(Sorry this chapter took FOREVER Joy dilly dallied with it a bit lol)

I'm sitting on the sidewalk in front of our house, when I hear a male voice behind me say,
”Hi.”
I jolt and turn to see Jake Walker standing behind me.
”Hello.” I say politely, wondering why Jake, the popular school DJ, is talking to me.
”I’m looking for Mica. Is she home?” he inquires.
I nod, dumbfounded.
He thanks me, then walks to the front door of our house and knocks.
Realizing how rude I'm being, I jump up from the sidewalk and run to open the door for him.
I smile.
”I'll run and get her.”
I pound up the stairs.
I'm glad Tacoma isn't home. He would flip to know that his baby sister had a male guest.
I smirk to myself.
"Hey Mica! Jake Walker is here for you!"
She skids out of her room and down the stairs faster than I've ever seen anyone go. I hear them go into the living room, and I hear a excited note rise in Mica's voice.
I shake my head as I walk up the stairs and go into my room. Five minutes later, I hear the loud roar of a sports car. I'm sitting in my room when I hear a knock on the front door.
It never rains but it pours.
"I've got it!" I yell down the stairs.
I trip lightly down, and open the front door.
"Hi!" Mason says.
"Mason!" I exclaim happily.
"Is it ok if I come in?"
"Of course!"
"Is your dad home?" Mason asks as he walks in.
"Yes. Why, if you don't mind me asking?"
"I'd normally tell you, but I don't know how this will go."
I look into his face and see a thin mist of worry cloud his eyes.
"Is everything ok?" I ask.
"Hopefully."
"That's a pretty vague answer."
Mason pats me on the shoulder and walks to my dad's study. He knocks in the door and then walks in.
I sit down in the couch, feeling confused and a little bit hurt. Mom walks in just as I'm about to go to my room.
"Are you ok?"
I bite my lip.
"Yeah, Sure."
She comes and sits down on the couch beside me.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know. Mason is here, and he's talking to Dad. I don't think he was really listening to me even."
Mom looks away and gives a sad sigh.
"I'm sure he was listening. I think he's got something on his mind."
" Like what?"
"I'm afraid I can't tell. I could be wrong anyways."
"What should I even do?"
"Just wait in your room, and then I'll call you when Mason comes out. Ok?"
"Ok."
She gives me a giant hug.
"I sure love you kiddo."
"I love you too."
I slowly climb the stairs, and walk into my room. I flop in my bed and stare at the ceiling. I open my phone and text Mica.

Me- Being good?😜

Mica- Of course! Don't be Cupid!

Me- Cupid?!?!? Are u sure u aren't in love or something?😚😚😚😚

Mica-I meant STUPID!!!!😤😤😤

Me- U sure????😏

Mica-Well...U and Mason sitting in a tree!!! K. I. S. S. I. N. G.

Me- 😳😰😬🤐

Mica-So u are!!!! I knew it!!!!😍😍😘😘😘💋💋💋👶🏼👶🏼👶🏼👶🏼

Me-Ur crazy

Mica- She doesn't deny it!!!

Me- *exasperated sigh* ttyl

***

I set my phone down. Stretching, I get up and walk around the room.

How long is he gonna take?

Even as I think this, I hear a knock on my door. I about trip over a pair of shoes in my floor, and stumble against the door; impaling my back on the doorknob.

I open the door, grimacing. Instead of my mom, it's Mason standing in front of my door.

"Whoa!"

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to startle you."

"It's fine. I just thought that you were my mom."

"Oh okay. I asked your parents and they said yes so...do you want to go on a walk? Maybe get a drink?" Mason asks.

I hesitate for a second, and Mason quickly says,

"If you don't want to, that's fine. I could ask again at a better time if that would be better for you."

He half turns as if to go, and I put my hand on his arm.

"That would be great," I say, smiling, "just let me get ready."

He nods, and heads back downstairs. Once he's out, I shut my door with a loud click.

Did Mason just ask me out on a date? DiD I jUsT SAy yEs?

I quickly snatch my Converses off the floor and jerk them on. I pull on my calf-length denim skirt and my quarter-length sleeved coral shirt. I run to the bathroom and hurriedly crunch my ponytail. I grab my purse off the floor and skid to the top of the stairs.

I try to skip a stair, but I trip and plop down on my bottom at the top of the last three stairs.

I gasp, and Mason walks over.

"You're a mess, you know?"

Mason says, pulling me to my feet.

"I know."

I say laughing. I'm pretty sure that my face is flushed. I can feel it.

If I had a dollar for every time I made a dummy of myself, I'd be a very rich dummy.

Mason opens the door and I saunter down the front steps. Together we walk out to the truck and he opens the door for me.
I'm wound up pretty tight as we drive down the highway. I feel like if he doesn't say something I'm gonna go crazy. Mason turns toward me.
"So do you want a coffee or somethin' else?"
"A coffee sounds great!" I say, smiling.
We drive past the library, and I shiver.
"Cold?" Mason asks.
"No. I was just thinking about Rylee. That day... with the ambulance."
I stiffen slightly, as Mason covers my hand with his and gives it a small squeeze.
"It's okay. You've came a long ways from then. I'm proud of you."
He's still holding my hand and I feel a flutter in my stomach. I'm silent, trying to think of something I can say. Anything I can say.
Mason looks over at me.
"Glory can those eyes get any bigger?" He says.
I can hear the teasing lilt in his voice again, and I flush red.
"Can you get any crazier?" I ask.
He stares into the distance, pretending to be lost in thought.
"Nah." He replies, and shakes his head vigorously.
"You know you remind me for all the world of a big 'ol puppy sometimes?" As soon as the words leave my mouth I wish I could unsay them.
Mason about jumps out his skin and stares at the road so hard I wonder if it will crack.
A dark red shadow creeps up his ears. I start laughing so hard I can barely breath.
"Glory can *choking laughing* those ears get any * snorts and chokes again* redder?"
I can't hold it together and I'm laughing so hard I think I might pee my pants. Mason is grinning sheepishly at me and laughing too.
"Gotta stop." I wheeze, trying to hold my breath.
It doesn't work, and only results in me practically exploding. By this time Mason is laughing just because I'm laughing.He sucks in a deep breath and wipes his eyes on his sleeve.
"Man Rori. One more donkey bray and I'm gonna get us in a car wreck."
I reach over and slap his shoulder.
"Like you're any better!" I exclaim happily, glad that he is acting normal again.
We turn into the parking lot of Golden Grounds and he parks the truck. I wait in my seat, and he hopps out of the pickup and opens my door for me.
Just like when we first talked. I grin at him and say thanks. We walk in the Golden Grounds so close together it feels like we are holding hands.
We have a few people in line in front of us, and I have time to think my order through.
"What are you gonna get?" I ask Mason.
" 'Prolly gonna get a espresso and a bagel. What about you?"
I think for a minute.
"I think I'll have the macchiato with caramel and a raspberry pastry."
I reach for my purse, but Mason stops me.
"I'll pay."
I flush red.
"Mason it's fine I have plen-"
He cuts me off.
"Please?" I nod, and and smile at him.
"Such a gentlemen!"
He leans in close, and raises one eyebrow dramatically.
"When am I not my lady?"
I start to roll my eyes but stop. He's right. He's been a gentleman since the very first day I met him.
I cock one of my eyebrows and say in a conspiratorial stage-whisper,
"Touche."
We are trying to smother our laughter and step up to the counter looking like two little kids caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
"Aren't you two the cute couple!" The barista says, a wide smile plastered on her face.
Mason looks like he might sink into the floor and I think I might join him.

"We-we aren't a couple."
She looks kinda funny and I look over at Mason. He is flushed red, but he swallows and goes to order our stuff.
After that we go sit down on two seats by a window. I sit down and put my purse on the back of my chair. I look up and Mason is staring at me with big puppy eyes.
"What?" I ask, hhoping I'll actually be able to hear his answer over the rapid beating of my heart.
He opens his mouth to reply, and the barista calls out our number. Mason mimes pulling a tie loose and whispers "Wish me luck" before he gets up to get the food.
As he walks across to the counter I wonder when he got so tall. He's much taller than the barista and she is close to my height. I can't help but smile at his messy fluffy hair. I don't know when was the last time that boy thought to smooth it out.
My heart gives a twist as I watch him. He's so sweet and innocent and I'm afraid of how rough life might be on him. He walks back toward me, carefully balancing the coffee and the food.
"Need some help?" I ask.
"No no I've got this. I'm a big boy." He says, grinning at me.
I could really fall in love with this kid.
Mason cocks an eyebrow, his eyes sparking with mischief. I blush, hoping he didn't see my eyes get all mushy. Mason says nothing however, he merely hands me my food. He bows his head for a second as he blesses the food and then we both dig in.
I look around, watching the people and imagining what their lives might be like. There's an old lady dressed out to the nines in the corner. A young married couple with a red headed baby sitting near us. A lonley looking high schooler sitting by the counter.
I turn back to Mason, and he clears his throat with uncharacteristic nervousness.
"So you're probably wondering why I asked you to come here with me."
I nodded my head and my stomach tightened slightly.
"Well the truth is things have changed. With me anyways and I'm hoping you will understand."
My mouth went dry and my stomach twisted into a tight knot. I could feel my hands starting to shake slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"Well what I mean is that, I really enjoy being with you and your just an amazing person okay? Like my favorite person on earth probably."
I feel my ears burn and my mouth drop open. I shut it quickly and try to turn my expression into something other than pure shock.
"Oh glory this is hard, um. Okay I'm just going to ask you now because if I don't it's likely I never will. Will you be my girlfriend? Like officially."
A funny sound came out of my mouth and I stared at him, dumbfounded.
He was speaking very rapidly now, his nervousness making some of his words run together.
"Look I know it's crazy, honestly I do, and I've tried to keep it cool and just be friends but that isn't what-" he broke off and swallowed hard, "I can't do that anymore and I'm sorry. I get it if it's too much or if you would rather stay friends and whatever you decide I will respect. I'm hoping you will say yes though."
I fumbled for the words, as my brain stumbled over what he'd just said.
"Your.. girlfriend?" I finally gasped out with some difficulty.
He nodded, chewing on his bottom lip.
"Well I honestly was- that is I'd hoped you had maybe," His confused look gave me the word I'd been trying to get out.
"Yes. Yes yes and yes!!"
His face lit up like the fourth of July, and I thought he might just jump out of his chair.
"Thanks awfully!" He exclaimed, true to style.
I just wink at him.

An: I think this was our longest chapter yet 😂