Stupid Love

Lovely Rose

Does life ever just shock and confuse the fuck out of you, give you situations that you have no idea how to react to, how to feel about them? I had something like that, this day.

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Thank God, I'd finally finished off my detention. Mr.Davis mocking me was starting to drive me crazy. Although the extra help was good, that I must admit. I hated having to swallow my pride to ask for it though.

I sifted through my very disorganized locker, just trying to find my pencil case.

"What's he doing?" Faith asked Mariana.

I didn't pay any mind to it. Although I was quite nosy, I only had around three minutes to get to class and I didn't want to end up in detention again.

"He just got out of detention, is he really 'gonna fuck with him again?"

Now that got my attention.

I turned to see Mason walking towards Evan and I stood there at my locker, staring at him intensely, waiting for him to do something so I could snap.

"Uh, hey." Mason said awkwardly, and Evan just raised his eyebrows at him, he didn't look too impressed.

Then I realized Mason was holding a rose.

Is he really going to make fun of him?

I resisted the urge to stomp over there and waited.

At this point, everyone in the halls had stopped to watch as Mason nervously shifted from foot to foot. Then I wasn't exactly sure if he was going to make fun of him. I stood there, us three were silent as we stared, frozen.

Mason still wasn't talking, just holding that red rose where Evan couldn't see, holding it where anyone couldn't see unless they looked closely.

"Can I help you?" Evan asked, clearly annoyed.

"I understand if you can't forgive me but there's something have to tell you, first of all I'm sorry– like really really sorry."

Evan's face seemed to soften.  "You're not just saying this to get out of detention?"

"No I'm already out. I just wanted you to know I'm genuinely sorry. And I have something I want to ask you and I'm sure this is really bad considering the circumstances but I'm just gonna do it." He pulled out the rose, just held it where Evan could see it, not necessarily reaching it out. "Look, I like you okay? I was too scared to admit I wasn't straight, I realized this year that I was bi and it scared me. I was so scared of people finding out and I-I thought taking it out on you would make me feel better but I've just been feeling terrible. I'll except whatever bullying comes my way because in the end I think I deserve it. Not because I'm bi but because I had the nerve to mock you and Eric." He offered the rose to Evan now. "I won't be surprised if the answer is no— but will you go to prom with me?"

My mouth fell open, just like Evan's and most people watching.

Evan looked mad for a second. "Are you serious or is this a trick to make me look stupid?"

"I swear to you it's not a trick I promise!"  Mason said quickly.

Evan's face softened then, a small smile appearing on his face. "I forgive you. And yes I will go to prom with you."

Mason pulled him into a tight hug and most of the people staring clapped, probably for the prom-prosal and for the fact that the school asshole gave someone a genuinely apology, and came out.

To my surprise, I found myself clapping as well. I couldn't tell whether it was cute, or cringe-y. But I was happy for Evan, and shockingly, Mason, either way.

Then Mason walked up to me and we just stared at each other for a few moments, as much as I was happy for him, it didn't make me less pissed off about the way he spoke to me.

"Natalia..."

I raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"I just wanted to apologize and say thank you."

I understood the apology but I had no idea what the hell he was thanking me for. "Thank me for what?"

"First off, I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you, even if you don't believe it, I am. And I wanted to thank you for punching me in the face."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "You're thanking me for punching you in the face..."

"Yes, I couldn't just go around treating everyone like shit, so thank you for showing me that. I deserved it."

"You really did." I said, then shockingly smiled, and he smiled back.

Then he held something out to me and I realized it was a rose, just like the one he'd given to Evan a few minutes ago. "This is for you— I know it's kinda stupid but... are we cool?" He held out one hand for me to shake and with the other one held out the rose for me to take. (I'm a poet what the fuck?!)

I stared at his hand and the rose, I didn't know what I wanted. I was bad for holding grudges. But I sighed, and accepted the rose and his hand. "We're cool." I said with a smile.

I admired the rose for a moment as Mason walked away, and when I looked up from it, Mr.Davis was staring at me. He had his brown bag slung over his shoulder and his keys in his hand. He'd clearly just gotten there and missed the whole prom-posal and confession. He looked at me with his eyebrows furrowed and lips pressed together, he looked annoyed, shocked, and maybe even mad. But when my eyes met his he snapped out of whatever trance he was in, quickly shifted his gaze and continued unlocking his classroom door. The look he was giving me made me annoyed with him, I hadn't even said anything to him that morning so he didn't have a reason to look at me like that. Either way, I didn't like people staring at me like that.

When the bell rang I shut my locker and walked towards class, he stood by the doorway, greeting students as he regularly did.

"Lovely rose, Ms. Preston." He complimented blankly.

Ms. Preston?

"Thanks..."

He nodded and I walked over to my usual seat.