CHAPTER 12 // EDITED

"You're going to yank my hair out, Storm," I snapped as she pulled my hair again.

"Suck it up," she muffled through the bobby pins between her lips. She pushed one in to my hair and I squeezed my eyes shut. "There, I'm finished." Storm turned me around to the mirror and I was honestly stunned.

She had it up in a high pony tail and two strands in the front were curled. I had on skinny jeans and a white shirt with 21 in a floral design. I had on white converse and a gold watch on my wrist.

"Blake, you were suppose to wear that dress," Storm groaned as I walked down the steps.

"Oops, I forgot," I replied, she narrowed her eyes into slits and shot daggers at me. I bit back my smirk and looked over at Riley. "Save me the lecture."

"You need to be home before 9," he said with his arms crossed over his chest. "Don't make me come and get you."

"Bye, Riley," I said, I turned around and walked to the door. "Oh, and I got suspended." Before he could catch me, I darted out the door.

My phone vibrated in my back pocket as soon as I closed my car door. I pulled it out and scanned over Mason's text, I cranked my car and pulled out from the driveway.

I listened to my phone as it told me the directions to Mason's house.

"You have reached your destination," my phone said, I pulled into the driveway and cut my car off. I looked up at the beautiful house in front of me, I climbed out and shut my door behind me.

I walked up to the front door and I hesitated before I knocked. My feet were screaming for me to run away, but I felt glued in place. The door opened revealing a young girl, she was maybe a year or two years older than me.

Her dark brown hair was curled and her green eyes looked down at my grey ones. I saw her septum piercing sparkle in the light.

"You're Blake?" She finally spoke, I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. "I'll take that as a yes."

"I'm nervous," I spoke softly, she cracked a smile and my anxiety eased a bit. She stepped aside and I walked past her into the house. The smell of food smacked me in the face and I resisted the urge to drool.

The smell of food disappeared when my eyes looked around the house. There were a few unpacked boxes, but it was still beautiful.

"We haven't completely moved in," the girl said making me turn around. "I'm VA, by the way. Short for Virginia."

"VA, are they here?" I heard a deep voice call down the stairs. A smile crossed VA's lips and I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. Footsteps started coming down the stairs and Mason came down from the final step. "Do you know where my phone is?"

His eyes were searching around not noticing that I was here, VA reached behind her and pulled out a phone with a black case that had white wolf.

"Is this it?" She asked making Mason turn our way, he looked at VA and then me.

"What're you doing here?" He asked glancing between me and VA.

"Mom invited her for dinner," VA replied smirking proudly. "She told me to tell you, but this seemed a little more fun." His eyes narrowed, her smirk never dimmed. "Next time, give me the remote."

"I-I can leave if I need to," I intervened making them look at me. Mason sighed and shook his head.

"Blake, looks like you've already met my sister–"

"Older sister," VA piped in, but Mason ignored her.

"–Virginia," Mason finished. "She's a nuisance." VA shoved him and then disappeared into the kitchen, I glanced back at the kitchen and then at Mason.

"If I would've known–" Mason cracked a smile.

"Don't worry about it," he replied cutting me off, he look down at me and I chewed at my lip.

"Mason, can you come set the table?" a new voice called, I jumped slightly which made Mason chuckle. I shot him a playful glare and followed behind him into the kitchen.

VA was pouring drinks and Ms. Taylor was nowhere to be seen. Mason grabbed the plates from the counter and I grabbed the silverware.

Mason laid down the plates while I set down the silverware. VA walked over setting down the glasses with the plates.

"I'm glad you could join us, Blake," Ms. Taylor spoke as she walked into the kitchen.

"I'm glad you invited me," I replied with a smile, she walked over to the table and I turned around.

Mason pulled out a chair and then sat in the one next to the pulled out one. I walked over and sat down scooting the chair up to the table. VA sat across from me and Ms. Taylor was at the head of the table.

I watched as they each fixed their plate and I followed their actions. I took a bite of my spaghetti and wiped my mouth with the napkin.

"So, that was some pretty hard hits you took," VA spoke first making me look up. She moved her gaze from me over to Mason. "Mason should be use to pretty hard hits by now." Mason stiffened next to me and looked up at his sister. "You got pretty angry out there."

"Virginia," Ms. Taylor said sharply, her smirk never faltered as she sat back. I peeked over at Mason, but he was concentrated on his plate.

The rest of dinner was full of thick tension after that besides a few words exchanged. VA had disappeared upstairs and Ms. Taylor was cleaning off the table.

Mason washed the dishes and I rinsed them, a phone suddenly broke the awkward silence.

"Taylor," she answered, it was quiet for a second. "Wait a second." I heard footsteps and then the sliding glass door closed. I glanced behind us and then back at the sink.

"There's nothing wrong with losing your temper," I spoke, but my voice came out a whisper. "It's not my business, but–"

"Exactly, it's not your business," he shot back making me bite my lip. It got quiet again as we finished up the dishes.

*

"You're lying," Virginia screeched, I shook my head as I took another bite of peach cobbler.

"The cheer captain kept pointing out every little thing I did and making these smart comments about everything. Only, because, my brother rejected her in front of everyone," I said with a smirk. "So, I told her to suck my dick and I started to walk off the field. Then, she made the comment that I couldn't have made it anyway."

VA took another bite of her cobbler looking back up at me while Mason shook his head.

"Then she stole the footballs from football practice and threw them at the cheer captain," Mason finished making VA burst out laughing. "Cody said he heard Blake yell, yeah, you got butt, but your soul is whack. You're like a coke bottle, but the sodas flat." That time I burst out laughing.

"You didn't," VA laughed out, I snorted which made Mason laugh loudly.

"You guys sound like a bunch of hyenas," Ms. Taylor said walking into the kitchen. I held my stomach that was now cramping from laughing.

I sobered up from laughing and I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I saw a message from Lacey, I replied back and I started to lock it back till I saw the time.

"Crap," I mumbled to myself as I pushed myself from the table. I sat my dishes in the sink and walked back to the table.

"I've had a great time, but I have to get home," I said flashing them a smile, Mason stood up from the table.

"I'll walk you out," he said, and I nodded heading from the kitchen. I walked out the front door and looked at my keys as I walked up to my car. "Blake." I looked down at my door handle and then up at him. "I shouldn't have snapped at you like that."

"No, it wasn't my business and I should've kept my mouth shut," I replied, I opened my door, but he grabbed my wrist. His hand eased from my wrist and I looked down.

"You should get home," he said quietly, I nodded and got in my car. He stuffed his fists in his pockets and I gave him a slight smile. I looked behind me and backed out from his driveway.

I turned off my headlights before I pulled up to the house. I shut my door and walked up to the door, I unlocked the door and walked in. The house was pitch dark and I silently sighed, I put one foot on the step and a light came on.

"Two hours later," Riley spoke from behind me, I rolled my eyes and turned around to him. "Nothing is open after eleven except your legs."

"That's not even how it goes," I retorted, I took a deep breath and looked at him. "I lost track of time, I'm sorry. Now, I'm going to my room."

I turned to go up the stairs till Riley spoke again. "Also, I needed to ask you something." I turned around looking at him lazily, he pushed up from the chair and headed my way. "Are you staying in the beach house for spring break?"

"I wasn't planning on it," I answered, I stretched my arms as a yawn escaped my lips. "Is that all?" He rolled his eyes with a nod, I headed up the stairs and up to my door. "Goodnight, Riley."

"Don't let the bedbugs bite," he replied walking past me, I smiled slightly and walked in my room.

I pulled my hair down and stripped from my outfit, I tossed my phone on my bed and grabbed a baggy t-shirt. I pulled it over my head and another yawn escaped from my throat.

I plugged my phone up and jumped in my bed under my comforter. I turned over getting comfortable as my eyes started to get heavy. I finally let them close and let sleep take over me.