other half

unopened pages

the carnival was bright and lively as it had always been.lights flashing with the cheerful screams and chatter among the crowds, giggles and taunts could be heard from all over. little girls and boys running in every direction towards their parents, dashing past warm yellow and golden lights that were aglow in the summers triumphant night. however the thick air that surrounded the clear night made it a little less like something from a heavenly scene, to a more hellish moment that was taking to long to end. 

the brunette beauty approached the welcome sign, lit up by many independent bulbs, only to be stopped by the sound of masons voice. 

"i never meant to- i'm sorry i acted like such a jerk, i'm not used to-"

"what?" Lydia spat wincing at him as he moved closer towards her. in her mind she was thinking up every possible excuse to make up and get out of this situation, but the venom in her words stung to harsh to allow his apology to break through. " you're not used to being rejected or told no all because your a Cole? and for some reason this entire town fears you?"

he watched contently as her words hung in the air. he wasn't used to someone biting back. most girls stayed away from him and the others unless they were visitors from out of town, and even then no one really stood up to him. she was right, he was a Cole, in this town you didn't speak to anyone like that, especially not if they were a Cole.

"i'm not used to someone actually talking back to me the way you did, everyone in this town assumes i'm just like my dad and i'm not, now you may have rejected me but you were kind of polite about it"

"i wouldn't have said what i said was polite" she couldn't help but smile at the stupidity of his statement. the way he was speaking to her now was soft and more humane. she had made her assumption about mason cole from the day she laid her eyes on him but maybe she was wrong. maybe.

"okay maybe not polite but you don't talk to me the way everyone else does, like there was fear and mockery behind your tone, you were straight up, there was no yes sir no sir, you didn't give me the look"

she scoffs, arching an eyebrow as he leads her towards the feris wheel. she had actually noticed that, the way people stopped and stared at him, and noah, like they all knew about something that she didn't. she meant to ask allie or bobby more about the family but perhaps she needn't do so anymore. it was a look of fear, hatred and sympathy.

as he helps her into one of the seats the brunette begins to ease up. she was desperate to bring up the bruise on Noah's arm and ask if maybe he knew anything about it, it wasn't her business but maybe if she made someone who could do something aware of what was happening he could help. if he was willing to help that is. her lips parted slightly in hesitation, awaiting the courage to appear but as the moment passed she forced them into a curve, offering a small smile to the boy beside her.

"you must think im an ass"

"i dont think youre an ass, i just think...there is room for improvement, if your so worried about people seeing you as your fathers son, why not do something different, do something for the people"

"it's not that simple princess"

"princess?"

he laughs as she protests, but by the way she tried to hide her smirk the nickname had taken and he wasnt going to change it because she was throwing a tantrum.

"what i'm saying is, things are different with my dad okay, one wrong step and-" he didnt have to continue for her to know what he meant. that answered her question. he couldnt help, he already knew and was facing the same course of punishment himself.

"so then why hit your brother?"

"what?" he objects as the cart jolts back, rocking them slowly as they glide towards the ground.