Run Away With Me

Breaking Up Is Easy When You Were Never Together In The First Place

After picking up Kayla she directs us on how to get to Venice Beach. Parking was terrible but she told us that it's always this bad and that we were just spoiled by having the beach in our back yard.

On the way here, Kayla opened a group chat with the whole group letting them know we were on our way and getting instructions on how to meet up with everyone. We eventually decide on by the front of the stage.

As were walking towards the meeting spot, I spot Mason.

"Hey, there's the prettiest girl in the world." Mason says with a big goofy grin on his face. He took my hand and tugged me to him and picks me up in a big show, twirling me around. The whole time, I try to hide my grimace. Were all friends here and I don't need anyone starting shit. When he finally sets me back down, I see Jack glaring at the back of his head from over his shoulder.

Tiffany tries to distract him and start a conversation, but she doesn't have his whole attention. Not that she notices.

"I missed you. I wish it could have been a you and me night and not a girls' night. What did you do yesterday before everyone came over? I feel like we haven't talked in forever." His face was so eager and his eyes unwaveringly stared into mine.

"I, uh," I gently push away, prying his arms away from around my waist. I looked from him to Jack, who was still angrily staring at Mason. When Jack did finally look at me, it was a pointed one that I wasn't sure I understood. "I had a date. With a guy I met at UCLA." I say finally looking back at him. But he just looks hurt.

"Oh."

I look around trying to find a private area but the beach is swarming with people. I tug on his hand, leading him closer to the water where there were slightly less people.

"This feels like a bad sign. Like youre about to say 'it's not you, it's me." He mumbled as we got closer to the ocean.

I want to laugh, because it's not one or the other, it's both. Were both living lies. My name, his sex scandal. Even if I did want a relationship, it wouldn't be this one. Founded on lies and the inevitability of breaking up. He knows nothing about me and I just as much about him as he does me.

I am not Miss Confident; this should be really hard. But over the last few days, I grew a backbone. One that felt really good. Maybe not a backbone that has me saying 'no' to jack, because why would I want to? But one that has me speaking my truth. Truth is a little something I need more of in my life. Especially when I hear rumors about me being loose.

"I think maybe I wasn't clear when we first met and I told you I wasn't looking for anything serious."

"Stella, I get it. We won't label anything." He leaned in to brushing my hair behind my ear but I moved away, dodging his touch. His eyebrows scrunched together.

"It isn't about labels, Mason. I don't want to be in a relationship at all. I don't want anyone waiting for me to call, I don't want you looking for me at parties, and I especially don't want people thinking were sleeping together."

He laughs nervously. "Why would people think-"

"I know you told Sophia we slept together." I purse my lips, holding his panicked gaze.

"I never said-"

"It doesn't really matter, say whatever you want. But I think you and I need to cool off and stop, whatever was between us. I don't really feel comfortable with it anymore."

"But you kissed me." His shoulders squared and his voice slightly raised.

"And you mistook that for sex." I purse my lips, scanning the crowd behind him for Jack. I am done having this conversation.

"You're not even going to let me explain myself?"

"Like I said, it doesn't really matter what you said or didn't say. I didn't want to get serious and invested in a relationship. I was just looking for some fun." I searched behind him again, still not finding Jack.

Mason grabbed my wrist and my eyes flashed back to his. "If you would just listen-"

"I think it's best you take your hand off of her right fucking now." Jack's voice was behind me and once again I was thankful for his stealthy ninja skills of showing up right when I needed him.

"Go away, man. Were just talking."

"Pretty sure you don't need to touch her to talk. Why don't you go find someone else to spread lies about?"

Mason dropped my hand to get in Jack's face. "Shut the fuck up. You don't even know what you're talking about. This is between Stella and me. Go find another girl to pine after."

"Excuse me?" Jack looked taken aback but a smile spread across his face at the irony.

"You heard me. You are always following her around, showing up when no one needs you, give up dude. She doesn't like you like that."

"Mason, man," Jack chuckles, shaking his head. "You don't know shit about her. Just go. You're making an ass out of yourself."

Mason gets red in the face and turns to leave but instead whips around and throws a fist in the air towards Jack.

Jack dodges and tackles him. Wrapping his arms around Masons waist and holding his arms to his side. They roll around in the sand but Jack eventually is back on top of Mason, pinning his arms down so he can't try to hit jack anymore.

"Get off me! Get the fuck off of me!" Mason screams from under Jack's hold. Jack releases him and takes a step back, covering my body from Mason.

"Whatever," Mason wipes the sand from his clothes. "Have her, she isn't even worth it. Fucking bitch."

Jack lunges but I grab his arm and hold him back. He takes a step back and growls at Mason, "If you ever so much as look at her again, I'll kick your fucking ass. Do you understand me?"

Mason doesn't answer though. Just spits at Jack's feet and leaves, glaring at the people who have gathered around us.

"Are you ok?" Jack finally turns to me and inspects my wrist.

"I'm fine. Are you ok? I am so sorry he swung at you." I grab his chin and turn it left to right making sure he didn't actually land a punch.

"I'm fine, Maddie. I'm glad were both ok." He wraps his arms around me and my body relaxes into his.

"He was wrong by the way."

"I know. You're not a bitch, don't listen to him. He's just a blue-balled loser."

"No, not about that. About you being there when no one wants you. I don't know how you do it, but it's like you are always there right when I need you. You show up at just the right moment when I don't know how to handle something."

He squeezes me tighter to his body and kisses the top of my head .

We stayed that way for a minute longer, coming down from the intensity of Mason and my encounter. When I did let go, I shook my whole body and plastered on a big smile. "Let's get a drink. I have to recover the night from all of that."

"I think we can manage that."