Chapter 2. -LTC

The motivation Mason had for music couldn't remotely be applied to school. Classes were difficult, and though Mason was clever, his grades could not dictate the career paths he considered plausible options.
His father and teachers heavily disagreed with his opinion, however, and so he had no choice but to choose subjects to reflect his interests. His parents had suggested he take up physics and maths, and for his own sake, music composition was the subject that gave him some time to breathe.

Still, the hours passed by gruelingly, fuelling his exhaustion as he made his way out of the maths department and into the courtyard, where an empty table was waiting for him. The orange leaves littered the grass and swirled as they collected in the wind, but for autumn, the weather could be deemed pleasant. Rain wouldn't be expected for at least another hour, and though it was overcast, the humidity along with his jacket provided enough warmth for him to sit outside.

Lucas hadn't arrived just yet, and Mason knew the blonde-haired boy wouldn't be appearing anytime soon. While Mason despised school and hardly placed any effort, Lucas was the most intelligent boy in their year group, and the title was well earned. The pair couldn't have been any more different, and yet they had been friends since the early days of their childhood.

Being such a small school, there were no conformities to cliche high school cliques where bad boys roamed the hallways and demanded others to do their homework. The closest to cheerleaders was the netball team, and those girls were just as clever as they were athletic. And when it came to friends, though Mason didn't spend much time with anyone besides Lucas, he had likely shared a moment or two with everyone in his grade. There were only 60 of them in total, after all, and Rye's sixth form was the only place where the most intelligent could befriend a potential drop-out without judgment. It was a more comprehensive reflection of the town beyond the gate.

Lucas finally arrived when Mason was halfway through the sandwiches he'd bought from the local Tesco that morning. He was walking with a grinning raven-haired girl, and when they reached their table, her eyes flashed in realisation before she took a seat. "So...we meet again," She acknowledged, and he nodded, muting his chuckle to hide the food that was in his mouth.

"Or you're stalking me," He returned teasingly, after swallowing as his blonde friend creased his brow in confusion, digging out his lunch before also taking a seat.

"You two know each other?"

"We met this morning," Mason grinned, "Anya came to the garage for air in her tyres, and then I showed her how to get here,"

"After he almost killed me with his speed!" Anya added in reminder as Mason rolled his eyes, struggling to conceal the smirk that pulled at his lips. She indeed was annoyed.

"You practised this morning? I thought you were working," Lucas pondered as Mason sighed. Along with his teachers, Lucas was next in line to disapprove of the racing career he was ascending upon. According to his best friend, racing was reckless and a one-way ticket to get himself killed. Lucas had always been a worrywart, and it was partly why Mason didn't willingly spare details of his schedule.

Mason already lacked the passion his parents wished he possessed, and if he listened to Lucas, it would only make his decision harder to retain. In addition, Lucas was one of the few people who encouraged Mason to sing while supporting him where he could. Despite his angst, he still voluntarily attended races and gigs whenever he could take time off from his job. It was an act that Mason truly felt gratitude for and made his oldest friend irreplaceable.

"I was working," Mason acknowledged, "My shift finished at two, and then practise started at 6 am. Technically Anya shouldn't have been there since the garage didn't open until 9 am, and I still did your tyres and promised you ice cream; why are you complaining?" he directed, meeting her humour filled eyes.

"Because it irks you, and you're easy to tease," She giggled as Mason shook his head, picking up a handful of crisps that crunched beneath his teeth. "So you were practising your driving?" She pressed further, and Mason nodded, once more waiting to swallow before answering her question.

"Yes, I'm going to become a formula one driver," He explained, choosing not to shed any more detail. "Anyway, talking about ice cream, I have a free afternoon; if you wanted to go earlier, we could bunk?"

As awful as it sounded, Mason would rather skip classes than talking about his driving. He could see she was still thinking about it, but eventually, she nodded with a grin.
"Alright," She agreed, "That's a good idea; this sandwich is awful," she complained, her nose wrinkling in distaste as she placed the soggy bread back into its transparent plastic bag.

"Are you sure you want to ditch on your first official day?" Lucas asked in surprise as she offered a one-shouldered shrug.

"Yeah, why not? I have English this afternoon; one day isn't going to kill me. Besides, isn't this school pretty relaxed?"

Mason's mouth became crooked with his grin as he watched surprise glaze over his friend's expression. The truth was, Rye's sixth form was very relaxed compared to most schools in the country. So long as attendance didn't drop to 95% and grades were maintained, the odd afternoon or morning rarely led to disciplinary action. The more Mason thought about it, the more he warmed to the idea.
"Come on; one afternoon isn't going to kill you. Haven't you got study block too?"

"I do," Lucas nodded with a sigh, placing his lunchbox into his messenger bag. "Alright then, but if I get behind in maths, it's on you...and you can buy me an ice cream, too,"

Mason laughed in agreement, clapping Lucas' shoulder as the pair walked towards the entrance, Anya offering the lead. She was tapping on her mobile as they strolled towards the car park, allowing Lucas to discuss the conversation he'd shared during the meeting with the guidance councillor.

He'd received an interview from University College London to study, and it had completely taken him off guard. Interviews were the first step for many universities towards acceptance, and offers were even more so rare. To receive one from a Russell Group so early after he had sent in his application truly put Lucas' credibility and intelligence into perspective. His dilemma, however, stemmed from his conflict of accepting; and what may become of it.

"The invitation only came in yesterday; you have time. Where else have you applied?"

"Bath, Sheffield and Essex, " he sighed. "I don't know what to do. Moving to London isn't an option, so is it even worth attending the interview?"

"Well, if you didn't have to think about the money, would you go?"

"You know that isn't a reality, " he sighed as Mason nodded in understanding. Though outwardly and through their interests, many would question how he and Lucas could be such close friends, most couldn't see that their backgrounds were almost identical.
The truth was, both Lucas and Mason came from humble beginnings. They had witnessed the struggle of seeing their parents rely on incomes that were often inconsistent; Lucas' father was a fisherman while his mother had a laundrette business at home.

Mason's parents were yet to accumulate any savings, having invested everything into his training, believing that it would eventually pay off, increasing the pressure of following through with their dream and finding a sponsor.
Consequently, the pair knew the value of money and didn't sport the flashy designer clothes or tech that other children had the luxury of owning, though such riches were rare in the town anyway.

Rye was the most deprived area of East Sussex. It was a civil parish town that though beautiful and was located nearby many historical and tourist spots such as the town of Hastings, and of course, Brighton. Thanks to the limitations of tourism, however, the city only flourished in the summer or during when the fishing season had been a success.

Fortunately, both Lucas and Mason had part-time jobs to help support themselves, an agreement most 18-year-olds formed with their parents to ease their dependence. Still, any winnings he'd ever earned from races were also re-invested to maintain his car. Tyres were not cheap, and regularly speeding at 80 to 90mph had its toll. Mason was, however, also fortunate to receive pay occasionally from his music gigs, allowing him to spend the necessary costs for maintaining his guitars, travel to gigs, and on occasion produce his music.

Despite all of his extra income, however, it simply never felt like it was enough. A glance at his tyres when the pair finally reached the car park reminded him that he would need to place an order before his next race.

"So, where's the best place to get ice cream?" Anya asked, interrupting his thoughts with an excited smile. Her keys were in hand, and her bag was tucked in the back seat that peaked through the window she partially shielded as she leaned against the green car.

"The ice cream parlour on the beach," Lucas answered. "There is free parking a couple of streets away,"

"Excellent," Anya beamed, "I have a picnic blanket in my car; we could go to the beach to eat..." she offered as the pair nodded in agreement. The sun had thawed the thick of the clouds, allowing its warmth to penetrate their skin. Despite the chilly morning, it seemed as if summer had momentarily returned, and flowers thought to be dead now coloured the landscapes yellow, red, and blue.

The drive was filled by whichever music the local radio station decided to play, and thankfully it was a combination of famous 2000's songs that the pair knew well. Anya was trailing behind them, a final agreement they had made before setting off, as it ensured her car wouldn't be locked away in case they were late to return.

The beach was only 15 minutes away, and the salty air immediately tainted the atmosphere as Mason parked on a side street that didn't require a permit. The cobbled streets offered a magnificent view of the ever-blue sea, and his heart squeezed at sight. The memories of summers spent by the shore, building sandcastles and collecting shells, felt like distant reminiscences from another lifetime. Now, Mason's joy was sourced from holding his guitar, but he knew deep down that even his dream wouldn't ever equal the glee a child would feel.

That was just adulthood. It destroyed the purity of emotion and highlighted the real pains of this world. At 18, Mason knew the truth, and he knew Lucas understood too. Living in a place like Rye often ensured most children lost the bliss of childhood from a young age, but Mason was thankful he had those untrained years that he valued and would fight to see again when such a lifestyle could be afforded.

The walk down the cobbled streets was quiet but felt comfortable. Despite Anya being a stranger, Mason didn't feel awkward or uncomfortable in her presence. She seemed to mirror his emotion, and her smile was warm when he glanced her way.

"Here we are!" Lucas introduced as they reached the ice cream parlour on the beach, indicating that they slipped on their face masks. The smell of salt was acrid, and the call of the seagulls proved to be querulous the longer they remained outside. Based on the navy checkered blanket that matched the eateries decoration in Anya's hands, however, eating inside was not an option.

"Mason, Lucas; it's been a long time!" Todd waved from across the counter as they walked towards him.

"Hey man, how's it going?" Mason greeted first, raising his hand to shake before dropping it sheepishly in remembrance. Fortunately, his blunder had gone unnoticed as the shopkeeper smiled in return.

Todd had been two years above in Mason and Lucas' school year and friends with his brother, so they knew one another well. Though, even without that connection, it was likely the boys would have been acquainted somehow, that was just the nature of Rye.

"Good, good, aren't you guys supposed to be in school?"

Lucas' lips parted in surprise, but the deep laugh quickly dissipated his fears. "Relax, the sixth form is pretty chill; it's a perfect day for ice cream!" He validated. "So, who's your new friend?" Todd inquired, his eyes moving towards Anya, who was standing in the middle.

"I'm Anya," she greeted with a smile, "and I have a real big hankering for ice cream!"

"Well then, you're in luck!" Todd beamed, "We just made a fresh batch of our clotted cream and raspberry swirl,"

"Then that's what I'll have!" Anya ordered, "double scoops in a tub, please,"

"I like you already," Todd assessed, gaining a giggle as he passed over the order. It forced Mason to glance in the pair's direction as an ugly feeling consumed his chest, but it was quickly erased when Todd took his and Lucas's orders, having known them by heart. Soon enough, the trio was on their way to the beach where the summer sun had breached the clouds making their chosen snack entirely appropriate.

It was almost 1 pm by the time they found a spot Anya deemed perfect. They had decided to avoid sitting directly on the sand, opting for the stone wall that they slipped their legs through the fence made of pipes that gave them a perfect view of the docks. A chocolate Labrador barked as he jumped in and out of the waves, and the sun glowed in brightly, warning them and melting the ice creams that teased them by dripping down the water.

"Mm, this is so good!" Anya complimented as she soaked in their view. "You just can't get better than ice cream on a beach," she beamed. "Whenever I used to bunk school at home, the most I could ever do was go to the local park, and there you couldn't even go barefoot because of the heroin needles!" She exclaimed, swinging her bare feet in newfound freedom.

"Where are you from?" Lucas asked, his eyes wide from the details of her submission.

"Where am I from, or where am I from?" She repeated with emphasis, causing Lucas to narrow his eyes in slight confusion.

"As in, where did you just move from?" He clarified as Anya chuckled, her nose wrinkling slightly to indicate her tease. Meanwhile, Mason continued to listen, sharing her amusement while the double chocolate mint ice cream he had ordered for himself distracted him from contributing more to the conversation.
He knew what Anya was referring to, having heard such questions at the diner. Though Rye was accustomed to seeing people from all walks of life peer at its shores, residents typically identified as white-British.  Mason's family were of Korean descent, and the only other family he knew well with a different ethnic back were the Sinclair's that he worked for.

"I'm from Birmingham," She confirmed, her accent strengthening as she identified her home. "How about you guys? Have you always lived here?"

"Yup," Mason confirmed as Lucas nodded, popping the chocolate-filled end of the cone into his mouth. "Born and bred,"

"Well, I envy you," she sighed wistfully, turning her eyes to the blue depths that lapped at the sand. "It's beautiful here...just quiet," she commented, gaining chuckles of agreement.

"It is quiet," Lucas agreed. "That's why I'm thinking further afield for uni," he mused aloud. "What are your plans for after school?"

"I have no idea," Anya shrugged honestly, "Probably go to uni if I get the grades, but I haven't put much thought into it. I'll decide eventually,"

Lucas glanced both ways at the girl, and the boy sat on either side of him. "Jeez, you two are just the same!" He exclaimed, leaning back slightly so that Mason could meet Anya's hazelnut brown eyes.

"We are not!" They responded at the same time, laughing at Lucas' blatant annoyance at their defence.
Mason hadn't shared the truth about his plans after the summer. Lucas didn't know just how seriously his parents were planning to take his driving, but Mason preferred to keep things that way; it was a conversation for another time.

A silence ended their laughter as the wind howled, and Mason turned his attention to the sea once more, noting the sun's movement that was now overhead.
It was warm enough to remove his jacket and lean back, using the material as a makeshift pillow as he stared at the clouds while he listened to his new friend converse.

It seemed Anya had moved to live with her uncle to complete her final school year. She offered no further explanation and neither pried as she highlighted that her favourite thing to eat was ice cream and that she'd spent a lot of time in India as that was where her father was from.
Lucas also shared their history, explaining how the pair had known one another since they were young. There wasn't much else to divulge, and when Mason's eyes began to grow sticky from fatigue and the clouds darkened with the promise of rain, it was an excellent time to go home.

A.N
So a chance to meet our characters a little better and maybe a hint of jealously?
What may become of it, who knows? 😆
Hello lovelies!
Goodness it feels like it has been the longest week in existence but hey we made it! Funnily, I ended up having to go to a car garage this week, and all I could think about was our Mason haha. It was weird and the irony has followed me for the rest of the week so it's only made me more excited about uploading!
I truly hope you enjoyed the chapter and do send your thoughts in the comments section. I try to reply where I can!
Love, Aamenah x
Song - Ice Cream- Black Pink ft Selena Gomez