pte

ra's

being an idiot. Surely I can't tel

and his voice adds yet another layer of

ust when Mom comes out of

. I try my best to smile, but the emotions whirling in my chest just won't permit me to process anything but the pressing des

hts. His eyes are hazel, almost green but not quite. He has a sweet smile, the kind that r

feel a wave

o come greet Mason?"

mine and he smiles. My heart races.

Mason says kindly. "It's her b

but feel my resentment towards her flaring up. How come she

s to be reserved for Mason now and no one else, so much so that they forget to sing me happy birthday and jus

pear it on my plate, not

ow? Does h

t seems to get stronger

of instinct, but thankfully, my

e hisses. 'I don't think

whimper through our mind-l

of the night, he would feel it too. After all, you are

o happy when she's also Ma

hat. Boyfriend and girlfriend. They d

mates, at least not yet.

way, but right now it feels great. I find myself stealing glances at Mason, w

uddenly says, breaking through my r

idn't know that he was noticing me. He passed me a note through the book I was going to borrow.

"I remember bein

. intense. He had roses and chauffeurs and this grand restaurant by the beach. I knew who h

er eyes like this brings her

eyes, but I just e

sing the back of it. "You're gorgeous and smart. I knew it, from the first ti

using them to clatter on the plate. Everyone looks at me, their

th of them, even though my cheeks are so stiff I feel like

now he looks uncomfortable.

I correct him,

es. "Right. I

ght here. I want the ground to swallo

nd romantic things he has done for her, while I sit there completely stumped

l Vega as soon as I head out into th

ill get better,'

k from this, but then the home phone starts to

though no one sees it

mes up from the other

ce is barely audible. Why do I feel l

ow. I sent you presents this morning. What are they doing