My Heart's Choice (On Hold)

Chapter 39

I watch my phone vibrating on my palm. I sit up on my bed and read his name over and over.

Mason.

Why is he calling me?

My finger hoovers over the screen of my phone for too long, debating whether to answer the call or ignore it.

The call ends.

1 Missed Call from Mason.

I drop my phone onto the bedside-table and dash to the bathroom before it can ring again.

I need a long shower right now.

An hour later I step out of the shower clad in my bathrobe and my hair curled up in my towel. I close the bathroom door behind me, and spin around to find Mom sitting on my bed.

"Hey Mom," I say.

She gives me a weary look.

"Care to explain what's happening with your life right now?"

I stop in my tracks, slowly pulling my towel off my hair.

"What's happening?" I spin to face the mirror, trying hopelessly to hide the red tinge in my face.

"Don't do this Dana," she shakes her head looking hurt, "You always talked to me. Why would you push me away now?"

"It's not that, Mom," I say.

I really hope that I can tell her. But if she comes to know about all the drama in my life, she'll send me off to New York, to my dad, so that I can stay away from all these.

Although I desperately want to escape my current messed up life, I don't want to run away from it.

I should be strong and face it, like Nora always tells me.

"Life is a giant clueless maze, which has many entrances and exits," Nora would say, "Some exit where we enter and some enter where we exit. From the time we step foot inside it, the clock starts ticking hour past hour, until it is a lifetime. Our halts, our turns and mostly our choices define our path and lead us to one particular exit.

There is no turning back. And this maze has no map or a guide or any previous knowledge of finding the way. It's a lonely ride and once we reach the end - that is it, we exit."

It's my maze, and I don't want Mom to pull me out of it, just like that.

"Tell me, Dana," she says.

I shrug nonchalantly, "What do you want to know?"

"What's with you and that Young boy?" she asks, looking grave and demanding.

My heart begins to beat against my chest. Did she answer Mason's call when I was in the shower?

"Nothing, Mom. I just tutor him. That's all," I say.

I gulp silently.

"Well...," Mom drawls, her eyebrows furrowed, "Why would Mr. Mills call me and tell me that there has been a mistake and that Young boy does not have to tutor you anymore?"

Oh crap!

"I thought that it was the other way around," she holds my gaze in the mirror.

I watch her bright and demanding hazel eyes, which accelerates my heartbeat.

"Mr. Mills...probably...s-switched the names?" I offer.

Mom looks dissatisfied with my answer. She glares at me for a second, before thankful letting it drop.