Settling The Score

Part 14

Contrary to what I told Mason, I did in fact, try to get out of going to the dancing lessons with him. 
I was quickly informed, however, that if anyone other than Leslie Carter showed up that the competition was no longer valid and the money would be forfeited and immediately returned. I mean, I couldn't deny a cancer charity of five thousand dollars, now could I? So, I had to think of another way to get back at Mason.

And that was precisely what I was going to do.
I slid the envelope inconspicuously into her locker,  holding my head down as I casually walked away, keeping my eyes firmly glued to the ground.

Two weeks had passed since the charity event and my ticket was going to expire soon, meaning that tomorrow  I would have no choice but to go with Mason. He had been urging me to pick a date for the entirety of the two weeks and made it a priority to walk me to and from class every single day. 

Like today, for instance, he caught up to me after I got my books from my locker and just started asking me random questions.
Like what soup I would be if, by some incomprehensible reason, I would ever be a soup. He was adamant that I would be some type of spicy hot tomato soup. I told him he would be something hard to choke down like sweet corn soup.

I guess the brief interactions with him weren't all bad. He did make me laugh an unusual amount with his dumb puns and innuendos. 

I still wasn't his biggest fan though, after what he did at his party. 

But I had dragged out the inevitable for too long, tomorrow I would actually have to dance.
 Mason truly went to great lengths to torture me, he even secured us a booking at some fancy restaurant on Sunday evening, that I reluctantly agreed to.

But, all drama with Mason aside, first I had to sort things out with Lucy. I felt awful about how we left things and would go crazy if I went another second without talking to her.

It was Friday afternoon, so everyone hurriedly scurried through the hallway while I stood, waiting for Lucy at her locker. After what felt like an eternity, she finally came into view, saying goodbye to Macy and some of her other friends. 

When she noticed me waiting for her, she neared me slowly, crossing her arms before coming to stand in front of me.

I gave her the most sheepish smile I could muster. "Luce, I just want to begin by saying that I went too far with what I said. I know how exceptionally hard these past two years have been for you and I had no right to say any of those things." 

I gave her a second to take in my apology, before continuing, "It's just that Carlos really likes you, you know? And if you would just give him a chance, I know you could be happy again."

Her eyes started to water, and she stepped closer to throw her arms around me. "Oh, Leslie I'm so sorry!" she cried, "I never want us to fight ever again! These two weeks have been horrible without you. And Carlos, he literally hates me now. It feels like my heart is going to crumble," she sniffed.

I pulled away slightly, rubbing her tears away. "Lucy, Carlos couldn't hate you even if he tried. You just have to decide once and for all, if you like him the same way," I advised.

"I do," she whispered. 

The excitement started bubbling up inside me. "What!?" I blabbered. 

Smiling shyly, she continued, "That's the problem Les, I've always felt the same way. But then Jamie and I happened, you know? And I loved him, I really loved him. But those last few months we were together, things weren't what they used to be. I guess the infatuation started dying off or something. So, I decided to tell him I had feelings for someone else. But, but before I could, he got sick and-" her voice broke and a sob escaped her.