⌗ 16
third person ✎ᝰ
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A red Mazda Sedan pulls up into the drive way of the Marsh residence. It's a two storey modern house—bright and elegant. The house itself was the perfect image of its owners. The front lawn was kept tidy. The grass greener on this side of the street. The exterior of the house itself was sleek and modern—finished with big windows and white translucent curtains that bring in the sun through to the day's end.

The heavy sound of a car door closing had caught Riley's attention. 'That must be Maisie' she thought. She hopped off the bed in a hurry and made her way to her bedroom window.

She watches an all too familiar face walk up to her front door. Riley was nervous. She felt bad about her sudden outburst over text.

"Haerin-ah, what brings you here?"

Riley moves towards the staircase down the hall from her room. She tip toed quietly to the edge of the first step—her heard peering over the railing.

"Good evening Mrs. Marsh." The sound of her voice warms Riley's heart already. "I know it's quite late in the evening." She apologised. "I was just wondering if it were okay with you and Mr Marsh if I could take your daughter out tonight?"

Riley felt like she had been eavesdropping on a conversation she wasn't meant to hear. There's a tone of excitement behind Mason's voice.

"Haerin-ah, you don't have to be so formal," Her mother chuckled. "Honestly, you're family. Just call me Mum. And, what it this date?"

Mason looks up at Riley from the doorway. Her eyes are sparkling. And that smile. That sweet smile. She gives me a small wave and mouths a little 'hey' before leaning closer to Riley's mum.

She starts to whisper in her ear. Riley can't help but feel jittery over a conversation she could no longer eavesdrop her way in to. Mason had a knack for whispering so well you can barely hear her. And it was definitely working.

Riley's mother called for her. Earning an instantaneous reply from the top of the staircase.

"Yeah?"

"Don't yeah me and go get dressed."

Riley walks back into her room and closes the door behind her. Her phone buzzes. It's her.

M: I told you I was coming home :)

M: I'll wait for you downstairs.

M: It's a bit chilly tonight too. Please wear something that'll keep you warm. My hoodie is in your drawer. You're more than welcome to wear it. What's mine is yours hehe. Don't be too long though :P

R: I'm happy you're home 🥹

R: Why so secretive? Where are you taking me hm? Expose yourself! 🙄🙄

M: Nope. You're not getting a peep from me. Trust. Just get changed, dork 😝

R: And if I don't?

M: I'll take your Mum instead

R: ....

M: I'm obviously kidding 😭😭😭

M: GET DRESSEDDDDDD RIGHT NOW

R: OKAY OKAY I'M GETTING DRESSED

Riley felt relieved. Despite their argument, things seemed better. Like they were okay again. There was no denying that Riley had felt terrible over the things she said. She couldn't quite help herself. She left too much unsaid. And it backfired. She was relieved to know that Mason had come in the night to prove her promise, however. She wasn't sure if she'd make it through the night without seeing the latter.

Riley had been worrying all night. All week to be completely honest. She wasn't sure where they stood with how they left things.

They barely spoke. She was starting to feel crazy with how long they had gone apart. Exam season had thrown them both into a fiery pit of self destruction. They were too busy. Too preoccupied by the copious amounts of work.

What started off as a healthy relationship turned into something of jealousy mixed with never being able to speak her mind. All she wanted to do was spend time with her girlfriend. But even that had become increasingly impossible. This was the first time they had ever gone apart for longer than a day. It was torture.

The first two weeks of their relationship had been one for the books. They spent every second of each day together. It had gotten so intense that their parents had to keep the two on house arrest for at least twenty four hours.

Riley had never thought about being under house arrest—but then again, why would anyone think to imagine themselves in a situation like this? Nevertheless, it had been quite opportune given the exquisitely positive benefits of owning the entire Apple ecosystem.

The two were locked away in the rooms for their Saturday tutoring session. They spent countless hours laughing over themselves and their parents and how they came to be in this mess.

Inseparable would be an understatement.

The next two weeks were nothing like the ones prior. Everything had changed. Drastically so. Riley had become anxious. Mason, on the other hand, was way too preoccupied.

Mason had things planned. She had a schedule tighter than one of a runner up on a Beauty Pageant. Exam season had the girl booked and busy. She had multiple tutoring sessions scheduled each day for most of the week. The rest of her days off were meant to give her time to study on her own. She was really struggling.

She couldn't keep up with anything anymore. She requested time off from her tutoring sessions, claiming that she wasn't getting paid enough for the hours that people had forcefully demanded her for. But Mason was too nice to decline.

Mason was on the brink of exhaustion. All she needed was Riley by her side. But Riley had disappeared most of the time. Her texts were dry and very unlike her. Mason had racked her brain of possible reasons but none she could settle on. They had never fought. They never had petty arguments. They barely spoke all week. Right she thought. They haven't properly spoken.

Was that it?

Mason tried her best to put it past her. Briefly. Just long enough for her to take her final without worrying about being on the brink of a pass or on the inevitable train to failure.

Three hours of non stop writing and critical thinking had just about done it for Mason. She handed in her final and left to go home.

But it wasn't her home. Just home. The home that held a roof above her head and a bed to sleep in. That home. Her home was rather... distant.

Mason left several messages to the latter before the beginning of her final. She hoped that the later would send her words of encouragement, or even, some words that showed how she proud Riley was of her. But to no avail, Mason hadn't gotten anything. Not one text. All left on seen.

She hurried home. Mara was right behind her after their Commerce final. The older girl could feel that something wasn't right. Mara followed Mason down to the car park. She thought of yelling her name but the embarrassment was more prominent than ever. Calling Mason over seemed more of a bad idea than good. There was a swarm of students making their way back onto campus to wait for their next final. Other's were heading down towards the car park to head on home too. Mason was way ahead of her.

Mara walked towards her car when she noticed that Mason was getting into the driver's seat of a red Mazda Sedan. "She can drive?" Mara tilted her head slightly. "Wow," She chuckled. "You really do love her don't you."

She stopped herself from talking any further. Students around her were looking at her weirdly saying, "Is she talking to herself?"

Mara rolled her eyes and got in her car. She texted the group chat (excluding Mason) right away. Mavis and Elly were just as shocked as she was. Riley was never the kind to show someone that she loved them. She'd rather dig a hole and breathe out dirt. That's just the kind of person that Mason was. She may never show it, but she definitely loves the girls—Riley most especially.

Mara's eyes welled with tears. The Celestial was just over a month ago. Mason had given her a hug that felt like it could go on for a life time. The hug meant a lot more to her than people would think. Mason always thanked her, always told Mara how grateful she was to have her, and even if those words meant a lot in itself, there was nothing better than receiving a hug from someone who's love language strays from physical touch. Mara felt so loved by Mason.

Their friendship had gotten so far even without it, without the hugs or the hand holding down the hall as they skip away to class. That's what makes that moment so special for her. Mason may seem (at first) as someone who strives for the bare minimum. Truthfully, she's the one that cares the most. Above anyone else. She loves the most.

Mara smiles widely. She's never seen her best friend like this before. The red Sedan making its way towards the exit was the biggest example of all. Mason feared driving the most. It's the only reason that she's one of Mara's passenger princesses, though, only when Mavis hasn't already preoccupied the empty seat beside Mara.

The red Sedan can only mean one thing. It's love, and it always has been. Mason has never felt such an intense feeling before. But now that she has, her friends are experiencing it themselves. To witness something so special.

Mara turns on her car engine and drives off. The red Sedan is not that far ahead. She could vividly remember the first time Mason tried driving. The instructor had a bit of a field day. But they all made it out alive, Mara included. Mason had 'begged' for Mara to come with her. For support. And how could she possibly say no?

The memory is deeply engrained into her brain. Perfectly so that she could use it against Mason anytime she wants to be a tease.

They drive off together, heading in the same direction, for quite some time. When Anderson's Ave comes into view, Mason turns left.

Mara watches the red Sedan fade into the distance as she continued driving. Andromeda Lane. She turns right.

When Mason unlocks her front door, she's greeted with a ghost like silence. Her parents were still at work and her sibling was still at school. She took off her shoes and made her way up the stairs in a hurry. She sighed heavily as she closed her bedroom door and jumped into bed.

There's nothing she hates more than getting into bed in clothes that aren't for home. And there she was tucking herself into her bed. She should be disgusted. But she was too exhausted to care. So she slept until the night turned to day.

She woke up the next morning. Mason was still in her uniform, her stomach empty. She took a shower, changed her sheets, and made sure to eat enough to make her feel full.

Mason hadn't heard from Riley. She had gotten certain that the latter was upset over their inability to speak with how busy they were. With how busy Mason was. She sighed and went back to her room. Her diary was set on her desk.

She had a long list of things to do and not a lot of time. Mason tied her hair into a messy bun and sat at her desk for quite some time. Being so busy was starting to grow tiresome. But it'll be worth it in the end. She knew that much.

***

Mason took her keys out of her jacket pocket. She unlocked the car and hurriedly made her way to the passenger's side. "Here." She smiled.

She gestured Riley to take a seat. The latter was stunned, "Baby, who's car is this?" She asked.

Mason leaned against the doorframe, looking quite handsome. Riley felt the need to kiss the younger, but it felt wrong. It would be too rushed considering how things have been.

"This is my car." She answered proudly.

Riley creased her brows. "What do you mean?"

Mason chuckled cutely. Riley missed hearing it so much. "I mean that this is mine. I bought it. Well, not me but it's mine. You know...I drive it."

Riley's eyes widened, "What?! Since when do you drive? Last I checked you were a certified passenger princess. What happened?"

Mason shrugged her shoulders. "I mean I was more of a back seat princess. Don't tell Mavis fool you with those eyes. She can get scary. The passenger seat is like her own personal throne. But that's besides the point," She laughed. "The point is that I have a car and I'll be driving you tonight. If you'd let me." She smiled.

Riley's heart ached. She's missed Mason so much. This was by no means the direction she thought her night would be taking—the argument still fresh in her mind as she looks up at her.

Mason is still leaning against the doorframe. Her dark hair and her big oversized hoodie. She looked so small, and pretty, and handsome, all at once. She looked adorable. That's the face that Riley has been so desperate to see all these weeks. Passing the halls and exchanging small glances were never enough. It was always so much lesser than what they were both used to.

"I'd be honoured, Maisie." Riley smiled.

Mason nodded, turning away slightly to hide the wide grin that was becoming a lot more evident as seconds passed. She couldn't believe it either. She was finally living through the day she had been waiting for since what seemed like forever ago. But it had only been two short weeks.

What they say is right. Being away from the one person you so desperately wish to be with makes time feel like your worst enemy.

Two weeks without each other by their sides felt a lot longer than what it would normally be. But now they were face to face in the middle of the night. Something about it felt like the first time they met. It felt new, weird and exciting all at once. It felt new in a way that they weren't used to this arrangement. Riley had been the one to visit Mason ever so often. Mason had only ever met Riley's family at school events or in passing at the mall—things like that. It had been one time during the very first weeks of knowing each other that Mason had ever been to Riley's house.

Riley had forgotten her belongings after their Saturday night tutoring session. In an attempt to return her things, Mason had gotten Mara to drive her up to Riley's place. She wasn't sure if it were more for the fact that she wanted to return those things...or perhaps she just really wanted to see the latter. It was only until Mrs. Marsh had opened the door that she realised that Riley was not home that evening. She was out for dinner with a few friends from her old town back in Australia who had come down to visit.

And so it all felt new for the both of them.

"This is honestly weird," Riley laughed. "I can't believe you're at my house. I never thought I'd see the day. I'm really not used to it. Though it's really nice having you here this time."

Mason nodded. "I know. You always put in the effort to visit me. Be it our tutoring nights or you coming over unannounced. Now, you're probably wondering why I'm here with a car considering how close we live...but um...gosh I'm feeling really nervous," She chuckled. "I really need to show you something." She confessed.

"Hm, what is it?" Riley wondered.

Mason shrugged in a very teasing manner. "I don't know. Or, well I do know. Not you though. But you will. Eventually." She giggled.

Riley felt relieved to see this side of Mason again. She really missed her. More than words could ever possibly describe. "I missed you."

Mason's gaze softens. "I've missed you too."

Riley takes a sigh of relief. She didn't realise that she'd been holding her breath. "Maisie..."

Mason steps back from the door frame and leans in closer towards the girl in her passenger's seat.

Another thing to tick off your wish list Mason thought to herself. Riley closes her eyes. Her fingers digging into the hem of Mason's grey hoodie. It still had a faint scent that lingered. Riley loved the smell of Mason's perfume.

It reminded her of home. And she was.

I'm home now she thought.

Mason kisses her softly. Riley's heart races. She couldn't believe this was happening.

Riley kisses her back. It was soft yet full of love and longing. Never mind about whether the timing was right or not. Riley couldn't care less.

They kiss for a mere moment longer. Then they pull away. Faces red and hot.

"I bet you enjoyed that." Mason teased.

Riley hid her face behind her hands, "Shush. Why don't you go look in the mirror, dork."

Mason turns her face, stepping back just enough to look at herself in her side mirror.

"Oh."

"So, where are will you be taking me this evening, Miss Tomato Frog?" Riley questioned, a smile on her face. "Or will you really keep quiet?"

Mason slapped her cheeks lightly. Would it help make the redness go away? Or will it make it more prominent than it already was?

She took a deep breath and closed the door to the passenger's side. It was time to head off. Every second is precious after all. Mason made her way towards the driver's side and took her seat.

She leans over towards Riley, their faces close. They could feel their cheeks burn with heat. It had been so long since they had ever been this close. Now they were not wasting a second.

Mason takes the seatbelt between her fingers and drags it gently across Riley's body. Clicking it into place. There's a pride smile on her face.

She hurries and puts her seatbelt on too.

"Here we go." Mason smiled.

They drive off onto the highway. It was bustling with all types of cars and trucks.

"You never told me you got your licence," Riley said. "Is that why you've been so busy?"

Mason nods lightly. "It's definitely apart of the reason why I've been busy." She explained. "I've never liked the idea of driving. I've always felt like I was incapable of being the one at the wheel. I still remember my first driving lesson," She chuckled. "It was awful. But whenever we met for our tutoring sessions, you'd tell me that I was capable of anything and for some reason, I believed that. And so, before finals came around, I went to services and got my driving test done. I passed in one go. It felt incredible, Riley. I was so happy. I wanted to tell you but...this was just one of the things I had to keep hidden. Not to hurt you but because I've been wanting to make our special day something memorable."