Blue Letter Night

16. Mason expresses his feelings

Three weeks at Machelle's, and things were going not as terribly as I expected. Eddie and I had spent nearly every spare minute together and when it wasn't just us we were joined by Beth and Anne and sometimes Max, and Beth didnt make me want to gouge my eyes out during it. Other times it would just be Beth, Anne and I. Anne tried to get Eddie to call us the ABC's. When Eddie asked why Anne rolled her eyes like it was obvious.

"A for Anne, B for Beth, and C for Carter," she told us. We laughed and she just looked offended.

As for Max, he was away with Oliver and Kyle for the majority of the days. Sometimes in a full week we would only see him two times. Anne set a date for a meeting with Beth and I to discuss the matter. When we asked why there had to be a set date and time for the three of us to talk about it— which was ridiculous sense we lived together and had no other friends— she only said we'd get off track of conversations too easily and needed a schedule.

I was kind of disappointed I didn't get to see Max as much as I expected, he was the only reason I was even a little excited to stay with Machelle for the summer, but now I had other things to look forward to, and Max seemed happy to not have to only spend time with his older sisters.

We were able to steal him away for the opening of the art exhibition just outside of town featuring three of Beth's paintings. My parents even planned their visits so it would line up with the date and they could come with us.

With the arrival of my parents came a another new load of boxes to move to the attic. Beth and I were talking at a million miles an hour about the exhibition that night. She was ecstatic and was discussing all the plans with me while we grabbed boxes.

"And we need to be there by seven so be ready by 6:15 at the latest-" she was interrupted by my dad.

"Well, I see you two are getting along better," he observed. Beth and I looked at each other and she smiled at my dad.

"Na," she said with a scrunched nose and teasing smile, "he's only sort of tolerable now,"

"Hey!" I laughed.

"Now hurry up slow poke we've got to get this done quick so we have time to get ready,"

"Fine I'll race you then," I told her ready to sprint up the stairs a box in each hand. She stuck a free hand out in front of me to stop me.

"No, we can't risk any injuries tonight— we don't have time for the emergency room," she told me walking up the stairs. I walked beside her.

"So if I were to fall down these stairs right now and break my leg..." I suggested.

"We'd leave you to limp to the hospital," her tone was serious but she was smiling.

"You are heartless Beth," I teased.

"If you're a wimp, sure," then she got distracted by something sitting in the corner of the attic, "who's guitar?"

"Mine," I told her.

"You play the guitar?" She asked excitedly, "I've always wanted to play,"

"Yeah. Yeah, I could probably teach you if you wanted," I told her.

"Really! I'll warn you in advance I have no musical talent," She laughed.

"Well at least you got that whole art thing. I'm mean you're good at that," she looked taken aback.

"Thanks Carter,"

"Yeah, well, that was too much niceness for us," I joked.