Chapter 17

                                    

                                          
"I'll get three scoops of mint chocolate chip." I told the guy who is taking our orders. 
                          
"I'll take three scoops of chocolate chip cookie dough." Mason told him.
                          
"Ew that's disgusting." I commented. 
                          
"Mint is." 
                          
"Not its not."
                          
"Yes it is." 
                          
"No." 
                          
"Yes." He argued back.
                          
"Whatever you think Grimes." 
                          
"So that means I win?" He jumped up, and punched his fist in the air in victory.
                          
"No that just means, I'm the more mature one, and not arguing with a two year old." 
                          
His smile fell, to him pouting. 
                          
"Point taken." I chuckled.
                          
We got our ice cream cones, and headed to a table by the window. 
                          
This is pretty nice. I mean, getting to hang out with just Mason.  Not Mason and Ryder. I mean it would be fun if Ryder was here also. But I really don't want to see him. He made me mad this morning by going on her side, then the picture Beth showed me. He isn't getting away with this, that easily.
                          
Life of the party by Shawn Mendes came on in the small ice cream parlor. Since I like this song I started singing. 
                          
"Make your best mistake, cause we don't have time to be sorry, so baby be the life of the party,  I'm telling you take your shots it might be scary, hearts are gonna break, cause we don't have the time to be sorry, so baby be the life of the party, together we can just let go, pretend like there's no one else here that we know, slow dance for the love as the club track play," 
                          
I kept singing until the song finished. Once it did, I looked up from my ice cream at Mason, who had wide eyes, and a big smile. 
                          
"What?" I laughed. 
                          
"You sing really really good." 
                          
"Thanks." I smiled. My smile dropped when I remember Ryder telling me that. When he took me to his spot. 
                          
"What's wrong?" He asked. 
                          
"Oh nothing. I just remembered why we are here. Why did to need to talk to me?" 
                          
"Oh yeah." 
                          
"Mason! Casey!" We both turned our heads to the door to see who called us. Jayden. Why is she here? 
                          
"What do you want?" Mason asked her when she came over to our table. 
                          
"How's my babe doing?" She asked, tracing her nail on Mason's cheek. I raised an eyebrow at him. 
                          
"No, no. This isn't what it seems like," he said looking at me. "And what do you mean? I already told you Ryder is taken." He finished off looking at Jayden.
                          
"Yeah I know. By this weird girl." Motioning to me. 
                          
"She isn't weird! She's amazing!" Mason stood up for me. I could tell his cheeks had a hint of red. Does Mason like her? Or me? Is he the other guy that likes me?
                          
"Oh well. I better get going. Tell Ryder I said I love him." She walked away, leaving me in my thoughts, and Mason blushing. 
                          
I should have known it was him who liked me. I mean, every time Ryder was around he would be too. Yeah they are best friends, but what about wen they jumped on me to wake me up? Or when they smashed the egg on my head? And now us here, eating ice cream together. Everything makes sense. But how can I let him down, without actually letting him down? Wait a second. Becca wants to go to the dance with him. That's why we are even here. I wanted to talk to him about Becca and the dance! 
                          
"You okay Casey?" He asked. I looked up from the table and nodded.
                          
"Hey do you know Becca?" I asked.
                          
"Becca who?" 
                          
"I don't know her last name. But she loves working with computers and stuff." 
                          
"I might think I know who your talking about. Not for sure though. But what about her?"
                          
"She wanted me to help her ask this guy to the dance for her. And since in friends-" 
                          
"Is this guy me?" He cutted me off.
                          
"Yeah." I smiled. 
                          
"Oh." He said it so plain. And his face kinda soften from a smile, and the red tint is gone from his cheeks completely. 
                          
"What's wrong?" I asked him. I may already know the answer but I'm just going to ask him anyways. 
                          
"That's why I wanted you to come here. So I could talk to you. You know that day when I was in the hall talking to Jayden?" I nodded. 
                          
"Well I knew you were secretly watching us. I didn't know how to say it, so I was going to tell her. All those things I said about you are true. Your fun to be around, and your a great friend. Anyone is lucky to be able to know you Casey. I'm glad your my friend. I wouldn't want anyone else being my friend besides you and Ryder. You two are my closet friends, and y'all mean a lot to me. But you a little more. Your special, and unique and I like that. You stood up for yourself in front of Beth until I stopped you. Your not afraid to do anything. Your fearless almost. And whatever happened to you in your past, I know you still have that fight in you. Don't let it go. That's the Casey I know and-" 
                          
Mason got cut off by a loud boom. Thunder. Great. That means it's going to rain.

                          
"Um. Sorry. But I think we should get home?" I suggested. 
                          
"Your right. Besides it starts to pour." 
                          
We threw away our trash, and walked to his car. I kinda wish he would have finish saying what he was going to say. But I don't think it's going to be much longer before he tells me anyways. 
                          
As we reached the car and got in, it down poured, Like expected. So we sat there for a few minutes wishing to see if the rain would calm down, but it never did. It kept pouring, and thundering, and lighting. I'm just hoping this is a passing storm, not something that will take forever to get through. 
                          
"Casey?" Mason asked breaking the silence. 
                          
"Yeah?" I turned to look at him. 
                          
He placed his hands on both sides of my head, and pulled me to him, making our lips touch. He kissed me. I didn't know what to do, so I kissed him back. I know this is wrong to do, but I couldn't help it. Ryder hurt me. He kissed another girl. He chose Beth's side. He hasn't told me anything about him kissing Jayden. So this one and simple kiss can't hurt right? 
                          
Mason pulled back, so we could breath. 
                          
"What I've been trying to tell you is, I love you Casey. I have even before you met Ryder. You didn't know me then, but I've always watched you. Not in a creepy stalker way. But we use to have classes together two years ago. That's when it started. Last year I would see you durning lunch everyday. I sat at the table behind you. And this year, we are actually friends. Which I'm happy about. I know this seems sudden but I had to tell you." 
                          
I just stared at him. Mason loves me?