Picture of Shirley Grey (^^)

Chapter 9 - A Mason in Denberg.

Oliver

"Ow!" I moaned when the phone hit my face. Rubbing my nose, I felt a slight pain as I did. I then sprung up from my bed with such speed and stood on my feet.

Panicking and pacing around my room before I walked to the fridge and gulped down a whole bottle of water. That didn't seem to be enough but I feared that my stomach would explode if I took another bottle.

What? How did he even find out?

Checking my notifications I found out he'd already liked my post alongside Jess who commented 'Yass biitch'.

I could just ignore the text right right? The thought came into my head and I began to put it into serious consideration. I mean people ignore people, this will not be the first time it will happen neither will it be the last.

I was still contemplating on what to do when I received another text from him, I saw the full text in the notification so I didn't even have to open it to read.

Mason
Oliver it's me, Mason

Despite seeing the preview already I couldn't stop myself from opening the text right after the notification disappeared from the top of my screen.

What am I doing?!

I read his messages continuously, I couldn't think clearly. I really wanted to call Jess but I had to learn to make certain decisions for myself and also handle issues like this on my own, true she's my best friend and she's supposed to help me during my troubled times but there were some things that I'm required by myself to handle alone. This was one of those things and I just somehow needed a way to clear my head so I could think straight.

After calming myself I sat back on my bed, taking deep breaths to fill my lungs and clear my vision. I wasn't scared or terrified that Mason texted me, I was more amazed and bewildered at the same time. I couldn't believe Mason still followed me or still felt the need to keep in touch.

Me

Yes, it's Oliver.

I replied, typing really slowly as I scanned every letter I clicked on. This was unusual for me because I normally type really fast and I make little to no typographical errors. I didn't want him to think I was uninterested in a chat with him so I added.

Me
What's up?

I typed quickly this time following up my first text message. As quickly as my own text delivered his bubble came up

Mason
Ah finally.

Mason
Nothing much, I just saw your post those are really nice pictures of Denberg I've not even been to those places, maybe we could stroll sometime?

I welcomed the idea without even knowing until I blinked severally, clearing my vision. If Mason really wanted to stroll with me he'd see to make sure it happens he was truly persistent but the main reason was because I had no justification for trying to avoid him.

Jess really liked him for so many reasons he had a really lovely personality, if anyone felt like they had to hate him it definitely shouldn't be me because he's been nothing but kind and caring towards me right from highschool. I was just utterly scared of the way he does things and the risks he takes, I shouldn't blame him he has a really confident personality which I sometimes admired and wish I had.

It was almost like he couldn't care less about what people thought about him or the things he does as long as it's justified by his conscience. He was very friendly and caring towards me in highschool but he was also the reason Casper-- and the rest of the school-- found out about my bi-curiosity. I shuddered as I remembered that dreadful day.

Ever since then, I've tried my best to avoid him, but my efforts had just been rendered futile. It still pricks at my heart that if I had still stayed friends with Mason even after the incident, my highschool wouldn't have been as bad as it turned out to be after my bi-curiosity had been made public.

I blinked repeatedly again as I shook my head trying to get these thoughts out of my head, the past is supposed to remain behind me all I need to focus on is the future. Whatever happens now would be totally under my control.

Hopefully.

He sent another text, following up his request after he realised he might be moving too fast. It made me really happy that he respected me and my opinions unlike some Jessica I knew.

Mason
So look at you still here in the University of Jega state, how do you like it here?

I felt a little bad and guilty at the same time because I left him on seen for so long he got all kinds of assumptions from that.

Me
It's been nice, I'm in one of the science faculties.

I replied after so long, beating and cursing myself silently as his reply came instantaneously.

Mason
Oh I see, I'm in an art department tho.

I read that feeling a little pang of happiness as I just nodded to myself, realising I wouldn't be seeing him on my way to almost every lecture and the chances of me running into him were really low unless coincidence was out to get me, again. Last week Monday was the height of it and of all people I could run into it was Casper Stenchrow.

I sighed as I recalled my encounter with him, I felt like a really unlucky person.

On the other hand I really didn't want to stay distant from Mason, my indecision on the matter was killing me. At the moment I could come up with only one conclusion; this isn't highschool anymore so nothing that would go wrong would actually matter.

Unless Casper kills me under the bridge then throws my body into the water just before it freezes over.

Me
Well Denberg is a really big school.

I replied a bit faster this time.

Mason
yeah I know right it's so big we both can study here for five years without running into each other.

Mason
Ever, not even once.

He replied with laughing emojis.

I scoffed, but then I ran into Casper. The chances I get.

Mason
So see you around?

He asked.

Me
Yeah see you around.

I replied, just now realising that I actually wanted to. Quite some time had gone by since we last saw each other, a lot must have changed. I couldn't wait to find out just how much.

Mason
Great! I don't know how free these coming days are going to be for me but I'll text you.

He replied, I could tell he felt just as enthusiastic I felt about meeting.

Me
Sure we'll keep in touch.

I replied, smiling at nothing exactly. I just felt really happy that even after everything and the way I acted towards Mason he still hung around, and now he was trying to rekindle the dying flame that was our friendship.

I stayed on his chat for a while, I wasn't really expecting a reply and I didn't get one. Our conversation had already ended so until next time. I fell back on my bed easing into it as I let out a sigh, that was definitely some kind of rush, my arms were spread out on my bed.

I stayed there for a while, the continuous vibration of my phone signaling a number of new messages I'd received made me sit up again as I checked my phone, feeling a little annoyed at whatever the cause was.

They were all messages from Jess, she was spamming me just like she always does. I clicked on her chat box and it opened revealing a long line of her chat bubbles and she was still typing adding more to the already impossible to reply messages.

Jessica
Denberg is so fine!

Was the last and only text I bothered to read I could bet a million pounds the other ones were just her gibbering. I rolled my eyes at her frantic nature before replying.

Me
No it's not, it's because my photography skills are professional, I'm off your regular charts.

I replied with an eye roll emoji signifying that I was also rolling my eyes at her in real life.

Jessica
Yeah right.

Her reply came in just seconds.

Me
Mason knows I'm in Denberg now.

I replied, informing her of what just happened.

Jessica
Yes he does I confirmed that for him.

She replied right after, her speed always shocked me. It's like she already has her reply typed she's just waiting for my slow response before she clicks on the little send icon.

I goggled at her reply, completely baffled. I always knew he could find out from Jess if he wanted to, I just thought Jessica will inform me before giving him an answer but seeing as I would probably refuse she totally disregarded my opinion on the issue.

Me
Wait tf? Why would you just tell him without informing me first.

Jessica
Because he asked me? Yk for someone who doesn't want people to know you sure do post a lot and because I also don't care about whatever you might have to say about me telling him.

Her reply was instant.

Me

It skipped my mind!

I replied, mentally beating myself for such foolishness. How could I forget that everyone could see my post and caption, and could easily link the two together. My account wasn't even private. I kept turning it off and on, I couldn't decide on what to leave it as. My indecision on the very littlest of things still surprised me.

Jessica
Well here we are now, he knows you can't brainwash him

I didn't even think he'd still be following me; there has always been an established practice of unfollowing all your classmates right after graduation. I withdrew my follow from some of my classmates, I also did lose a number of followers, as well. Such big a number, I thought my only follower from highschool was Jessica. I guess Mason stuck around.

Me

But what if I can?

I replied with a skull emoji, smirking at myself.

Jessica
Yeah right, good luck with that.

She replied with an eye roll emoji which made us both end up laughing as we continued to text about nothing in particular.

Monday came around, the one day that led to more days of increasing suffering and assignments. Chris, Shirley and I sat together through Philosophy and Logic our first lecture of the week and also the joint class we had with Chris.

Despite being in a Philosophy class I could see the chemistry going on between those two throughout the lecture, I honestly thought they looked so adorable together.

Turns out I misunderstood the stare Chris sent my way yesterday, I wasn't getting any wrong vibes from him anymore. Maybe the stare had absolutely no meaning to it, just his regular way of being too attentive.

Shirley and I sat together during the other two classes we had for the day, she was almost like the opposite of Jessica, not in a positive or negative way just in a literal and behavioural sense. She was a lot more gentle and peaceful than Jessica was, with dark brown hair and shinning green eyes. Her aura made me feel so relaxed around her and I loved when she made small jokes about some 'weird' people around.

We were leaving the lecture hall now, we'd just sat through our last lecture of the day. The professor didn't miss giving us a really compound research topic before bidding us farewell, he had a really archaic way of doing things one could tell just from the way he spoke.

"Well, today went well. I think it's bound to be an amazing week," Shirley exhaled loudly, holding out her hands as if expecting a hug.

One would think she was just really joyful but I knew better, she looked like she was in a faerie and she was most definitely intoxicated by love.

This young lady I thought while giggling and shaking my head. I cooed softly before speaking.

"It's all because of Christopher isn't it?" I looked at her with a huge smile plastered on my face.

She turned red involuntarily.

"Uh huh, definitely in love," I voiced out my thoughts, making her smack my arm lightly.

"Stop it, I'm not. I'm just really happy," she replied, playing with a few strands of her hair.

"Mhmm," I hummed nodding head, "You're happy because of Christopher. You're going to become Mrs. Mark very soon," I teased her again.

She gasped as she covered her face, groaning into her palms.

"Ugh shut up Olly. That's not how it works," she talked into her palms, peeking to see where she was stepping through the gaps between her fingers.

"Well, that's definitely how it's working in this case," I shrugged, feigning indifference like I'd already made a stand on the argument.

We both laughed at it and she smacked me yet again on my arm.

I really do hope they work things out.

They'd make such a good couple, from the much I knew about Chris he was a nice guy and Shirley was just as good for him.

We got to the point where we had to part to go our separate ways, it was then I got my own wave of both relief and joy. Today had gone well, almost too well, I felt boulders drop on my back as I remembered all the assignments that needed my attention.

"Bye Olly, tomorrow is another day, we get to repeat this like clockwork," she said with a stressed smile which discouraged me.

"Yeah tomorrow, at least we've just one class" I tried to remind her that tomorrow wouldn't be as stressful as today was.

No other day could be as stressful as a Monday I just don't know why but every Monday had a divine touch to it or maybe it wasn't divine after all, it was hellish and unsacred.

"I know right? Just one class, I might as well skip" she said with a frown as she contemplated the idea in her mind.

"Don't you even dare" I warned narrowing my eyes at her to look more threatening.

Nice try.

She laughed softly waving her hands in front of my face as if to wipe my failed attempt at being serious off it.

"Nah don't worry I won't, because if I do you'd end up sad and lonely without me around" she gloated and at the same time made fun of my antisocial nature.

Excuse me I just can't help it.

We were out of each other's hearing range now as I walked down to the other route which led to my off campus dormitory. I couldn't risk running into Casper again, that would completely sponge away whatever happiness I felt at the moment. Casper had the superpower of sponging happiness and joy, he was like a Viking berserker.

Getting back to my dorm I saw Khalid and Alex at the balcony, they seemed to be engaged in a very serious conversation. I followed the other way around to my room to avoid them, I didn't want to be an interruption.

Despite my humourless attempts at trying to convince myself that I in no way felt concerned, I couldn't miss the sudden pang of jealousy I felt which disappeared just as soon as it came, replaced by the need to spend time with Khalid, just talking or maybe staring.

I spent the rest of the day multitasking; trying to get something done on my research, watching anime, texting Jessica and eating the Chocolates Khalid bought me. I did have something good to eat afterwards.

I'd finally given up and decided to call it a day, at least I ended up being productive. Just before I went to bed my phone beeped signaling the entry of a new text message.

The usual me would have ignored it believing it could wait till tomorrow but something forced me to check.

Mako.

It was a text from Mako, I didn't hesitate to open it when I found out who it was.

Mako
See you tomorrow boo.

Normally that would have shocked me or made me uncomfortable but I'd surprisingly become way too accustomed with Mako's strange ways of familiarity. It did remind me about my appointment with him though, I was supposed to pay him a visit tomorrow being Tuesday.

I smiled while typing my reply which I sent right after without any added seconds.

Me

Sure thing.

With the smile still plastered on my face, I drifted off to sleep in no time.

_

This chapter is dedicated to
SnowMarisvega
Happy birthday babe!

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