Please Understand

Chapter 36: Liar

Amelia

The rain splattered on the sidewalk around us, but I didn't mind because I was used to the dampness of Seattle. Mason looked down at me with his green eyes filled with fear, his blonde hair stuck to his forehead, and his hands twitched at his sides. I wanted to kiss him all day, but he wouldn't get close to me. Something changed, and I was afraid I did something wrong last night. What's the protocol when your childhood best friend flies to Seattle to declare his love for you?

Suddenly, he grabbed my hands and I felt how badly he was shaking. What could he possibly be nervous about? Wasn't everything going according to his plan? "You could come back with me, you know. Things are different now. We've all changed," he rambled and now his eyes were begging me to listen. "We could graduate together, and then come back here for college. It's going to be hard, but at least we would be together. I love you, and I don't want to be without you again."

Every word hit me like a dagger to the chest, slowly twisting, but I shook my head. "Mason, I love you too," I replied with a sad smile as I watched his eyes light up. It would kill me to dim his excitement. "But I can't come home, not after this. Let's just plan on you coming here for college, and then we can be together." I titled my head to the side, and squeezed his hands.

He nodded his head, but I knew my answer wasn't enough by the sadness that now consumed us. Then, when he finally kissed me, I felt like I made the right choice, maybe I could have it all. "I love you," he repeated against my lips.

I smiled, and pressed myself closer to him again. The timing felt wrong, but everything else felt so right. Part of me wanted to jump on the plane with him, but I knew there was no chance of that happening. I can't face my dad, and I don't particularly want to go back. I messed up too badly, and coming home would only further complicate my situation. He would be the only reason I came home. "I'll call you on my birthday," I offered.

"I'll be counting down the days," he joked, and then kissed me again. "And you need to send me those pictures. Hopefully, I'll see you soon." So I watched him wave goodbye, and walk through the door.

I walked into my apartment after a long, silent car ride home. He seemed different when we had dinner together, maybe even distant. Something was bothering him, but he wouldn't talk to me about, so I forced him to give me his number. I'll probably call him later and beg him to tell me what's going on. Of course, I'll have to wait a week for everything to be finalized, so the detectives won't be able to do anything if they trace my call. I can hardly wait to talk to him, but he just left and I already miss him.

Allison smiled at me as soon as I walked through the door. "Hey, what's up?" she asked as she hopped off the couch and gingerly approached me, like she was walking towards a wounded deer.

"I dropped Mason off at the airport," I answered, awkwardly returning her smile. She's been acting weird since this morning. First her, and now Mason; I wonder if they weren't getting along, or if something happened between them.

Her smile vanished, and she grimaced. "That's interesting," she grumbled and crossed her arms over her chest.

I raised an eyebrow while giving her an amused smile. Normally, she's more talkative and supportive. I assumed she would at least pretend to like my best friend/love interest. "You don't like him, do you?" I asked.

She snorted, and rolled her eyes.  "No, I don't. I'm glad he's gone," she admitted with a small smirk. "I feel like he's using you, and you deserve someone better."

Immediately, I scoffed because she couldn't be anymore wrong. "He's changed. Trust me, he wouldn't have traveled all this way to 'use' me," I argued as my mind wandered back to him. I had to suppress my smile and ignore my fluttering heart. "There's plenty of girls back home he could hook up with. He wouldn't waste his time coming here if he didn't care about me."