A Tantalizing Kiss

I looked up at the lovebirds, “I need to take a call real quick. If he comes back, get me whatever Caden gets.”

Joey nodded quickly, turning her head towards Caden for a kiss. I pretended to gag,
walking past the table. I pressed call, putting the phone to my ear.

I walked outside, sitting on the ground and waiting for her to answer. My mind spun out
a plethora of things she could say, all of them as unlikely as the next.

“Hey Mason, sorry for short notice but is that date still up?”

“Mason, I can’t help it. I need you now.”

“I just needed you to call me. Your voice is such a turn on.”

“Mason?”

“Hello?”

“Mason!”

I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts. “Uh-H-hey Rose.”

She giggled, “Hey. I’m not interrupting something am I?”

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “No, no. What’s up, Doll face?”

I could practically see her rolling her eyes at the nickname, “Look. You have practices
before school starts right?”

“Yeah…” I trailed off.

“I uh… how early are you getting there?” Her voice seemed small, nervous.

I shrugged, “Not sure yet.”

“Because I, well…” She let out a nervous laugh, “I have them too with Mrs. Stein, and I
was wondering if you would give me a ride there?”

I blinked surprised.

“You still there?” She asked after a moment of silence. “Look, it’s totally fine, I can get
someone else… I just figured that it would be easier if you were already going there early.”

“Yeah, no, sorry.” I shook my head, laughing, “Yeah, Rose, I can get you a ride there. You
going every day I am?”

“Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.”

“Yeah, I got you covered, Babe.”

She sighed, “Don’t call me ‘Babe’ Mason.”

“You’re right. I think ‘Doll’ has more of a flow to it when it comes to you, Rose.” I grinned,
holding back laughter.

“Whatever. Alright, I’ll see you Monday morning. Pick me up around quarter of 6?” She
asked.

“Why that early?” I frowned.

“So we have enough time to get to the school. I don’t live right next to it.”

“Oh.” I bit my lip, “Yeah alright. I’ll get you then. Text me your address.”

“Got it.”

“Catch you later, Doll.”

“Bye Mason.”

She hung up.

I walked back to the restaurant, my eyes meeting with Joey’s curious ones. She waited
until I sat down before opening her mouth to ask. I cut her off.

“Can I borrow your car before school starts in the mornings now?”

Joey frowned, “How am I going to get to work then, Mason? And why do you need my car
now? You’ve been fine all year.”

“I’ve...got uh…” I scrambled my brain for an excuse. Joey raised her eyebrow, not
amused by this. “I’ve got tutoring before school.”

“So why can’t you move it to after school?”

“Soccer?”

She sighed. “Look Mason, I need a way to get to work if you want to stay under and
house and home.”

Caden squeezed Joey’s waist, “I can get you a ride, if you need.”

“No, Caden, I get up a lot earlier than you do to go to work. I won’t make you do that for
me.” She argued.

I groaned.

“Nah, Pumpkin, I mean, I can just you a ride. Like a car or something if you really
wanted…”

Joey’s eyes widened, “No, Caden, I couldn’t…”

“Look, I’ve known you for how long now? I don’t mind paying rent—” I snorted “—so I
won’t mind buying you a car.”

“Caden…”

“Just say yes, Joey.” I pushed.

She bit her lip, “Fine. Thank you.” She kissed him.

He grinned.

I grinned, “So I get your car now?”

“I guess…”

“Thanks, Sis.”

~*~

“Thanks Mason.” Rose said as she got in the car. “I’m so sorry for bugging you about
this, but I really didn’t have any one else to go to.”

I frowned, “What would you have done if I said I couldn’t have gotten you? And you need
to show me how to get to school from here.”

She shrugged, “I don’t even know. You were my only hope. Take a left here.”

I laughed, my hand on the back of her seat. I turned the radio, driving in silence to the
school. Rose yawned a few times, but didn’t force conversation.

It felt nice to drive to school, despite the early mornings. It felt especially nice to be
driving around with a pretty girl. Even if the car wasn’t.

I had to admit, I was surprised that Joey let me have the car. She had always been
hesitant to let me drive it, but Caden’s offer was too good to resist. For once, I was glad for
their obnoxious love. Hopefully, she would keep the car when they broke up.

My car was one of the only cars in the parking lot. I glanced at the clock on the
dashboard before I turned it off, getting out.

7:02.

Rose and I walked into school together.

“Thanks again.” She said softly, her voice echoing in the quietness of the hallway. Rose
fidgeted with her bracelet, keeping her eyes on the ground.

“Not a problem, Doll.” I wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her to my side.
Rose laughed slightly, pushing away. She ran a hand through her blonde hair, biting her lip.
She stopped in front of the door to Stein’s room, turning back to face me.

I leaned against the wall of lockers next to it, facing her. I crossed my arms over my
chest, flipping my hair slightly. “So about that date…?”

Her eyes narrowed, “It’s still a no.”

“Awh, come on. I’m giving you a ride to school!”

“No date.”

I sighed, “I’ll keep trying until you say yes, Rose.”

She rolled her eyes. “Look, I’m going to go. I suggest you go too. I’ll… uhm… I’ll catch
you later in class. Don’t forget we have rehearsal after school today.”

“Now, hold on.” I grabbed her arm, pulling her back to face me. Rose raised an eyebrow
in confusion, letting me do so. “Since when have we had rehearsal today?”

“Since always?”

I groaned, “Do I have to go even if I’m an understudy?”

She smirked, “So are you implying that it’s not actually a part?”

“Of course not. You’re the only one who says it’s not.” I argued, “I’m just saying, is it
really important for me to go to the first one?”

She sighed, “Mason, it’s the very first rehearsal. Of course you need to go.”

I cussed under my breath.

“Why are you so upset over this?” She smirked, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
Rose moved to lean against the lockers next to me, her head turned towards me.

“Monday’s the day I do weights after soccer.”

“You lift?”

I flexed an arm, smirking, “How else would I get these babies?”

She rolled her eyes.

“Go on, feel it.” I teased her. Rose blushed, looking away.

“I’m not going to feel your muscles.”

“You know you want to.” I poked her stomach. She laughed, cringing away from my
finger. I grinned, doing it again.

“Stop, Mason!” She giggled, turning her body away from me. Her arms were wrapped
around her waist protectively.

“Ticklish?” I smirked.

She snorted, “No…”

I poked at her side. She jerked away. “I think you’re lying.” I poked her again in the sides
with both hands. Rose jumped a little, trying to shoo my hands away.

“Ok, seriously, Mason, stop!” She laughed, turning to face me. A smile spread across
her lips as she backed away slightly, out of my reach.

I sat down, leaning against the lockers. I patted the empty space next to me. “Come
back, I promise I won’t do anything.”

She shook her head. “I don’t trust me.”

“You wound me, Doll.”

She rolled her eyes.

“So how about that date?”

She groaned, sitting down a few feet away from me, “You are so persistent. For the last
time, Mason, I’m not going on a date with you. Ever.”

I mimicked her groan.

She shot me a look.

I returned her look, mockingly. Rose rolled her eyes and looked away. We sat in the
empty hallway together, the sunlight softly trickling in through the windows at the end. I was
tempted to reach out and pull Rose so that she sat closer to me. I resisted, knowing she’d
be angry if I did that. I was surprised she was this relaxed as it was.

“So you play soccer?” She said after a moment of silence.

I nodded, “Best of Varsity.”

“What position?”

“Center forward.”

She nodded.

I smirked, turning my head to look at her, “Do you even know where that is on the field,
Rose?”

“I understand soccer more than football.” She mumbled, “So yeah, I have a general idea
where that would be.”

I laughed. “It’s like the quarterback on the football team, but for soccer. I’m assuming
you know enough about football to know what the quarterback does?”

“I know what the quarterback does, Mason, I’m not an idiot!” She said defensively. I
grinned, laughing.

“Well, I don’t know about that, Doll. You may be such a good actor, you’re fooling us all.”
I teased.

She rolled her eyes, holding back a smile. “Shut up, Johnson.”

I raised an eyebrow, “I’m surprised. You know my last name. Do you know my locker
combination too? My address? License plate?”

“No! You’re always getting yelled at. Eventually I’m going to pick up your last name from
constantly hearing it.”

“I don’t get yelled at that much, Ms. Simpson.”

“Well now, who’s the stalker now?”

“I may know where you live, but that’s only because you gave me the address.” I argued.
“But hey, it’s easier if I ever want a booty call.”

“You’re such a pervert.”

“I’m pretty tame, Doll. Compared to some of the guys here.” I mumbled the last part under my breath, thinking of Rodger.

She groaned, “Don’t get me started.”

I laughed.

“I’m not kidding, Mason. This school is by far the worst with inappropriate boys that I’ve
ever been to.”

“Do you move around a lot?”

She shook her head, “This is only my third school.”

“Really? And you don’t call that a lot?”

“Not really. I’ve stayed in the state, so it’s not too bad, I guess.” She shrugged, playing it
off. “I don’t really care anymore. Sometimes it’s nice to leave certain people behind.”

I took note of the malice in her voice at the last part.

The sound of heels clacking against the floor grabbed our attention. I turned my head
the opposite way in the direction of the sound. At the opposite end of the hallway walked Mrs.
Stein, her arms full of paper.

Rose and I watched in silence as she approached her room, not acknowledging either
of us. She pulled a key out from the pocket on her denim dress, unlocking the door. Without
looking at us, she walked in, letting the door close shut behind us.

I turned back towards Rose, mouthing ‘What a bitch.’

She giggled, standing up. “Thanks again for the ride. It was nice talking to you before
school started, Mason.”

“I could say the same about you. Help me up?” I reached a hand out. Rose rolled her
eyes, wrapping her small hand in mine. She pulled me up with a grunt. I laughed, not letting
go of her hand after I was up. “Thanks.”

“I’ll…I’ll see you in Drama class.” She stuttered. “Where are you going anyways?”

“Wilson.” I groaned, “I’d rather go to weights though.”

She rolled her eyes.

“See you later, Doll.” I smirked, letting go of her hand. Rose walked past me, ignoring
the comment.

I couldn’t resist.

I lightly tapped her ass as she walked past me.