A Tantalizing Kiss

Two days passed before Caden called.

It was close to eleven at night on Thursday when the phone rang, waking both of us up
from our slumber.

“Mason!” Joey groaned from the other room.

“Get it.” I grunted back.

“I’m pregnant. I can’t.”

“That’s a shit excuse!”

“Language!”

“Whatever.”

“Just get the damned phone.”

I groaned, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. Joey fell silent, content with
making her younger brother do her dirty work.

I trudged over to the phone, catching it just before it hit voice mail.

“Hulla?” I grunted, my eyes closed. I swayed in my spot with the phone pressed against
my ear, tired.

“M-Mason?” A voice choked out.

“Yeah?”

“It’s Caden.”

My eyes snapped open. “What do you want?”

“Is your sister there?”

“No. What do you want?”

“Listen I need to explain—”

“Shut up, Caden.” I hissed, wide awake now. I didn’t care for his bullshit. “You’re not
talking to Joey so is there anything else you need?”

“Look—”

I hung up on him.

The light flickered on, blinding me temporarily. I turned around with my eyes squinting
slightly to see Joey standing there in her PJ’s, arms wrapped around her waist.

We shared a knowing look.

I shook my head gently.

She nodded, turning the light off and walking back to her room.

I did the same.

He called three more times that night.

~*~

“Good morning, cutie.” I smiled to Rose as she took a seat in front of me. I had gotten to
class early for once, so to grab a few minutes to talk with her.

She rolled her eyes, sinking into her seat, “There’s nothing ‘good’ about it.”

I leaned forward, catching a strand of her hair in my fingers. I twirled it around, my eyes
watching it as I spoke, “And what makes you say that?”

“Just… everything!” She groaned, closing her eyes.

I leaned in close, my lips by her ear, “I bet I could make it better.”

She pushed me away.

I laughed.

“Seriously though, Doll, what’s wrong?” I let her hair fall out of my fingers, moving my
hand to rest on the desk. She opened her eyes, giving me an exasperated look.

“Just forget about it, Mason.” She yawned slightly.

“Looks like someone was up late.” I teased, “Doing a little something-something in the
bathroom too long?”

“If you mean shower, then yes. I did procrastinate getting out of it.”

“I wasn’t thinking that, but since you bring it up…” I smirked, “I’d love to help you
procrastinate in the shower.”

She made a face, “Come on.”

I leaned back in my seat, “I’m a man. What can I say?”

She didn’t respond, turning to face forward. I caught her before she had turned entirely
the opposite way.

“You’re still coming to the game tonight right?”

She nodded, her eyes flickering over to Stein cautiously. I followed her eyes to see that
our teacher was getting ready to begin class.

“Sweet.” I grinned.

“Remember our deal, though.”

I rolled my eyes.

Stein begins the class and I leaned back, messing with Rose the rest of the period. I’ve
found Drama class to become more boring than before. We’re just about finished in the
Drama club with the first act, but barely past scene five in the actual class.

I yawned, rubbing my eyes and glancing at the clock.

Stein hands out a paper, instructing the first row to pass it back. I leaned forward when I
get my copy, whispering in Rose’s ear, “What’s this?”

“Weren’t you paying attention? Pop quiz.”

I groaned discreetly.

She laughed. “Don’t worry. It’s on the first four scenes. Piece of cake. If you know your
part at least.”

I did.

~*~

The day took forever. It took longer than forever. It took an eternity.

Rose ended up leaving study hall to go to the IMC, leaving me stuck with no one to
mess with. I didn’t see her for the rest of the day. Leah had ditched school for a day with her
boyfriend in town, leaving me alone at lunch.

I knew I had plenty of other people that I could sit with, but I found no urge to do so today.
I stayed by myself for the most part.

I arrived at the practice after school earlier than usual, finding only four other people in
the auditorium besides myself. I dropped my bag in an empty seat in the front row, walking
up to the gorgeous brunette sitting on the edge of the stage.

“Hey, Macy” I smiled, hoisting myself up on the stage next to her. Our legs pressed
gently against each others.

She sighed, forcing a small smile on her face, “Hey Mason.”

“How are you this fine day?”

She groaned, leaning her head on my shoulders, “Horrible.”

I moved my hand so that it rested behind her back as I prompted her to elaborate more
on her response.

“You don’t want to hear about my problems.”

I chuckled, “Come on, tell me what’s making a pretty girl so upset.”

She giggled, “Fine. There’s this guy…”

I groaned, tilting my head back, “Boy drama. Sorry, Macy, I’m too straight for this kind of
thing. I’m sure Pierce would love to listen though.” I spat the last part out with venom.

Macy rolled her eyes, “Pierce is just as straight as you are.”

“Bullshit, kid’s gayer than a rainbow.”

“Don’t be mean!” She laughed, nudging my leg with her own, “He’s actually my friend,
despite your dislike.”

I shrugged, “I’m just stating the truth, honey.”

She laughed, shaking her head softly, “You know, I’d hate to be around you if you PMS-
ed, Mason.”

I made a face, “Alright, if we’re going to talk about that kind of thing, I’m just going to
make my way out of here.”

“No, no!” She giggled, grabbing onto my upper arm teasingly, “You’re not leaving me to
fend for myself here, mister.”

“You seem pretty fine, little teacher’s pet” I winked.

“You’re just jealous.” She smirked.

I opened my mouth to respond, when a deep voice cut me off.

“Oh, Mason! We were just discussing how it’s a shame your newly found talents are
going to waste.”

My eyes flickered over to the voice, my lips turning down. Macy’s eyes followed mine,
narrowing slightly at the sight before us.

Pierce and Rose behind us on the stage, his hand resting on the small of her back. A
cocky smirk crossed his lips as he spoke, shaking his head so that his hair moved slightly
out of his eyes, only to fall back again. I noticed that the tips of his obnoxiously long bangs
had been dyed blue, clashing with his black eyes. He wore a tight black tee with black pants
to match.

Rose had her arms wrapped around her waist, a fake smile across her lips. She had
pulled her long blonde hair back into a pony tail. She brushed her bangs out of her eyes,
tucking a few of the longer strands behind her ears.

“Care to elaborate?” I asked.

“It’s just that you’re a fairly good singer for someone like yourself, yet you’re not going to
be able to show it off in this play.” Pierce’s voice lacked sympathy in it.

“What makes you say that?”

“You’re my understudy, of course.”

“Well at least you got the perfect roll. An ugly-ass freak that no one actually likes.” Macy
nudged her elbow into my side painfully. I kept my expression blank.

“Mason, stop.” She hissed.

“Don’t tell him what to do.” Rose hissed, quietly, just loud enough for Macy to hear. I
raised an eyebrow at her words.

“Was anyone talking to you?” Macy asked. “Didn’t think so. Now why don’t you go back to
your cheer leading squad and let the real actors and actresses work.”

“That’s cute.” Rose pulled away from Pierce, taking a few steps towards Macy. She
crossed her arms, flipping her hair over the side of her shoulder, “Funny how I got the
leading female role in the play.”

“You only got that because you slept with Wilson and everyone here knows it.” Macy
stood up, taking a step closer towards Rose.

“You know, some people actually earn their roles here. They don’t have to bribe the
directors like you do.”

“Oh please, I’ve earned my roles more times than I can count.”

“Your role is fitting you more and more every time we meet, Jameson.” Rose spat,
“Fake, annoying, and dumb.”

“Excuse me, but I’m not the one who’s fake, Barbie.”

“Who are you calling Barbie?”

“You and your fake tits!”

Rose gritted her teeth, her eyes furious. She cupped her tits as she spoke, “You think
these are fake? You know it’s possible to have tits bigger than B cups that aren’t made of
silicone.”

I had to admit, their fight was a little hot. But I had to intervene before it got too crazy.
From the looks of Pierce, it didn’t seem like he was going to be the one to do that. That, and
the girls had started to gather a crowd

I cut Macy off mid-insult.

“Ladies, ladies,” I stepped between them, “Can’t we just come to an agreement and say
that both of your tits are wonderful?”

“Mason!” Rose snapped.

I laughed, grinning at her, “I’m kidding, Doll.”

Macy smirked, cocking her hip, “Yeah, we all know that your cones aren’t all too
attractive, Rose.”

“Macy, stop!” I said, my voice losing all joking. “Rose, you too. Can we please go the rest
of practice with you two acting civil towards each other?”

Rose pursed her lips, eyeing Macy, “I don’t think civil is in her vocabulary.”

“Rose.” I hissed.

She rolled her eyes, “Fine. Whatever.”

“Macy.” I looked towards her, waiting for her confirmation that she wouldn’t push Rose
anymore.

Macy nodded, rolling her eyes, “I won’t start anything. But I’m not going to let myself get
insulted by that little whore anymore.”

“I’ll show you little whore.” Rose muttered under her breath.

“Rose!” I snapped.

“Mr. Johnson, care to explain what’s going on?” Mrs. Stein asked, her tone annoyed as
she strode towards us.

“Ms. Jameson and Ms. Simpson were simply having a dispute. I was trying to stop it
before it got too carried away.”

Stein rolled her eyes, “I’m sure that’s exactly what happened—”

“-It was!-”

“—All of you get off of my stage so we can begin.” She ignored my comment, waiting
impatiently for the students to clamber off.

I sighed, following with the rest of them.