Before You

Chapter 50

"Evy!" Boston shouts. "I'm so glad you're here! I would have been completely bummed out had you left and didn't say goodbye."

"I wouldn't have left without saying goodbye to you, Boston." I tell her.

Boston and I walk through her house, making our way to her bedroom. I can see from the kitchen that her bedroom door is already open. I glance around the house, but don't see any trace of Ms. Sidney.

"Where's your mom at?" I ask.

"She's working an extra shift tonight at the restaurant." Boston says. "She won't be home until the wee hours of the morning."

I nod my head in response. I wonder if Ms. Sidney ever worries about Boston being at home alone. Better yet, I wonder if she knows what Boston does while she's not here. Boston skips ahead of me into her bedroom and jumps on the bed. As I reach the door, I stop and take a look around. The music in her bedroom is turned all the way up. There's a red headed girl sitting on the bed next to Boston. Cole is standing in the corner of the room talking to another guy similar in appearance. Everyone, including Boston, has a drink in his or her hands. My eyes scan the room until they meet the last person there. In another corner of the room, sitting on a large black beanbag, is Mason. Mason looks back at me with a blank stare. He doesn't seem happy or angry to see me. It's difficult to know what he's thinking. I take a deep breath and decide to join Boston on the bed.

"Evy, this is Desiree." Boston says, pointing to the redheaded girl next to her. "I met her through Cole. She's one of the few friends that's he recently met here."

"Hey, I'm Evy." I say, shaking her hand.

The girl gives me a big smile and returns to gulping her drink. I see Mason move out of the corner of my eye, but try not to focus on him. I don't want him to know how much our argument affected me. Before I can scan the room to see where he went, Mason steps in front of me.

"Evy, can we talk?" Mason asks.

I look up at him. "Talk or argue?"

"I would prefer to talk, but arguing with you can be fun too." He says with a smirk.

I get off of Boston's bed and walk into the living room. The music is so loud. I know there's no way we can have a decent conversation in there. I walk into the center of the living room and turn around to face Mason, crossing my arms in front of me. Mason gives a small laugh before looking down at the floor and back up to me.

"What's so funny?" I ask.

"Nothing." Mason smiles and then becomes more serious. "Look, I know you don't like this anymore than I do."

"Like what?" I ask him.

"This." He says pointing between the two of us. "Us arguing and not speaking."

I bite my lower lip and glance down towards the floor. I don't want to say he's right, but he is. I don't like being in this place with Mason. He's my best friend. I feel lost without him, especially since we talk pretty much everyday. I've always had his back and he's always had mine.

"I know you won't admit it." Mason says plainly. "I know that's just the way you are. But I also know it's true."

I meet Mason's eyes with a blank expression. He knows me so well. "I know you don't like Jett."

Mason laughs out loud and crosses his arms in front of him. "Listen Evy, I don't like that guy. I don't like him for multiple reasons, none of which matter. There's nothing you can do or say to change my mind. At the end of the day, you are what matters to me. I don't want him to come in between you and I. I'm not going to apologize for what I said. I meant every word. But I am sorry for leaving the way I did. I shouldn't have gotten that upset. I don't think we've ever gone this long without speaking to each other."