“She is water. Powerful enough to drown you,

soft enough to cleanse you,

deep enough to save you.”

~ Adrian Michael

 

Thanksgiving came and went way too fast. Grams took over the kitchen when Monica dropped the roast pot. Twice. It was funny and disastrous all at the same time. We laughed so much, it was the best holiday I’ve had in a long time. Parker kept us all entertained with his excitement about the football game that was on. He and my Uncle Jamie, were so into the game that they nearly missed dinner call. Mason and I helped bake cupcakes, while Rico and Charli threw cake mix at each other. It was clear to everybody but Charli, just how much she liked Rico. But now, I’m stood at the airport, trying not to cry as I wave off my best friend – again.

“Girl, don’t you dare cry. I can’t handle that shit.”

“I’m trying, I swear. It’s just, last time you left, it took years before you came back.”

“I promise, I’ll be back soon. Maybe you’ll be able to come see me over on my little island, too,” I nod then hug her tight again with the thought that I might simply not let go.

“I need to go, for real this time, otherwise I’m going to miss my plane,” Charli says, her voice breaking as I brush away the tears running messily down my face. She walks away from us, turning back to wave every couple of seconds, making me laugh and cry all at the same time. I watch until she’s out of sight, before heading back to Mason, who’s waiting for me outside.

“Hey, pretty girl. All these tears,” he says, brushing them away with his thumbs before kissing me on top of my head. “Is there anything I can do?”

I shake my head and hug him tight.

“I’m being stupid; I’ll talk to her as soon as she lands.”

“You’re never stupid. Just do you, and if that means crying, then let the tears fall.”

“Thank you for always letting me be exactly who I am,”

“No need to thank me for that, Erin. It’s what any decent human being would do.”

“Well, I’ve not known many, so thank you.” He kisses me softly before pulling away, and slapping my ass.

“Hey!”

“What can I say, maybe I’m not all that decent after all,” he says with a wink as he opens my door.

“You’re something, that’s for sure,” I say and he chuckles as he climbs in to the car.

“Oh, I’m definitely something darlin’,” he says with a wink.

I swear, sometimes he plays on that southern drawl of his because he knows it makes my heart explode.

“I don’t think I’m ready for tomorrow,” I say.

“Tomorrow?”

“You know, reality. I’ve had a whole week of no Tegan, no pop ups from Evan. It’s just been you, me, Charli, Rico, and just being happy. School’s back tomorrow, and that means this happy bubble bursts.”

“It doesn’t have to,” he says, taking my hand squeezing it.

“What do you mean?” I say, skeptically.

“I mean, you don’t have to deal with Tegan and those bitches. I’m in your corner now, so is Scottie. There’s power in numbers. We can either deal with it ourselves, or we can involve others and make it stop.”

“You’d do that for me?”

“Erin, I’d take the moon from the sky for you if it was in my power, so dealing with some little high school bitches…” he shrugs. “I’d go to war for you, always.” My heart flip flops at his words. I have no idea what I did to deserve Mason Knight, but I’ll never regret the day he burst into my life and shook it all up.

 

***

 

Monday morning rolled past so full of nothingness that I start to wonder why I was so nervous about coming back. Mason has barely left my side all morning, though he’d say it’s because we share class, not because he’s my new stalker/self-imposed bodyguard. Not that I’m complaining. Tegan hasn’t even looked in my direction, it might be early in the day, but I’m not going to not be happy about it.

In the cafeteria, I take the seat Mason has pulled out for me, and sit with him and Scottie. I don’t even remember the last time I ate in here. How lame is that? I sit and watch the world pass by in my happy bubble, until I hear a crash. I look up and see Josh Saunders face to face with Tommy, Josh covered in spaghetti and sauce, and god knows what else. The rage on his face scares me.

“What the hell is your problem, loser?” Tommy shouts. “Get the hell out of my way.” He pushes Josh backwards and I watch in horror as he slips on the mess on the floor then falls backwards. Everyone starts to laugh, and no-one goes to help him – until, Mason stands up. He walks towards Josh, and helps him up from the floor and checks he’s alright. Josh storms out of the room without even so much of a thank you. He’s the same color red as the cafeteria chairs.

“You need to stay out of it,” Tommy says, getting in to Mason’s space.

“Maybe you need to stay out of it, man,” Mason says.

His face changes and I see how he fit in with Joey and the thugs down at the beach. It’s almost a complete transformation, as if his face structurally changes, and I’m mesmerized. The menacing stare on Mason’s face is enough to chill my blood. If I didn’t know him, he’d terrify me, and if I was Tommy, I’d probably piss myself. Tommy steps back from him, his hands raised, before signaling to the rest of the team to leave. And just like that, Mason made hero status. I guess that’s what he meant by going to war. He comes and sits back down beside me, and I lean over and kiss him.

“Oh my God, dude!” Scottie hoots, giving him a high-five. “That was EPIC!”

“You are amazing,” I tell him softly.

“It needed to be done. Guys like that can’t keep thinking they run this place.”

“Well, that might be true, but no-one else has ever done what you just did. That takes some balls. Those guys like to work in packs; I just don’t want you getting hurt.”

“I’ll be fine,” he reassures me. “Don’t you worry that pretty little head of yours. My biggest worry is that it comes back on you.”

He looks me intensely in the eyes, one hand on my hair. “You need to tell me if anything happens.”

I nod at him, as he kisses me gently. I swear, it doesn’t matter how or when he kisses me, it takes my breath away. Every. Single. Time.

“I mean it, Erin.”

“Yes, caveman. Put that club away. You protector. Me helpless. I get it,” I giggle.

I always thought high school would be something I just survived, but with Mason around, it’s becoming more than that, and I’ll never be able to thank him enough.

“Too right. Me Tarzan, you Jane,” he says, scratching his head like some sort of monkey and I can’t help but laugh.

“Yeah, yeah, Okay Tarzan, time for class,” I say standing.

He follows suit, picking me up and putting me over his shoulder.

“Oh my God, you baboon! Put me down!” I squeal.

“Say please,” he teases.

I take in the rest of the cafeteria and see everybody – I mean, everybody, is looking at us and laughing. I’m dying up here. “Please?” I squeak. He puts me down slowly, before pulling me into him.

“People are watching,” I whisper.

“So?” he murmurs, kissing me again, sweeping me away and leaving me breathless.

“If you two are about done, I’m just going to puke in this bucket, then get to class.” Scottie’s voice filters in and I pull back from Mason, blushing.

“We’re done,” I say and Mason laughs.

“Oh darlin’ we’ve barely even started.”

 

***

 

The rest of the week passes without any major incidents, but it feels tense – like the calm before the storm.

“Erin, how is it possible there is only three weeks until Christmas?”

“Erm, do you want me to actually answer that?” I say to Monica, pulling on my boots, preparing to head to the mall with her.

Last minute Christmas prep is totally our thing, though this year, I have more presents to buy than normal. Mason, Parker, and his Grams are joining us again, so is Rico. Apparently, he usually stays with Mason, and after Thanksgiving, Monica was more than happy to have him with us.

“We have so many people for Christmas this year; it’s going to be amazing to have a house buzzing full of people. It’s exactly what I would’ve wished for. I might have a guest coming, too,” she tells me, before leaving the room.

“Oh yeah? Anyone I know?” I question.

“Not yet. Who knows. We’ll see.”

“Okay. Secretive, but okay,” I laugh.

“You ready?” She asks, her hair thrown up in a messy bun, leggings tucked into her boots and Aztec print swinging around her thighs.

“Sure am. You been dieting again, Mon? You look… skinnier than normal.”

“Ha! You’re sweet; it’s just the pattern on this dress. Or you know, all that extra exercise I’ve been getting.” She winks at me and I stick my tongue out at her.

“Gross,” I laugh. “Let’s just go shopping and not talk about your exercise, yeah?”

“Sure thing, sweet pea!” she laughs, grabbing her car keys, and pushing me out of the door.

 

The mall was insane, but we managed to get everything. I splashed out a little this year, but I know it’ll be worth it. I wrapped and posted Charli’s gift before we came home; keeping everything crossed that it gets there in time.

We pull into the drive and I see Mason’s black Camaro waiting on the road. I climb out of the car, but don’t see him.

“She’s too good for you, asshole!” I hear Evan shout from the back of the house.

“You’re just pissed because she picked me. You had your chance, now get out of my face,” Mason replies; his anger contained, his voice low.

I walk around the corner of the house and see them stood in the alley between the two houses, facing off each other. Mason looks tightly wound, even with his back to me.

“You’re just getting my sloppy seconds, anyway. You just wanted a challenge, but guess what, I got there first. How sweet she tastes. Just admit it!” Evan shouts at him.

“Dude, you’ve lost your goddamn mind. Erin, is so much more than the sum of her mistakes,” Mason says, turning and seeing me. His anger flares brighter and I step between them, with my back to Mason.

“I have no idea what the hell this is, but it needs to stop. Right the hell now.”

“I’m not the coward here,” Mason retorts. “You’re the one who let your stupid bitch of a girlfriend use your phone to target your supposed friend. She needed stitches that night!” He roars.

“I have no idea what the hell you’re on about!” Evan rears back to punch him, but he stumbles, and I blink as I watch as if in slow motion, his fist comes towards my face. The pain as he connects with my face is enough to make me want to pass out. Mason catches me, and makes sure I’m sat down safely before he jumps on Evan.

“Boys! Stop this. Right now!” I hear Monica calling out to them, but I can still hear flesh connecting.

“Mason,” I groan. “Stop, please.” I look over at them, Mason is on top of Evan, his fist repeatedly connecting with Evan’s face. “Whatever it is, it’s not worth it.”

I hear Evan groan as Mason climbs off him and comes to my side.

“Erin, I’m sorry. I just saw red. Are you okay?”

“I will be; I just need some ice, I think,” I say, and he tucks his arms underneath me and carries me inside. My eye has started to swell shut, but I catch a glimpse of Evan limping into his house before the door closes behind us. Mason sits down on the sofa and pulls me on to his lap as Monica brings me a pack of peas wrapped in a towel.

“This should help the swelling,” she says putting it against my eye. I hiss as it stings my face, but I apply pressure, knowing it will help.

“Are you going to tell me what that was about?” I ask Mason, as Monica hovers about, fussing, making sure I’m okay.

“It was nothing. He was being a jerk. He doesn’t get to talk about you like that. It would have been fine if he hadn’t hit you, but then I saw red. I’ve seen you hurt too much already. I don’t want to see you hurt again, especially not when I could have prevented it.”

“It’s done. It’s just a little swollen and bruised,” I sigh.

It hurts like a bitch, but I’m not going to tell him that. Especially not right now. “What were you doing here anyway?”

“I knew you were shopping with, Monica. I was going to come and offer some muscle for the ungodly amount of shopping I’m sure you pair hauled,” he says.

I laugh. “Well, you’d be right about that. I thought Monica’s car was going to die with all of the weight.”

“Well then, let me go and do that, and then I’ll come back and check on you. You stay here, and don’t move a muscle okay?” he says, pressing a kiss on my cheek.

“I’ve got her, Mason. She’s not moving, don’t you worry – but your help with all the bags would be great. If you can just pop them in the kitchen, thank you.”

“Sure thing,” he says lifting me, and putting my back down on the sofa, before walking out. I watch him through the window as he stares incredulously at the amount of bags in the small car. I laugh along with Monica.

“He’s a good boy, Erin – but his temper worries me,” Monica says softly.

“He didn’t hurt me, Monica. It was Evan. And you can’t tell me you wouldn’t have done the same if you were him,” I argue.

“I guess you’re right,” she sighs. “At least I know you’ll always have him looking out for you if I’m not around. You two might not have known each other long, but anyone with eyes can see that boy is head over heels in love with you,” she says, stroking my hair.

“Men like that don’t come around too often, you hold on tight to him.”

I nod at her as Mason struggles through the door, loaded up with bags and rolling his eyes at me.

There’s a ghost made of words hovering at the back of my head. Something Monica said that didn’t fall right, that unsettled me. I shake my head and the thought away. Mason is fooling around like some crazy clown and I wonder if Monica was right when she said he loves me.