Chapter 11- LTC

Mason released a small sigh as he climbed his way up the cliff face, where the waves crashed against the rocks, and the moon remained unseen.

After a long day revising, he certainly didn't have the energy to reflect on his evening, but the thoughts quickly appeared as he placed his guitar down and took a seat, dangling his feet off the edge. It was a reckless position to take, but Mason was in a mindset where he honestly didn't care.
There was power in being irresponsible, and when he didn't have access to his car, the obsidian waves were more than enough to compensate.
One slip, and it would be over. Splat. Lost to the sea...

"What are you doing?" The familiar voice forced Mason to jump as he inhaled sharply, scuttling backward as he attempted to locate the source.

"I was just looking," he defended as Anya took a seat beside him, his shoulders still moving in time with his lungs as he combatted his fright. "Where have you been? I messaged you," The complaint almost sounded whiny and accusatory, but Mason dismissed the thoughts as she hugged her knees, releasing an audible sigh.

"I lost my phone," Anya confessed, evidently ignoring his gaze. "I-I'm sorry," her voice was severe, and when Mason truly paid attention to her, he couldn't help but notice the sudden panic that washed over her features.

"Hey," he appeased, pressing a warm hand to her shoulder in support. "It's okay, it happens...I just thought something happened to you," he explained as she sighed, focusing on the water
"Is everything okay?" The question was stupid. Mason felt silly asking her, and Anya could sense his affliction as a soft giggle expelled from her lips.

"Yeah, yes, of course! I was actually in Birmingham; it was a completely last-minute decision. Otherwise, I would have turned up at the diner, but I was just worried that you'd be mad, but you're not...."

"Why would I be mad?" He pondered aloud as she offered a defeated look.

"Oh, I don't know, because the first time I got to see you sing is now a blurred memory because I ate a brownie. A brownie!" She groaned, covering her face with the palms of her hands, and Mason chuckled, poking her waist to gain attention before offering his acceptance.

He hadn't minded for a second that her memories were likely jumbled from that night at the races. It was a mistake, and they happened; Anya would have plenty of opportunities to see him sing in the future, which was what he expressed. Somehow, that managed to alleviate her stress before she turned the questions to him.

"So, what's up with you?"

"Nothing," Mason quickly dismissed as she raised a brow.

"Really, so there wasn't any particular reason as to why you were staring over the cliff without a second thought?"

It was hard for Mason not to laugh at her interrogation style, and a giggle bubbled from her lips as she waited for an answer.

"Alright," He sighed, finding it strange that he could reveal his real emotions without doubt or apprehension. "To be honest, today I feel like utter shit,"

"Hear, hear," Anya praised, leaning her cheek in her arms as she finally met his gaze.

The deep brown eyes glowed despite the absence of the moon, and though Mason could see her struggle in the dark shadows that traced her cheeks, Anya was fantastic.  He had seen her beauty from the very beginning, and upon impulse, he found the courage to relay a fragment of his thoughts. "You're beautiful,"

The words seemed to have melted whatever remained of Anya's facade, and her laughter was a mix of disbelief and surprise. "Nice try!" She finally claimed, "but I'd like to think my beauty isn't the reason why you've had a terrible day..." she waited, impatient for his response, and when he nodded, her smile was of encouragement.

"My parents came to the restaurant today," he finally began to explain, mirroring her position of resting his head on his crossed arms. "I think it's the first time my mum has properly left the house, and she was just...lifeless," he explained, ignoring Anya's expression of pure puzzlement.
It was also the first time Mason had spoken about his parents in real-time, but he didn't want to include unnecessary details: he just wanted to talk. "She barely spoke and my dad," Mason sucked in the cool air sharply, feeling his anger simmer as he recalled what his father had said.

"The only reason...." He paused, hearing the anger taint his voice, and Anya placed a warm hand over his own, somehow having the remarkable effect of calming. The flutter in his heartbeat was the perfect interruption, and he breathed once more before continuing.

"The only reason why I started to race competitively after my brother passed was that it was his dream. I thought I could, I don't know, make my mum happy seeing that at least one of her sons could make it," his voice quivered and became wet with unshed tears, and Mason could only be quietly grateful that Anya remained quiet, her eyes on the sea. "My father has always been under the same impression, and after almost two years of hard work, it seemed that this was the first time she had heard of it....and she was happy."

"She was happy that you're racing?" Anya filled in, and he nodded, feeling an ounce of the weight his brother's death held against his shoulders.  "My aunt told me what happened," She added, her hoarse voice gentle as she sat up straight and leaned into his warmth. Her hair was now black as midnight and tickled his nose, but Mason didn't dare move away as he relished in her embrace.

"What did she say?"

"She said that it was a terrible accident; that your brother had been cliff diving with his friends and got hurt,"

"He killed himself," Mason corrected bitterly. "He and his stupid mates thought it would be funny to carry out this bizarre tradition, and it killed him,"
It was considered a ritual by most of the residents of Rye that upon finishing school, they would assemble where the sun met the sea and jump. "It was supposed to be a laugh," Mason sniffled, "and for six months, we were in hell. My dad threw himself into work, and mum found comfort in drinking."

His heart lurched as he recalled the worst year of his life, as Anya listened intently. It was different talking to her; Mason quickly realised. Unlike Lucas or any of his peers at school, for that matter, she understood what it was like to lose a sibling, which was a better description of the relationship between her and Sam. Most brothers had rivalries that often stained their adulthood relationships, but not Haneul.
Mason always assumed it was because of the age gap, but there didn't need a reason. He was his brother, and he'd been taken away by the waves that crashed beneath their feet.

"Still," Mason sighed, leaning his head against her own as the stars twinkled above. "We're getting through it in our way; we'll get there," he acknowledged, "And that's enough about me," he decided, forcing her to raise those beautiful brown eyes he was falling for. "What about you? What's brought you here in the middle of the night?"

Anya's sigh was the first hint that she didn't want to talk about it, but Mason remained silent, hoping his patience would draw it out.
"I'm just exhausted," she stated, "I'm utterly exhausted, and yet the thought of sleep is so far away, I can't even persuade myself to get into bed,"

"Well, have you tried the sofa?" Mason returned, earning a smile and a soft shoulder barge.

"Shut up," Anya mumbled as he stifled his chuckle.

"I'm just saying," he justified, grateful that the tense wave of despair was beginning to dissipate. "Maybe you just need to try sleeping somewhere else."

She hummed her agreement before angling her body so that her head now leaned against his crossed legs he'd outstretched. It was difficult for Mason to resist running his hands through her lengthy hair, and when he caught a knot and pulled, the apologies streamed out like water from a tap.

Anya didn't seem to be affected, however, and though his legs were beginning to numb, he didn't have the heart to move her. Her soft snores soon filled the silence, and then came her mumbling, offering him glimpses of the dreams that appeared as she slept.
Mason's fatigue began to weigh heavy, and though he mentally agreed just to close his eyes, sleep eventually lulled him, drawing him to the dark depths where entities such as hurt, pain, and anger no longer lurked.

Mason awoke to bright light and dull pain. He could remember Anya falling asleep, but he couldn't remember falling himself. Anya had tanged her legs with his and was resting her head against his chest, her cheeks raw from the cold and her mouth slightly agape as she breathed.

It was uncomfortable, but she provided him with an extra layer of warmth, and truthfully, Mason didn't want to move her. Not when he could enjoy these few silent moments and acknowledge the new feelings in his heart as he ran his finger through her hair. This perfect stranger in his arms, this funny girl who had so many secrets and her own grief, made him happy, and Mason couldn't fathom a better scenario than he was in right now.

After the difficult week that he had endured, at least with Anya's arms wrapped around him and her soft breaths providing the music to their surroundings, Mason felt content, and he couldn't help but imagine how his life would pan out had it been in his control.

In Mason's fantasy world, he could sing without restriction. Racing and fixing cars would be a past-time hobby, and when he would look out to the crowd, he would seek out her brown eyes that, in his presence, seemed to glow.

Such a world didn't exist, however, and when Anya woke and questioned her whereabouts, she immediately sat up, untangling herself, her movements rigid and unsure.

"Hey, are you alright?" He pressed for answers as she moved away from him, exposing his body to the cold, and Mason bolted upright, confusion forcing his brows to furrow.

"Sorry," she blinked, rubbing her eyes with the heels of her palms to remove any trace of her fatigue. "I'm sorry,"

"What are you sorry for?" Mason asked, "your morning breath?" He teased, and she met his gaze with a pointed look, gaining a chuckle in return.

"I think you should be the one apologising in that regard," she sneered, as he laughed once more. "I meant I'm sorry for falling asleep on you. We've been out here for hours," she mused, looking up the pink sky.

"There's nothing to apologise for," he mused, "I erm..." she met his gaze, and for a moment, he froze as she interlinked their hands together, and he revelled in her warmth, persuading him to confess.
"I like you, Anya." He uttered as his heart moved to his mouth. "A lot, and I really like spending time with you,"

"I like spending time with you, too," she expressed as his heart lurched once more.

"Even with my stinky breath..." he teased, and she took the self-critique and ran with it.

"Well, that's something you could work on; it's disgusting," she wrinkled her nose, and he rolled his eyes, gripping her waist as he tickled her.

"Take it back!"  He insisted, speaking over the bells of her laughter. It was the type of music he knew could never bore of, and one he would yearn to hear, any time they should spend apart.

"Never!" she shrieked, only encouraging him to press into her skin deeper as his smile widened with wicked humour.  "Alright, alright," Anya finally caved, " I take it back,"

"Do you swear?" Mason paused, and she nodded, wiping her eyes that had watered from her hilarity.

"I swear," She pinched the skin beneath her jaw and continued to laugh before explaining the gesture. "It means that I'm telling the truth," She squeezed her neck once more, leaving a small red mark as he 'aahed' in understanding.

"Alright...I'll drop it for now," Mason decided, choosing not to completely give in though his smile would portray the complete opposite."We should head back though, do you have your car?"

Anya nodded, and to his surprise, presented him the keys. "I trust you," she explained, and he nodded, moving to his feet, before lifting her by the pull of her hand.

They drove comfortably as a new tension that wasn't filled with electricity nor resolution built between them. This fresh air encouraged Mason to relax, and though for the majority of the drive, Anya had stared out of the window, resting her cheek against the cool glass.

He didn't press for conversation, and he could also see her persistent yawns that justified keeping things quiet. Instead, they listened to the small town of Rye.
Being six am, there was a slight indication of human life, but nature was undoubtedly alive. Driving along the coast exposed the birds, each hoping to catch their worms while the water glistened below the rising sun. The call of the gulls seemed to communicate where the fish were concealed, and the white flock began to swarm, dipping their beaks into the water as Anya seemingly observed in pure awe.

Mason stopped the car in the small parking area, and when he stopped the car, she lingered, turning to meet his eyes with a lazy smile. Though he had unclipped his belt, she made no physical movement to mirror his actions and so instead leaned into his seat, copying her countenance.

"So," he began, and she repeated the word, exposing her teeth with a widening grin. "What are your plans today?"

"I have school," She reminded him, and he aahed, realising he also had to attend, "And then I have a shift at the ice-cream parlour from 4. How about you?"

"Well, I also have school," He sighed with a hint of complaint.

"At least it's just for a couple more weeks, and then we're free!" She reassured as her lips spread into an unpreventable yawn. Mason could only nod in agreement, holding firm to the thought of an exciting summer up ahead.

"I can meet you at the parlour if you like? I usually work Fridays, but I swapped my shift with the owner's daughter...." He suggested, and Anya was quick to agree.

"It's a date," Mason confirmed, and the thought caused heat to bloom across his cheeks. Still, his eyes dipped to her plump lips, and his heart caught as he considered kissing her, for the first time, in her car.

He buckled at the last moment, however, and after tucking her hair behind her ear as a final attempt of contact, he moved to pull the door handle.
"Wait," her voice caught him off guard, and his heart fluttered as she unclipped his belt and placed her warm park to his frozen cheek.

He breathed her name, but she offered little opportunity to say anymore when she made contact, allowing him to taste her lips with his own.
It was quick and brief, and the touch forced a tingle to run down his spine.
It was nowhere near enough, and Mason wrapped a hand around her waist, bringing Anya closer as he reciprocated her actions, allowing his breath to mingle with her own.

Only then did he remember that he was yet to brush his teeth, and his abrupt stillness caused their teeth to clang, ruining the moment as Mason apologetically moved away.
His brown eyes locked to hers as they breathed heavily, a slight chuckle, tainted by relief expelling from his lips.

"I'll see you later," he promised, and this time she nodded, allowing him to collect his belongings from the boot and part ways.

The kiss had created a fog delight, and Mason sighed, walking towards the pier, where the stop would direct a bus to his home. His cheeks tightened as he remembered the kiss, his heart fluttering with so much emotion, Mason could finally understand what people meant when they referred to 'being on Cloud 9'.

A.N.
Hi lovelies, happy Friday!
The week went by so quickly, I can't believe we're already at the end of the week! But hey, it's the weekend, any plans?
We're finally getting some action between Anya and Mason, this was definitely one of my favourite chapters to write!
I haven't edited as much I'd have liked so please feel free to let me know if you've spotted any errors.
Have the most wonderful weekend,
Aamenah xx
Song- Ed Sheeran - Shivers (this song is my jam! In fact the whole album is great haha)