Right In Front of Me

Chapter 25

I woke up the next morning and I swore, I still had tears in my eyes.

I grudgingly get up to get ready for school. I don't know if you'd really call it getting ready. I put sweats and a t-shirt on, sticking my hair into a messy bun. My mom is still home before I leave. She gives me a reassuringly smile before I head out the door.

When I get to school, I see Kayla and Bailey are hanging out by Bailey's car just a few spots over from the one I parked in. When they spot me, sympathetic smiles cross their face. Kayla pulls me into a hug immediately. "It'll be okay, Laur," she tells me. I nod, feeling tears weld up still in my eyes again. I quickly blink them away as Bailey pulls me into a hug.

The three of us walk in together. They keep glancing over at me. I can see in the corner of my eyes. But I'm mostly looking down, bringing my head up every few steps to make sure I'm not about to run into anyone then I look back down at the floor as I walk.

The day is a daze. I'm barely functioning. I go to class and just sit. I'm not even trying to pay attention. English was the hardest because Mason was sitting right there next to me. I saw him glancing over at me through the corner of my eye, but I didn't even try to glance his way. I didn't want to see the anger he had at me on his face. I know what I did was wrong. I can only imagine how I made him feel.

I brought my lunch today so I wouldn't have to go to the cafeteria. I go outside and sit on the steps to the football field instead to lose myself in my thoughts.

Mason's birthday is Saturday, the day of state finals. After he got me a gift for mine, I went online and ordered him something. This was before he stopped talking to me. I'm not sure what to do with it. I wouldn't use it myself.

It is this stop sign that said "DANGER AHEAD. STOP. 49ERS COUNTRY." I thought at the time he could hang it up in the basement since that's his little man cave or maybe his bedroom. Now, I'm wondering if I should even give it to him. How can I give it to him? It's not like he'll give me the time of day anyways. I can't use it. Okay, I guess I could. But I'm a Rams fan, not 49ers. Maybe I should just see if I can return it still.

"Thought I'd find you here." I look up and am surprised to see Chase standing there. "Can I?" he asks awkwardly. I nod and he takes a seat next to me on the steps. We're silent for a couple minutes as I eat my sandwich. "I'm sorry," he finally says.

"It's okay," I tell him. "I was a complete bitch and shouldn't have done that to Mason yesterday."

"Eh, it's understandable," Chase says, "He did pretty much ditch you overnight." I suck in my lips awkwardly, not really knowing what to say next. It seems like he doesn't either. After another few minutes of silence, he shocks me to the core. "You like Mason, don't you?"

I look at Chase with complete shock. "H-h-how did you know?"

He just shrugs nonchalantly, "I've always kind of known. I guess you just figured it out, huh?"

"How is everyone figuring it out before me," I say quietly to myself causing Chase to chuckle a bit.

"Because you're stubborn." I glare at him and he puts his hands up in defeat. "Hey, just being honest here. It's not bad, Lauren. But don't be too stubborn that you don't tell Mason."

I sigh in defeat, "He probably hates me now, Chase. Even if he did like me and I was too blind to notice."

"He doesn't hate you. He could never. Just talk to him," he says, nudging my shoulder with his. "You never know if you don't try."

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

I try to build up the courage to talk to Mason the rest of the day. But the looks I kept getting from him every time I saw him would make me back away. Or he's always with someone. He obviously was still mad about yesterday. Even in Earth Science, sitting at the same table, I tried to build up courage, but he sent me this look and I knew to back off completely.

"You doing better?" Tanner asks as we walk out of history together, with Bailey in tow.

I shrug. I haven't cried anymore so that's a plus. Okay, I think I dropped a few tears here or there. But it wasn't like last night where I was bawling my eyes out. So I guess I am doing a little bit better I guess.

"He's by himself, go," Bailey says, nudging me towards him. Literally everyone is trying to get me to talk to him now. He is by himself at his locker. He has his football bag with him, probably about to head to practice. I close my eyes and take a deep breath and walk to Mason.

"Hey," I say quietly when I approach.

"What do you want?" he asks with an edgy tone.

"I'm sorry about yesterday. I shouldn't have done that. I really am sorry," I say as sincerely as I can.

"Okay," he mumbles. He looks at me. Really looks at me. I can see his face begin to soften and a small wry smile creep up on his face. "It's okay," he tells me.

"Mason, I-" I start but I'm cut off.

"Lauren." I recognize that voice without even turning around. It's John. I've completely avoided him. I don't go where I know he'll be at school. He sits on the opposite side of the cafeteria now since Mason pulverized him so I guess they aren't friends anymore. I look back at Mason and the anger has come back to his face. He slams his locker shut and walks away.

I turn around. "What the hell do you want?" I spit out, crossing my arms in anger. He still had bruises all over his face, but it looks like they are beginning to heal. He's not as swollen as he was on Saturday. His chocolate brown eyes look a bit glazed and tired, like he hasn't slept much. Probably hurts to sleep on a pulverized face.

"I'm sorry," he says.

"Apology not accepted," I say with edge as I walk away, but he grabs my arm before I can get too far. I push him off. "Get the hell away from me!" I yell at him.

"Just let me talk, please," he begs.

"She said get away," I hear from behind. It's Mason. He must've come back. I turn and look at Mason. He's glaring right at John, shooting daggers with his eyes at him. Chase is with Mason, giving me a sympathetic smile. I turn back at John, arms still crossed, and glare at him. He looks between Mason and I before deciding to not say anything else and just walk away.

I turn back to Mason. "Thanks," I mumble, giving him a small smile. He doesn't say anything, just walks away from me, still looking angry. Chase follows, but not before giving me a reassuring smile.

I close my eyes and hope tears won't fall if I open them back up. When I open them up, I was wrong. My eyes are filled with tears and I quickly try to blink them away before any fall. I feel two hands on my shoulders and see Kayla is at my side. "Come on, let's go." Kayla and I head out of school together. I had my chance to talk to Mason. Then John came. Dammit John. Ruining everything, again.