Behind the Bad Boy

18.

MASON'S POV

Dinner was so awkward and I think Belle was really embarrassed because right after everyone cleaned up for dinner, she locked herself in her room.

It's Halloween now and I'm really excited because it's Melly's birthday. I got her ten things of Nutella, a whole fifty dollar bouquet of roses, and a necklace.

I got a car yesterday. Dad is a mechanic for a living and he owns the only car place and towing business in the county so we have a good amount of money.

I pull into the school parking lot in my truck and park. I leave the gifts in the car. Our whole group is outside. I go sprinting across the parking lot. I grab Melly's hips and pick her up, spinning her around. I kiss her wildly, passionately. She pulls away after a moment and I set her down.

"Happy birthday!" I say.

She grins. "Thank you." She kisses me again.

We made a group decision to not attend school today, but to meet up at school instead. We're just going to spend the day at the beach, hence the reason that Stella is in my car and the windows are cracked. Bear is in Melly's car. Melly's grounded but she's eighteen now. When we voted yesterday, her exact words were I don't give a fuck.

"Ready?" I ask.

Everyone nods and we all go in our separate vehicles to the beach.

Alyssa is eighteen as of three days ago and we skipped that day and spent it at the beach. We got ISS yesterday and the principal said if we do it again, we're getting ISS for the full two weeks without any exceptions, but we'll be given our schoolwork.

I guess Jackson finally listened to Grant.

I put Stella on her leash and we hit the beach.

I have Melly's gifts with me.

I hand the flowers to her and she grins. "You're so cute." She kisses my cheek. I hand her the box that is filed with Nutella. She sits in the sand and unwraps it. She's doing a great job training Bear. He's sitting next to her and she's not even holding the leash.

Someone drops a burger in the sand and leaves it. Bear is staring at it, but he doesn't go after it. I pet his head.

"Oh my god!" she says. She grabs the front of my shirt and kisses me passionately.

Next, I hand her the black box. It's nothing special, but I think she'll like it.

"Mason." She warns.

"Just stop being cute and open it." I say. "Actually don't stop being cute. You would have to fade from existence to do that."

She rolls her eyes. "You're corny." She mutters, lifting the lid to the box. Her eyes widen.

I had every single intention in the world on getting her a diamond necklace from Tiffany's, but I got there and I didn't have enough. Dad tried to get me to let him pay, but I refused and insisted that I had to be the one to get it.

Instead, I got her a dog tag, just like mine. Hers says Mason Adams and Bear Jane.

Mine now says Melody Jane and Stella Adams.

Instead of the actual word and though, I had the sign & put on it.

"I know it's not Tiffany's. I was going to get you a diamond necklace but when I got there, I couldn't afford it. Dad wanted to help pay, but honestly baby, I wanted to be the one that got it for you without any help."

She stands up and throws her arms around me. "I love you." She mumbles.

What?

What did she just say?