Katrina Johnson

I was about to cave in. I was just about to lean into him and feel his lips over mine one more time. But Noah happened. Noah called me waking me up from my daze. I pulled away gently and fished my phone out of my purse.

"I'm sorry, it's Noah," I answered the call still staring into Mason's eyes.

-Noah...-

-Where are you? Let's have lunch.-

-I'm with Mason. In his office.-

-oh, white boy! Juicy. Fine send me the address and I'll pick you up-

-alright, bye.-

I hung up and quickly text him the address. I felt Mason's eyes on me and looked up. he had his arms crossed and was looking at me with a smile.

"You're leaving aren't you?"

"Yeah... Noah will pick me up. We're going out for lunch."

"That's nice."

"You could come if you want?"

"Oh no, I would love to but I can't. I have a meeting in about twenty minutes so, next time maybe. I'll see you tonight though. I'll pick you up at 6 pm if that suits you?"

"I still can't believe you're taking me to dinner with your parents!"

"I had dinner with yours last night" He chuckled "And you'll love them. My mother already loves you I can tell."

"Yes but you do realize we're acting like a couple?"

He sighed "So?"

"So? We're supposed to be friends Mason."

"Aren't you tired of fighting this?"

"I..."

There was a knock on his door and Elsa came in "Mr. Walton, a Noah Johnson is here to see you."

"Let him in Elsa,"

"No, no need, I'll meet him outside." I picked up my purse and got on my feet hurrying outside "Noah" I gave him a hug and smiled "I'm ready."

"Hi, Mason,"

"Hi Noah, how are you?"

"All good thanks. Want to join us?"

"Maybe next time, I have a meeting soon."

"Alright, see you around then." Noah looked at Elsa and grinned "Bye beautiful!"

I looked at the blush that crept up her neck into her cheek. I raised an eyebrow and looked at Mason who just chuckled shaking his head. Noah and I left silently. I waited until we were into the elevator to smack Noah's arm.

"Beautiful?"

"What?" He rolled his eyes "She is beautiful."

"She is yes, but do you have to tell her that? I mean do you tell every beautiful girl you just met that she is beautiful?"

"Damn, woman! What's your problem?"

"Nothing. I just don't think it's professional."

"Oh? And having coffee with the man you don't want a relationship with even though you know he's dying to be with you, is?"

I glared at Noah before walking out of the elevator. He was right. That wasn't professional at all. And the almost kiss was definitely crossing the line. Friends didn't kiss. I had to put an end to that kissing thing. But resisting him was becoming hard and harder.

"His mom invited me to dinner tonight," I mumbled as we got into his car.

"So professional Kat."

"Stop that! I'm so nervous about it! She seems nice and all but she's so elegant and poised and beautiful... She's intimidating."

Noah sighed shaking his head "Kat, when are you going to believe that you are beautiful? You need to love yourself, Kat. Your coloring doesn't change your beauty. You are beautiful inside out."

I looked at my fingers as I nibbled on my lower lip. Noah was right, I needed to get past this complex of mine and love myself. But how could I do that when all my life I had people reminding me how different I was. Hell, even Mason reminded me of that when we were little!

"Can I play with you?" A little blond boy approached me in the sandbox where I was trying to build a castle.

"Of course! I'm Katrina, you?"

"I'm Mason!" he sat down facing me "What are you building?"

"A castle, but it keeps on falling down."

"You need to strengthen the base" He started adding sand to the base. "Now you can start building the top and towers."

"Wow! How did you learn that?" I took my small pink shovel and started working on the towers with him as I sang.

"You have a beautiful voice kitty." He smiled at me showing off his cute dimples "My dad taught me. He's an architect, and one day I'll be one too!"

"I want to be a lawyer, just like Grandpa. He's in Africa!"

"Where is Africa?"

"It's so far away!"

Mason laughed throwing a bit of sand at me "You can be my lawyer!"

"Yes!" I giggled getting up and clapping at the Sandcastle we had made. "Do you want to be my best friend?"

"Really? Yes!" He started clapping with me and gave me a hug "Best friends for life!"

We played more in the sandbox before we started running around the playground and went to the swings out of breath.

"You are so beautiful Kitty." He put his hand on mine and looked at our skins "Why is your skin like that?"

"I don't know." I frowned looking around us. All the kids playing had the same skin as his.

"You're different."

"I am," I started crying "Why am I different?"

"Don't cry, you are so pretty."

"No! I want to go home!"

"Kat, are you okay?"

I blinked a couple of times and looked at Noah. I nodded "I'm fine. I'm just... Do you know that Mason and I were friends when we were little?"

"I remember him being with you in high school, but you weren't friends."

"No, at daycare. We used to play together every day... But he doesn't remember that." I smiled sadly. "When I first saw him in high school, I immediately recognized him, but he didn't."

Noah shrugged "It happens, kids forget things all the time. It's a wonder you remember him, you were what? Four years old?"

"I remember him because he made me realize I was different." I got out of the car and Noah handed the keys to the Valet.

He frowned not getting what I meant, so I told him what happened the first day I met Mason.

"You were kids! He didn't mean to hurt you, Kat!" We walked inside the Italian restaurant and took a table.

"I know that, and I kept playing with him every day until mom put me in preschool. I'm just sad he doesn't remember me. Even in high school, he protected me from bullies many times, but he didn't know me, he didn't know who I was."

"Did you tell him?" I shook my head. "You should if it means that much to you."

Oh, Noah. He was so wise and always knew how to talk to me and what to say. I didn't know how I could survive in this cruel world without him. We ate lunch and spent what free time he had together before he had to get back to the magazine. I took a cab home, the nearest I got the more anxious I grew.

I walked into my bedroom and looked at my unpacked suitcase with a frown. I wasn't even sure if I had something decent for the occasion. How should I dress? I dropped on the bed and looked at the ceiling for a while, counting the glowing stars I had put up when I was younger. The galaxy always fascinated me and I loved looking at a starry sky.

I got on my feet and rummage through my clothes not finding anything to my liking. I wasn't sure what would be appropriate and what not. What if it was a fancy dinner? I couldn't risk it.

KJ: How should I dress for tonight?

MW: You're not ready yet? It's almost 6.

MW: Wear something casual.

That made it a ton easier on me. I quickly pulled on black jeans and a light grey sweater. I put on light makeup, not wanting to go overboard, and let my hair fall in its natural curls. Getting ready didn't take me long, I was sitting in the living room before 6 pm waiting for Mason.

KJ: I'm ready.

MW: And I'm outside.

I took my purse and walked out giddily as I sent a text to my mom telling her I'll be out tonight. I climbed in his car still nervous as I took in his appearance. He was indeed in casual clothes and he was looking at me approvingly. I blushed and looked away.

"What are we waiting for?"

"Nothing" He smirked and drove out of the driveway.

Mason used his spare key to open the door to his parents' gigantic house. I tried not to look in awe at the cozy yet fancy décor. It was a very hard combination to make, yet it seemed so natural and so pretty. I liked how every corner had a plant or flower pot, adding life to the almost empty house.

"Mason? Is that you?"

"Yes, mom, it's us." He took my hand and led the way into the kitchen where his mom was taking a pie out of the oven.

"You both made it! Oh, I'm so happy." She put the pie on the counter and took off her gloves and apron before coming our way and hugging us both together.

I gave her the flowers I got her on our way here "These are for you, Mrs. Walton."

"As beautiful as the one who picked them. Thank you, dear, and please call me Elise." She took them from me and put them in a vase.

She took us to the dining room where the table was already perfectly set and ready. I spotted Zachary Walton sitting in a corner near the fireplace reading his paper. He looked up when he heard us and stood up with a smile.

"Good evening kids," He walked to us and shook my hand with a smile "Nice seeing you again Miss Johnson."

"Katrina dad,"

"Sorry, Katrina. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"Oh, no Mr. Walton, no worries. It's nice seeing you again, and thank you both for receiving me in your home."

"We like to meet all of Mason's friends." His mom smiled as she motioned us to sit.

"Speaking of friends," Mr. Walton poured us wine "Eloise came by earlier, and she says hi. I didn't know you two were friends?"

I tensed beside Mason hiding it quickly by taking a sip of wine after thanking his dad.

"We're not. I think someone made it so I would coincidently meet her." Mason chuckled looking at his mom who blushed.

"Well, I thought it was time you had a real girlfriend, and she's lovely. I had to try!"

"You did not! Elise!" Mr. Walton laughed shaking his head.

"I did," She hid her face in her hands "I never meddled in any of your relationships before, but when I saw her the other day, I thought you could be a good couple. How was it?"

"It was just a cup of coffee mom," Mason rolled his eyes "Eloise is nice and very talkative" He chuckled "I appreciate your efforts. But she's not my type." He glanced at me and smiled.

I blushed as I took the salad from Elise and put some on my plate "thanks." I hated that everyone looked at me after that particular sentence he said. I felt trapped in a small room with judging eyes, even though I knew his parents weren't judging me. Damn my insecurities. This whole conversation was making me ill at ease, I just wished they would change the subject.

"And what is your type?" His dad asked taking the salad bowl from me and meeting my eyes with a knowing smile. They are teasing us, aren't they?

Mason looked at me with a smirk on his face, "Isn't my type obvious?"