Death of the Perfect Girl

7- The Unloved

Mason

He's the boy that everyone loves. Even though he's with Sadie, everyone still loves him, because none of it is his fault. He's just wrapped around her finger. He didn't decide to be with her. He had no choice. All the girls convince themselves that that's the case because behind Sadie back, they all whisper about how good-looking her boyfriend is. He was never good-looking to them before. But after his instagram followers had gone up to six thousand, he became the most attractive guy in school. And he didn't like it. He didn't think dating Sadie would mean that he would become internet famous or school famous. All he wanted was a smart, pretty girlfriend. But instead he got a girl that he couldn't dump or he would be at risk of being ridiculed by all of her and his followers. He didn't want this life. With so many followers loving him for the wrong reasons, he had begun to feel unloved.

***

      Mason sat in the cafeteria with Sadie and rest of their friends. They were all laughing and talking but his focus was on something else. Someone else.

    His eyes were locked on the table across from theirs, glued to Poppy. He hated her with everything he had in him. How could she abandon him for Liam? Liam didn't even like her. He pretended to be asexual just to friend zone her. And she ditched Mason for that clown.

Her eyes met his as she laughed at something Liam had said. She smiled at him and waved.

He couldn't help but smile back, lifting his hand to wave at her.

Liam quickly turned Poppy's head away from Mason's direction. "Don't look at him," Liam mouthed.

Mason's smile wiped off as Poppy giggled and pushed Liam like what he did was okay. It wasn't.

Liam squinted at Mason trying to warn him that Poppy wasn't interested in his games.

Mason looked away staring at his fries. His eyes lifted again and met Poppy.

She smiling then it suddenly vanished when Fisher sat beside her. He smiled at her putting his tray on the table and stealing one of her fries. She titled her head and smiled at him the way she used to smile at Mason.

"Hey," Sadie put her hand on Mason's chin and turned his face to her.

"Hey," he smiled at her.

She kissed him then she turned back to the others and started talking again.

Mason looked at Poppy again.

She seemed to had become quiet when Fisher had arrived. She kept blushing and looking at him.

Mason turned to Sadie. "Hey."

She looked at him.

"I love you," he flashed a smile at her.

"You too," she flashed a smile back then she turned away and rolled her eyes at Charlotte as if to say 'not'.

Charlotte forced herself to snicker, knowing that what Sadie did was cruel. She looked over at Poppy and Fisher and squinted her eyes.

***

Mason walked out of his last class and started making his way towards the front doors of the school.

Poppy was walking past him.

"Poppy," he called out to her.

She looked at him. "Hey...Mason."

"Do you...do you need a ride?"

"I'm fine," she smiled at him. "Liam's taking me home."

"Okay."

"How are you-"

"Mason!" Sadie shouted from by her classroom.

He quickly turned around trying not to groan. "I'll catch you-," he turned to Poppy, but she was gone," later."

Sadie shoved her bag in his chest. He held it and turned towards the exit again.

"How could you just leave me? You're my way home? Remember? My car's in the shop-"

"I know."

Sadie shook her head. "Are we taking your brother home too-"

"He's not my brother."

"Step-brother. Whatever. So, are we?"

"I have no choice."

Sadie sighed. "He's so creepy and weird. And he smells like a wet dog."

"Who smells like a wet dog?"

They both flinched and spun around to see Mason's step brother standing behind them.

"Hey," Sadie smiled at him,"...Charlie-"

"If you're saying that I smell like a wet dog then it's working," he walked in front of them.

"What is?"

"My cologne. It's bathwater...from our dog."

Sadie crinkled her nose. "Can't we just ditch him?"

Mason shook his head. "His mom would kill me."

They made their way into the parking lot and stood by Mason's car.

Sadie got in, but Charlie put his hand on Mason's chest and stared at something.

"What is it?" Mason furrowed his brows.

"Aren't we going to gawk?"

Mason turned to see Charlie staring at Poppy, standing with Jenna and Liam. "Really?" He pushed Charlie's hand off his chest.

Charlie laughed and got into the car.
     
Mason followed shaking his head.

They drove past the three, Liam glaring at the car.

"What's his problem?" Sadie glared back.

Mason sighed. "Don't know."