“He knows I’m here,” Charli giggles. “No shouting for you.” She pulls in her case behind her and takes off her hoodie before hugging me again.
“Well then, as we’re up anyway, breakfast burritos ladies?”
“Hells yes!” Charli shouts and I can’t help but laugh at her. I can’t believe she’s here! This is exactly what I needed. Monica works her way around the kitchen, making breakfast, peppering Charli with questions about New Zealand and her life there.
“Will you be here for Thanksgiving, sweetie?” Monica asks.
“You bet! I am so looking forward to it. Not only am I thankful that I’m home again, but your thanksgiving dinner is the best! I’ve missed your cooking more than you can imagine.”
“Well, I’m just glad you’re here. It isn’t the same without you,” she winks.
“Oh, erm, I forgot to tell you, Mon, I kinda invited, Mason, Parker and their Grams to dinner too…” I say, looking down at my hands.
I swear I can hear Charli’s excitement.
“Well, we definitely have the space, and we both know your uncle will love having more people here. It’s not a problem,” she says with a sly smile.
“Thanks,” I mumble, before shoving burrito into my mouth.
“So, Mason, huh? Thanksgiving? You’re obviously friendlier than I thought,” Charli says, wagging her eyebrows. I almost spit out my breakfast, laughing.
“Oh my God, never do that again!”
“I second that motion,” Monica says as she picks at her food.
“So, when do I get to meet this new friend?” Charli asks again with enthusiasm.
“Well, I was actually meant to be seeing him tonight, but with you here, I can cancel.”
“Don’t you dare, you crazy! Just tell him to bring a friend,” she winks.
“Erm, if you’re sure? His friends aren’t from around here.”
“Even better,” she claps her hands with glee before chowing down on her burrito. Well, this could either go amazingly, or to shit. I love Charli, but she can be a little full on.
“I’m not home tonight, Erin. Sorry, Charli. I have to go away today for that yoga retreat I told you about,” she says, but her face is scrunched. I guess she doesn’t want to go now Charli is here.
“Oh, erm, okay. I don’t remember, but well; but that’s hardly a surprise.” She shakes her head and smiles.
“No, it’s not.” She says, looking relieved. “I’m going to go pack. You girls be good while I’m gone.”
“Aren’t we always?”
“Uh-huh,” she says, rolling her eyes as she clears her plate away. “See you later.”
***
Mason pulls up in front of the house, and climbs out of his car with his friend in tow. I pull back from the window and double check my hair in the mirror before stopping myself. No, I am not that girl. Charli rocks up next to me, looking like some beach goddess, next to her I look like a sad goth girl, but fuck it, I like monochrome.
Mason knocks on the door, and I open it, feeling all sorts of awkward.
“Hey,”
“Hey yourself. Erin, this is Rico. Rico, this is Erin.”
“Now I see why you’ve been keeping her to yourself, papi. Chica is beautiful,” Rico says with a cheeky grin.
“Hi, Rico,” I say shyly. “Erm, this is Charli.”
“Hello boys,” she winks. “Let’s get this party started, shall we?” She says before grabbing her hoodie and her phone.
“You said he was hot, but holy hell!” She whispers to me as she breezes past me before talking up a storm with Rico as they head to Mason’s car.
“You okay?” Mason asks quietly as I lock up.
“I am,” I smile. “You know I’m just weird with new people.”
“Rico is good ‘new’ people. He’s a total goofball, but he’d lay down his life for his friends.”
“He sounds like good people.” I say as he takes my hand and kisses it.
“This okay?” He asks and I nod. He walks me to his car, opening the door like always.
“And they say chivalry is dead,” Charli calls out from the back seat.
Mason chuckles behind me.
“You’ve not met my Grams – believe me, you’d be chivalrous, too.”
“She sounds brilliant, bring on Thanksgiving!” She calls out as we head towards the beach. Rico and Charli talk quietly in the back for most of the ride. I don’t know how she does it, but I swear she can talk to anyone. Mason takes my hand and wraps it in his. I’m not sure just how okay I am with this, but it doesn’t feel wrong, so I’m trying to just go with it. We pull up to beach, and the party Mason was so excited about is in full swing.
“So, these are your friends?”
“Some of them were, some still are. Some never were, but I figured you could relax here. These guys are here to enjoy themselves and not ruin anybody else’s night.”
“Okay,” I smile and squeeze his hand as he pulls me onto the sand and towards to bonfire lighting up the beach.
“Charli and Rico seem like fast friends,” he laughs as we watch Rico pick Charli up and run into the sea with her whilst she squeals.
“Yeah, she has that way with people. They’re just drawn to her.”
“I can see that. Next to you though, her light doesn’t shine that bright,” he says and I blush. He says these things, and it’s like he’s been reading those books of Monica’s.
“You want a drink?”
“Sure,” I say, taking a seat on the sand by the fire. The sun hasn’t completely set yet, but the chill coming from the water is definitely there. I watch the people around me as music filters across the beach. Everyone here seems happy. Free. Like they have no cares in the world. Apparently, I’m living life wrong. I stare out at the sea and watch Charli as she runs through the water. Mason drops beside me and hands me a bottle.
“Don’t take a drink from anyone but me or Rico, or leave it unattended. These guys are mostly good people, but some people are just idiots,” he says, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me close. I lean into him, soaking up his warmth. A few people join us in the sand, Mason introduces me, and I smile, but mainly, I stay quiet, just enjoying listening to Mason laugh about stupid shit him and his friends got up to before he transferred to Rocky Falls.
I stand up and excuse myself, my anxiety is starting to drag me into a black hole, so I decide to get away and fall apart in private.
“I’ll come with you,” Mason interjects.
“I’ll be fine, you stay and enjoy yourself,” I object with a smile.
Brushing the sand off on my legs, I walk back towards the beachfront and search for a bathroom. Being around this many people is all good and well, but my anxiety is sky-high. I’m not used to people paying attention to me without having ulterior motives. Even if their attention is on Mason, it seems like he was a King at his old school. Everyone loves him; they either want to be him or be with him. It’s strange seeing him with these people, their hierarchy is so different to where Mason fell in at Rocky Falls. I mean, he’s not exactly ignored, but he’s not ruling the halls, either. I lock myself in one of the bathroom stalls and lean against the door taking deep breaths. I wish I could be more like Charli; she’s out there, living her life and just enjoying the moment, and here I am, freaking out because I’ve been around people for a night, and I’m just waiting for something bad to happen.
I hear the door to the bathroom open and hold my breath. I let it out slowly, trying to calm the storm building up inside me.
“Did you see the girl he brought with him? She’s such a mouse; I don’t know why he’s wasting his time. He could do so much better.”
“Don’t be such a bitch, Shannon. You don’t know her, maybe she’s just shy. You’re just jealous because it’s not you.”
“Maybe I am, but I’m way hotter than her.”
“Modest, too,” the other girl sighs.
“Don’t be such a hater, Demi. You don’t alwa
ys have to be such a goodie, goodie.”
They're not talking about me right? I mean, this is a huge beach, and this is just a random bathroom I found. Charli would tell me to go face them down, but I hear Tegan in my head, telling me they’re right. Fuck this, Tegan will not run my life. I take another deep breath, flush the chain, and unlock the door. The wide eyes that meet me in the mirror let me know that yes, they were talking about me. I keep my head high, wash my hands and walk past them, making my way back to Mason. I sit beside him, and he tucks me into his side again, pressing a kiss into my hair on top of my head.
“You okay?” he asks.
His entire presence calms me, and his smile, well, a girl could get lost in that.
“I am now,” I smile and kiss him softly. Maybe Charli is right, I’ve been trodden on and beaten down, pushed to the floor, and walked over all my life. Maybe it’s time to stand up and live my life.
The night passes and I try my best to interact with Mason’s friends, but it turns out that social interaction isn’t exactly my thing. Rico and a disheveled Charli join us, when Rico magics up a guitar from somewhere and starts playing. At first, he’s the goofball we’ve come to know, but then he switches it up and plays properly, and it’s mesmerizing.
Everyone is enchanted when the mood of the group takes a downwards turn.
“Well, if it isn’t the infamous, Mason Knight,” I hear from behind me. Mason goes stiff. He takes his arm from around me and I go cold as he stands and turns to face the voice. Three guys, who look like they definitely don’t belong here from their haircuts, tattoos, and menacing scowls on their faces. They’re emitting a dangerous energy.
“What are you doing here, Joey?” Mason asks, his voice darker than I’ve ever heard.
Rico comes and stands to his right, and another guy from the bonfire, that I recognize from the first day I met Mason. I think he said his name was Enzo, stands to his left. Charli shuffles next to me and holds my hand. The air around us suddenly feels sinister.
“Well, we heard the King was back to challenge for his throne. Can’t do that without taking out your successor.”
“Is it just me, or does this sound like an episode of Game of Thrones?” Rico snickers.
“Joey, you’ve lost your damn mind. I’m here to chill with my friends, and my girl. I have no interest in going to war with you and yours.”
“Sounds about right, chicken shit. Just like always. Running when shit gets real. Mason Knight doesn’t deal with the tough stuff, just cuts tail and leaves. Girly, if you ever want to kick it with a real man, you call Joey,” he says, licking his lips causing a shiver to run down my spine. Just gross.
“You should just leave, Joey,” Mason growls. “And you need to leave my girl out of your shit. Trash like you doesn’t get to speak to her.”
“Ah, now come on, Mason. No need to be like that. I just want to get to know your new friends,” he says, coming almost nose to nose with Mason.
I see Mason’s fist clench at his sides as he stands taller, looking down at Joey.
“They don’t want to know you. So, I suggest you leave now.”
“Maybe we don’t want to go, maybe we want to stay and party,” one of the guys with Joey says, sneering lewdly at Shannon.
“Well, we think you should pack up your shit, and go back to whichever hole you crawled up out of,” Rico says squaring up with him.
A cop car drives past the beachfront, sounding its siren, lights flashing before coming to a stop. People take a step back from each other.
“Is everything okay down here?” one of the cop’s calls, stepping out of the car.
“Yes, Sir. No problems down here,” Enzo calls out.
“Joey Romano, is that you? You’re not causing trouble, are you?”
“No sir, we were just leaving, right boys?”
“That’s what I thought. I’m sure your uncle wouldn’t appreciate me hauling you down to the station.”
“No Sir,” Joey says; the hatred in his eyes pointed straight at Mason.
“Mason Knight, it’s been a long time. You keeping out of trouble?”
I don’t know who this cop is, but apparently, he knows everyone here. I guess this place is just as small as Rocky Falls."
“Yes, Sir,” he replies, trying to look relaxed, but I can tell he’s tense.
“You say hello to your Grams for me.”
“I will do, Sir.”
Joey and his friends start walking away from our group, and the cop car stays until they drive away.
“Well, that was different,” Charli pipes up as Mason and Rico walk back to us.
“You could say that,” I say with a frown.
“Sorry about that,” Mason apologizes as he reaches me. He pulls me into a hug and holds me tight. I don’t understand any of this, but I let him hold me for as long as he needs to.
“I swear, I’ll explain, just not now, okay?” He says softly.
“Okay,” I reassure. This is obviously part of the past he had started telling me about – about when he said he had got in with the wrong crowd. I kind of assumed he meant skipping class or something – those guys looked like some gangbangers, or some shit.
“We should head out now, anyway; let me just make the rounds and we’ll get you back, okay?”
“Sure,” I smile and he and Rico make their way into the crowd leaving me with Charli.
“Well tonight definitely left an impression, that’s for sure. I don’t get any excitement like this in New Zealand,” she chuckles.
“How can you be so chill about it all?” I ask, still a little thrown.
“Because nothing really happened. People came, talked some smack, and left. Hell, not even a punch was thrown, though I’d totally have put money on Mason and his crew. These boys are built. I mean, it’s not like anyone pulled a gun, so I’m chill.”
“I guess you’re right,” I say, biting my lip.
“Of course, I am. There’s nothing to worry about, don’t get lost inside your head about it.”
I take in what she said – she’s right, nothing happened, well not really. It could’ve been way worse. I shake it off, and smile at her. Mason appears at my side again, taking my hand.
“You guys ready to head out?”
“Sure am, but can we grab a burger on the way back? I’m starving,” Charli announces, before Rico lifts her over his shoulder and runs off with her towards the car.
“You sure you’re okay?” Mason asks as we head toward his car.
“I am. Charli defused the bomb inside my head so we’re good. She’s right, nothing really happened; just some heated words. It could’ve been worse.”
“It really could have been. I’m sorry I put you in danger like that. Joey and those guys – they’re seriously bad news.”
“Were they your friends?”
“I guess you could say that. No-one in those circles are friends, not really. You’re either in or you’re out; they don’t do half measures. I was lucky Grams moved us when she did.”
“I’m really glad she did.” I smile up at him and squeeze his hand.
“Me too, Tiger. I should get you back quickly; last thing I want is Monica on my case.”
“Well, erm,” I say, looking at my feet. “She’s kind of away for the night, if you wanted to come in or something?”
He stops in front of me, and lifts my face to look at him.
“You don’t need to hide from me, Erin. Ever. But you also don’t need to rush this – remember, I’m not going anywhere.”
“I know, I just thought it might be nice or something; I’d feel safer if you were there.”
“You’ll always be safe if I’m around. Of course, I can stay, just don’t think I’m going to push you for anything you’re not ready for,” he says leaning down close to me. I push myself into him and can feel how hard it is for him saying no right now.
“Maybe I’m ready. Maybe I don’t want to wait,” I say, my voice wispy.
He
groans, taking my mouth with his. His hands are in my hair and he’s devouring me; all thoughts but how good it feels pressed up against him, leave my head.
“Come on, lovebirds!” Rico yells out, breaking the spell and pulling us apart.
“Fucking idiot,” Mason grumbles, kissing me softly before pulling away fully and leading me to his car.
We drive home, music playing, enjoying the trip. Rico chats away about all sorts of random crap that has us in hysterics. By the time we get home, it feels like I’ve known him forever.
“You sure you want us to stay?” Mason asks me quietly as Rico and Charli climb out of the car. I nod, biting down on my bottom lip, betraying my nerves. He might be right, I might not be ready for us to do anything, but I wasn’t lying earlier – he makes me feel safe.
“Okay, then,” he says following me into the house.
The butterflies in my stomach are doing the light fandango and I’m not sure this was a good idea after all – I mean, I’ve kind of just offered Mason the promise of a hot night, and in truth, I haven’t really got an idea about what the hell I’m doing. I’ve only ever slept with Evan, and that was… well, let’s just say, it wasn’t how I thought it was going to be. It had left me feeling kind of … wrong.
The touch of Mason’s hand on my hip is enough to send skitters down my spine.
“You want a drink, boys?" Charli asks, heading to the fridge where she knows there will be the jug of homemade sweet tea Mon always has in the fridge.
“Sure,” Rico says, flopping down into one of the sofas.
Charli returns handing a glass to Rico and joins him on the sofa. Some joke goes between them that I don’t really hear. I’m knotting inside. Mason has taken his jacket off and it looks like he really is staying.
Suddenly, Rico sees the battered edition of Monopoly on the bookshelves and lets out a squeal. “Monopoly! Oh, my God, I love that game – who wants to play?”
Charli looks at me and flicks her brow.
“Come on guys, it will be fun!” he insists.
“When has Monopoly ever been fun?” Charli asks. “I’m sure I can think of far more fun things to do,” she says pouting in Rico’s direction whilst grabbing his hand and pulling him back onto the sofa. Within minutes, they’re kissing the face off each other and Mason and I are stood there like complete idiots, trying not to blush.
When We Fall Page 8
