Me, Myself, and You

Chapter 4

                                                                   But man is not made for defeat. 

                                                         Man can be destroyed but not defeated. 

                                                                                  Ernest Hemming

       Ashley 

"Mason? Is that you?" I asked looking at the dark face behind the hood. 

He stuck his hands in his pockets and looked around the park. 

"Do you know a place that's a little more, private?" he asked with a nervous tone behind his voice. 

"Uh my house is a few blocks away." I said pointing towards my home. 

He nodded and we walked. The most awkard walk of my life. I was opening my door and he stared at my house. 

"Look I know it's a lot, but it wasn't my choice." I said. 

He muttered something under his breathe but I couldn't hear. I turned on the lights and led him to my room. I opened the window and sat down on my window sill. 

"So what do you wanna talk about?" I asked crossing my arms. 

He sat down on my bed facing me, "I didn't think you were a Clarkson." 

My body froze, "I'm-i'm not". 

He gave me a gross, cold look, "Don't lie to me Ashley Harper Clarkson. I work for your father, or at least your dead one." 

I got up so fast and slapped him. That's when the tears started to come. "Get.Out.Of.My.House." 

That stupid grin spread across that gross face and I was going to slap him again until he caught my wrists. "As a Clarkson I thought you would be stronger than that." 

And that was the exact moment I lost my shit. I kicked him where the sun don't shine at all. He grunted and undid my wrists. I pushed him away from me and sat on the bed and placed my head on my hands. Tears were flowing and I didn't want him to see me like this. 

"Please Mason... don't tell anyone. I will do anything." I said as I looked up at him. 

"Anything huh?" he said and I knew something bad was happening. 

"Sure." 

"I need you to pretend to date me." he said while he was looking at his fingernails. 

"HA! You're kidding right?" I asked him. There is no way in hell I'm pretending to date him. HIM! No way..

"Ok that's fine, I'll just tell everyone that you're in a gang." he said pulling out his phone. 

"Go ahead. They're not gonna believe you." I asked rising an eyebrow. 

"I guess it's a good thing that I recorded this whole conversation." he said showing me the recording. 

I let out a deep sigh, "Fine I'll do it. How am I supposed to do this and why?" 

"I'll pick you up tomorrow and just tell people that I came to your house with flowers or some shit like that. I can't tell you why, just know it's for a good reason." he said opening the door to my room. 

I closed my eyes for a second to let this information flow and once I opened them he was gone. Good...maybe it was just a dream. Or at least I hope so. 

***

The next morning I got changed and ate breakfast. I'm used to having the house all to myself, but knowing my dad is gone something just doesn't feel right about it.    

I grabbed a juice from the fridge and walked to my car. I was opening the garage right when I heard a motorcycle from behind me. 

I turned around and there was Mason in a helmet nodding to the seat behind him. 

I yelled over the engine, "You must think I'm crazy if you think I'm jumping on THAT so early in the morning. I just did my hair." 

He shut off the engine and handed me the extra helmet. "Just shut up and get on the back of my motorcycle before I realease that recording of you." 

Crap I forgot about that stupid recording. I put the helmet on and jumped on the back of cycle. I hesitantly wrapped my arms around his stomach and then we took off. 

This is gonna be a long ass day...