The Interim Queen

Chapter 1

There were only a few spots in the city where we could get away from the noise of the busy streets. Flemmingham Park, Magnolia Hill and Jean Blue's Center. I visited them all many times, but Magnolia Hill quickly grew to be my favorite. It was the only place out of the three that allowed me to pretend I was a whole another person in a different world. It overlooked the city, and everything appeared to be very tiny from there, like every problem I faced there was insignificant. The wind, the sounds, the trees.

A long twig was dropped beside me and I smiled as I felt a wet nudge. "And of course, you're the best part of this spot, aren't you, buddy?", I cooed at the large Rottweiler panting beside me. He let out an excited bark in response.

"And I thought I was the best part", his owner, Mason Scott, responded as he sat beside me on my usual bench. He was wearing his usual baseball cap since the glare of the sun was relentless at this part of the hill. His wavy tufts of brown hair peaked out from underneath the cap, right above his blue eyes. He had that exuberant life in his eyes that never seemed to fade away in the two years I'd known him for.

I gave out a little laugh, my hands constantly reaching out to pet the dog. "Not when you let that ego ride to your head", I teased, knowing that Mason would be the last to consider himself good looking. "Besides, how can you ever compete with Buster?"

Buster's ears perked up at his name, his tail wagging happily as I pet him. "You hear that, buddy? It's happening again", Mason talked to him. "If only this wasn't the hundredth time you stole a girl I'm interested in, I'd have been happy for you."

I gave him a warning look that was half playful and half serious. I've always made sure to let him know I was not, and will not ever be, interested in a relationship. I pointedly looked at the bandage wrapped around his ankle.

"Accidents happen, Evelyn", he gave his usual response as he noticed my gaze.

He didn't seem to care that every time he was around me for the past month he was getting hurt in some way or the other. However, after my parents died in a car crash when I was 11 and my grandfather passed away within two years of me being under his care, I couldn't help but feel that I was cursed. After that, rumors hit the roof and my friends, my relatives and even my own sister distanced themselves from me. Rightfully so, I knew. But Mason didn't seem to care. He was either daring or stupid, and I don't know which one I rather him be.

"Anyway", he started, and I could sense he was going to change the topic, "I know you usually don't want me around you but I'm only here for a special reason."

He waited with an expectant look as if I was supposed to know the reason. When I looked blankly at him, he sighed.

"You forgot your birthday again, didn't you?", he asked, knowing the answer already.

I widened my eyes in realization before smiling sheepishly at him in response. "It's no big deal! I have told you so many times, I don't-"

"You don't celebrate birthdays", he interjected, "I know. But, as a friend, it's my responsibility to give you something you need when you need it. And right now, I think you need a birthday cake and a long vacation from the thing you call your job."

"Well, I need the money to survive, Mason", I answered with a shrug. "But I wouldn't say no to a cake."

He lifted his forefinger, asking me to wait, before he slowly jogged, slightly limping occasionally because of his sprain, to a tree and picked up something from behind it. When he turned around, he was holding a cake box in his arms. I couldn't help but smile, instantly regretting it because I had to distance myself from him before he got hurt even more.