away.

"I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry," she apologizes. "I should've told you but I knew you'd react like this so I was waiting."

"I forgive you," I breathe. "And I'm sorry for saying those terrible things about you. I knew you would never do anything like that, I was just angry." She doesn't reply, she just wraps her arms around me which I return, placing a kiss on her head.

"I love you," she mumbles, her voice muffled by my chest.

"I love you too," I smile down at her.