Settling The Score

Part 26

Here it is.

Please remember to vote and comment. Every single comment motivates me to keep posting. Oh, and also, I'm really sorry, I think I'll only manage this one chapter today.

o0o

I stared over Carlos' shoulder at his computer screen. The final edit of the video was finally completed. 

"Okay," I told him, "Forward it to me and then I guess we'll play it tonight."

We spent the entire day making the video. We started right after I made a statement against Evan at the police station. Mason had insisted on me going and dropped me off himself. The video, on the other hand, was something only Carlos and I knew about.

I checked the time on my phone and saw that it was already four o'clock. Two hours left before the Talent Show started. I left Carlos' place and hurriedly went to go get ready at home.

Lucy came to pick me up an hour later. I was pretty nervous, to be honest. 

Since Carlos was on the committee, he was already in the gym when we arrived. There were still a few last-minute technicalities that had to be worked out.
After Lucy gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, leaving him smiling like a goof, we left him to shout out his orders as he made sure all the acts were present and knew their spots. 

Lucy and I helped out where we could, carrying props for some acts and doing sound checks for others. Before I knew it, it was time to begin.

I peeked an eye through the curtain of the makeshift stage we spent these last two months building and saw that the whole gym was packed. The hundreds of chairs we had carried in were already filled, along with the many seats already in the stands. 

I gulped. A lot of people would be seeing my video tonight.

"Hey, Carebear," a smooth, velvety voice caressed my ears. I could feel his indubitable presence behind me and closed my eyes, breathing in his heavenly scent and allowing it to wash over me like a sea of calm.

Slowly, I turned around. My heart did that little twitch-thing it did whenever I saw him and I rose an amused eyebrow. 

He stood there smirking his killer smirk, his hair messy and perfect. He was wearing black jeans, with a grey hoodie and black jacket, along with his converse. My mouth started watering at the sight. 

My raised eyebrow, however, was directed at the guitar in his hand.

Unable to stop myself from smiling, I met Mason's eyes. "So, he doesn't just sing, he plays guitar too. I thought I was the one that was full of surprises."

His grin widened. "I had a whole lot of time in boarding school and a whole lot of nothing to do with it. So, I dabbled a little in the fine arts of music."

I shook my head, laughing under my breath. "Well, break a leg." 

I went to walk past him, but he grabbed my hand, stopping me in place. He Interlaced his fingers with mine, bringing my hand up to his lips. 

He brushed a light kiss on my knuckles, that made me tingle. His bright green eyes stared into mine with hunger, with promise. And I could see the words lying there, on the surface for me to relish in.

Tonight.

And I saw the intention behind that one word. What he had planned. That it wouldn't be my hand he would be kissing next time.

I could do nothing but stare back at him, as my heart began beating a million beats per hour. But, he gently lowered my hand, smiled crookedly, and vanished behind the line of performers going to their stations.