Over A Cup Of Coffee

Mason

*Mason's POV*

I didn't want to leave her as I did, but Elaine always knew when to make an appearance. I broke up with her. Again. Perhaps this time for good. She never took it well. We were better off as friends or not talking. She brought out the worst in me and I should've known this time wouldn't be any different.

I've known Elaine Michaels since I could walk. Our fathers' were law firm partners and it was almost expected for us to get together. Maybe that why I kept trying. My father insisted I date someone of my class, someone who would elevate my status, and be dignified of our last name. He was convinced she was the one I should plan a future with. I really tried with Elaine, but I could no longer stomach her annoying babble, her fits of jealousy, the whiny complaining, and the fact that she's so high maintenance. The years since high school have only worsened these symptoms and we simply couldn't get through a day without arguing.

We had started dating only a month before Kat came back into my life. That's when the fighting started. Elaine, of course, recognized her before I did, but in my defense, Kat blossomed into such a beautiful woman that I truly didn't realize it was the same Katrina Romano I went to school with. Elaine insisted I still had feelings for her after that day in the coffee shop. I thought the jealousies would be a thing of the past for her. Evidently, it was not.

Seeing Kat stirred in me a desire for something that I couldn't give Elaine and that she couldn't ever reciprocate. Unconditional love. I remember being with Kat when I was in the 10th grade. She was a freshman and of course, I had to have her the minute I saw her. She was beautiful, a little dorky, but I didn't care. My mistake was caring about what other people thought. Kat was very smart and had many advanced classes. Which explains why I found her seated in the second row to my AP World history class. Of course, my mother made me take those stupid AP classes, I was capable, but school wasn't a priority then. I'll never forget the day I met her.

*****

'My buddy, Alec, and I walked into 5th period and there she was. The freshman girl I ran into today. I stopped Alec at the door. "Hey bro. I'm going to sit toward the front today."

He followed my eyes and laughed. "Into freshies all of sudden Taylor?"

"Maybe, we'll see," I said with a smirk.

"Alright, man. Good luck." He said to me as he walked to our usual seats in the back of the classroom.

Not that I needed the luck. I had girls lining up to talk to me. This would be an easy conquest. There was still a few minutes before the bell rang indicating the start of class so I walked right up to her. I had no problem approaching girls. She was no different.

"Hey. You didn't give me a chance to give you a proper welcome earlier. Welcome to Lowell high. My name is Mason." I stuck my hand out.

She slowly looked up from her phone and immediately her cheeks reddened. Hesitantly, she took my hand. Her hand was small compared to mine. It was warm and soft. Quite pleasant actually. She wore square frames, had her brown hair up in a ponytail, no make-up, a white V-neck t-shirt tucked into baggy looking jeans and white converse.

"Hi. I'm Katrina. Nice to meet you." She said meekly.

"The pleasure is all mine," I smirked and turned our joined hands over to kiss her hand. She turned a bright pink then and I laughed. "Sorry I don't mean to make you uncomfortable." I let her hand go and took my seat behind her. She hesitated but turned around ever so slowly.

"Can I help you?" She was clearly confused as to what a guy like me was doing talking to her.

"Yeah actually." I pulled out my phone and started a new contact. I leaned closer to her and held out my phone. "Give me your number? You know, for the class or whatever."

She looked at my phone like it was a foreign object and then back at me. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." I smiled and shook my head with a laugh. "Have you never been hit on before or something?" Her eyes went wide and she snatched the phone from me. She turned around to fill out her information. I peered over her shoulder as she did it. Under her name was Kat. Kat Romano.

*****

After that day in the 5th period, I sat behind her every day until I got her to go out with me. We texted and talked almost daily. Behind those dorky glasses and layers of shyness was a brilliant, funny, sweet girl that was the opposite of Elaine. She was a bit unsure of herself, but it wasn't so bad. Looking back I wish I didn't take her for granted. We dated, mostly outside of school for about 4 months before she got fed up with being kept a secret. I chose the popularity over her. I wouldn't be seen at school with her in fear I'd be shamed for dating her. She wasn't popular or even remotely close to it on the food chain at Lowell high. She was classified as a third-class freshie. Ultimately a nerd. It would definitely damage my reputation. I was an idiot to care and it was ultimately a huge mistake.

Seeing the beautiful, sassy young woman she's turned into, made me nostalgic and certainly wanting more to life than the forced smiles, the pointless conversations, and the superficial lifestyle I led. Kat would be mine again. I didn't care what I had to do. I wanted to give us a real try again, I just had to prove to her I was different and wanted her. I was an ambitious man. I could make it happen. Right?