𝓔𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓷𝓪𝓵 𝓼𝓾𝓷𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓮
ᴵ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ᵉᵛᵉⁿ ʳᵉᵍʳᵉᵗ ⁱᵗ

Mason and Aaron were sprawled out on the floor of the living room, controllers in hand, laser-focused on the TV screen as they played Madden.

"Dude, you're trash," Mason said, laughing as his player effortlessly scored a touchdown.

Aaron groaned. "That's because you literally cheat."

Mason smirked. "Sounds like a skill issue."

Aaron rolled his eyes, setting his controller down. "Yeah, whatever. I need to piss."

Mason snorted. "Yeah have fun."

Aaron stood up, stretching his arms over his head. "Don't touch my controller."

Mason held his hands up innocently. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Aaron disappeared down the hall toward the bathroom.

The second Mason heard the door click shut, his gaze flicked toward the stairs.

He shouldn't.

But his legs were already moving.

He climbed the stairs two at a time and found himself standing in front of Elena's bedroom door.

Without hesitating, he knocked softly.

"Come in!"

Mason pushed the door open.

Elena was sitting cross-legged on her bed, her laptop resting on her thighs.

She was wearing an oversized sweatshirt and a pair of small shorts, her hair pulled up in a messy bun.

Her eyes widened when she saw him. "Mason?"

Mason smiled. "Hey."

Elena shut her laptop. "What are you doing?"

He shrugged, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. "Aaron's in the bathroom. Thought I'd come see you."

Elena raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Mason's smile deepened as he walked over and sat down on the edge of her bed. "Yeah."

Elena's heart was already hammering.

They sat in silence for a moment before Mason's foot nudged against hers. "So..."

Elena glanced at him. "So?"

Mason leaned back on his hands. "About the other night..."

Elena's cheeks burned. "What about it?"

Mason smirked. "You kissed me."

Elena's mouth opened, but nothing came out.

Mason's eyes sparkled. "Do you regret it?"

Elena's heart sped up. "Do you?"

Mason shook his head slowly. "Not even a little bit."

Elena's breath hitched.

Mason's hand brushed against hers.

His thumb grazed her knuckles before sliding down to tangle their fingers together.

"I meant what I said," Mason said quietly. "No one comes close to you."

Elena's lips parted. "Mason—"

"I like you," Mason said, his voice soft but steady. "Like, a lot." His thumb brushed the inside of her wrist. "I think I have for a while. And I think you feel the same way."

Elena's heart was pounding so loud she could barely think.

"Tell me I'm wrong," Mason said, his gaze locked on hers.

Elena swallowed hard.

She couldn't.

She didn't want to.

Instead, she leaned in and kissed him.

Mason's hand slid to her cheek as he kissed her back, soft and slow and careful.

His other hand slipped under the hem of her sweatshirt, his fingers brushing against her waist.

Elena's arms wrapped around his neck as he deepened the kiss, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them.

He pulled away just enough to whisper, "Yeah. That's what I thought."

Elena rolled her eyes. "Shut up."

Mason smiled. "Make me."

She kissed him again, this time harder, and Mason wasted no time kissing her back.

His hand slid up her back, and Elena shifted so she was practically in his lap.

Mason's thumb brushed over her cheek as he smiled against her lips. "You're so beautiful," he murmured.

Elena's heart raced. "You're such a flirt."

"You love it."

Elena laughed and kissed him again.

Just as Mason's hand slid under the hem of her sweatshirt, his phone started buzzing.

Mason groaned against her lips. "Are you serious?"

Elena laughed as Mason pulled his phone out of his pocket. Aaron's name flashed across the screen.

Mason sighed and answered it. "Yeah?"

"Where the hell did you go?" Aaron's voice echoed through the speaker.

Mason glanced at Elena, smiling. "Just... saying hi to your sister."

Aaron groaned. "Dude. Get back down here."

Mason hung up and slid his phone back into his pocket.

"I should probably go," Mason said, but his hand was still resting on her waist.

Elena smiled. "Yeah."

Mason kissed her one more time, slow and sweet, before standing up and backing toward the door. "See you later, Star Girl."

Elena watched him leave, her heart racing, her lips still tingling.

Yeah. She was so screwed.

— ETERNAL SUNSHINE —