Love Story by evergreenwriter83
Past Featured StorySummary:
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My name's Shelby McLean and I'm sixteen years old. There's two important things you should know about me...

Number One: I've had people tell me I'm unique all my life, and I'm proud of it. I live my life like I like to paint - outside the lines.

Number Two: I met my soulmate when I was just five years old.

When you combine both, you get my story. I call it my Love Story.

(part of the Coaster Girls series; a spin-off to the Coaster Series)
Categories: Fanfiction > Backstreet Boys Characters: AJ, Kevin, Other
Genres: Drama, Humor, Romance
Warnings: Sexual Content
Challenges:
Series: The Coaster Girls
Chapters: 50 Completed: Yes Word count: 63604 Read: 125034 Published: 08/17/10 Updated: 09/09/10
Story Notes:
Runner Up: Best Drama/Angst - 2010 Felix Awards

Runner Up: Best Unfinished - 2010 Felix Awards

1. Chapter 1 by evergreenwriter83

2. Chapter 2 by evergreenwriter83

3. Chapter 3 by evergreenwriter83

4. Chapter 4 by evergreenwriter83

5. Chapter 5 by evergreenwriter83

6. Chapter 6 by evergreenwriter83

7. Chapter 7 by evergreenwriter83

8. Chapter 8 by evergreenwriter83

9. Chapter 9 by evergreenwriter83

10. Chapter 10 by evergreenwriter83

11. Chapter 11 by evergreenwriter83

12. Chapter 12 by evergreenwriter83

13. Chapter 13 by evergreenwriter83

14. Chapter 14 by evergreenwriter83

15. Chapter 15 by evergreenwriter83

16. Chapter 16 by evergreenwriter83

17. Chapter 17 by evergreenwriter83

18. Chapter 18 by evergreenwriter83

19. Chapter 19 by evergreenwriter83

20. Chapter 20 by evergreenwriter83

21. Chapter 21 by evergreenwriter83

22. Chapter 22 by evergreenwriter83

23. Chapter 23 by evergreenwriter83

24. Chapter 24 by evergreenwriter83

25. Chapter 25 by evergreenwriter83

26. Chapter 26 by evergreenwriter83

27. Chapter 27 by evergreenwriter83

28. Chapter 28 by evergreenwriter83

29. Chapter 29 by evergreenwriter83

30. Chapter 30 by evergreenwriter83

31. Chapter 31 by evergreenwriter83

32. Chapter 32 by evergreenwriter83

33. Chapter 33 by evergreenwriter83

34. Chapter 34 by evergreenwriter83

35. Chapter 35 by evergreenwriter83

36. Chapter 36 by evergreenwriter83

37. Chapter 37 by evergreenwriter83

38. Chapter 38 by evergreenwriter83

39. Chapter 39 by evergreenwriter83

40. Chapter 40 by evergreenwriter83

41. Chapter 41 by evergreenwriter83

42. Chapter 42 by evergreenwriter83

43. Chapter 43 by evergreenwriter83

44. Chapter 44 by evergreenwriter83

45. Chapter 45 by evergreenwriter83

46. Chapter 46 by evergreenwriter83

47. Chapter 47 by evergreenwriter83

48. Chapter 48 by evergreenwriter83

49. Chapter 49 by evergreenwriter83

50. Chapter 50 by evergreenwriter83

Chapter 1 by evergreenwriter83
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Chapter One

"Dad, if you let me go, I will babysit the kids for you and mom anytime. I will be at your service. No complaints."

I was on my knees at my dad's feet, my hands clasped in hopeful prayer. My dad grinned down at me.

"Even if you want to go to the movies with your friends?"

I stifled a groan.

"Yes, I can catch a movie anytime."

"No complaining?"

I made a circle above my head.

"See my halo?"

He laughed.

"Well, your mom and I had already decided you could go, but I'm glad I held out."

I gasped and sprung to my feet. "DAD!"

"Sorry Shel. You have to wake up a lot earlier to beat me at the game. I perfected the game."

Dad playfully tweaked my nose and headed into the kitchen.

My name is Shelby McLean and I had just been given permission to spend the summer in Sadieville, Kentucky mucking out stalls and fetching water. I would get paid for my work and best of all I would be able to hang out all summer with my best friend.

It couldn't get any better than that.

I followed dad into the kitchen. He was holding my mom in his arms and covering her face with kisses.

"Uh, parentals? Kid alert."

Mom smiled over at me. I looked just like her...curly red hair, big brown eyes, big boobs, and a butt that could be used as an end table. I had wished for years for my boobs to grow. When they finally did, I spent the next couple years trying to squish them back down.

Life just wasn't fair.

"You heard her J, kid alert," mom teased.

My dad just shrugged and pulled her in for another kiss. I rolled my eyes.

Dad wasn't just an ordinary guy. He was AJ McLean, famous for his years as the bad boy in the Backstreet Boys. Now he was forty-five with five kids and still groping my mom like he was twenty.

I walked around them and opened the refrigerator. I took out a small bottle of orange juice and closed the door.

My boogerhead brother Joe had snuck behind the door.

"BOO!"

"JOE!"

He cackled. It was the middle of the afternoon and it didn't look like he had even combed his hair. I wrinkled my nose.

"Did you even shower today?"

"You don't need to shower every day!"

Jonah was eleven years old. Everything except for video games lacked importance. Especially hygiene.

"You're never going to get a girlfriend that way."

He rolled his eyes. "Girls are stupid."

He stuck his tongue out. I stuck mine out back.

"Woah, someone stinks."

Joe's twin sister Ally stopped a couple feet away and waved her hand in front of her nose. Joe turned around and grinned.

"Is it me?"

He raised his armpit and smashed it into her face. With a shriek she ducked, ran behind me, and wrapped her arms around my waist.

Ally was so...skinny. And pretty. I had a feeling she was going to be a model when she grew up. Or Miss America. I laughed and peeled her arms from around me.

"You better get used to it, Al. I'm not going to be around this summer to protect you."

Her eyes widened in surprise. Truthfully, I was protective of her. As a baby, she had been deaf and had undergone surgery to install cochlear implants. The devices wrapped around the back of her ears, relaying our speech into recognizable sound. After so many years, I had become so used to them that I didn't even realize they were there.

"Where are you going?"

I smiled. "Kentucky."

"The whole summer?"

I nodded. "Yup!"

Joe and Ally turned to mom and dad.

"Why does she get to go?"

"I want to go!"

"WATCH OUT!"

I ducked just in time. I plastic arrow shot through the air. I turned and watched it land directly on the top of dad's bald head. Red feathers stuck up like victory flags.

"Tristan!"

"It was Brayden!"

"Nu-uh, it was Tristan!"

My four and a half year old twin brothers ran into the kitchen. Tristan was grinning sheepishly, his freckly face flushed. Brayden looked defiant. He held out empty hands.

"I told you guys not to play with this. It's dangerous!" mom said. She plucked the arrow off of dad's head. It made a hilarious suction sound as it popped off.

"Sorry, mommy," Tristan said. He widened his eyes for effect. She smiled.

"You two want a snack?"

Fifteen minutes later, all seven of us were gathered around the table with cookies and milk. Joe grabbed my OJ and poured half into his glass. He filled the other half with milk. Ally's face screwed up in disgust.

"EW!"

I shook my head. I loved my family, but I couldn't wait to escape. I mean, I always made my presence known, but it was kind of nice to know that I wouldn't have to fight quite so hard to be front and center.

My best friend Mason was lucky. He had only one little brother, Daniel. Dan was nine and a half and what everyone called a 'perfect' child. I don't think he has ever been grounded.

Mason and I have been grounded...a lot.

The first real memory I have of Mason was when I was five years old. We had been in Sadieville...I think for his dad's wedding. We made an imaginary fort under his picnic table and kept all the babies out. And then we loaded up balloons with horse shit...

His dad was so pissed off.

I leaned back in my chair and played with my nose ring. It was my present from dad for my 16th birthday. When I had told Mason he had laughed. He didn't think any girls in the whole state of Kentucky had a nose ring.

That made me feel good.

"Shelby's picking her nose!" Joe announced.

"I am not! And even if I was, that would still be less disgusting than smelling like a cow!"

Joe grinned. "MOOOOOOOO!"

Tristan laughed so hard that milk came out of his nose. Brayden took a big bite of cookie and tilted back his head.

"MOOOOO!!"

The two little goobers idolized Joe.

We were all in big trouble.

While insanity erupted around the table, I caught dad's eye. He smiled at me and winked.

AJ wasn't my real dad, but he was the only dad I had ever known. I still remember the Christmas I had asked Santa to make AJ my daddy. I now realize that it had probably been him in the Santa suit. But I would never tell him I knew.

After all, he had turned my mom's life (and mine) into a fairytale.

A very crowded fairytale, but still...

"So Shel, when did Addy say she wanted you up there?" dad asked.

I popped the last bite of cookie in my mouth.

"Next week. She's doing a summer riding camp for kids and she wants to make sure the stalls are nice and clean."

"You're going on vacation to shovel manure?" Joe asked in surprise.

"It's not just a vacation. I'm going to be an employee."

"You mean you'll get paid?" Ally asked. She looked impressed. I nodded.

"Yup, I'll get paid."

Joe grabbed the last cookie off the plate. He had already woofed down three.

"You couldn't pay me enough to shovel horse shit."

"JONAH!"

My mom was constantly after him about cussing. Dad really couldn't say anything...

In a past life I'm sure he was a sailor.

"Sorry! Manure," Joe corrected.

I glanced over at the twins. They looked like they wanted to say 'shit' so bad that they were going to explode. Brayden leaned over and whispered in Tristan's ear. Even though I couldn't hear what he said, I knew what he said. Tristan grinned and whispered back.

I looked over at Ally. She shrugged.

I was sixteen and I still didn't understand boys. I was just thankful that I had Ally around.

Us girls had to stick together...except I was throwing her to the lions for eight weeks.

I just hoped she was still alive when I got back.
Chapter 2 by evergreenwriter83
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Chapter Two

"What is all this stuff?"

Ally was looking around at all of the duffel bags and suitcases I had strewn all over my room. She picked up a jelly bracelet from my nightstand and slid it onto her wrist. I hadn't worn it for years, but I still had to bite my tongue to resist throwing what dad called a 'Shelby Tornado.'

"How many clothes do you need?"

"It's not all clothes," I explained. "That bag has my shoes. That bag has my art supplies. That bag has my horse brushes and stuff that dad bought me the one summer I went to riding camp down here. The other bag has my straightener and makeup."

"Why do you need to wear makeup if you're just going to work and get sweaty?"

I sighed. Ally was a girl, but she was only eleven.

"ARGH! Let go of me treasure!"

Ally and I both turned. Brayden and Tristan leaped into the doorway, plastic swords smacking. Tristan was wearing my old pirate patch. Brayden had my old stuffed parrot bobbing on his shoulder.

Looking back at the pictures from when I was little, I really can't believe some of the stuff I wore. It was no wonder people have always told me I'm unique. Or course, that's the nice thing to say when you're really thinking about what a freak someone is.

Unique, freaky...I was fine either way. I was just me...and I loved it.

"Guys! Out of my room!"

"Argh, lassie. Walk the plank!" Brayden growled. His dark hair hung in his eyes and he squinted up at me. I picked up a bottle of perfume.

"ARGH! Abandon ship or I'll poison yer noses!"

That did the trick. A second later I heard them down the hallway, swords at the ready.

"Can I wear some of your stuff while you're gone?" Ally asked. While I was kicking the boys out, she had managed to open my closet doors.

"Uh, no? Nothing will fit you and I want everything just like I left it."

"You mean a mess?"

My closet was a disaster area. But that was besides the point.

"Okay, Al, I need to finish packing."

She smiled and shrugged.

"I was going to offer to help."

I laughed. "No, you're being sneaky."

She rolled her eyes but happily bounced out into the hall. She let things go so easily.

I started to dig through swimsuits and had almost narrowed it down to the two I was going to bring when my cell rang. I picked it up and smiled. It was Mason.

"Hey Mas."

"Hey Shel. You packing?"

Mason's voice was deep, but smooth. I still had a hard time matching the voice with the tall, skinny blonde boy in my mind. After all, I hadn't seen him for almost a year. His voice had plummeted sometime around Christmas. I had actually hurt his feelings the first time he had called after the change. I told him to stop joking around.

But he hadn't been joking.

"I'm packing. I think I'm going to need my own cargo bay," I teased. Mason laughed.

"You don't need to bring that much. A couple pairs of jeans, some shirts, and a swimsuit. That's it."

I rolled my eyes. "You are such a guy."

"Okay...and deodorant."

"Mas!"

He laughed. "Fine, I'll quit. I wanted to call and let you know that I'm coming with dad tomorrow to meet you at the airport."

I grinned. "I can't wait. This summer is going to be a blast."

"Well, while you're earning a paycheck from mom, I'll be earning a paycheck at the diner."

"You're not helping your mom?"

"Uh, I want money."

I didn't blame him. I knew his mom and dad expected him to do all the stuff I was getting paid for as chores. Unpaid chores.

"What are you going to do at the diner?"

"Bussing tables. It's not glamorous, but it's a job."

"And before I leave, we can go blow all our cash in Lexington!"

"I'm supposed to save up for college!"

I snorted. "That's forever away."

We talked for a few more minutes and I hung up feeling amazingly happy. I was so excited. Time wasn't moving fast enough.

It never did when I wanted it to.

---------------------------

"Two scoops or three?"

"Three!"

It was two thirty in the morning and dad and I were quietly shuffling around the kitchen. I took out the bowls. Dad got out the ice cream scoop. I rummaged around the freezer and yanked our secret tub from the back.

"Who am I going to eat ice cream with in the middle of the night when you're gone?" he whispered. I smiled.

"You'll survive, dad."

Ever since I had fondly called him 'Mr. J,' we had been sneaking down in the middle of the night to share rocky road ice cream.

I blame all the chocolate goodness for my big butt.

We sat down across from each other, spoon in hand. After a couple bites he glanced my way.

"Shel, I think we need to have a talk."

He sounded so serious. Any conversation over ice cream was not supposed to be serious.

That was a rule.

"Sup?"

Dad cleared his throat.

"Well, I mean, you're a young woman now and your interests are changing."

He was turning his spoon around in his fingers. He was avoiding looking directly at me.

"I guess what I'm try to say is, that, well, guys your age find girls your age very appealing. And, well..."

My eyes widened. I had a sneaking feeling where this way going.

"Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"Mom had this talk with me like four years ago. Seriously, we're cool."

A look of relief washed over him. "She did?"

"Yeah. Besides, if anyone tries to mess with me, Mason will beat 'em up. And I'll probably help."

Dad smiled. "Good to know."

With that awkward moment over, we both dug into our ice cream. I contemplating licking the bowl, but I thought that was too much of a 'Joe' thing to do. We washed out our bowls and put them in the dishwasher.

"Night dad," I whispered. I kissed his cheek.

"Night Shel."

I crawled into bed with a nice, full stomach. In a few short hours, I would wake up and jet off for eight weeks of work and play. I couldn't wait to see Mason and head to the huge lake and...

It was the stuff good dreams were made of.
Chapter 3 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Three

"Here's gum for the plane. You know how bad your ears pop," Mom said. She handed me a pack of Wrigley's.

"And here's some spending money," Dad said. He wrapped an indeterminate amount of money into my hand.

I was standing at the terminal gate, my carry-on slung over my shoulder.

"Bring us back some dried horse poop!" Tristan said excitedly.

"And a bebe gun!" Brayden squealed.

I squatted down and held out my arms. They ran up and I wrapped them into what I called a 'hammer' hug. Their heads bumped together and they laughed.

"Bring Joe back some soap," Ally said with a smile. She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed.

"I'll miss you Al. Call me if you need anything," I said. She nodded and stepped back.

Joe was standing there with his hands in his pockets. He nodded cooly.

"See ya."

"Joe."

He sighed like I was torturing him. He wrapped his arms around me. He tried to look embarassed, but I noticed that he squeezed me extra hard.

At that moment they made the last call announcement for boarding. I hugged mom and planted a kiss on dad's cheek.

"BYE!"

"Be good!"

"Have fun!"

I knew it was immature, but I practically skipped down the tunnel. A stewardess ushered me down the aisle. I sank down into my seat and sighed happily. I was stuck next to an eighty year old guy that smelled like prunes and keep smacking his lips together, but I was able to ignore him pretty well by losing myself in my sketch book.

My sketch book was a collection of just random doodles and images that came to my mind. I had been working on the book for more than five years. It was a better way to pass long periods of time than surfing the web or reading a book. It was me, on paper, for only my eyes to see.

After two hours of watching big fluffy clouds float by the tiny plane windows, the plane landed at the Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky. It wasn't a huge airport like LAX or JFK. In fact, I was lucky to get a direct flight out of Miami. Dad wouldn't have let me come if I had to have a layover.

He was just protective like that.

I took my carry on and joined the people spilling out into the aisles. It seemed to take forever until I passed the smiling stewardess and headed down the tunnel.

I spotted Mason's dad, Kevin, right away. His black hair was streaked with little hints of gray, but other than that he looked the same as he always did. I grinned and began to wave my hand in the air. He spotted me and lifted his hand.

As I wove around all of the slowpokes, I wondered where Mason was. He had promised me he'd come with his dad and pick me u---

"SHEL!"

One moment my feet were on the ground and the next moment I was airborne. My hands reached out and all I found was solid rock to hold onto. At least I thought it was rock. I looked down. My eyes widened in surprise.

Mason's sparklng eyes were staring up at me, but it was like they had been implanted into a different person. Sure the blonde hair was the same color, but it was longer; the style that all the seniors had sported last year. A light smattering of facial hair played along a strong jawline. And then there were his shoulders that I had mistaken for rocks...

He set me down, still smiling.

"What happened?" I blurted. He looked confused.

"What do you mean?"

I made a pointing motion from the top of his head to his feet. The last time I had seen him he had been tall and pretty scrawny. Now he was tall and muscular. For the first time I actually felt like I was a girly girl standing next to a very manly man.

His smile turned into a grin.

"I needed to bulk up to make varsity this year," he said. "I spent like three hours every afternoon after school in the weight room with my football coach."

Mason rolled up his shirt sleeve and flexed.

"Okay, Hercules, that's enough. How was your flight?"

I glanced up at Mason's dad.

"It was fine. Thanks, Mr. Richardson."

"Call me Kevin, okay?"

"Okay."

All three of us walked over to baggage claim. Mason kept glancing down at me, flashing an excited smile. It was incredibly stupid, but I felt myself blushing.

"I have a lot of luggage," I said apologetically. "Anything with the pink unicorn tag."

When dad had been on tour, I had always insisted on marking my suitcases with pink unicorn tags. This morning, dad had pulled them out of God knows where and put them on all my bags. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I was past the unicorn stage.

Mason began to yank the suitcases off the belt like they were nothing but feathers. I picked upf the bags I knew contained my makeup and hair stuff. Kevin grabbed the last few.

"Well, it looks like you're ready to rough it," Kevin teased. I laughed.

"I just wanted to come prepared."

"Is that the Girl Scout motto?" Mason teased. I jabbed him in the side with my elbow. I doubt that he even felt it.

"I was kicked out of Girl Scouts, thank you," I said. He laughed.

We piled all the luggage into the back of a huge truck. Mason opened the door and motioned inside.

"Hop on up. We're squeezing in."

He wasn't kidding. Between his dad on my left and Mason on my right, I felt like a sardine.

We weren't far from the airport when Mason squeezed his arm out from between our bodies. He threw it casually across the back of the seat and looked down at me.

"Mom's making chicken and dumplings tonight. I reminded her that it was your favorite."

My mouth began to water. The only time I ever got chicken and dumplings was when Addy made them. My mom couldn't boil water without burning it. If there was one thing that I idolized about Mason's stepmom, it was her mad skills in the kitchen. Had she been my mom, I would weigh three hundred pounds by now. Everything she made was just that good.

"Oh my God, that sounds amazing right now," I said. I glanced back up. He smelled good. Like aftershave of some sort.

"Have you started your job yet?"

"Naw, I start next week. I'm only gonna work eleven to four."

I glanced over at Kevin.

"What hours will I be working?"

He smiled. "I don't know. You're going to have to ask your boss."

The paved roads slowly turned to gravel as we entered Sadieville. It was the type of place where you missed the entire downtown if you blinked. We passed the cafe where Mason would work and the small doctor's office. Mason let out a soft sigh.

"Have they...got anyone yet?" I asked quietly.

"Actually, a young guy right out of med school decided to set up shop. His name's Aiden Jackson. He just graduated from the University of Kentucky," Kevin said.

About a year ago, Addy's father, the town doctor, had died of a sudden heart attack. It was actually the last time I had seen Mason in person. Even though he hadn't been his blood grandfather, Mason had worshipped him. Mason's mom and dad used to tease Mason about calling him 'Santa' when he was really little.

The silence that hung in the truck cab didn't last long. Just a few minutes later, Kevin pulled up to the house.

It was an old two story farmhouse with blue siding and white shutters. A large porch stretched across the front. Three picnic tables were scattered out front and a large tree stood stately to the right of the house. A treehouse had been built in its strong branches. It was from there that a dark head poked out of a hole in the side.

"HEY!"

Mason hopped out of the truck and offered his hand. I took it, surprised at how rough and big it had gotten and hopped out. I looked up and smiled.

"Hi Dan!"

Daniel's head disappeared and a second later his whole body was scrambling down the ladder. He jumped from three rungs up and ran over. I stumbled back as he hugged me tightly.

"Mason's been waiting for you to get here for weeks and weeks!" he said happily. I glanced at Mason. He turned his head and seemed to study one of the windows on the second floor.

"Well what about you?" I asked. Dan pulled back.

He looked exactly like Kevin...dark spiky hair, big bushy eyebrows, and green eyes. He smiled.

"Yeah, I was excited too," he admitted.

"Dan, help Mason and me with these bags."

The guys loaded up on my luggage and we all stomped up the porch stairs into the house. The smell of food, amazing delicious food, assailed my senses. I close my eyes and smiled.

I had just found Heaven.
Chapter 4 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Four

I was unpacking in the guest room, my stomach swimming with amazing chicken and dumplings when Mason and Dan walked in. I looked up, bra in hand. Dan's eyes widened.

"That is the hugest slingshot I've ever seen in my life."

I blushed; Mason looked embarassed. He put his hands on Dan's shoulders and walked him back out. I hurriedly stuffed all my bras and underwear haphazardly in a drawer. Mason came back a few minutes later, his hands in his pockets. I opened another duffel and began to line up my paints.

"Are you still taking those art classes?" he asked.

"No, the instructor didn't really 'get' me, y'know?"

Mason nodded. He studied the mirror above the dresser.

"So...it's still early. I was wondering if you wanted to take Crackers and Firefly out for a ride."

Crackers and Firefly were just two of the horses the Richardsons had. They also had a horse called Fiona, but she was getting old and reserved mostly for lessons. She was as gentle as a kitten.

"Only if I get to ride Firefly," I said. Mason grinned.

"Deal."

I shoved my bags aside and pounded down the stairs after Mason. Kevin looked up from his piano.

"Where you guys going?"

"We're going to take Crackers and Firefly for a ride."

"Go through the meadow, not the woods. Snakes are bad right now."

Mason gave a salute and we broke into a run out of the house, down the porch, and to the barn. By the time we got there, I bent at the waist breathing heavily.

It was just the beginning of summer but it was already hot.

Mason hadn't broken a sweat.

"Try running laps outside with a coach screaming that you're a pansy," he said with a smile. "A run from the house to the barn seems like nothing after that."

I sucked in another breath and straightened up. We each grabbed a saddle and got to work. Firefly was a beautiful horse. She was a light gray that looked white in the right kind of light. Crackers had a crazy coat of about three different colors. He lived up to his name.

"We'll go through the meadow and stop at the pond. Sound good?" Mason asked. I nodded. I placed my foot in the stirrup and swung myself over.

I loved horseback riding. I'm pretty sure I'm the only girl in my hoity-toity high school that knows how to saddle a horse. Most of the girls wouldn't want to chip a nail.

We started off with a slow trot out of the barn. Mason shielded his eyes and squinted out into the distance. I saw the corners of his mouth twitch.

"RACE YA!" he suddenly yelled. His heels dug into Crackers' side and he took off.

"OH! YOU DON'T PLAY FAIR!" I screamed. I leaned forward and dug my heels into Firefly.

A hot summer day doesn't feel quite so hot when you're practically flying on a horse. The sound of the hooves struck a tempo in my ear. Mason was ahead, but not by much. I lifted my butt hoping that less weight would give Firefly a little giddy-up.

It did.

I flashed Mason a smile as I caught up to him.

"Hey, par'dner," I drawled. "HEE-YA!"

I shot ahead. We rounded the corner and I could see the meadow up far ahead.

"C'mon," I urged. I didn't want to look back. I lifted my ass again. Losing was not an option.

The sound of Firefly's hooves on the ground softened when we hit the meadow. I tore around in a big circle before finally coming to a stop by the lake.

I sat back in the saddle and grinned. Mason caught up a couple seconds later. He gave me a weird look. I laughed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

I swung myself down to the ground and slid my hand down Firefly's mane. She snorted proudly. I saw Mason swing off Crackers.

"Man, things don't change much around here," I said. I sat down at the edge of the pond and rolled up my jeans. Mason sat beside me and did the same.

"Not really. I mean the only big change is they finally knocked down that crappy cabin that used to be over there."

Mason pointed to the west. I looked over. There was nothing but bare land.

Slowly I dipped my feet into the water. It was cold, but not the type of cold where you have to hop around before you try it again. I sank my hands into the grass and leaned back. I tilted my face up to the sun. It was a perfect way to meditate.

"You excited about junior year?"

I opened one eye just a sliver. Mason was staring at me.

"Eh, not really. I'll just be glad to be done with school. What about you?"

I wasn't a bad student, but I wasn't a great student either. I knew Mason was the straight A student. The class clown. Voted 'Most Popular' in his class. That sort of thing.

"Well, I wish it was senior year, but yeah."

I laughed. Mason grinned. He splashed me with his foot.

"HEY!"

I sat up and grabbed a huge handful of water. I tossed it at him. He ducked and it sailed right past.

"I have reflexes like a cat," he said cockily.

"I bet that's what you say to all the girls," I teased. His eyes widened in surprise.

"What?"

I had no clue what I was talking about. It was just a line. I tried to cover and fast.

"Oh c'mon. A future varsity football player doesn't have girls following him around?" I asked.

"I'm not dating anyone," he said quickly. "Are...you?"

I didn't know how the hell the conversation went from talking about an old leveled cabin to dating.

"Am I what?"

Mason swung his feet out of the lake and stretched them out in the grass. He seemed to find his big toe really interesting.

"Are you dating anyone?"

"No. I mean..." I didn't want to sound pathetic. "I've had offers. But I'm busy...y'know...busy."

"Yeah. I've been busy...with football."

I swung my feet out and stretched them out. The sun would dry them in no time.

"So what's with the facial hair?" I blurted out. "You're not going to grow a mustache, right?" It had been bothering the hell out of me. I couldn't take it anymore. Mason touched his face.

"What? No! Uh, I was just going for a little five o'clock shadow."

His eyes met mine. I studied his face. It was hard to believe that he was only going to be sixteen. He looked, well, older.

"I'm glad you're here," he said softly. All of a sudden my stomach twisted. It wasn't a 'I'm going to puke in the lake' type of twisted. It was actually pleasant.

"Me too," I said.

We let our legs dry off and then we unrolled our jeans and took our time riding back to the house. I still had to finish unpacking and then I wanted to sit down with Addy and figure out what I was going to be doing every day. I was determined to be a good employee.

And unlike Mason, I was pretty sure my first day on the job was going to be tomorrow.

Addy might be a good cook, but she was also a no-nonsense boss.
Chapter 5 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Five

"Guys, how in the world do you crap so much?"

It was six in the morning and the grass was wet with dew that had beaded up overnight. I had on steel toe boots, shorts, and a tank top and I was up to my nostrils in horse shit.

The kids that came for lessons arrived at ten a.m. every day. Addy suggested that I start work no later than seven in the morning. I was only out here so early today because dad always told me first impressions were the most important.

I finished mucking out the stalls. They were clean, but they didn't smell that much better. I headed over to the water spicket and knelt down to start filling buckets.

"You want breakfast?"

I glanced up. Mason was standing in the doorway of the barn in pajama pants and sneakers holding a package of Pop Tarts. A flat stomach and rippling abs made up the span of his chest. I couldn't take my eyes off of it.

"Shel?"

"Yeah?"

"Your bucket's overflowing."

"What? Oh shit!"

I shut off the tap and stood up. Mason came over waving the package. "Hungry?"

"Pop Tarts?"

"Cherry. Your favorite."

I smiled. Cherry was my favorite.

"Take a break," Mason said with a smile. He scrambled up the old wooden ladder into the loft above. I glanced at the bucket and the sloshy floor, shrugged, and followed him up.

Mason grabbed a heavy red blanket hanging over a short milking stool and spread it out over the hay. He hopped onto the stack and stretched out. He tore the package of Pop Tarts open with his teeth.

"One for you, one for me," he said. I smiled and stretched out so that we were facing each other. I held out my hand and he put the frosted goodness in my open palm.

"Your boots are already caked," he commented. He took a big bite of tart. Little flakes fell all over his chest...the chest I was not looking at, thank you very much.

"I'm working hard," I replied with a grin. I nibbled off a white chunk of icing.

"I think it's ridiculous mom's making you wake up so early," he said sympathetically.

"You're up early."

He didn't respond. He shoved practically half the Pop Tart in his mouth.

"By the way, why aren't you at your mom's this summer?"

He made a face, chewed vigorously, and swallowed.

"I told her I got a job and wanted to stay here."

"How'd she take that?"

Mason smiled. "Well, I had to promise her I'd come out during Fall Recess and Spring Break to make it up to her, but she was alright. She's flying in for my birthday."

I nodded and took another nibble. Mason had inherited his blonde hair from his mom, Kristin. His thick eyebrows and his eyes on the other hand...

Totally his dad.

"Of course, I can think of a worse way to spend Spring Break than lounging in L.A.," he continued. "Unlike you who sold your soul to come here," he teased. I swallowed another sugary bite.

"I didn't sell my soul," I said. "I just...offered to babysit. Until I die."

We both laughed.

Mason crumpled the shiny wrapper in his hand.

"I better get back inside before Addy comes looking for you," he said. He crawled off the haystack and offered me his hand. I took it and he yanked me up. My boot got caught in the twine used to bind the hay together and I stumbled right into him. His arms wrapped around my waist quickly.

Suddenly I was pressed against a nice, warm bare chest. I hadn't ever been that close to that kind of chest. I felt my ears burn.

"Ack, sorry, I got..."

"Caught," Mason finished smoothly. "It's okay. Just don't tumble down the ladder. Dad will probably blame me."

He flashed me another grin and backed down the ladder. I followed, still feeling like a dork.

I had never felt like a dork around Mason before.

I didn't know why I had to start now.

--------------------------

"Beautiful job, Shel. These are some happy lookin' horses."

Addy was about my height and she was solid but in a feminine way. She had a small waist, small chest, and brown shoulder length hair.

"Want to stick around and help me with the kids?"

"Well, I--"

"HEY!"

Addy and I turned. Dan was standing in the doorway with his swim trunks on.

"Shelby, you wanna go swimmin'?"

I looked over at Addy. She smiled.

"Go ahead. I have eight weeks to get you to stick around."

I laughed. "Thank you."

"MEET US AT THE TRUCK!" Dan yelled as I walked past him. I ruffled his hair. He reminded me of Joe, albeit a well-mannered, bubbly Joe.

I headed up to my room and pulled a swimsuit out of one of the dresser drawers. I pulled my hair back into a bushy ponytail. I hadn't had time to straighten my hair this morning. I tied the straps around my neck and wiggled into the bottoms. I zipped up my coverup and headed back down the stairs.

Dan was swinging on the door of the truck. He stopped as I headed over.

"Let's go!"

He scrambled into the cab and I grabbed the door to hoist myself up. I looked at the driver's seat in surprise.

Mason was behind the wheel.

"What are you doing?"

He smiled. "Driving down the road to the lake."

"You're fifteen!"

"Almost sixteen. Besides, it's fine. Dad lets me take the truck as long as I don't go far. Plus, I know the one cop in town. We're cool."

I looked at him doubtfully, but I hopped up. The seat wasn't as crowded with little Dan between us. Mason glanced in the rearview mirror and backed up.

"How long have you been driving?"

He shrugged. "I dunno. A couple months."

I folded my arms and pouted. I had been begging dad to put me behind the wheel. Enroll me in driver's ed. Do something. Everytime I mentioned it, he suddenly pretended that he couldn't understand English. So I memorized the phrases in Spanish and asked. That still didn't work.

And here was Mason driving. On the road. In a big truck.

Dad was so going to hear about this.
Chapter 6 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Six

We made it to the lake without getting pulled over by the cops, er cop. It was one of the things I secretly liked about Sadieville. You could get away with murder and no one would probably care.

"You remembered your inhaler, right Dan?" Mason asked. Dan nodded and patted his bag.

"Yeah, dad reminded me like a million times."

I had almost forgotten that Daniel had asthma. When he was smaller it was really bad. He seemed fine now.

I hopped out of the truck and paused. "Shit."

Mason pulled the keys out and looked at me.

"What?"

"I forgot a towel."

He grinned. "I packed an extra one. You always forget a towel."

"I haven't gone swimming with you in like five years," I said. Mason shrugged.

"I just remembered."

Mason grabbed his bag. I hadn't brought anything along. What I had was what I was wearing. We made our way to the edge of the lake. I hoped that it was as warm as it had been yesterday.

"I'm going to catch a fish with my bare hands!" Dan declared.

"No one's caught a fish in here in like a year, Dan-o," Mason said. Dan rubbed his hands together.

"Then I'll be the first!"

He sat at the edge and hopped in. A second later, he was expertly swimming out towards the middle. Mason came up and stood beside me. He took off his shirt and jumped in the water. The little bit of water that hit my feet felt warm. He ran a hand through his hair and looked up at me.

"Dan's such a goober. How are your brothers and sisters?"

I groaned. "Nuts. The twins think they're a different person or animal every day and Joe smells like a sweat sock and Ally...well Ally's okay."

"And your mom and dad are still sane?"

I smiled. "Yeah, as sane as parents can be."

I unzipped my coverup and tossed it down by Mason's shirt. I ran my fingers along the sides of my bottoms to make sure I didn't have a wedgie.

"Ready or not!" I called. I jumped in the water. I let myself go completely under and held my breath for exactly five seconds. Then I broke the surface and rubbed my face quickly to prevent the water from blurring my vision.

Mason was staring at me.

"What?" I checked the strings on my bikini top. It was still tied up.

He didn't even blink. I wondered for a crazy moment if he had been bitten by some undiscovered lake monster that rendered people immobile. I snapped my fingers.

"Mason?"

His mouth flapped open and shut a few times and then he coughed.

"S..sorry."

I laughed and splashed at him. "Wake up, Richardson. Geesh."

"Hey Shel, watch me!"

Dan had scrambled out of the lake. He backed up, took off at a run and cannonballed not too far from Mason and me. A wave of water smacked into me and I turned, shielding my face. I turned back around and clapped as he came back up. He grinned.

"Your turn, Shel!"

"NO!"

The loud 'no' came from Mason. I looked at him in surprise. His face was bright red.

"What?"

"I...er...ow, ow, ow...charlie horse. OW!"

Mason did this weird wounded amphibian move over to the edge of the lake. He lowered his head and winced.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, just...ow."

"Can I do something?"

"Just...don't get out of the water."

I didn't see how that was going to help a leg cramp, but I didn't argue. After a few minutes Mason stopped wincing.

"Better?"

"Yeah. Thanks."

After awhile, Dan got bored with swimming and started looking for a small snake or frog to play with. Mason had told him not to go where we couldn't see him. So far he was listening.

"Y'know I'd take a lake over the beach any day," I said. I let myself fall back until I was floating on my back. I closed my eyes. The sun felt good on my bare skin on top in contrast to the cool water on my back.

"Do you go to the beach a lot?"

"Not really. It's too crowded. All the 'pretty' people think they can hog the beach."

"The pretty people?"

"The people that think they're better than everyone else. Ugh, it pisses me off."

"Yeah, that's the one thing I don't like about L.A."

There was a long pause.

"Hey, Shel?"

I cracked my right eye open just slightly. Mason was staring again. But not at my face. His attention was...lower. If his eyes were lasers, my boobs would have been disintegrated. I lost my float karma and straightened back up.

"Yeah?"

"I just wanted to tell you that---"

"LOOK AT THIS!"

I turned. Dan was holding a small wiggling thing in his hands.

"I FOUND A SNAKE!"

"It better just be a garter!" Mason called.

"It is! Are you guys going to get out soon? You're going to turn pruney!"

I looked at Mason and smiled.

"We probably should get back..."

He rubbed his neck. "Yeah."

I climbed out of the water and dug through Mason's bag. I pulled out a towel and wrapped it around me. I bounced around trying to get the water dislodged from my ears. When it finally ran out, I looked around for Mason. He had his towel wrapped around his waist and the bag held in both his hands. He looked preoccupied. Then I remember he had started to ask me something.

"Hey, what were you saying before Dan found the snake?"

Mason looked confused. "What? Oh...I, uh...I was wondering if you wanted to go out tonight?"

My heart stopped. "Go out?"

He blushed. "I mean like to Wal-mart."

"Wal-mart?"

"They just built one. It's all we have for entertainment."

"So you want me to go to Wal-mart? With you?" I asked.

"Yeah. I mean, you don't have to, but otherwise I know dad will pull out some board game and..."

"No, that's cool. I'll go to Wal-mart. With you."

Mason smiled. He looked almost relieved.

"Great. That's cool. After dinner?"

I nodded. "Sure."

Mason turned. Dan was still holding the snake.

"LET'S GO DAN!"

Dan ran over to us and we got in the truck. I didn't love snakes, but a small one like the garter snake didn't bother me.

As long as Dan kept it in his hands, that is.

Otherwise, the girly girl in me was going to come shrieking out.

And it wouldn't be pretty.
Chapter 7 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Seven

After an amazing dinner of meatloaf (who knew that a couple pounds of hamburger, some green pepper and crackers could be so good?), mashed potatoes (gravy, mm), and corn, I grabbed my dishes and heading into the kitchen. Mason was right on my heels.

Dan weaved around the both of us and grabbed a dish towel. Addy was already at the sink, filling it up with hot, soapy water. It was so crazy. They didn't even have a dishwasher.

"I can help with dishes," I offered. Addy smiled.

"No, it's Dan's chore. Right, sweetie?"

Dan snapped the towel in my direction and nodded. "Yup!"

If I had to dry dishes every night, I don't think I would be that happy about it. I smiled.

"Okay. Thanks for dinner."

"You're welcome, hun."

"It was great," Mason said. "Hey, I was wondering if I could take the truck?"

Addy looked at him. "Where?"

"Shel needs me to take her to Wal-mart for some hair gunk," Mason said.

I glanced over at him. I didn't need hair 'gunk.'

"Double check with your dad. I don't know how he feels about you and parking lots."

Mason smiled and turned back towards the dining room. Kevin was wiping all the crumbs off the old oak table. I followed to make sure that if he spouted any more 'un-truths' that I could keep things straight.

"Hey dad?"

"What's up?"

"I was wondering if I could have the keys to the truck."

"What for?"

"Shel needs me to take her to Wal-mart for some hair gunk," Mason repeated.

Again with the hair 'gunk.'

"I can take you," Kevin offered.

"We won't be gone long," Mason said. "Please?"

Kevin looked straight at Mason. I gave a little sideways glance. He was doing a really good job at maintaining absolute angelic innocence.

"You know, you shouldn't even be driving," Kevin reminded him.

"I know, but that's why you are an awesome dad. Plus, Wal-mart's like a sneeze away. I'll park far away from all the other cars."

He paused.

"I mean, unless you want us to walk. Which I guess we can. It's not like any crazy psycho person is going to stab two innocent teenagers on a nice night like t---"

"Okay! You can take the keys!"

Kevin reached into his pocket and tossed him the key. Mason caught it and twirled it around on his finger.

"Thanks!"

He turned to me.

"You ready, Shel?"

I smirked. "Yeah. Just let me go up to my room. I've got to get money. For my hair 'gunk.'"

Mason's eyes sparkled mischievously. I went upstairs and pulled a twenty out of the drawer. I didn't know what I might need at Wal-Mart, but better safe than sorry. I grabbed my purse and headed back down.

"Alright, let's roll."

"Don't roll too fast!" Kevin called out to our retreating backs. The front door slammed shut and we bounced in unison down the steps.

"You're sneaky," I whispered. Mason laughed.

"I learned from the best."

He gave me a look.

I was proud.

--------------------------------

Now, as you may know, once you've seen one Wal-mart, you've seen them all. Sadieville's Wal-mart wasn't big and it wasn't open 24-hours a day, but it was still the same.

"So where's the entertainment?" I asked as we strolled through the movies.

Mason smiled. "We make the entertainment."

"Hey Mas!"

"Hey Brent!"

"Hey Mas!"

"Hey Carl!"

This had been a common occurance. We would turn down an aisle and someone would shout out and Mason would wave and acknowledge them right back.

I didn't even know the names of my next door neighbors for crying out loud.

"How do we make entertainment?" I asked.

He flashed a full on grin.

"Follow me."

We walked back to the front of the store and Mason grabbed a cart. I followed him to the toy section.

"Hop in and get out your cell phone."

I laughed. "What?"

"Hop in!"

Feeling like an overgrown praying mantis, I hitched my leg up in the cart and swung my big butt inside. I peered over my knees and took out my phone.

"This is comfortable."

"Do you have a stopwatch on your phone?"

"Yeah."

"Go to it."

I did as he instructed.

"What are we doing?"

"On the count of three press start."

"What? I--"

"One."

"Mason..."

"Two."

"I don't--"

"THREE!"

I pressed Start. Mason's hands wrapped around the handle and he took off like a shot. I shrieked and grabbed onto the edge of the cart. He tore around the corner and I swear the thing was rolling on two wheels. He tore passed the dolls and swung around to the next aisle. When we finally got to the bike section he pulled back and the cart stopped. I pressed Start again.

"Time?"

I looked at the display. "Thirty-eight seconds."

He grinned. "Sweet. Best time yet. Of course you're a lot lighter than my friend Larry."

I crawled out of the cart. "You do this often?"

Mason shrugged. "It's a great workout."

I studied the cart, looked at Mason, and then back at the cart. I held out my phone.

"Get in."

He laughed. "What? You can't push me."

I arched an eyebrow. "What? Get in!"

Shaking his head he scrambled into the cart. I wrapped my fingers around the handle.

"On the count of three," I said. "One...two..."

"THREE!"

I leaned my whole body into the cart for momentum and pushed. It was like pushing cement. I gritted my teeth and went for it.

It was a sad and pathetic sight.

By the time I made it back to where we had initially started, I was breathing hard.

"Time?"

Mason glanced at the display. "Two and a half minutes."

"ARGH!"

He hopped out of the cart. "It's okay. I'm heavy."

I hated losing. At anything. I pointed to my flip-flops.

"I'm just not wearing the right shoes."

He smiled, but he didn't say anything. We abandoned the cart and walked over to the hunting and camping area. It was a larger section than what I had seen at most Wal-marts, most likely because this was 'roughing it' country.

Mason walked over to one of the dome tents on display and unzipped it.

"Ladies, first."

I gave him a look, but I crawled into the tent. He crawled in after me and zipped it back up, leaving just a little crack undone.

The light in the tent was a funny shade of green; I assumed it was from the actual coloring of the tent under the weird fluorescent lights.

"So?" I asked.

"You'll see."

We lapsed into silence. Five minutes passed and I was getting antsy.

"I don't u--"

All of a sudden Mason's hand wrapped around my mouth. It wasn't a face slap; it was just more of a gentle covering. His hands smelled good. Like meatloaf still. He leaned forward and peeked out of the opening. I saw his chest rise and fall. He sucked in a big breath and--

"BOO!"

Three girls around my age were walking by. The moment Mason yelled they screamed and tore off. He dropped his hand from my mouth and began to laugh.

"You're ridiculous," I said with a laugh. He lay back and tucked his hands behind his head.

"I know."

I stretched out beside him. He glanced over at me.

"Hey Shel?"

"Yeah?"

"At the lake today. I wasn't just going to ask you to come here."

"Oh?"

He took a deep breath.

"Yeah, I wanted to tell you that--"

"Okay kids, get out of there."

A blue shirted employee peeked through the opening. Mason groaned and unzipped the flap.

"C'mon," the employee said. Mason stuck his head out and crawled through.

"You again? Mason, one more time..."

"I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

I crawled out and stood up. The employee looked at me.

"Haven't seen you around here."

"I'm just visiting."

"Well, try to stay out of trouble. I'd start by not hanging out with this one."

The employee made a motion in Mason's direct and then walked off. As soon as he was out of range, Mason laughed.

"Party pooper." Mason checked his watch and made a face. "But, we probably should get going."

I followed him through the store. We detoured to the hair 'gunk' aisle and I bought some anti-frizz just so that I wasn't empty-handed when we got back. After I paid, we walked out into the parking lot. He had parked almost all the way at the very end. The warm summer wind whipped my hair around. My flip-flops made a pleasing slapping sound on the blacktop.

"Hey Mas?"

"Yeah?"

"What were you going to tell me? In the tent?"

He stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"Oh, it's not important."

I let it drop, but I could tell from his face that it was important. He fished the truck key out of his pocket and we climbed in.

"Want some Pop Tarts again tomorrow?" he asked.

"Sounds good. Cherry?"

Mason grinned. "Is there any other?"

I sank back into the big cushy seat and smiled.

It was nice that at least one person in this world really got me.

--------------------------------------------

Author's note: If you love this, if you hate this, let me know Lurky McLurkersons!
Chapter 8 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Eight

The rest of the first week went by in a blur. I woke up early every morning (even though I did seem to be waking up about five minutes later every day) and mucked out the stalls. Each morning, Mason was out there by eight with a package of Pop Tarts. Kevin had roped Mason into helping him fix part of the roof and so our goof-off time had been pretty nonexistant for the past few days. I had begun to help Addy with the kids that came for lessons for lack of anything else to do. Every so often, I'd glance up and see Mason way up there on the roof with sweat dripping off his back. It was a really strong looking back (not that I studied it, or anything).

The good news was that, after five days of what we both agreed was 'slave' labor, the roof was finally done.

The bad news was that it was now Mason's first day at the diner.

"I bet you wish you'd gone to L.A. now," I teased. I tossed a chunk of Pop Tart up in the air and caught it between my teeth. Mason laughed.

"I've had my moments," he admitted. He crumpled up the wrapper. Our breakfast time was almost over. He got up and held out his hand. I got up (without tripping this time, thank you). He held onto my hand a little longer than usual.

"I work until four today," he said. "But, my buddy Larry is having this party tonight and I thought you might want to come with me. I mean..."

"A party? Sure, sounds fun."

Mason grinned and dropped my hand. "Great. Well, have a fun day."

"Poop, horses, and hay, whee!" I said, pumping my fist in the air. His face disappeared and I heard the soft thud of his sneakers hitting the dirt.

I climbed down a moment later and finished filling up the water buckets. After I dished out some hay, I had a little time to spare. I slung a spare saddle over a bench and grabbed a rope.

I was in the middle of practicing lasso technique on an imaginary bull (a pitchfork tied onto a sawhorse) when Addy came in. She leaned against the door and smiled.

"Having fun?"

The rope sank pathetically at my feet.

"Oh, I was just..."

"Practicing being a renegade cowgirl?"

I laughed.

"Something like that."

"I'll give you a few pointers later this afternoon if you want," she offered. I smiled.

"I'd like that."

I hung up the rope and dismantled the saddle.

"Your dad called while you were out here. He tried your cell phone but I think you left it in your room."

I nodded. I had almost dropped it in the water bucket a few days ago and I wasn't taking any chances.

"Yeah, I did. I'll go call him now, if that's okay."

"Sure. If you want to put up with the buckeroos again, just meet me out here in an hour."

I gave her a thumbs up and headed towards the house. I yanked off my boots and left them by the front door. Dan was sprawled on the couch in the living room reading Robinson Crusoe. I heard the sounds of music drifting from somewhere.

"Dad," Dan said without even looking up. "He's in his studio."

"Sounds good," I said. I was used to sounds of music. My dad had about twenty projects going on at any one time.

I took the stairs two at a time and headed into my bedroom. I grabbed my phone and rolled onto the bed. Dad picked up on the second ring.

"Hey, Shelster, how's it going?"

I smiled. "Great."

"How's the job?"

"Smelly."

Dad laughed. I heard growling in the background.

"What's going on there?"

"The boys are pretending that they're a pack of rabid wolves. I think they're after Ally. They made her wear a cape. I think it's a twisted version of Little Red Riding Hood."

I laughed. "That sounds about right. So everything's still the same at home, I take it?"

"No," dad said seriously. I frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"You're not here. The house is empty."

He was getting all mushy. I smiled.

"Dad, there's four other kids. It's not empty."

"Well..."

"Hey!" I interrupted. I sat up quickly. There was something I needed to talk to him about. "Kevin's letting Mason drive!"

There was a pause. "Oh?"

"Yeah, and he's SIX months younger than me. Dad, this fall you've got to let me do driver's ed."

He sighed. "Shel..."

"I don't want to be forty years old and taking the bus!"

"Kentucky's different than Florida..."

I groaned. "Dad...I just want to take driver's ed. You've got to at least let me do that."

There was a pause. "I'll think about it."

I grinned. Score one for Shelby.

"I love you, daddy."

He snorted. "Yeah, yeah. Wait, here's your mom."

There was a pause and then my mom's voice filled the line.

"Hey sweetie pie. How's everything going?"

"Great."

"How's Mason?"

I paused. I didn't know exactly how to answer that. 'Fine' seemed too generic. Plus 'fine' was slang for 'hot.' And Mason wasn't hot. Best friends can't be hot. I mean...right?

"Big," I blurted.

"What?" mom asked quickly.

I slapped my palm to my face.

"He's gotten tall. And hairy. And..." I trailed off. My lists of descriptive words sucked right now. "big," I finished feebly.

"Cute?" mom asked nonchalantly.

I felt myself blush. Was Mason cute? Ugh, I should have just used the word 'Fine'...

"I mean he's nice looking," I admitted. I wanted to change the subject fast. "I've shoveled tons of horse crap," I added.

Mom laughed.

"Are you having a good time?"

"Yeah I--"

"I miss you."

It was Ally. I smiled.

"Hey Al. How's it going?"

There was a sigh.

"These boys are driving me n--"

"Sup?"

It was Joe. I smirked.

"Hey. You missing me?"

"No."

"SHEL, I'M A KANGAROO!"

I didn't know which one of the twins I was talking to. They both sounded the same over the phone. Obviously they had gotten tired of being wolves.

"Kanagaroos don't talk," I pointed out.

The line got quiet. There was some turbulence and then mom came back on.

"I better go. The natives are getting restless," she said. I laughed again.

"Alright, I love you mom."

"Love you too, Shel."

I hung up, fell back on the bed, and stared up at the ceiling. I think I might have fallen asleep because when I woke up I heard a lot of kids outside. I rolled off the bed and ran out to lend Addy a hand.

I was hoping that she might consider all my extra work overtime.

But I wasn't holding my breath.

-----------------------------

"Where's the party?"

"Larry's."

"Are his parents going to be there?"

"Yes."

"Mason, your curfew is eleven. Remember that Shelby's is ten forty-five."

My mouth dropped open. I stared at Kevin like he was insane.

"Why is my curfew fifteen minutes earlier?"

He smiled. "Because your dad told me when your curfew is."

I shut my mouth. I had forgot about the whole dad thing.

Mason was studying the keys in Kevin's hand like they were gold.

"If there's any drinking or trouble you call me, okay?"

"Okay."

The keys landed in Mason's open hand. He grinned.

"Have fun," Kevin said.

"Thanks!"

We headed out to the truck. Mason opened my door and I climbed up carefully. I wasn't sure about the dress code for these types of things out here, but I had decided to wear a skirt. Since dad wasn't here to give me the evil eye, I rolled it over a few times at the waist to shorten the length. The only problem with that was getting into the truck. I sat down quickly and smoothed it out over my knees. Mason grinned up at me.

"What?"

"Nuttin."

Mason backed out and we took off in the opposite direction of the lake.

"Are Larry's parents really going to be there?" I asked.

Mason glanced at me quickly and then back at the road.

"Nope."

We both smiled.
Chapter 9 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Nine

Even before Mas pulled up to the farmhouse, I could feel the vibrations coming from the music. Every single light in the house was on and teens spilled out onto the lawn. I rolled down my window and peered out.

"Won't the neighbors call and complain?"

Mason laughed. "They don't really have neighbors. It's all field."

He wasn't kidding. There was grass, grass, corn, and more grass.

Mason pulled the truck up next to two tiny little cars. He came around and helped me down. I grabbed the back of my skirt and prayed for the best as I hopped down. Once my feet were safely on grass, I ran a hand down my hair and smiled. I had spent two hours straightening away the wild curls. It was a lot of work that only lasted until my next shower.

But it was a party, after all.

"Come on, I'll introduce you to Larry."

Mason took my hand and started off across the lawn. I stumbled a second and then jogged after him until we were walking side by side.

"Hi Mason!"

"Sup Mas?"

It was like the Wal-mart thing all over again. Mason waved and we headed up the steps. He stopped a guy heading out of the house.

"Where's Larry?"

"Kitchen."

Mason grinned. "Figures."

We walked inside and Mason wound around a group of girls to get into the kitchen.

"LARRY!"

A guy with light brown hair turned and held up a hand. Mason hadn't been kidding when he told me I was lighter than Larry. Larry was the size of a baby elephant.

"MASON! My future varsity brother!"

He pushed past some tall skinny dude leaning against the kitchen table and came up to us. He pulled Mason into one of those weird macho slappy hugs and then stepped back. He looked at me in surprise.

"And who is this?"

Mason smiled. "This is Shelby. She's spending the summer up here and helping my mom with the riding camp."

Larry held out his big beefy hand. I tried not to wince as he squeezed my fingers.

"So this is Shelby. Great to meet you. Where are you from again?"

"Florida."

"Well, if all the girls down there are as pretty as you, sign me up for a long vacation," he said with a grin. I pulled my hand away. I forced the corners of my mouth up.

I didn't like the guy.

To my surprise, Mason put his arm around my shoulder. Suddenly I was squeezed to his side.

"Thanks for inviting us."

Larry looked at Mas and then at me. I sensed there was some type of male thing going on.

"Hey, no problem. You want a drink?"

"Sure. Whatcha got?"

Larry rubbed his hands together. "Bud."

I saw Mason's eyebrows arch.

"Bud? How'd you get beer?"

"My older brother came down to visit last weekend and smuggled in a shitload of alcohol. I stored it up in the barn until mom and dad took off. The liquor's overflowing the cups, man."

Mason shook his head. "I'll stick with Coke or Pepsi."

Larry snorted. His attention went back to me.

"And what about for our Florida peach?"

Ugh, the guy couldn't even get his state-fruit pairings right. I had a hunch that he could probably handle a football, but that he was lost with a pencil in his hand.

"I'll take what Mason's having."

"Aw, you guys are no fun. Soda's over there in the bottles. Help yourself."

He wove around us and disappeared into the crowd. I heard someone shout something about a beer bong.

"Larry's never supplied alcohol before," Mason said apologetically. He grabbed two red plastic cups.

"It's okay," I said. I grabbed a bottle of Diet Coke and poured some into my cup. He held out his hands for the bottle and poured his own.

We walked back outside. The loud music was coming from the back of a pickup truck, tailgate down. I think most of the people dancing had probably already soaked up a couple cups of beer. I couldn't even really call what they were doing dancing.

"Hey Mas."

Mason and I both looked behind us as a pretty blonde came out of the house. She wrapped her hand around one of the wooden porch posts.

"Hi Vanna."

The girl looked at me and tilted her head. Mason coughed.

"Shelby, this is Savannah Wilcox. Vanna, this is Shelby McLean."

"Oh, so you're the one Mason's always talking about," she said. She flipped her hair and held out a hand. "Nice to meet you."

I glanced at Mason; his eyes were studying a spider web running over the porch steps. I shook Savannah's hand.

"Nice to meet you."

"You have to come meet some of my friends. Mason, I'm going to steal her for a few minutes, okay?"

That redirected Mason's attention. "Huh?"

Savannah's fingers wrapped around my wrist and before I knew it, I was being tugged down the stairs.

"She'll be back in five minutes!"

Savannah led me across the yard to where a group of girls were standing poised with red plastic cups pressed against their shiny glossy lips, giggling as they watched a couple boys doing some weird robotic dance.

"Hey girls! Look at what I've got here. A Shelby."

I didn't like the way she said it. 'A Shelby.' Like I was some type of zoo animal on display.

One of the girls was an identical copy of Savannah. Her eyes widened.

"Wow, so she does exist."

I dug my nails into my palm, making a fist. I was going to make this a quick little conversation. I had thought my high school was bad. These country bumpkins were just as, if not, worse than the snarling wolves I put up with every day.

"What are you talking about?"

The girls looked at each other and giggled. Savannah #2 stepped forward.

"Is Mason gay?"

I know my eyes widened. Probably to the size of saucers. I hadn't expected that. I turned around. The amount of people on the lawn had doubled and I didn't know where Mason was. I turned back. Five pairs of eyes were looking at me.

"What? No! I mean...no!"

I didn't know if Mason was gay! Oh hell, what if he was? Did I de-out him? He didn't seem gay. Of course I didn't have great gaydar. Half the actors I had a crush on ended up gay.

Oh shit...

"Why the hell do you think he's gay?" I finally asked out loud. The girls looked at each other.

"Well, I mean, he's hot," Savannah (the real one, not #2) said. "All of us have tried to get him to ask us out but..."

"It's like he's not interested," Savannah #2 said with a sigh.

"But he's always talking about you," a dark haired girl said.

"So if he's not gay...are you guys going out?" a third blonde asked.

"Are you guys having sex?" a brunette pressed.

I swear that the temperature skyrocketed. It even hurt to breathe. I was getting shot at from all sides.

"What?! No, I mean...we're just...we are...the thing is..."

"Hey Shel, I think it's time to go."

Mason came up and stood beside me. He flashed a smile at the group of girls.

"You girls having a good summer?"

All five of the puppies nodded in unison, never once taking their eyes off me. Mason took my hand.

My hand. Again.

"Have a good night!"

I followed him to the truck. My plastic cup of Diet Coke was still half full. He took it and dumped it on the grass.

"Is it ten thirty already?" I asked. He shook his head.

"No, but something tells me our one cop is going to be out here soon. And our one firefighter."

"Why?"

"Larry set off a firework and I think he started a small grass fire. Fire and underage drinking are two things I don't want to add to my wrap sheet. I like unsupervised parties, but I like not being imprisoned in my room for the rest of my life better."

He opened the door to the truck and I climbed up. I didn't even care about keeping it lady-like. I was thinking about what those girls said.

Gay? Mason? Sex?

I was suddenly hit with an irrational fear. I thought back to one of the first plane rides Mason and I were both on when we were uber-little. He had suggested we play doctor. He freaked out when he found out I didn't have a 'weiner.' He had been terrified. I groaned.

I had turned him gay at five years old.

"You okay?"

Mason was looking at me, the key poised to go into the ignition.

"What? Yeah, I'm fine!"

"Did Savannah say something..."

"NO!"

I had no idea what the last part of his sentence was, but I did not want to have this discussion. I slumped down in the seat as the truck roared to life and Mason put the truck into reverse.

The hot ones were always gay.

And yes, Mason was hot.
Chapter 10 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Ten

When Mason left the farm, he took off in the opposite direction from home. I glanced over at him. He looked like he knew exactly where he was going. I checked my phone. It was only nine o'clock.

We were both pretty quiet; the only noise came from the truck as it bumped and crunched along the road. The last bit of daylight was disappearing and it made the whole thing just that much more depressing.

Finally the truck slowed and I peered out through the windshield. Mason pulled the car to a stop right next to a huge water tower.

"What's this?"

"A water tower."

"I know that. Why are we here?"

"I want to talk to you. Alone."

This couldn't be good. Maybe he caught part of the conversation with those girls. He was probably going to come out....

On top of the water tower.

I opened my door and climbed out before he could do the gentlemanly thing and open the door for me. He strolled around the front of the truck and looked up.

"Have you ever been up there before?" I asked. He shook his head.

"Nope." He cracked a smile. "Ladies first."

I glanced over at him. I had the whole 'skirt' issue going on, but I knew gay guys didn't care about seeing a girl's undies.

I was giving myself a mental pep talk. This was good. Every girl needed a gay guy as a best friend. It was the best of both worlds. You still got a guy's point of view but with a feminine eye.

This could work. Yeah!

Yeah.

I grabbed onto the ladder and began to pull myself up. I heard Mason climbing right behind me.

A narrow wooden platform circled the water tower. The platform provided access to a little door for water treatment, or whatever they did to water in big towers like this. I carefully stepped onto the platform and shuffled to the side. A second later Mason was standing right by me.

"Good thing we aren't afraid of heights," he said cheerfully.

I looked down. We were a long ways up. I couldn't help but think my mom would probably freak out if she was ever up this high. I sat down and swung my legs over the edge of the platform. Mason sat down beside me; we were shoulder to shoulder.

We were alone. Together. No Wal-mart employees or little brothers or grassy fields on fire. I looked over at him. He looked nervous.

"Mason," I said gently. "It's okay."

He looked at me in surprise. "What?"

I didn't want him to suffer through telling me. I figured it was just easier if I took control of the situation.

"I know what you're going to tell me."

Now he looked really surprised. "You do?"

I nodded. "Yeah. And it's okay. I mean..."

"How do you feel about it?" His tone was eager now. I smiled. I had made the right choice; I was clearing the air. I was a great best friend.

"Well, at first I was a little surprised, but I'm getting kind of used to the idea." I smiled for emphasis. Happy was always good. He grinned.

"Shel, you have no idea how much easier you just made this. I've been dying to tell you, but the words..."

I waved my hand in the air. "It's no big deal. I mean just come o--"

I didn't get to finish. Mason leaned forward and all of a sudden his lips were on mine. But they couldn't be. Because he was gay. I crossed my eyes and looked down.

Nope, he was definitely kissing me...kissing me really well.

I closed my eyes and leaned towards him. This was nice.

I had gotten my first kiss in seventh grade when Andy Parqay had just come up and started slobbering on me. I had feared that all kisses were going to be like taking a bath in a dog bowl. But Mason had the perfect wet-to-lip ratio. He---

I pulled back.

"Wait."

He looked disappointed. "What?"

"Why are you kissing me?"

The disappointment turned to confusion. "Well you just said--"

"Gay guys don't kiss girls...do they?"

His eyes widened. "Wait? Gay guys? What are you talking about?"

Now I was feeling like there had been a misunderstanding.

"Wait, what were you going to tell me?"

"I was going to tell you that you're the most beautiful girl in the world," he said softly. "And that I want to be more than friends." He paused. "How the hell did you get the idea I was gay?"

I was still processing the first part. I was beautiful? Mason thought I was beautiful? More than friends? Like as in boyfriend / girlfriend? Mason? Me? My mouth opened and closed several times.

My lips still felt nice.

"Shel? Why did you think I was going to tell you I was gay?"

I felt stupid. Really stupid.

"Savannah and those girls..."

Mason snorted. "Okay, that makes sense."

I looked at him in confusion. He smiled...with those lips. Those lips that had been kissing me just a minute ago.

Holy moly.

"Those girls have been trying to get me to ask them out forever. Especially Savannah and Susan. Their mom is like obsessed with my dad. That whole 'boy band' thing. It's pretty gross. Addy says she's sure that's why Vanna and Sue are so intent on hooking up with me."

I groaned. This was why I didn't hang out with girls. My IQ always lowered when I was around them. I touched my cheeks; they were flaming hot.

"So," Mason said quietly. "What do you think of my real reason for talking to you privately?"

I looked at him. His eyes were sparkling. I took a deep breath. Then I remembered something. I smacked him on the shoulder.

"You let me go up the ladder first and you weren't gay!"

He leaned back and laughed loudly. I glared at him. Finally he stopped laughing. His right hand snaked over and covered mine.

"Don't blame me for looking," he said quietly. Suddenly all the teasing was gone. It was like it just went 'woosh!' right out into the open night. He leaned towards me. My heart was pounding again. My dad would kill me if I had a heart attack on top of the water tower. Mason's left hand brushed my hair away from my neck.

"I really like those pink panties on you," he whispered. My toes were tingling. I tried to remember if that was the first sign of a heart attack. I didn't have any Bayer. You were always supposed to take Bayer at the first sign of a heart attack...

His lips were on mine again and this time I was kissing back. His fingers slide through my hair and it felt so nice. I closed my eyes and pressed my hand against his chest. Wow, it was a great chest.

I don't know how long we were up there against the light blue backdrop of that water tower kissing. I can say that it didn't seem like long enough. When Mason finally pulled away, disappointment coursed through me.

"You didn't answer my question," he whispered. I opened my eyes and stared into his. They were gorgeous eyes.

"What question?" My voice sounded funny to my own ears.

"Do you want to be more than friends?"

I was pretty sure an hour of lip-to-lip action should have answered the question, but he looked like he needed to hear it. I inhaled deeply. The air smelled good.

Or maybe that was still Mason.

"Yes," I said. "I want to be more than friends."

Mason smiled. Before I could return the smile, his lips were on mine again.

It had turned out to be a great night.
Chapter 11 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Eleven

"Hey Mas?"

"Yeah?"

His hand was on my knee and we were driving back to the house. My knee was nice and warm...and tingly. But I had already decided I wasn't having a heart attack. I must have just been having a tingly night.

"Was there really a grass fire?"

Mason looked at me and smiled.

"You know me too well. I just really didn't want to be there with the drinking and stuff."

I nodded. That made sense. I was glad he had done it. My lips were glad he had done it.

"Y'know Shel, it's probably a good idea if we keep this on the down low," Mason said as he slowly pulled into the drive. He killed the headlights and turned to me. He was masked in shadow.

"Why?"

"If my dad knows, he'll call your dad and well..."

He didn't have to finish that sentence. I thought back to when Andy Parqay had kissed me. I had come home all worried and told my dad what had happened. The next day, he had tried to get Andy expelled. He failed, but he sure tried.

"No, you're right. Dad tends to...overreact."

"Right."

I saw Mason's pinky lift up in the air. I laughed and crooked my own around his. He leaned forward and kissed me softly.

There were those tinglies again.

Mason hopped out of the truck and opened my door. I let him this time. A straight guy should always be a gentleman. He stuck his hands in his pockets and we headed into the house.

Kevin and Addy were curled up on the couch watching a movie. It was kind of weird to see two old people all snuggled up like that.

"How was the party?" Addy asked. Mason's eyes darted to me and then back towards the parentals.

"Good. Larry says hi."

Kevin smiled. "I think that's the only word he knows how to spell---oomph."

Addy jabbed him in the side. Mason laughed...a little too loudly if you ask me. He was never going to be a good actor. Or a good liar.

At least around me.

"Dad's right. Larry's not smart, but he can throw a ball," Mason said.

Addy smiled up at us.

"You two better get some sleep. Shel, I still need you out at the barn by seven."

That was eight short hours away. By the time I fell asleep, my sleep ratio was going to be inadequate.

"Will do," I said, even though I wanted to stomp and whine like I did at home.

"Goodnight," Mason said.

"Night," Kevin and Addy said in unison.

Mason and I headed up the stairs together. Quietly. I reached for the doorknob to my room, but Mason's arm wrapped around my waist. The next thing I knew his lips were on my neck. He pulled away and I felt his warm breath on my ear.

"Goodnight," he whispered.

I decided right then and there that the air conditioner in this old house must be broken. Mason's hand disappeared. I turned. He was already walking to his room.

"Night," I whispered. I slipped into the room, closed the door behind me, and leaned against it.

"Wow," I whispered into the darkness.

----------------------------------

I thought I was going to die. I blamed the sun. It had decided to rise too early, which in turn triggered my alarm to go off well before I was ready. I hadn't even bothered to get into jeans. I stomped out to the barn in my green PJs and tank top, my feet in my steel toe boots, my hair uncombed. I was hoping that I might be able to do a sloppy ass job and catch some sleep in the loft.

I was playing a game of 'scoot the horse shit to the corner of the room with a shovel' when Mason showed up. He waved the package of Pop-Tarts. I dropped the shovel, shit be damned.

"Thank you," I said. I took the ladder rungs two at a time and fell gratefully onto our haystack. The blanket felt like heaven.

"Tired?" Mason asked. He sat down and pulled the package open. I stretched my arms out over my head and closed my eyes.

"Exhausted."

I waited to hear the familiar sound of Pop-Tarts being removed from the package. But it was quiet. All of a sudden I felt a shadow on my face and then Mason's lips on mine again.

Okay, so maybe I wasn't that tired. His lips tasted like spearmint mouthwash. Which, as I lay there enjoying and highly participating in this newly found kissing enjoyment, I realized that I hadn't even brushed my teeth this morning. I clamped my lips together.

"What?"

I didn't want to speak. Probably when I talked green noxious gas would float out. I pointed to the Pop Tarts and held out my hand. Mason looked disappointed.

"That hungry?" he said as he placed it in my hand. I took a deep bite. I hoped the fake cherry gunk would sweeten up my breath. It wasn't fair that I had to be out at the barn so early. I didn't even have time to...I paused. I hadn't even combed my hair.

"I look disgusting," I blurted out between chews. Mason laughed.

"Well, you definitely excelled at the 'just rolled out of bed' look. But disgusting? Nah."

Mason finished his Pop Tart in three bites.

"You haven't gotten much done this morning, have you?" he asked. I sighed.

"No."

He put a hand on my hip. My hip!

"Finish your Pop Tart," he said. He hopped off the haystack and disappeared back down.

I didn't know how he could be so...awake. He was hopping around like the Energizer Bunny. I nibbled on my sugary breakfast treat. I heard the sound of the shovel moving double time.

"What are you doing?" I called.

"Helping!"

"But you've got to work today!"

"So? It's fine!"

I felt bad. I was a bum. I swallowed the last bite and climbed down the ladder. Mason was already sticking the hose in the bucket.

"I've got it from here," I said, kneeling down. He stood up, but he didn't move. I glanced up. He was glancing down. Down. As in tank-top down. I pulled on the back to scoot the top up more. I smiled.

"Thank you," I said. His eyes sparkled.

"See you after work!"

I watched him go. I swear that he skipped a couple times on his way out.

"Boys are so weird," I whispered to myself. I blew a piece of hair away from my face.

I just wanted to get done, shower, take a nap, and then...

Who knew?

-----------------------------------

"So I take it you're not offering your help with the kids today?"

I was back to my normal self after a nice nap. Mason wasn't going to be back from the diner for awhile and my paints were calling my name. I lugged my easel and a canvas out. My paint was safe and sound in a bag strapped around my chest.

"Not today Addy," I said with a smile. "I feel inspired."

Addy slid her fingers through her belt loops.

"Well, I can't wait to see what you come up with."

She headed towards the barn. She stopped at the treehouse. A second later Dan was climbing down.

She had found an alternate helper.

I set up my stuff right outside the fenced in riding area. I propped my blank canvas on the easel and shook out a little portable seat. I sat down and lined up my paints. Each one had an 'official' name, but I liked to name them myself: grass green, sunshine yellow, mane brown...all the colors announced themselves in my head as I pulled out the bottles and studied them.

Once I started to actually paint, I lost all track of time. The sun was beating down and warming every inch of me. Little drips of paint splattered on my old ratty pair of jeans that I always wore when I worked on projects like this. After awhile I got bored with my brushes and let my fingers do the shaping.

"What is that?"

Dan was looking over my shoulder. I turned around.

"It's the horses in the arena," I explained.

He tilted his head left. He tilted his head right.

"Is that what the brown squiggles are?"

I sighed. "It's abstract art. But, yes."

"What are the little dots above the squiggles."

"Students riding."

"Why are they different colors?"

I smiled. "That's based on their personalities."

"But you don't even know them!"

"I do by observing."

Dan looked at me like I had lost my mind. He glanced back at the picture.

"Do people pay for things like this?"

I laughed. "Some people do. Abstract art is popular in museums."

His eyes lit up. "Really? Cool!"

Just like that, he took off.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to go make some money!" he yelled into the wind.

I laughed. People thought painting like this was just random squiggles and splotches, but everything held meaning. I smeared a blob of yellow on my finger and began to work on the upper right hand corner. It was a pleasant sun, not like the cruel sun that had woken me up far before I was ready to this morning.

I would call it my 'Mason' sun.
Chapter 12 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Twelve

"I think it's really good."

I beamed. I had worked on the painting for four days and had given it to Mason when he had gotten home from the diner. Mason insisted that I go up to his room for the official 'hanging.' He stood there nodding his head in approval.

Mason had a typical guy's room. Football and basketball posters hung on the walls and dirty clothes were everywhere. I'm pretty sure somewhere there was some old rotten food lurking in a corner. The painting stuck out like a sore thumb, but he seemed oblivious.

Dan's room was right next to Mason's. As far as I was concerned, it was an atypical room for a ten year old. Well, at least it was when I compared it to Joe's room back home. Dan had posters of Broadway plays (Chicago) and endangered animals hanging on the walls with a chart of the periodic table. His bookshelves were crammed with classic books. In contrast, my brother Joe had posters from all the latest horror movies. His bookshelves were cluttered with small figurines of cinema's greatest killers.

I kinda missed Joe.

"This is the best early birthday present I could ask for," Mason said. I knew his birthday was in two weeks. I smiled.

"And what is your dad doing for your birthday?"

I hadn't wanted a big sweet 16. Most of the girls in my school thought that turning sixteen meant a party of wedding-like proportions. I had spent the day with the family going to a movie, putt-putt, and dinner.

That's just how I roll.

"Well, dad rented out this huge teen club in Lexington. Pretty much everybody in town's invited. And you'll be my date of course."

I smiled. "I thought we were keeping it on the down low."

Mason turned. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. I still hadn't gotten the whole 'heart pounding' thing under control, but it was getting better.

"There's lots of dark corners in a club," he whispered.

"MASON! SHELBY! DINNER!"

The voice sounded close. Not bottom of the stairs close. More like half-way up the stairs close. Or top of the stairs close. Mason stepped away.

"I hate interruptions," he muttered. He walked out of the room and I followed close behind.

I knew exactly what he meant.

---------------------------------

The night was warm. Even the cool air coming out of the vent wasn't enough to cool off my room. I had just spent the last three hours experiencing a Richardson family game night. I don't think I scored brownie points with Kevin. We had ended up on a team for Pictionary against Addy, Mason, and Dan. Unlike my dad, Kevin didn't know how to string parts of a word together. I mean, really, how hard is it to put a picture of a pea and a rooster together to get peacock?

It was eleven o'clock and there was a full moon shining through my window. I was restless. I was...

At first I thought I was hearing things. When I heard the soft tap on my door a second time, I knew it was real. I slid out of bed and cracked open my door. Mason's shaggy blonde head peered in at me.

"I can't sleep," he whispered.

"Me either."

He smiled. "Come with me."

"Wait, wha--"

He turned and headed in the direction of the stairs. I looked back at my empty room and followed.

Our bare feet didn't make a sound as we walked down the stairs and across the dark and empty living room. Mason looked around, turned the lock, and opened the front door. He winked (yes, winked) and slipped outside. My curiosity peeked, I followed. I shuffled to the side as he pulled a key out of the pocket in his pajama pants and locked the door.

"Where are we going?" I whispered.

"You'll see."

The grass was soft on the bottom of my feet. He took my hand and we started to walk across the lawn. As the house became just a dot in the distance, I began to wonder is Mason had lost his mind.

"Mas, it's almost midnight," I whispered. He took my hand.

"I know."

We walked for over a half hour. It was kind of nice walking underneath the moonlight. Sure, it was hot, but it wasn't like I did this kind of thing every day.

After another ten minutes, I had figured out where we were going. The huge field and serene lake were just ahead.

"Race ya!" Mason suddenly called. He dropped my hand and took off. I let out a frustrated cry and ran after him. It was easier to run barefooted. I lowered my head like a bull and charged.

He still ended up beating me. We both stopped by the edge of the lake, breathing hard to catch our breath. Mason hiked up his pajama pants and dunked his legs into the water. I did the same. We sat in companionable silence. I stared up at the stars.

"They don't make stars like these in Florida," I said.

"They're not as pretty as you," Mason whispered.

His voice was close. I felt the soft press of his lips to my shoulder.

"Let's go swimming," he whispered, his lips right next to my skin.

"I didn't bring a suit," I whispered back. I looked at him. He raised his head and smiled.

"So?"

"You need a swimsuit to swim," I said. Mas stood up.

"No you don't."

Before I could argue with that, he yanked off his pajama pants. I had another 'Bayer' moment when he took off his boxers too. I resisted the urge to bite my palm.

He was naked.

I know that sounds stupid. Here I was sixteen years old and I was blushing as red as my hair. It wasn't like I hadn't seen naked boys. But they were little boys. Stupid naked little brothers.

Mason didn't look stupid. And he wasn't a brother. And he wasn't a little boy.

And...

I saw the grin on his face for just a moment before he jumped into the lake. When he came up, he ran a hand through his hair and swam close. His finger brushed the bottom of my bare foot still in the water.

"Join me," he said softly.

I had a feeling that I was crossing some invisible boundary in life. The familiar sensation I got when I did something crazy was building. This was definitely crazy. It was the middle of the night and it was like everyone in the world was asleep except Mason and me.

I swung my legs out of the water.

I was only going to live once...might as well make it interesting, right?
Chapter 13 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Thirteen

"Turn around."

"What?"

"Turn around."

"I didn't make you turn around!"

I put my hands on my hips. With a sigh Mason turned around. The full moon reflected his bare back on the water.

I was feeing a little self-conscious. And excited. I had a feeling this would be on my dad's list of things that Shelby was never supposed to do.

But what daddy didn't know...

I slid out of my bottoms and panties. Mason's arms were skimming the top of the water. I yanked my top over my head.

"Shel?"

"Don't turn around!"

I took a deep breath. This was the moment. In seconds I was going to be in the water with Mason. Naked. I closed my eyes.

I jumped in. As was my ritual, I held my breath for five seconds and then broke the surface of the water. I flipped my hair back and drew in a breath.

That breath was interrupted by Mason's mouth on mine. My hands reached out in surprise. I allowed my fingers to curl around his shoulders.

Mason wasn't playing around. This wasn't just a 'lounging on the haystack' loft kiss. This was...

Amazing. He drew my lips to his like a moth to flame. I wanted more. My mouth opened ever so slightly. Mason took the invitation. His tongue ran along the top of my bottom teeth and then probed deeper. I was surprised when a moan rose from my throat. I felt him tense up. His hands reached for my waist and I shivered deliciously at the pressure of his fingertips on my bare skin.

It seemed like we were locked together forever without breathing. When he finally did pull back, I felt like a piece of me was disappearing. I grabbed his face and brought it back to mine. I nibbled on his bottom lip. Our eyes seemed to open at the same time. There was a smoky look in his eyes that I had never seen before...

"Shel," he gasped. He kissed me hard again and I felt again like I was being sucked into a trance. My hands, once wrapped around his shoulders made their way lazily into his hair. Mason's hands began to slide up my sides.

I realized that my body wasn't in as much of a trance as my mind. A thousand little volts of electricity shot through me as his hands slid along the underside of my breasts. Before those jolts even disappeared, his fingers ran lazy circles around my nipples. Another moan, this time louder, escaped from me.

Oh god, I was a moaner.

"Beautiful," Mason murmured. His lips fell to my neck. I didn't know what was driving me more nuts. It all felt so...good. I tugged on his hair. His teeth grabbed the sensitive flesh of my neck and sucked. His hands splayed across my breasts and squeezed. He pressed closer to me.

That's when I felt...

"Mason?" I whispered.

"Mmm?"

"Are there any snakes in this lake?"

He sucked on my neck again. Long and hard. Just like...

"That's not a snake, Shel."

Oh my fucking God.

It took me a moment to get over the shock of that. Once I did, well...

My hands slipped down his chest. His lips paused on my neck. In fact, he seemed to completely freeze. I could feel my pulse in my ears. I dipped my hands lower...lower still...

His hands fell from my breasts and grabbed my waist as if he was suddenly afraid that he might drown. My fingers ran the length of him.

I might not have much experience, but I had heard a lot in the last year or so. It's amazing the tips you can overhear while sitting on a toilet seat in order to escape gym class. If rooms got movie ratings, the girl's bathroom would be rated R...or NC-17.

Now seemed like a good opportunity to see if those girls were all talk. I used the very tips of my nails, gently dragging along. It seemed a lot bigger than what I had imagined. The girls in the bathroom were always complaining about them being too small...

"Fuck," Mason growled. I met his eyes. He looked a little...insane. But it was a good type of insane. Not like a 'I'm going to murder you in the lake' insane. I grabbed him hard. He kissed me again and we began to move to the more shallow part of the water. My head was spinning. I momentarily forgot everything. Even my name. My hands drifted back up to his chest. I really did love that chest.

Suddenly his arms were under my legs and I was being picked up. His lips were still on mine but he had gotten footing in the water and he was making it back up to land.

He made it back to the grass and placed me down on the soft grass. I stared up at him. His arms were pressed down on either side of my head. Water dripped off of his nose and chin. He was breathing hard, but then again so was I. My eyes drifted down...down...down. When I looked back at him he was staring at me in amazement.

"You're gorgeous," he said. He sucked in his bottom lip and all the water droplets disappeared. Like magic. One of his hands disappeared from beside my head and pressed against my abdomen. My eyes closed. His touch felt good. The combination of grass, water, and warmth was soothing. His fingertips went back up to my breasts....then back down. Then his hand was gone and his mouth was at all of those places and my toes were curling and I felt like I might split in half from aching so much. It wasn't an ache I had ever felt before but it hurt so bad and I just wanted to...

He leaned down and suddenly we were chest to chest and his lips were back on mine. My fingers ran up and down his back and his hand slipped into that sandwiched space between us. Suddenly I felt his erection pressing against the inside of my thigh.

It was all happening so fast.

Was I...were we really going to?

I broke away from those otherworldly lips.

"Mason," I whispered.

"Baby," he murmured. He went back to my neck. For a moment, I wanted to toss every worry out the window. It was a struggle to regain my sense of sanity.

"What are we doing?" I whispered. He paused. He met my eyes. His mouth opened.

"I---"

"I don't think I'm ready."

My voice sounded small. I was scared. The last thing I wanted was to make him mad or disappoint him.

"It's just...I've never gone this far. And to go farther..."

He inhaled deeply. I felt tears springing to my eyes.

"You're right," he said quietly. I looked at him in surprise. Slowly the warmth of his body was replaced by the night air. He rolled over on his back. Both of us stared up at the sky.

"I didn't plan to...y'know. Just skinny dipping," he admitted.

"I liked that part," I admitted. "I liked...it all."

He laughed.

"We won't do anything until we're both ready. Okay?" he said. His hand reached over and took mine.

I was lying naked with my best friend and we just didn't have sex and yet everything was still okay.

I think it was at that moment when I fell in love.
Chapter 14 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Fourteen

Mason gave me a piggyback ride back to the house. I slid off his back, my arms wrapping around his waist as he unlocked the door. The door swung open quietly and he kissed me softly. We smiled.

He locked the door behind us and we held hands all the way up the stairs. He kissed me once more outside of my room.

"Good night," he whispered.

"Night Mas."

I slid into my room and closed the door. Suddenly the night didn't seem that hot. It was a special night. A wonderful night. I sank down into the soft mattress and closed my eyes. Mason's face appeared in my mind. I snuggled up against my pillow. It wasn't his arms, but it would do.

---------------------

"SHELBY!"

I was in a deep sleep but the numbing shock of pure unrelenting cold woke me quickly. I let out a shriek. Water and ice poured over my head and shoulders.

Addy was standing over me with a metal bucket in hand. Dan was peering in the door, a grin spread across his face.

"You overslept. You mumbled that you were getting up an hour ago. It's nine o'clock."

I ran a hand down my face. My hair clung to my face and neck. I think I was in shock.

"Get up, get dressed and come down to the barn. We're going to have to work together to get ready. You'll definitely be helping me with the kids today."

She walked out of the room. I glanced at Dan.

"GET!"

His eyes widened and he scampered after Addy. I got out of bed and staggered to the mirror. I gasped.

My lips were swollen. I touched them gently. They kind of felt like medical gloves that had been blown up. They didn't hurt but it was a reminder that last night had been real.

So real.

As if my lips weren't enough proof I grabbed a band to pull my hair back. I paused and stared at my neck.

A hickey. Mason had given me a hickey!

I let my hair fall back down. Feeling a little like a rat, I scurried around and got into jeans and a t-shirt.

Addy was mucking the stalls when I ran into the barn. She glanced over at me and nodded at the spare shovel.

"How come you overslept?"

"I couldn't sleep last night. It was too warm. I forgot to set my alarm."

That answer seemed to pacify her. I worked hard to finish mucking before she did. I stuck the hose in the water bucket and watched it fill. My hand went to my hair. It was driving me crazy, but it was still shielding my neck.

"Mom, where's your whistle?"

Addy and I both looked towards the barn door. Dan was bouncing from foot to foot.

"Why?"

"Mason's being a poop and dad can't wake him up. Even the ice water didn't do the trick this morning!"

Addy grinned. "Tell daddy it's in the junk drawer. And if that doesn't work tell dad to get the matches and stick them between Mason's toes."

Dan laughed and ran back to the house. Addy turned towards me but I looked back down at the water bucket and shut the water off.

"Funny that Mason's so tired too," Addy said lightly.

"I think I heard him go down to the kitchen last night," I said feebly. "Maybe he couldn't sleep either."

Addy didn't press and there was no way that I was going to keep talking.

Mason stopped by while I was fixing the strap of a little girl's riding helmet. He smiled.

"Good morning."

"Almost afternoon," I corrected.

"I'm headed to work."

"Did your dad have to light your feet on fire?" I asked. Mason laughed.

"I'm immune to ice water, what can I say?"

He stood there and for one crazy moment I thought he was going to kiss me. Or maybe I just hoped he would. Instead he waved.

"Have a good afternoon!"

"You too!"

He left and I tapped the top of the girl's helmet.

"All set!"

She ran off to her horse and I followed. Addy caught my eye. She had a knowing look in her eye.

But I didn't want her to know.

------------------------

By the time that I showered and got back to my room, I was cranky. My face had gotten sunburned. I had fallen into some horse shit in the arena.

Plus Mason wasn't around.

I picked up my phone from the dresser. I was surprised to find that I had ten missed calls all from the past ten minutes.

All from home.

That was never good.

I sat on the edge of the bed with my legs swinging back and forth. The phone rang once, twice, three times. Finally on the third ring the call was picked up.

"SHEL?"

It was Ally. She sounded fratic.

"Al, what's wrong?"

She let out a wail.

"MOM'S NOT HERE!"

"Is she supposed to be?"

My palms began to sweat. All I could think of was the worst. Mom had hit her head and had amnesia. Her car had broke down and an insane highway killer had gotten to her. Or worse yet, mom had gotten abducted by aliens.

"She took the twins to the doctor and...I'M BLEEDING!"

I heard a click.

"Shel?"

It was dad.

"Hi dad."

Ally continued to wail.

"Al, honey get off the phone a second."

There was a gigantic sniffle and a click.

"Shel, what the hell do I do? She's ten!"

I smiled.

"Dad, I had my first period when I was ten."

"You did? I thought you were older."

"Nope."

"I need you to tell her it will be okay."

Dad sounded almost as freaked out as Ally.

"I can't explain...this stuff."

I laughed.

"Put her back on."

There was a little scuffling.

"Hey Shel, Ally's bleeding out of her va-jay-jay."

"JOE GET OFF THE PHONE!" Dad screamed.

There was a cackle and then I heard Ally's pathetic sniffle.

"Al, go into the bathroom and check the right hand drawer. You'll find the pads there."

"I wish mom was here. I wish you were here."

She sounded miserable.

"I'm so sorry Ally bug," I said. "I know this is freaky."

She sighed. "It's not that bad but it's these boys."

It hadn't been so bad for me. Ally and Joe had still been little and the twins were...I couldn't remember. I think mom might have been pregnant.

I heard the sound of the drawer opening.

"There's Advil in the medicine cabinet. That will help with the cramps. Mom's going to be home soon right?"

"Yeah. Dad looks like he's going to pass out."

I smiled. I vaguely remembered dad being gone the day I had my first period. I almost felt as bad for him as I did for Ally.

Almost.

"Listen, you lock the bathroom door and just take some time. Call me back and I'll stick with you until mom comes home, okay?"

"Thank you Shel. I love you."

I smiled. "I love you too."

We hung up and I leaned back. My little sister had just gotten her first period.

And I had almost, almost lost my virginity. I stuck the corner of my nail in my mouth and nibbled.

The rational part of me was really glad I had told Mason to stop.

But, the other part of me, the hopeless curiosity seeker, couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like.

Something told me that I was going to get another chance to make up my mind.

And I had a feeling my curiosity was going to win the next time around.
Chapter 15 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Fifteen

I paid the price for oversleeping. For the next week, it seemed like I was working longer and longer and doing more and more. Kevin had found a million little problems and so before and after his shift, Mason was busy driving nails into fenceposts or applying new coats of paint. In the little bit of time that we were able to steal in the day, we agreed, between kisses, that work sucked.

One night as we all sat around enjoying big plates of spaghetti and meatballs, Mason glanced over at his dad.

"I have a favor to ask."

Kevin looked up. One of his thick eyebrows arched.

"Oh?"

"I was hoping you could take Shel and me shopping tomorrow. We both have the day off."

"Who said I'm giving Shelby a day off?" Addy asked. Mason looked over at her. She smiled.

"Just kidding. She gets a day off."

"Where do you want to go shopping?" Kevin asked.

"Lexington. I want to get something to wear to the club for my birthday."

Kevin cut his meatball in half, carefully took a bite and nodded as he chewed.

"Well, I guess that would be okay."

Mason and I both grinned. Dan slurped up a noodle.

"Can I come?"

"Sure!" Mason said. He had agreed too quickly. I was about ready to give him a look when all of a sudden I felt his bare foot reach out and nudge mine. Then he ran his foot up my bare leg. My fingers tightened around my fork. I fought hard not to blush. Mason took a drink of his soda. I saw his lips smirk around the rim. He thought he was so suave. I'd show him.

I pulled my leg back. Then I pressed my foot gently right into his lap and wiggled my toes.

Soda went everywhere. I'm not even exaggerating. He leaned forward and began to cough. Dan was staring at his plate in disgust. Addy leaned over and started whapping him on the back.

"What happened?"

I slowly (slowly) pulled my leg back. Mason's eyes were watering.

"Swallowed. Wrong pipe," he gasped. He looked at me. His eyes were smoky again. Like that night.

The night in the lake.

"Well, I think I'm full," Kevin announced. He tossed his napkin down. I bounced up.

"I'll take your dishes," I said sweetly. He looked surprised. I felt Mason's eyes drilling into me, but I didn't meet his gaze again.

To do so would have been a dead giveaway.

---------------------------

"I want to go to the toy store! I saw this really cool airplane we can build. It really flies, dad!"

Kevin looked at the both of us. I had a feeling we were both looking a little too eager to be rid of a parental.

"Well..."

"It's cool dad. We'll just going to go to Abercrombie," Mason said. "We can meet you at the food court."

"Daaaaaadddddd."

Dan was tugging on Kevin's arm. He wasn't making much progress. Kevin was solid.

I guess that's where Mason got it.

"Alright, kiddo. Let's go. But I didn't say I'd buy it."

"It's a Wildcats airplane with a huge engine!"

I saw Kevin's face light up. "Really?"

Mason and I watched them walk off. I turned towards Abercrombie.

"Where are you going?"

"Abercrombie?"

Mason smiled. "I hate Abercrombie."

So did I.

"Well why did you tell--"

Mason took my hand and I had no choice but to follow.

He stopped at American Eagle. For as sneaky as he was being, I was surprised that this was the huge secret.

"One quick stop," he said. He wasn't kidding. He was a typical guy. He grabbed a shirt, he grabbed a new pair of jeans and before I knew it he had the bag.

"Outfit bought," he said.

"We came all the way here for that?" I asked. Mason laughed.

"Don't you want something new?"

At first I thought he was having a seizure. His eyes kept flicking to the right. Finally I looked in that direction and realized he was shooting glances at Victoria's Secret. I looked back at him.

This could be trouble.

Luckily for him, I liked trouble.

"As a matter of fact, I do," I said. I walked towards the store. Victoria's Secret was definitely not the type of place I usually made vast amounts of purchases, but Mason looked like a homeless puppy.

I was a sucker for homeless puppies.

It was almost July and the store was packed with scraps of barely there everythings. Even the dresses were barely there. I stopped at a rack and began to flip through it. I could just hear my dad now...

Too short.

Too revealing.

Too suggestive.

Mom usually sided with dad. But mom and dad weren't here. And Kevin was off doing something with planes. I picked out a couple of dresses and turned.

"I've got to try these on," I said.

Mason grinned. "You can model them for me."

Even though the Victoria's Secret in Lexington was large, they still had the crappy clothing booths with the pink pull curtain. The one back home had nice dressing rooms with doors that locked.

Of course, like I said, I hadn't gone there often.

I walked into an open booth and slid the curtain shut. The first dress that I took off the hanger was a red mini-dress. It wasn't my favorite color but I decided to try it anyhow. I stripped down and yanked the thing over my head.

When they said mini-dress, they weren't kidding. I sucked in as much breath as possible to get it over my hips. I stared in the mirror in horror. I looked like a prostitute.

Too short...Too revealing...Too much boob.

"Shel? Can I see?"

"No!" I called out.

I yanked the thing off and tried another. This one was purple lace. With my red hair I looked like a Valentine.

And I could see my underwear right through it.

"Shel?"

I yanked it off. The last one I had picked was black. It came up high around my neck but the back was completely open. The outline of the back was laced in little silver sequins. It was short, but it wasn't see-through and my boobs weren't falling out. It was---

"Shel?"

Mason's face peeked around the curtain. I turned. His face lit up in a smile.

"Wow, I like that."

"Mason, you can't be in here," I whispered. His eyes widened innocently. I knew better than to fall for the angelic look. Slowly he lifted his hand.

A little scrap of string that I guess you could call a pair of panties dangled off his fingers.

"It would look good with this," he said meekly.

I was braless and now he wanted me to try on dental floss. I took it from him and tossed it onto the bench behind me. He wasn't fazed. He stepped all the way into the booth. In moments he was right in front of me. His hands slid along my bare back.

"Everyone's going to be jealous of me," he whispered. It was silly, but I felt a rush of pride. Feminine pride.

I was woman...hear me roar.

"Jealous?" I whispered.

His hands slid under the material. I felt his fingers on the sides of my breasts.

"I'm going to have the most gorgeous date," he said softly. His arms pressed me towards him and his lips pressed against mine hungrily. It had been more than a week since the lake and it was like he had been starving for contact.

Of course truthfully, so had I. I ran my hands along his jaw, reveling in the feel of his stubble. Our mouths opened and there was a moment where our tongues touched just barely. His hands fell from my breasts and disappointment coursed through me...until his hands slid down under the dress in the opposite direction and his hands grabbed my ass.

There was more than enough to go around.

"Mas," I whispered into his mouth. He smothered any other words with his amazing kiss.

He pressed me against the dressing room wall. His fingers slid under my panties. My breath caught in my throat. Suddenly even this teeny tiny dress was too warm. It was like a freakin parka. It was--

"AHEM."

Mason had a hold of my bottom lip, but it came back into my ownership as we looked to our right. The curtain was pulled back and a saleslady was staring at us, hands on hips.

"I think you two need to leave."

I was mortified. I was pressed against the wall with Mason's hands in my panties and---

Mason smiled. It was a calm smile. As if he had only just gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar rather than in my panties just centimeters from my hoo-ha.

"Can she at least buy the dress?" he asked.

---------------

"I can't believe she let me buy the dress," I said. "I don't even know if I like this dress."

Mason pressed his hand against the small of my back.

"Well, I do."

We were walking along with our packages and we were splitting a strawberry banana smoothie.

"We're just lucky she didn't call our parents," I said quietly.

"She didn't know how old we were. You looked about nineteen in that dress."

I smiled. I couldn't help it. What a compliment!

"I just wish you would have bought those panties too," Mason whispered. He leaned towards me and I was anticipating how the smoothie would taste coming off his lips when I heard an excited laugh. We both turned.

"WE GOT THE PLANE!" Dan yelled happily. Kevin was holding a huge package and smiling almost as much as his little mini-me.

"I got my clothes!" Mason mimicked in faux-excitement.

Kevin's eyes darted to my Victoria's Secret bag. I couldn't help it. I blushed.

"I got a dress," I said meekly.

"There? Your dad lets you shop there?"

I smiled. "My dad's AJ McLean."

It wasn't a line I used often, but I loved when I had the opportunity to toss it out there. Kevin smirked. I was pretty sure his gaze landed on my nose ring.

"Oh yeah. I forgot."

He didn't ask any more questions and Mason and I didn't provide any answers. We ate lunch at the food court and then climbed into the SUV to head home. The SUV was roomier than the truck, but I still had a soft spot for the truck.

The truck was like a partner in crime.

And I had a feeling Mason and I had a lot more crime to commit.
Chapter 16 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Sixteen

It was three days before Mason's birthday and we were all gathered outside. Dan was standing in the middle of the empty arena and Kevin was kneeling right behind him. Dan was holding the remote to the plane.

"Okay, this is it," Kevin said. He sounded way too excited about a plastic plane.

I was sitting on the fence, my legs swinging back and forth. Mason was sitting beside me. It was hard not to reach for his hand. Addy was standing back by the barn. She looked like she was prepared for disaster.

"Alright, here we go!"

Kevin pointed at the controls and Dan followed his instructions. The blue and white plane slowly took off into the sky. Mason clapped.

"Awesome! Great job D--"

"Don't you dare hop off that fence!" Kevin called. Mason sighed.

The airplane soared up in the air. With the turn of the control, it did a fancy roll.

That's when it burst into flames.

Kevin and Dan watched open-mouthed. I wasn't sticking around. Mason and I toppled over the fence. Mason was shielding me from the renegade sparks.

"OUT OF THE WAY!"

Addy dashed past us. Now I knew why she was standing by the barn. She was keeping close to the water hose. She shot the hose directly towards the plane. Dan glanced down at the remote in disappointment.

"It blew up," he said sadly.

"That's because dad didn't listen to me," Addy said calmly. Kevin looked at her.

"What are you talking about?"

She snickered. "I told you not to put the blue and red wires together."

"Well I---"

Addy dropped the hose and leaned down and kissed him. Dan made a face. Of course, he got the next kiss.

"We'll get another plane and I will help you boys," Addy said with a snicker.

The snicker didn't last long. Kevin grabbed the hose and it was all over. She shrieked as the water smacked into her.

"This is gross," Mason said. I nodded. We glanced each other.

"C'mon."

He headed up into the treehouse. I followed him. It was almost sunset. I stretched against the wall. Mason sat right beside me. His hand rested on my jean-covered knee; he nuzzled my neck and kissed it. I currently had not one, not two, but three hickeys I was trying to cover up.

If I hadn't known better, I would have sworn he was part vampire.

"Mas, don't you dare..." I said, but I trailed off. It was impossible to scold him. I closed my eyes.

"You taste so good," he whispered.

My breath came faster. I was pretty sure that I was going clinically insane. I couldn't do anything without thinking about him.

Even before I had left Florida, I had bought Mason's birthday present. It was a hat and just some other gag junk that I thought he would get a kick out of.

Now I had a different present in mind. One that couldn't be unwrapped in front of an audience...

"Mas?"

"Mmm?"

"Do you think we can sneak out tonight?"

His lips paused. He looked up at me.

"Probably. Why?"

I stared into his eyes; they were the most amazing shade of green.

"I'm ready," I whispered.

He looked at me in confusion. Then he seemed to realize what I meant. His eyes widened.

"Ready...you mean?"

I nodded. My hand ran along his strong neck muscle. He leaned forward and kissed me.

"Ew, this is my house!"

Mason and I both looked down at the opening of the treehouse. Dan was staring at us. He grinned.

"I am so telling."

He started to dart back down but Mason was quicker. He yanked Dan up through the hole.

"You saw nothing."

"I saw you sucking Shelby's face off!"

"I'm warning you..."

Dan began to inhale like a human vaccum cleaner. I decided that I had midjuged him Dan was way more like Joe than I had initially thought.

"Dan, I will kill you if you tell dad."

"How much is it worth?"

"What?"

"I can keep a secret," Dan said sweetly. "But it's gonna cost you."

In the end Dan climbed down the ladder twenty dollars richer. Mason and I climbed down right after him.

"What were you three doing up there?" Addy asked.

Dan glanced back at me and Mason. He turned around and smiled up at his mom.

"I was teaching them the secret handshake. It's the only way to get into my fort."

Addy smiled and ruffled his hair. "When do I get to learn it?"

"Moms can't come in."

Dan ran off. Addy watched him go. She turned back to us.

"So what are the four of us going to do tonight?"

"The four of us?" Mason asked.

"Your dad's got something to do. So it's just us four."

Mason glanced at me. I could see the wheels turning in his head. I decided for once to help him out.

"My cell phone charger died. I was hoping Mas might be able to take me to Wal-mart so I can get a new one," I explained.

"Then we're going to grab some ice cream. We can bring one back for you and Dan," Mason offered.

"So you need the truck?" Addy asked.

"Well, yeah."

"You won't be gone long?"

Mason shook his head. "An hour...hour and a half tops."

"And you'll bring back ice cream?"

Mason smiled. "My treat."

Addy smiled. "Well, I think after putting out that airplane fire, I could use some ice cream. I'll give you my truck keys."

Kevin was backing out of the driveway in the SUV. He rolled down his window.

"Hey, Mas, can you pour one more cup of water over the plane in the trash?"

"Sure dad."

"Thanks son."

He waved and rolled the car window back up. Mason and I watched him take off.

"I'll go water the plane," Mason said. His eyes were sparkling. My pulse spiked.

"I'm going...to run inside...for just a second," I said.

We split up. I ran into the house and up the stairs. I closed the door to my room behind me.

"Deodorant," I mumbled. I grabbed my stick of Secret, yanked my shirt off, and applied. I wasn't sure of all the rules, but I figured good smelling pits would be appreciated.

I pulled open one of the dresser drawers. I exchanged my old sports bra for a nicer bra. I glanced up at the mirror.

"Here we go Shelby," I said to my reflection. "I'll be seeing you on..." I paused. "The other side when I get back."

I put my shirt back on. Then I thought twice and put on a nicer shirt. Then I thought that might make Addy suspicious and I put the first one back on.

By this time I had killed a pretty good chunk of time. I took a deep breath and pounded back down the steps.

Mason was standing by the truck twirling the key. The door to the barn was open and Dan and Addy were giving the horses a little extra hay. I turned back to Mason. There was a moment when we just stared at each other. We were the only ones in the world that knew what was about to happen.

"I'm ready," I said confidently. He opened the passenger door and I hopped up into the truck.

Mason climbed in and the truck roared to life. I knew for a fact that we weren't going to Wal-mart.

But I had no clue where we were really going.

Mason reached over and grabbed my hand. We didn't speak. There wasn't need for words. The clock was counting down to zero on this part of our lives. We were going to cross over...

Together.
Chapter 17 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Seventeen

"Mason where are we?"

"We're almost there."

There were trees everywhere. I was sure the truck was going to get stuck at any minute. Even the headlights weren't helping.

"Mas, I---"

The rest of my sentence disappeared back down my throat. Suddenly the trees broke away and we were in a clearing. A nice empty clearing. Mason put the truck in park and we undid our seatbelts. Mason grinned. I could tell he was proud of himself.

"I found it."

I glanced around.

"Found what?"

"Make-out point."

I blushed. I don't even know why. Maybe it was because I knew we were going to do more than make-out.

Yeah, that was probably it.

"How'd you know about this?"

"Larry told me," Mason said. He shifted on the seat and held up a little foil wrapper.

"And he gave me this."

A condom. Mason was a much better boy scout than I had been a girl scout.

He was prepared.

I met Mason's eyes. That little package said a lot about our plans. I ran my tongue along my lips.

"You're sure, right?" Mason asked. I nodded.

"I'm sure."

The sun had dipped below the trees and the whole field was filled with the long shadows of summer. Mason leaned towards me and I prepared for a kiss, but instead his hand reached out and snaked into my hair.

"I love your hair," he whispered. I opened my mouth. His hand slid from my curls and trailed along my cheeks.

"I love your freckles," he continued.

My heart was pounding. There was a lot of love going around. His fingers ran along my lips.

"I love your lips."

He leaned forward and kissed me passionately. This was what I had been waiting for. My arms wrapped around his neck and I scooted towards him on the seat.

"I love you," he murmured as he drew in my lip for a long slow nibble.

I had been delusional when I thought I had been having a heart attack on top of the water tower. That was nothing compared to this moment.

Mason had just told me he loved me!

I pulled back and stared into his eyes. Those green eyes.

"I love you too," I whispered. I was surprised that my voice didn't shake. It sounded...confident.

I don't know why, but hearing those words seemed to trigger some type of male animal thing. His hands pressed into my back and before I knew it, I was stretched out along the seat of the truck, my head tilted back as Mason's tongue savored every square inch of the inside of my mouth. I prayed that I wouldn't swallow his tongue it probed so deep.

The hands that had lowered me down now came around to the front. I was still clinging to his neck, my fingers sliding into his hair like I was drowning and he was my life raft. I felt his palm on the bare flesh of my stomach and then his fingers trailed up, up, up and reflexively my back arched.

He fiddled with my bra clasp and I heard a moan of frustration. He pulled away from my tingling mouth just long enough to put his full attention into how to unsnap a bra. When he finally got it, the corners of his mouth lifted in a satisfied smile.

"These things are tricky," he whispered. I smiled.

"They're necessary."

"Not in my mind."

My hands fell from his head and he pushed up my shirt. As it went over my head, my bra went with it.

It was like the night at the lake all over again. The feel of laying there with nothing seperating my skin from the air all around me was amazing.

"Damn Shel," Mason said. He was staring at me like I was some type of statue at the art museum. His hands ran up and down my sides. He started to lean down, his mouth open slightly, when my hands yanked up the bottom of his shirt. He paused to allow me to take it off.

I felt better. The clothes ratio was even. And the hard plane of his stomach was too hot to keep covered.

My eyes were half closed like I was drunk. And maybe I was. Not by alcohol but just by...this.

His kisses rained down along my neck, my collarbone and took a long-lasting stay at my breasts.

Never was I more glad that I had big boobs. Mason was definitely a boob man. And he was good with them. At one point I couldn't help the desperate moan that escaped my lips. He paused in his temptation and slowly nibbled his way down my stomach.

When he got to my jeans, his fingers deftly released the button. Down went the zipper. My hips arched. This was a necessary process if we were going farther. My flip-flops had already been kicked to lord knows where. The jeans crumpled up by the driver's side door.

I was ready to do my part with his jeans, but he didn't seem bothered. Those kisses that rained down along my stomach went lower.

Lower.

"Oh god," I gasped. My hand reached back reflexively for a hold. All I could do was slap my palm against the glass. The world momentarily seemed to spin. I was caught off guard. Even more so when his fingers slid under the band and pulled the panties down my bare legs.

I was naked on an old leather truck seat. That was the reality. The other reality was that Mason didn't look comfortable in his jeans. I grabbed for his waistband and tugged. His eyes glazed over.

I sat up, trying to push all of the swirl of delicious sensations from Mason's lips out of my head. I undid the button of his jeans and slowly pulled down the zipper. He kicked out of them.

All that was left was the boxers. I ran my hand along him and he drew in a sharp breath. That breath turned into a long drawn out curse as I lowered my head and sucked through the flimsy cotton.

"Shel," he growled. His hands wrapped around my shoulders. In another second I was back down along the seat. The boxers were off.

And it was us.

Again.

I knew the basics of how this all worked. I wrapped a bare leg around him. He lowered himself down. We were mouth to mouth, chest to chest...

And there it was again. The erection that I had turned away the last time. Against my thigh. This time I wasn't stopping. I remembered how some of the girls at school had said it had hurt. I didn't like pain.

But then I remembered the same girls saying how good it felt.

A good pain. I wanted to know what that felt like.

Mason reached back and I caught a glimpse of the shiny package in his hand. He ripped it open.

We were ready.

"I'm never going to forget this night," Mason whispered.

"Me either."

His kiss came long and slow. My hands slid down his back. I could feel his heart beating just as fast as mine. His hand ran along the outside of my leg. I pressed tighter against him.

He was there. Not there there but knocking at the door. I could just feel the tip. It was like he was pausing and we were soaking up the last few seconds of our virginity and I prepared myself for that quick moment of pain and....

The door that was bracing my head suddenly disappeared. It opened so fast that I thought the door might have just decided to fall off all by itself.

But that wasn't the case.

"GET THE FUCK OFF MY DAUGHTER!"

"MASON, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

My heart stopped. Mason looked up and I tried to tilt my head that far back.

Dad and Kevin were standing there looking murderous.
Chapter 18 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Eighteen

I was mortified. Wait, mortified wasn't even a strong enough word. I don't think they've even invented the word to describe how I felt.

There was a mad scramble for clothes. I couldn't find my bra, but I tugged on my shirt. I'm pretty sure my underwear went on backwards. I couldn't find my flip-flops either.

I was a shoeless, braless, virgin.

Sigh.

"You two, get out here. Now." Kevin commanded. Dad was still holding the door. I was pretty sure he was gripping it so hard the metal was denting. Mason climbed out after me. He didn't have a chance to say anything. Dad let go of the door and his hands grabbed the front of his shirt.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing with my daughter?"

"I---"

Mason was as tall, if not a little bit taller than dad, but it didn't seem to faze dad one bit. He pressed his face close to Mason's. He pulled his fist back and all I could think about was Mason's gorgeous face being mangled.

"Dad, please," I begged. Kevin's hand wrapped around dad's wrist.

"I'll take care of him. He's my responsibility."

"Well you haven't done a good job so far."

My eyes widened in surprise. Dad and Kevin went back. Way back. Like stone-age back.

"Your daughter is not without fault," Kevin said calmly. Dad bristled.

"Shel didn't do anything," Mason said quickly. I shook my head and opened my mouth, but I was interrupted.

"I think we need to talk about this at home," Kevin said. He held out a set of keys to dad.

"Why don't you follow me back?"

Dad took the keys and looked at me.

"Shelby, in the car."

I glanced at Mason. His face was a mask of disappointment, regret, and worry. Kevin climbed in the truck and Mason hopped back in through the open passenger door.

I followed dad to the SUV. I quietly got in the passenger side. He got in the driver's side and slammed the door.

Kevin made a big circle and started down the narrow path. Dad followed.

"What the hell were you thinking Shelby? Is this what you came up here for?"

Tears burned in my eyes. I hated when dad was mad.

"No," I whispered. "I came up here to work."

Dad had a death grip on the wheel. Even his tattoos looked pale.

"How many times--"

A tear fell down my cheek.

"We haven't. This was the---this was going to be the first." My voice seemed to totally disappear.

"Shel, you're too young to be doing this. You can't let boys pressure you--"

"Mason didn't pressure me."

Dad didn't say anything else, but I could practically hear his teeth grinding together. I folded my arms across my chest.

The way my luck was running, my bra was probably stuck on the truck brake and Kevin would probably find it.

We didn't say anything else the entire ride back to the house. Dad parked behind Kevin and we all got out. As we headed up the porch steps, I could see my mom and Addy sitting in the kitchen.

"Mom's here?" I said in surprise.

"Kevin picked all of us up at the airport. Your mom and I decided to fly the whole family up here as a surprise to see you and to celebrate..." Dad trailed off and glared daggers at Mason. Mason sucked in a breath.

The screen door banged loudly behind us as we all filed in. Mom poked her head out of the kitchen. Addy wasn't far behind. They both didn't look happy.

"Where were they?" Addy asked.

"The clearing."

"Were my directions okay?"

"Yeah. We found it fine."

I saw two heads bobbing on the stairs. So did Mason. He lunged towards Dan.

"You little shit--"

"THEY MADE ME TELL!" Dan shrieked. Kevin grabbed the back of Mason's shirt and tossed him back.

"Don't blame your brother for this."

Dan ran up the stairs. The second head stayed put. It was grinning.

"Joe, go upstairs," dad said sternly.

"But--"

"NO BUTS!"

Joe stood up and stomped up the stairs.

It was just the six of us. Mom, dad, Kevin, Addy, Mason and me. Mom looked at dad.

"What happened?"

"Under a blanket of steamed windows, this," dad pointed at Mason. "was about to have sex with our daughter."

My face felt like it was on fire.

"Mason?" Addy said. It was poised as a question.

"This is bullshit," Mason said bitterly. Kevin still had a hold of his collar. He gave it another yank.

"No, what's bullshit is that I'm going to get us out of here on the next available flight," dad announced.

My eyes widened.

"Dad I still have four more weeks of work--"

"You're fired," dad said simply. I gasped.

"But Mason's birthday!"

"I think," dad sounded venomous. "he got enough of a present."

At this point Kevin turned around.

"Don't blame all this on him," he said.

This started off a round of loud bickering between the dads. I glanced at mom. I prayed she would understand. She stared at me in disappointment. It was Addy that broke it up with a loud finger whistle.

"ENOUGH! Now, we need to all just talk about this like adults."

"They're kids!" Kevin and dad said simultaneously.

"Just sit," Addy commanded.

Dad made sure I was sandwiched between him and mom. Mason got the seat between Kevin and Addy. I looked down at my hands.

"There's no reason you guys have to fly home immediately," Addy said calmly. "You're our guests. I hope that you'll stay until after Mason's party."

"I agree with that. I can't drag the twins back onto a plane," mom said. I knew she meant Brayden and Tristan. Of course, she might have also meant Joe come to think of it.

"I don't know if he's going to have a party now," Kevin said. Addy looked at him and shook her head.

"If he has to cancel the party, the other kids are going to want to know why. Believe it or not, Mason's street cred will go through the roof at high school. That's not a punishment."

Mason looked at Addy like she was his savior. She smiled at him...but it was one of those double-edge sword smiles.

"Oh we're not done with you. I am going to work your fingers down to the bone and I'm going to make sure you write an article for the newspaper about the benefits of abstinence."

Mason looked horrified. I couldn't blame him. An article in the newspaper? Oh Lord...

"I do think Shelby should go back to Florida," Addy continued. She looked at me. "You were a good worker, but under the circumstances..."

"How could you let them run around wherever they wanted to unsupervised?" dad interrupted. Kevin's fist landed on the table. The salt and pepper shakers rattled.

"AJ, you're talking like you were some kind of saint when you were their age. They're teenagers. We were teens once. We weren't kept on leashes. I don't even want to think about how many of 'daddy's little girls' you slept with."

I didn't want to think about that. I knew that dad had been considered a (gag) 'sex symbol' at one time, but...ugh.

"Well he should be kept on a leash," dad said. "Or better yet neutered." Kevin gave dad the dirtiest look I had ever seen.

"That's low AJ and you know it," he said coldly. "Besides, if anyone should be kept on a leash, it's her," Kevin continued. "She's the one that went to Victoria's Secret and bought God knows what and probably teased Mason with it all."

Dad looked at me. I hadn't thought the night could get worse. But it was.

"You what?"

"Dad..."

Dad pinched the bridge of his nose.

"After we're done here I'm going up to your room," mom said. "You know I don't approve of you wearing that stuff."

"Fine," I said quietly.

There was more discussion but I was barely paying attention. I felt like I was going to throw up. All I could think about was having to go home.

I didn't want to go home.

"We'll stay for the party," I heard dad say. "We'll leave the next day."

Everyone seemed to be in agreement with that plan. While dad and Kevin stayed in the kitchen, mom nudged me upstairs. I sat on my bed and held out the Victoria's Secret bag. She took out the dress.

"Honey, this is not a dress for a sixteen year old. What is going on with you?"

"I love him."

Mom sank down beside me.

"You two are moving way too quickly."

I sighed. Mom folded the dress back up and stuck it in the bag.

"I think you need some time apart to evaluate your actions. Shel, when we get home you're going without phone or internet for a month."

I gasped.

"Mom..."

"No, Shel. I don't want you to end up doing something you regret."

The only thing I regretted was getting caught. Leaving had been bad. But no contact with Mason? For an entire month?

That was unbearable.

"I want you to stay up here, get changed and get some sleep. We'll talk more tomorrow."

Mom closed the door behind me and I sat there staring at the floor. In a perfect world, Mason and I should have just been getting home. We should be laughing and kissing and talking about how amazingly different everything was.

The only part that was true was that things were amazingly different.

But not in a good way.
Chapter 19 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Nineteen

I woke up late the next day. Of course, I was technically 'fired' from my job, so it wasn't like I needed to set an alarm.

I just hadn't expected to wake up with Joe right in my face.

"What are you doing?" I screeched.

"What did you and Mason do?" he replied. "I've never seen dad so pissed."

I groaned. The events of last night came flooding back. Not that they had ever gone far.

"I don't want to talk about it."

Joe grinned. "Then it must have been real bad."

"What was bad?"

Ally came into the room yawning.

"Didn't you hear the explosion from downstairs last night?" Joe asked. Ally gave him a look. Joe looked apologetic.

"Oh yeah."

Ally had to take her ear devices off before going to bed. She was oblivious to the world around her when they were off. She had to rely on her other senses.

"Where were you at?" Ally asked. "We got here and Dan said something about a vacuum cleaner and dad got so mad and him and Uncle Kevin took off."

"Guys, I don't want to talk about it," I said. Ally smiled.

"Is Mason your boyfriend?"

I was lucky Mason was still alive after the events of the night.

"Could you both just go so I can get up and brush my teeth?"

Joe hopped off the good idea.

"That's a good idea. Your breath reeks. I don't know how Mason could kiss that."

I shoved him aside and stood up.

"GET OUT!"

Joe took off but Ally paused a minute. She looked at me curiously. I couldn't get as mad at her. I sighed.

"I'll talk to you later, okay Al?"

She nodded and left the room.

I took a moment to look in the mirror. I looked like a mess. I yanked the elastic band out of my hair and headed down the hall to the bathroom.

Dad appeared out of nowhere. He glanced around. I had a feeling I knew what he was doing.

Mason patrol.

He didn't say anything and neither did I. I just gave him a dirty look and locked myself into the bathroom.

I took a shower but it was far from relaxing. About ten minutes in, I heard a lot of knocking.

"SHELBY I GOTTA PEE!" Tristan yelled. Or maybe it was Brayden. I don't know.

"THERE'S NOT ENOUGH BAFROOMS!"

After I made sure my hair was at least rinsed, I quickly got dressed. I yanked open the door. Brayden stared up at me.

"GO PEE!" I said impatiently.

"I don't got to anymore."

I looked down and groaned.

"MOM!"

--------------------------------

I had hoped to talk to Mason alone but anytime we got near each other there was some parental getting in the way. Finally I announced that I was taking Ally out to the barn.

If I couldn't talk to Mason, I'd at least talk to her.

"So what happened?" Ally asked as I pushed open the barn door.

"Dad thinks I'm five," I said angrily.

"What?"

"Mason and I..." I trailed off. "Yeah, we're a couple."

Ally's face broke into a huge grin. "I knew it! I've always known it," she said wisely.

"What?"

"You two have always been together. I can't remember you hanging out with anyone as much as Mason and you live so far away from each other."

I sighed. "Yeah, you're right."

She was right. Looking back it had always been Mason.

"He's gotten really tall," Ally added. "And cute."

I cracked a smile. My little sister might have been, well, little, but she had good taste.

"But what happened?"

I paused. "Mason and I were...in the truck and dad and Kevin caught us."

"Doing what?"

"Stuff."

"Oh."

I knew that with the whole 'period' talk it was mom's tradition to have the 'other' talk at the same time. I figured Ally could probably piece it all together. She leaned over the stall and ran her hand down Cracker's nose.

"Did you get in trouble?"

I snorted. "You could say that. I'm headed home with you guys."

Ally looked at me. "What? But why?"

I folded my arms. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got.

"Because dad doesn't trust me."

I had never been so angry with him in all my life. I was sixteen. I was an adult. Okay, maybe a young adult but that was still an adult. I could make grown-up decisions. It wasn't like we weren't being careful.

It wasn't fair.

--------------------------------------

"Mom, please don't make me do this."

We were at the mall in Lexington and we were standing outside Victoria's Secret. Mom shook her head.

"Nope, you're going in there and explaining why you need to return this dress."

I bit down on my tongue. This was ridiculous. Mason was back home digging holes in the dirt under Kevin's direct supervision. I highly doubted it was even for a purpose. I bet it was just punishment.

And I was being subjected to torture at the mall.

I shuffled into the store. With a heavy sigh I made my way to the counter.

"Can I help you?"

"I need to return this," I mumbled. I shoved the bag across the counter.

"What's the reason for the return?"

"I just don't like it," I said quietly. Mom coughed loudly behind me. I closed my eyes.

Ugh.

"The dress isn't appropriate for a girl my age," I said. The sales lady looked from me to mom and smiled.

"I see."

I stood there in agony as the lady made slow work out of the refund process. When I finally had the money, mom took it from me.

"Hey! Dad gave me that money!"

"And now I'm taking it back."

I shoved my hands in my jeans pockets and stomped out of the store.

Dad had corraled the twins, Ally, and Joe nearby. He looked at mom.

"Done?"

She nodded.

"Done."

Dad smiled at me. I didn't feel like smiling back.

"I found the perfect dress for you to wear," he said gently.

I didn't respond. Everyone followed dad. I was suddenly reminded of little ducklings following the main duck. And currently, dad was being a giant ass quack. We passed all of the cool and trendy stores. Dad stopped at the window of a store right next to the toy store and pointed in.

My jaw dropped.

The thing was pink (pink!) and looked like it was made by (and for) the Amish. It had long sleeves with white cuffs. What looked like a bib wrapped around the neckline. And the length...it came down to the ankles.

Joe started to laugh. "She'd look like a pink Mary Poppins!" he said in glee.

"I'll just wear something I brought from home," I said miserably.

At this point I couldn't get excited about the party anyhow.

I would be lucky if I was even able to say Happy Birthday to Mason.

Let alone give him the kiss I so wanted to share.
Chapter 20 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Twenty

"This place is AWESOME!"

Joe wasn't kidding. The club Kevin had rented was amazing. The lights momentarily blinded you when you walked in. There was a huge dance floor and the bar (serving sodas, thank you) wrapped along one entire wall.

Then there was the cake. It was five layers high, decked out in Mason's high school colors (not surprisingly, blue and white). A large M stood out on top with sixteen candles.

I was wearing one of my plain skirts and the nicest top I had brought along on the trip. I had painstakingly straightened my hair for two hours. I had spent almost as long on my makeup. Looking around at all the other girls, I still felt under-done.

The one bright spot in the whole thing was that Mom had finally thawed a little bit and told my dad that I should have a little freedom tonight.

After all, we were leaving the next day.

"CAKE!" Brayden squealed. Dad grabbed onto him. Mom held onto Tristan, foreshadowing a similar reaction.

"Don't even think about it," dad said calmly.

Ally was looking around, nodding her head to the music. She had brushed her hair a million times and it shone in long ebony layers.

I was pretty sure Joe hadn't even combed his hair today.

I didn't want to seem too eager, but I really wanted to get away from the family for awhile. I was suffocating. I looked over at mom. She smiled.

"Go ahead. I'm sure we'll catch up with you later on."

I didn't hesitate. I dove into the crowd of teens along the dance floor, my eyes peeled for Mason. His whole family had gotten about an hour's head start compared to my family. Of course, the McLeans always ran behind.

"Shelby?"

I turned. Mason's mom Kristin was standing there, drink in hand smiling warmly at me. She might have been old, but she was still gorgeous. I smiled.

"It's so good to see you again," I said politely.

She gave me a little one-armed hug and then looped her arm through mine.

"Kevin told me about the truck incident," she said. I tried to figure out what the best facial reaction would be. Embarassed? Apologetic?

"I think both of your dads are taking this in the wrong direction," she said simply. I looked at her in surprise. She smiled.

"Don't get me wrong. I'd prefer you and Mason to wait. But if you decide not to, that's your choice and keeping you guys under iron bars isn't going to help. Just do me a favor and play it safe, okay?"

I seriously thought I was dreaming. It was like a savior had rained down upon me that actually understood. I nodded.

"We promise."

Kristin smiled. "He's always had a thing for you."

I blushed. She squeezed my arm and drifted back into the crowd.

What a cool mom. I wondered if all California moms were like that.

If they were, I so wanted to move to Cali.

I decided to pause in my search for Mason. I headed to the bar. After grabbing a drink, I glanced around, surveying the people milling around.

"Look, at what we have here! A Shelby."

I closed my eyes. Only one person had called me 'A Shelby' before, and it was one person that I just couldn't get chummy with. I turned around and grimaced.

"Vanna," I said simply.

Savannah flung her hair over her shoulder and smiled at her mirror image. Sarah smiled and tapped her fingers along her cup.

"This is some party isn't it?" Vanna asked. "Have you seen Mason yet?"

I shook my head. "No, I was actually looking for him."

"He looks gorgeous tonight," Sarah said earnestly.

"Well, I think I'll just excuse myself---"

"What's really going on with you two?"

I looked back at Savannah.

"Why don't you ask him?"

"He won't tell me."

I smirked.

"Well then you're not part of our 'need to know' crowd."

I turned around before she could say anything else. I was just about ready to stand on a chair and start waving an 'SOS' in hopes Mas would see me, when I felt a strong, familiar hand on my arm.

"There you are."

I turned. Sarah had been right. Mason did look gorgeous. The quick stop and shop for an outfit had worked.

"MAS!"

His hand fell from my arm and he hugged me tightly. I had been in the same house as him for the last few days but it felt like I hadn't seen him in months.

"You look beautiful," he whispered. I laughed.

"This isn't what I had in mind," I whispered back. We pulled back and he smiled down at me.

"You're beautiful no matter what."

He stole a quick kiss. I sighed. It wasn't fair that we had to be so on guard.

"I talked to your mom," I said. Mason nodded.

"I know. She's totally cool. At least one of our parents understands."

I sighed. "Too bad she's the one that lives across country."

Mason nodded and glanced towards the dance floor. A slow song started.

"Want to dance?"

I smiled. "I'd love to."

He took my hand and we made our way out to the dance floor. I could feel the burning eyes of the 'gab squad' staring me down. Vanna was probably pissing herself over in the corner. I had an immense feeling of satisfaction. I wrapped my arms around his neck as his arms encircled my waist.

"I can't believe I can't talk to you for an entire month," he said sadly. "Any chance your parents will change their mind?"

I shook my head. "Probably not. But I have a few tricks up my sleeve."

Mason smiled. I savored another quick kiss.

"They can't keep us apart," he said softly.

"Not if I can help it," I said earnestly.

We fell into a comfortable silence as we sailed through the last half of the song. When it was over, there was the crackle of a microphone.

"Mason, can you come up to the front for the cake celebration?" Kevin called out.

Everyone clapped. Mason tugged at me, but I shook my head.

"No."

"Yes."

Reluctantly I wove through the crowd with him. I stopped at the outer edge of the circle that had formed. Mason walked up to his cake. Kevin and Kristin were standing beside it. They made a striking pair. I know that after the divorce Kristin had married again, but it hadn't worked out. As I watched her steal a sideways glance up at Kevin's face, I suddenly wondered if she ever regretted losing him.

It was a depressing thought.

"Sixteen years ago today the most beautiful baby boy in all the world was born," Kristin said. Everyone 'aww-ed.' Mason looked embarassed.

"We both couldn't be prouder of you," Kevin added. I spotted my dad in the crowd. He snorted and I saw his lips move. Mom jabbed him in the side.

"Happy Birthday, Mason!"

The crowd launched into a loud rendition of 'Happy Birthday.' After everyone else's voice faded away, Joe continued with the 'Scooby Doo on Channel 2' version. Everyone listened good-naturedly and clapped. Joe gave a bow.

He was such a ham.

"Make a wish!" Kristin said.

Mason looked right at me and I swear my heart got caught in my throat. Even as he blew out the candles, those green eyes were trained right on me.

I had a feeling I knew what he was wishing for.

And parents be damned, I was going to make it come true one way or another.
Chapter 21 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Twenty One

Two forty five.

That was the time on the alarm clock on the nightstand. I hadn't even gotten to stay for the end of Mason's party. Dad had announced that it was the twins bedtime and off we went back to the house. Kevin, Addy, and Mason had gotten back around midnight.

Our flight was scheduled for ten the next morning. Adding in travel time, that meant I only had six more hours to be in the same house as Mason.

And I didn't want to spend it sleeping.

I sat up and took a deep breath. I had done a lot of spontaneous things in my life but this one probably bordered on stupid.

I grabbed the comforter off my bed and yanked my window open. Mason's bedroom was on the other side of the house. I looked up.

"Here goes nothing," I whispered. I slung the comforter over my shoulder and grabbed onto the window ledge.

It took a lot of upper body strength and some quiet kicking and cursing, but finally I managed to hoist myself up on the roof. I stood up. I felt unbalanced, but I was there.

The whole world was dark. I slowly shuffled along the roof, praying that the new roof was thick enough that those below wouldn't hear my footsteps. At one point I crawled over the steepest part of the roof and slid down part of the way.

When I finally reached the other side, I took a moment. If I tapped on the wrong window this would be worse than bad. This would be---

I held my breath. There was noise. I was caught. Kevin probably kept a shotgun for the sole purpose of shooting critters off the roof. I was doomed I was---

"Shel?"

My eyes widened.

"Mas?"

There was a thump and then we were face to face, nose to nose.

"What are you doing?" Mason whispered.

"What are you doing?" I countered.

We smiled.

Mason held up his blanket. I held up my comforter.

"Great minds think alike," he said softly. I nodded.

We ended up spreading the comforter out. Together we fell back and stared at the sky.

"The stars seem so close up here," Mason said.

"Do you come up here often?" I asked. He smiled.

"I've done my share of thinking up here."

I took a deep breath. "I don't want to think tonight."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mason turn on his side. I looked over. He placed his hand on my cheek.

"Me either," he said quietly.

I leaned forward and kissed him...and not just a quick little kiss like we had stolen at the club. No, these were the kisses I cherish. Long, slow, and familiar. The type of kiss where you kind of forgot where you ended and he began.

Mason's arm snaked around my waist and I tilted my head just slightly as our kiss deepened. His hand pressed against the small of my back.

We didn't mention the fact that I was leaving in just a few hours. We didn't really talk at all. I felt like we had finally found a secret place all of our own.

My hands slowly slid down his chest. I broke away from his kiss and sat up.

His eyes followed my every movement. I lifted my tank over my head. I slid out of my pajama pants. Mason began to mimic my movements. When I was completely nude (as we he), we settled back down and I crooked my arm around his neck. His lips curved into a smile. A smile that I could feel as our lips brushed against each other.

This time was different then those times before. Our experience at the lake and in the truck had seemed so hurried...so much like a whirlwind. Tonight it seemed like we had finally found a way to make time slow, or rather go in reverse. Every touch drew out like the pluck of a guitar string or a brush stroke of fresh canvas.

"Shel," Mas whispered headily. His lips pressed against my bare shoulder. I stroked his face. My head felt like it had just emptied of everything but the moment.

"Tonight," I whispered back. We both knew what that meant. Mason reached up and I felt the cotton of his pajamas brush against my head. I heard the crinkle of a package.

"Got another from Larry," Mason whispered.

His thoughts hadn't been far from mine tonight.

Truthfully, his thoughts hadn't been far from mine since we were little.

Mason kissed me and he slowly hovered over me. The moonlight streaked through his blonde hair and I don't think I had ever seen anything more beautiful.

My legs wrapped around his waist. He ran his fingers along the side of my face.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you too," I said. It came out almost as a breath.

His lips pressed against mine and his hand ran the length of my thigh and for one split second there was a sting of pain and then the pain was gone and it was happening and we stared into each other's eyes and...

It was amazing. I closed my eyes and arched against him. I felt his heavy breath in my ear and I didn't want it to ever stop. My nails dug into his back. I didn't want it to end.

But it did. It ended with soft moans and declarations of love and me lying in Mason's arms wishing that we didn't live so far away and wishing that our parents weren't so anal and...

"Shel, are you okay?"

I wiped the tear that zig-zagged down my cheek.

"Did I hurt you?"

I shook my head. "No. It's not that...it's..."

My hand ran along his bare arm. I was pressed into him and I wished there was a way to permanently weld ourselves together so we could never be separated.

"I don't want to go," I finished in a tiny voice.

His lips pressed into my hair.

"It won't be for long. I promise," he said confidently.

He pulled me tighter and I let my head snuggle into the crook of his arm. I had to believe.

"Do you feel...different?" Mason asked hesitantly.

I paused. I still felt like the same old Shelby. Except...

"Yeah," I said.

"I love you more."

I looked up at him. He was smiling as if I had just told him he had won a car.

"I can't say the same."

Oh.

"Because I couldn't love you any more if I tried."

I smiled. He was the real deal. I was so glad I hadn't wasted my time with anyone else. I was--

Distracted. His lips were on mine again and we were officially not virgins and I would remember this night...

For the REST of my life.
Chapter 22 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Twenty Two

The next morning, Mason and his dad had a huge blowup over breakfast. Which, even though I hated to see them argue, it did diminish the importance of Dan's complaints about noisy night squirrels on the roof. Mason was insisting that he be allowed to come to the airport. Kevin said it wasn't necessary. This went back and forth for about twenty minutes before Addy jumped in and sided with Mason.

One more battle won.

I was still half numb from the memories of the night before. Mason and I had managed to sneak back into our rooms undetected.

But morning came too soon.

As I washed up, I took a long hard look at myself in the mirror; the mirror that had been my friend the past month.

Still the same Shelby on the outside...

But the inside was a different story.

As we all piled into the SUV, I glanced out at the house one last time. My eyes stared up at the roof.

Sigh.

My little bubble of fuzziness was soon popped. The twins were in rare form. Brayden had gotten a hold of some bubble gum and that started a loud round of wailing from Tristan. Halfway to the airport, dad made Brayden spit the gum out into his hand and out the window it went. Or so I thought. Joe must have caught it and snuck it back to Brayden. I saw him happily munching and giving appreciative looks to his big brother. I didn't even want to think about how many germs were rolling around in his little mouth by this time.

Ally had taken the seat next to me. Kevin had kept Mason up front. Ally kept glancing up at Mason and then back at me. I was trying so hard not to cry. She reached over and squeezed my hand. I gave her a weak, albeit watery, smile.

When we finally arrived at the airport, it seemed to take forever to check our luggage and find our gate. AJ and Kevin were keeping one eye on us as they stood off to the side talking quietly.

"This is a load of crap," Mason whispered. I nodded. My bottom lip started to quiver. By the time our boarding call came up, I was crying steadily. Mason glanced at the dads.

"Screw it," he muttered. He wrapped his arms around me and I leaned against his chest. His lips pressed against the top of my head.

"I love you," he whispered. I held onto his forearm for dear life.

"I love you too," I blubbered.

"Shel, time to go," mom said quietly. Mason's arms tightened around me even more. Through bleary eyes, I could see Joe pretending to vomit all over the place.

The second boarding call came over the speaker.

"Shel, we've got to go," mom repeated.

I was hoping that Mason would somehow be able to turn into a ninja and just karate chop everyone away.

But we weren't that lucky.

"Shelby, now," dad said. Kevin placed a hand on Mason's shoulder and all of a sudden his arms were gone and I was more miserable than I had ever been in my entire life.

I don't remember a lot about getting on the plane or the plane ride itself. I curled up next to the window and stared out at the Kentucky clouds. They weren't the same as the ones in Florida. The Kentucky ones were so much better. Ally sat by me, my little tiny soldier. She put her head on my shoulder and commerserated with me just by being there.

Meanwhile, the stewardess took Brayden and Tristan into the cockpit to meet the pilot. I'm surprised the plane didn't crash, but they came out talking excitedly and showing off their wings.

When I heard the announcement that we were going to be landing in ten minutes, I started bawling all over again.

For me, summer - no, life - seemed officially over.

----------------------------------

"Cell phone and laptop."

"Mom, please."

"I'm sorry honey. One month. Cell phone and laptop."

I hadn't even unpacked and I had already been cornered. My eyes were raw and itchy from crying. I held out my cell phone. Mom pocketed it. I reluctantly held out my laptop.

"I just want you to have some time to think about this without his influence," mom said. "You know, absence makes a heart grow fonder if the feelings are real."

I didn't answer her. How could I even begin to explain what I was feeling? Mom gave me a kiss on the forehead and walked out of the room. I curled up on my bed.

It had barely been hours and already I felt like I was going insane. Thirty days of this was going to be...

Ugh.

"ME WANT BANANA! ME WANT BANANA!"

Brayden and Tristan ran into my room wearing their monkey hoodies. Identical brown tails were attached to the back of their jeans.

"I don't have bananas," I said grumpily.

They began to make loud screeching sounds and before I knew it, I had two pairs of feet jumping up and down inches from my head.

"GO AWAY!"

"ME WANT BANANA!"

"GO ASK MOM TO GIVE YOU SOME DAMN BANANAS!" I yelled.

I felt tiny little hands yanking my hair as if they were picking off nits. I sucked in a breath. I was going to explode. Why in the hell did mom and dad decide to have these cretins? This was--

"Hey monkeys! Come get your bananas!"

I opened my eyes. Ally was standing at my doorway holding two bananas. She tossed them down the hall. The boys tackled each other and flew out in search of their food.

"Thank you," I said gratefully.

"We've gone through a lot of bananas this month," she said. She hovered at the door.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Are you okay?"

Tears sprang to my eyes again. I never cried. And today just filled my quota for years. Ally was the only person that had asked me how I felt. I'm sure mom and dad just thought I was being overly dramatic. It was nice to know that someone cared.

"I'm...depressed."

Ally walked in and sat down at the edge of my bed.

"Can I get you something?"

I smiled weakly. I wished more than anything that a banana or some hot chocolate could be the magic fix-all.

"Can you magically send Mason here?"

Ally shook her head.

"I can't do that."

"Then, no."

Ally looked down at me. She bit her lip. She always did that when she thought she was in trouble.

Or potentially going to get in trouble.

She was too good for her own...well, good.

"I might know how you can talk to him," she said quietly.

My eyes widened. "How?"

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a yellow phone with black stripes.

My eyes widened.

Mom and dad had gotten her a phone.

A cellphone.
Chapter 23 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Twenty Three

It turns out that Ally's phone was one of those 'kid-friendly' phones that only had four buttons. And, since it was yellow and black, it was aptly named 'The Bumblebee.'

Button one called home. Button two called dad's cell. Button three called grandma.

But button four was empty.

The first night I snuck down to dad's computer to see if I could find an account to program the fourth button.

No such luck.

I gave the phone back to Ally and spent two more days devising my plan.

Dad always told me that I was a great dramatic actress. I decided to put my skills to work. I practically went on a fast. I didn't come out of my room. I spent my time doodling in my sketch pad. Most drawings ended up looking like Mason. Mason smiling...Mason sleeping...Mason shirtless...

On the third day I finally came down for breakfast.

"Hey Shelster," dad said quietly. I sank down in my chair. I could feel Ally's eyes on me.

"Could I go to the mall today?" I asked softly. As if I hadn't used my voice for days. Which, in hindsight, I really hadn't.

"For what?"

"I was going to see if anybody was hiring. I'd like a job."

I lifted my head. Mom and dad looked at each other. I was counting on them thinking that a job would be a great way to stay busy.

And out of trouble. Or what they called trouble.

"Well, I guess that would be fine," dad said.

"Ally, you want to come?"

She smiled. "Sure!"

Joe looked up. His cheeks were stuffed with pancakes.

"Fhat about fee?"

"I am so not going to the mall with you," I said.

Joe swallowed. "That's bulls--"

"JONAH!"

Joe made a face. Another mouthful of pancakes were shoveled into his mouth.

An hour and a half later, mom dropped Ally and me off at the mall.

"Call when you need a ride home," mom said.

I looked at her pointedly.

"I don't have a cell phone," I said. Mom smiled.

"Actually, Ally does. Just dial 1 sweetie."

Ally nodded and held up her 'Bumblebee.' Mom took off.

"So what type of job do you want?" Ally asked curiously.

"I don't want a job," I said. I headed inside. For every step I took she had to take two to keep up.

"So why are we here?"

I took the phone from her hand. "We're going to the 'Bumblebee' store."

There was a kiosk in the center of the mall decorated in yellow and black bees. The employees even had to wear bouncing antennae on their heads. A TV kept playing the kid-friendly advertisement over and over and over again.

"How can I help you?" one of the buzz-y ladies asked.

I smiled my sweetest smile. I held up Ally's phone.

"My dad sent me in here to see if you could help us. He got this phone for my little sister here and had four numbers to program but only the first three took."

The lady took the phone. She looked at Ally. I glanced down. Thankfully, Ally was smart. She gave the lady an even sweeter smile than I could muster.

The lady checked the phone and typed something into the computer. She nodded her head.

"I see. Yes, the fourth options blank. Did he give you the number to program in honey?"

I nodded. "Yeah it's here somewhere."

I made a big show of digging through my purse. In reality I had the scrap of paper right in the zippered part waiting like a precious gem. After practically emptying my entire bag on the counter I undid the zipper.

"Oh! Here it is!"

I unfolded the scrap and handed it to the lady. She looked at it.

"The first three are local numbers. This one's long distance?"

I nodded. "Our grandmother lives in Kentucky," I explained. "She was so excited to hear that my sister got a phone so that they could talk more."

The lady smiled. "How sweet. How old is your grandmother dear?"

The question was directed at Ally. Ally tried not to look surprised. I prayed she could come up with a number...

"Um, old," Ally said seriously. My heart sank.

But the lady laughed.

"Out of the mouths of babes."

I think her bumblebee headband was on a little too tight. But that was okay. She did some more typing and then handed the phone back.

"All set!"

"Now, does my dad have to come in if he ever wants to switch the numbers?"

The lady nodded. "Yes, he does or he can sign up for an account online. If a number changes and you need to deactivate one you..."

She went on to explain to me the little code to put in to deactivate a number to clear the spot.

I felt like I had just found a huge honkin' pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

"Thank you so much," I said. I ruffled Ally's hair. "See sissy, all fixed!"

Ally gave me a look. She hated her hair ruffled.

We walked away from the kiosk. I was still holding the phone.

"How about I buy you a smoothie and we take a break at the food court?" I asked. Ally smiled.

"After ruffling my hair, you so owe me one."

------------------------

"Hello?"

"Mas?"

"Shel?"

I was sitting at a table at the food court. Ally was happily sucking on a wild berry smoothie. Just so I didn't feel too guilty, I had even picked up an application to work at the smoothie place.

Then I had called Mason.

"It's me."

"How did you...?"

"It's Ally's phone," I explained.

We both sighed at the same time.

"I'm going crazy missing you."

I ran my fingertip along the top of the table.

"I know. I am too."

"I went up to the roof last night," Mason admitted. "But it wasn't the same without you in my arms."

My toes curled and uncurled. I slapped the backs of my flip-flops against my heels.

"What are we going to do?"

"I take my driving test next week," Mason said. "Dad said that if I pass he's giving me the truck."

My heart began to beat faster. "Really?"

"Yeah. And the first thing I want to do is drive down and see you."

"And they'll let you?"

"Probably not."

"Then you're gonna lose that truck."

"It would be worth it."

"Mas--"

"I'll figure something out Shel. I'm not going to go another year without seeing you again. I can't."

I played with the corner of the application. His voice was bringing back all of the emotions and with it a fresh round of tears.

"When can I talk to you again?"

I had initially planned to delete his number after this. I had just needed to hear his voice. But now...

"I'll try to call in a couple days," I said.

There was a pause.

"Okay. I love you," he said earnestly.

I smiled. "I love you, too."

I hung up and wiped my eyes. Ally played with the straw.

"I don't want to be a teenager," she said seriously. I looked at her in surprise.

"Why?"

She let the straw sink back down.

"Because it's complicated."

I didn't know how to answer that because truthfully, it was complicated.
Chapter 24 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Twenty Four

The next two weeks were bareable, mostly because I had use of Ally's cellphone. But, they were also bareable because I filled out the smoothie application and actually got hired. I was standing outside the mall in my official blue Rooty Tooty Smoothie shirt waiting for dad to pick me up. It had been my first day. Orientation day. Truthfully, I had almost fallen asleep during the so-called 'training' videos. I mean, really. How hard is it to throw fruit, ice, and sugar in a blender and mix it up?

Dad's car pulled up and screeched to a stop. I smiled and slid in.

"You won't believe how stupid--" I began. The look on dad's face stopped me short.

My heart almost burst out of my chest and ran screaming down the street when he held up Ally's phone.

"What is this?" he asked.

I had two options. I could blubber like a baby or play it cool.

I went with option two.

"Ally's phone?" I guessed.

"Shelby, don't play dumb with me because you know it's not going to work."

"I don't know what you mean," I said tensely. Dad frowned. He slung his arm over the steering wheel and faced me eye-to-eye.

"So you don't know how Mason's number just happened to get programmed into Ally's phone."

My eyes widened. "It did?"

Dad closed his eyes and sighed.

"What am I going to do with you?"

I folded my arms across my chest and stretched out my legs.

"You could let me talk to Mason."

"It looks like you've found a way to do that already. Do rules have no affect on you?"

"Did they ever have an affect on you?" I spat angrily.

I had crossed a line. Dad pocketed the phone and took off.

"You're grounded."

"I just started my job."

"You're grounded except for your job. And your phone and laptop privileges are suspended another month. And when school starts, you're grounded from doing anything except for school and work. Your paychecks will go in your savings account for college."

I popped my jaw purposely just to hear the annoying sound.

"I don't want to go to college."

"Then what do you want to do with your life?"

All I could honestly see was Mason. And canvas.

"Paint."

"The you can study art in college."

I made a face. "Teachers don't understand my art."

"Well, make them understand."

He made it sound so easy. Like it was cut and dry. He had no clue. He didn't go to college.

"Why don't you like Mason?" I asked bitterly.

"I just don't think you're ready for a boyfriend," dad said simply.

"I'm sixteen. And a half."

"And you've lied to us. Plus, you've made Ally a part of your lie. Shelby, you're supposed to be a big sister. I want you to be a good influence."

I turned towards the window. It wasn't my fault I had landed the job as big sister. I had kind of gotten stuck with the job after mom shacked up with---

"Did you think it was right to sleep with your employee?" I asked. Dad pulled to a stop at a red light and looked at me.

"What?"

"You slept with mom while she was your 'nanny,'" I said, placing quotation marks around the word for emphasis. "Weren't you breaking some rule?"

Dad frowned. "We were both consenting adults Shelby. This has nothing to do with the example we're trying to set for you."

I snorted. The word 'hypocrite' was dancing on my tongue.

When we got home I didn't waste any time getting out of the car. I slammed the door and headed up the steps. Mom poked her head out of the kitchen but I just continued to my room. When I got there, I flung myself down on my bed.

I had twenty minutes of quiet before the door opened and mom came in.

"Did dad talk to you?"

I snorted. "Yeah, I guess."

"You know that it's not okay to lie."

"Everyone lies mom. I didn't lie. I just didn't tell you I programmed the number."

"Fine. Maybe lie's the wrong word. You disobeyed."

I rolled my eyes. "I wouldn't of had to disobey if you guys didn't make up such stupid restrictions. Isn't it bad enough that Mason and I are states and states apart?"

"Shel, this Mason issue isn't even really about him," mom explained. I looked at her in confusion.

She had lost her mind.

"You're sixteen and you're young and you should experience a little bit of the world before making Mason the sun, the moon, and the stars. Plus, sex can wait. It's not all it's cracked up to be at your young age."

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her it was way more than it was cracked up to be, but I decided that I wanted to live to see my seventeenth birthday.

I put on the 'innocent' virgin face.

"But, Mason and I have been friends forever and--"

"Just trust your dad and me. Both of us did things we're not proud of and our parents let it slide. Grandma Denise is the best of the bunch, but even she realizes she let dad fly a little too far and it was hard to get him back. I just want to make the right decisions for you now instead of later."

I just shook my head. I wasn't mom. And I certaintly wasn't dad. I mean, he was my dad, but not in blood. Not that I would ever use that as an attack against him.

That was just wrong.

Mom kissed my forehead and stood up. "Listen, between work and school your punishment will be over in no time. We'd really like to see you get more involved in school."

She waited for an answer, but I didn't give her one. She left and as soon as the door closed, I sat up.

I didn't want to get involved with school. I hated the girls at school and the boys...well, they had all been raised to be snobs or pigs. Or both.

They weren't like Mason.

Which reminded me...I had no way to contact Mason. Ally's phone had been my last hope.

Now all I had to look forward to day after day was the sight of fresh fruit and impatient customers. I couldn't even look forward to the paychecks.

Life sucked.

I thought about the last time I had talked to Mason. He had passed his driver's test. He was an official licensed driver. I had been talking him out of doing something stupid...like driving down to see me.

But now I hoped he wouldn't listen.

I wanted to run away.

--------------------------------------------

Author's Note: This is one of my last updates for the weekend. I leave early tomorrow morning for the BSB concert in Cincy. Expect maybe one more chapter (or if I'm REALLY on a roll, two). That will be it until Sunday night / Monday morning. KTBSPA!
Chapter 25 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Twenty Five

The days became monotonous. I would wake up, go to work (if I was scheduled that day), come home, pick at my dinner, and go back to my room. I had stopped going down for ice cream in the middle of the night. Dad didn't make a big deal about it, but I knew that it disappointed him. When I couldn't sleep, I filled up my sketchbook instead of gorging on rocky road ice cream. Soon I filled up my first sketchbook and bought another.

The only way I could escape was through the charcoal pencil in my hand.

Soon it was Labor Day weekend and school was going to start in days. Mom took me school shopping, but I didn't really care what I got. Ally took two hours carefully picking out pink pens, notebooks, and of course, a pink plaid backpack. Joe looked for anything black or splotched with red.

The twins weren't starting kindergarten until they were six.

Some kindergarten teacher somewhere should have been thanking her lucky stars.

Dad had decided that he was going to take everyone to a beach house to celebrate the end of summer. I didn't feel like watching the little ones torture crabs or laying out and burning myself to a crisp.

"I have to work Saturday and Sunday," I explained when dad announced the trip.

"Well can't you call off? Or call in sick?"

I gave him a look. "I wouldn't want to break the rules," I pointed out.

Dad sighed.

"I can take the bus to the mall and back. Since I also can't drive."

Dad pinched his nose.

"Okay, Shel. I get your point. Tell you what. If you stay here alone this weekend and everything goes well, I'll sign you up for driver's ed lessons."

My eyes widened.

"Really?"

Dad and mom shared a look.

"Really."

I smiled. It was the first smile in...awhile.

"Okay."

That's how I ended up hanging out the door waving as dad took the van loaded up with kids and suitcases and whatnots to the beach.

And I was alone.

The first thing I did was get on the computer. I knew my phone was probably stashed away in a safe somewhere, but the computer was right out here in the open.

I dashed off a quick e-mail to Mason. Then I opened the freezer and took out the rocky road ice cream. I had just polished off three large scoops when the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Shel?"

"Mas?"

"I got your e-mail. They left you alone?"

I laughed. "Yeah, I have to work this weekend."

There was a pause.

"Do you want a visitor?"

"Who?"

"Me."

I looked around. The house was empty. But it was also in Florida. And he was in Kentucky and...

"Mas, I don't want you to get in trouble."

"I'm with Larry and a couple of the guys and we're camping this weekend. I can make it down there and back and no one will find out."

My heart started to beat a little faster. I could actually see Mason. And touch him. And kiss him. And...

"Really?"

"Really. We just put up the tents, but I could leave now."

I glanced at the clock. It was about two o'clock.

"How long could you stay?"

"Probably just a day or so. I'd have to make it back in time to pick up the guys and get home."

I inhaled deeply.

"I can't wait to see you."

Mason laughed. I loved that laugh.

"Alright, I'll call you when I get there."

"Okay!" I knew I sounded too excited. I coughed.

"Cool."

"Love you."

"Love ya back."

I hung up. I was still holding my spoon. I held it up in front of me and squealed.

This weekend was definitely looking up.

-------------------------

It was five o'clock in the morning, I was asleep on the couch, and the phone was ringing. I rolled over. Who would be calling this early?

And then I remembered.

I scrambled to the phone.

"Hello?"

"I'm here."

"Really?!"

"Yes, really!"

I ran to the front window and looked out. I didn't see the truck. I looked through the peephole in the door.

There was Mason.

I unlocked the door and flung it open. His arms were around my waist and my feet were in the air before I could react. I laughed.

"I can't believe you're here."

"Me either."

He set me down and smiled. I closed the door and relocked it.

"Where's the truck?"

"Parked a couple blocks down."

"Have you slept?"

"I drove all night."

"Are you tired?"

"Not now."

We looked at each other. I tried feebly to smack down the flyaways in my hair. He took my hand.

"Wait."

I pulled my hand away and ran up to my bathroom. I yanked out my brush and bounced from foot to foot while I counted off the seconds in my head. I spit, rinsed, and gargled. I shoved my hair into a ponytail and ran back downstairs. Mason was sitting on the couch. I stood in front of him.

"Okay."

He laughed.

"I missed you."

I opened my mouth to say the same, but he pulled me down and kissed me. I straddled his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck. He smelled like the old leather of the truck and I just wanted to eat him alive.

His hands grabbed hold of my butt. I wiggled against him.

"Can we go up to your room?" he whispered. I pulled back. He kept a tight hold on me.

I had spent the past few weeks daydreaming about him lying beside me. This was too good to be true. I smiled.

"Sure," I said breathlessly. I got up and grabbed his hand. We ran up the steps. I turned around before we got to my door and kissed him excitedly.

"Did Larry give you..." I started to ask. Mason shook his head.

"I made a quick stop. We're covered."

I opened my door and backed into my room. Mason followed. He glanced around. He smiled at the picture on my nightstand. It was him and me; we were probably no older than eleven. We had dressed as Frankenstein and his bride for Halloween. I had him in a choke hold.

I guess eleven year olds just have a thing for blood and guts.

His attention turned back to me. I backed up and sat down on the bed. He hovered over me and we picked up right where we left off. His lips were on mine and then clothes disappeared at a rapid rate and suddenly my bed where I had cried so much the last few weeks turned into a little sanctuary filled with moans and whispers and pleasure.

When our breathing had finally slowed, Mason curled up, his head on my chest and I lazily played with his hair. There was no need to get up and dash back to rooms undetected. We were free. I closed my eyes.

This was how I always wanted it to be.
Chapter 26 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Twenty Six

"I wish you didn't have to work today."

I sighed. "Me either."

Mason leaned over, cupped the back of my head, and kissed me.

"Your shift's over at four?"

"Yup."

"I'll be here."

I smiled, gave him another kiss and hopped out of the truck.

Mason had to leave early tomorrow morning to get back to Kentucky in time. We only had tonight.

My mind was in the clouds at work. I mixed up three customers orders and sent a thing of strawberries sailing across the floor.

Needless to say, I wasn't getting any promotions of any sort today. The manager was giving me the evil eye.

At a quarter til four, I looked up at my next customer. Mason leaned against the counter grinning at me.

"Let's try the blueberry smoothie," he said.

"It'll turn your tongue blue."

His grin widened.

I think I blushed from the tips of my ears to the tips of my toes. I turned around. I blanked out.

What was it? Something about a tongue...no, wait.

Blueberries.

I put in the blueberries, flax, ice...all the standard ingredients. As it was mixing, I glanced over at him.

He already had a straw clamped between his teeth. He maneuvered it up and down and growled at me.

I was so not holding the lid tight enough. Blueberry goo shot up into the sky and I'll admit it, I screamed and ducked.

"SHELBY!"

I had popped the manager's last forehead vein.

"I'm sorry!"

"It was my fault," Mason said apologetically.

"No it wasn't," I said.

"Yes it was."

The manager watched me like a hawk as I cleaned it up. By the time I finally gave Mason his smoothie, I was a sticky mess. His eyes sparkled.

"Thanks doll."

I glanced at the clock. It was finally time to punch out. I headed in the back, took off my apron and slid my card. By the time I came back out, Mason had half the smoothie gone.

"Really good," he said.

"I'm sticky."

Mason grinned.

"Well we better get you home then."

------------------------------------

"You're not sticky."

"I can throw the rest of the smoothie on me if it would help you make up your mind."

I was standing at the bathroom door. Mason had his arms braced against the doorframe.

"C'mon Shel."

I glanced at the shower. I glanced at him.

"Really?"

"Yeah, really."

I smiled.

"Okay."

Ten minutes later, I was naked and soapy in the shower with Mas. I was basking in the amazing sensation of his fingers lathering shampoo through my hair. I leaned back against him and sighed. He pressed a kiss to my neck.

Somehow a hair shampoo turned into a full on make out which quickly turned into more. I trailed kisses down his wet stomach and farther still. I paused for only a moment before I took him in my mouth. I heard his palms slap against the tiled walls and a deep moan of satisfaction.

By the time Mason's moans turned to swear words he yanked me back to my feet and pinned me to the wall. Our breath mixed with the steam of the water. His hands pressed against my thighs. I shivered deliciously as he entered me.

"Oh god," I quivered. I held onto his shoulders as he supported me against the wall.

My disastrous day at work was quickly forgotten. All that mattered at this moment was the amazing thing that was happening here and now.

"I'll pull out," he whispered. I nodded, barely hearing him. It was so bad to be doing this behind our parents backs and yet it was so good. So good...

The only sound besides the water pouring down on us was Mason's breath in my ear. Our bodies were one and I knew I was going to cry my heart out when he had to leave and I suddenly wished we were older and...

Mason's grip on me tightened and through heavily lidded eyes I saw his face tense and our bodies simultaneously spasm. I didn't really realize at that moment what exactly had happened.

But that was because there was another noise.

"Shel?"

I stifled a scream. Mason was mumbling something about 'sorry' but it was drowned out by the sudden panic coursing through me. I slapped a hand across his mouth and opened the shower door. I grabbed a towel, wrapped it around me, and opened the door.

When I looked over the landing, I saw dad in the hall. He looked up in surprise.

"Hey sweetie."

"Dad!"

My voice sounded higher than normal. Much higher than normal.

"What are you doing here?"

"We forgot a few things." Dad held up a bag. "How are things going here?"

"Here? Fine! I just got off work. I got smoothie all over me and I had to ride the bus that way and I was just taking a shower when I heard your voice and..."

I was rambling. I stopped and took a breath.

"Did you want to come back with me?"

I shook my head. "No go ahead. Really. I'm fine here. I'm tired from work."

Dad looked disappointed. "Okay." He paused.

"You didn't turn off the water?"

I almost blanched. "What? No. I was surprised to hear you. I'm going to go...do that."

Dad fiddled with his keys and headed towards the door. "Call me if you need anything okay? I love you."

My heart was slowing. "Love you too."

I exhaled loudly and ran back to the bathroom.

Mason was leaning against the shower wall. I turned off the water.

"That was close," I said. He looked at me guiltily.

"Shel I--"

I handed him a towel. "It's okay. Dad just needed to pick up a few things. He should alread be heading back to the beach house."

Mason shook his head. "No I--"

There came a sound almost like a cannonball, but in hindsight I realize that it was the sound of the front door literally banging open.

"SHELBY!"

It was dad's voice again. My eyes widened. Mason had the towel around his waist and my hair was still dripping wet. Before I could react, the door burst open.

We were so busted.

-------------------------

Author's Note: I just got back from Cincinnati and oh my goodness it was amazing. I knew that the last show of the tour would be incredible. Check out my pictures, including AJ singing Straight Through my Heart in orange undies and yellow smiley face socks, here.
Chapter 27 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Twenty Seven

To say that dad reacted irrationally was a gigantic understatement. Mason was defenseless. Dad picked up the plunger and lunged at him.

"DAD!" I screamed. Mason managed to get out of the way. Clutching his towel, he began to pick up his clothes. I grabbed dad's arm and clung to it for dear life.

"Does your father know you're here?"

Mason looked incredibly embarassed (and a little annoyed).

"No, sir."

"Dad, please."

Dad looked at me.

"Shel, how could you do this?"

I don't know if it was because I was so frustrated at being caught yet again or whether it was the realization that I was so close to being separated from Mason, but I lost it.

"How could I do this? How can you stand there like you're some type of saint? At least I'm not abusing drugs or alcohol or sleeping with tons of random people." I drew in a breath. "JUST LEAVE US ALONE!"

"You're my DAUGHTER!" dad yelled.

I was fighting back hot tears. I put my hands on my hips and stomped my foot.

"And you're my dad. So stop acting like an irrational douchebag and listen to me."

Dad looked at me, but he didn't say anything. I think I rendered him speechless.

And that took a lot.

Meanwhile, Mason had managed to gather up his clothes and duck into the hall to change. He had misbuttoned his shirt but he was still in a better state of dress than I was.

"Go get dressed Shelby," dad finally said. "I want to talk to Mason."

I opened my mouth, but dad held up a hand.

"Just talk."

Mason and I shared a look for a brief moment before I headed to my bedroom. Once I got there, I took a few seconds just to breath.

I had called my dad a douchebag.

I grabbed a pair of shorts and a t-shirt and dried my now matted hair. I felt a little better when I walked into the hall and didn't see any blood. Mason and dad both had their arms folded across their chests, but I knew that was just that whole 'macho' stance thing. Dad looked over at me.

"I've got to call Kevin," dad said. "It's up to him how he wants to handle how Mason gets back home."

I looked at Mason. His eyes drifted to the ceiling. I'm sure he could already hear the wrath of his dad in his mind.

Dad ran his hand down his face.

"Taking into consideration that I'd rather have you two talk on the phone then do something crazy like this again, I'm going to give you phone and computer privileges back, Shel," dad said softly.

My eyes widened. I had expected harsher punishment...not easier. Dad cracked a little smile.

"Does that sound like less douche-baggery?"

I smiled softly. "Yeah."

Before everything got totally mushy, dad drew back his shoulders.

"But, in return I want complete honesty. No more of this running off shit," dad said. He looked at Mason. Mas nodded. Dad nodded towards the stairs.

"Let's call your dad."

-----------------------------

As it turned out, Kevin was irate that Mason came to see me. I personally thought Mason should have called him a douchebag, but he actually took the beating.

Kevin decided to fly down and drive back with Mason so, as a result, we had several tense hours of waiting. When Kevin finally arrived, a loud discussion took place between our two dads. I sat by Mason, holding his hand as we strained to hear what they were saying. Mason leaned into me.

"Shel, about earlier--"

"I'm really sorry dad came at you with a plunger," I said.

"No, it's not that it's--"

"Mason?"

Mason's head whipped around. Kevin was standing in the doorway.

"Yeah?"

"I'm going to drive back up with you to get Larry and the other boys."

"Okay."

Kevin looked at me. I had a feeling that he was wishing he could go back in time and figure out a way for the five-year-old versions of Mason and me to never meet.

But it was too late for that.

"AJ and I decided that we might have been a little...harsh revoking your right to talk to one another," Kevin added. "We're going to ask that you don't monopolize your entire free time on the phone or computer."

"When can I see Shel again?" Mason asked.

Kevin and dad shared a look.

"We'll have to discuss that later," Kevin finally said. "Mason, I am not happy that I had to come down here. You lied to me. Don't think you're going to get off easy."

"That goes for you too, Shel," dad said.

"I know," I said softly.

After a long lecture about lying and the role of the parent versus the role of the 'child,' Kevin went to pull the truck around. Under dad's watchful eye, I said my goodbye to Mason. I pressed my face into his chest.

"We have rotten luck," Mason whispered. I inhaled the soapy scent off his skin before I lifted my eyes to his.

"Absolutely rotten," I agreed. We kissed softly. Mason took my hands. He glanced at AJ and then back at me.

"I'll call you as soon as I can," he promised me. I smiled.

"I can't wait."

We kissed again and then Kevin was at the door and they were driving away and I was feeling as if I had been run over by those old dirty wheels.

"How about some ice cream?"

I looked at dad in surprise. He was heading towards the kitchen.

"What about the beach house?"

He shook his head.

"I already called mom. We'll both head out tomorrow morning."

"So I get ice cream as a punishment?"

Dad pointed a finger at me. "Don't push it."

I followed him into the kitchen and he got down our bowls. I got out the ice cream and the spoons. We moved around each other as if it was a synchronized dance. When we finally sat down, we both took a bite and closed our eyes.

There was something about ice cream that made things better.

"Shel, you get the short end of the stick and I'm sorry."

I took another bite and looked at him in surprise. He continued.

"As the oldest child, your mom and I are sailing into unchartered territory. I'm sure once Joe and Ally are your age we'll be better equipped to handle all the drama."

I wrinkled my nose. "I don't have drama."

Dad laughed. "Trust me, you have drama."

I scooped up some of the already melted ice cream and slurped at it.

"I just wish you'd let me make my own decisions."

Dad slurped his melted ice cream.

"We're just trying to prevent you from making the same mistakes we made."

I waved my spoon in the air.

"Like I told you, this is Mason we're talking about."

"Mason is as much of a teenage boy as any random boy in your school," dad said.

I rolled my eyes. Dad might have been softening but he still didn't get it.

But at least the ice cream was a start.
Chapter 28 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Twenty Eight

During the next few weeks, life seemed to calm down. I started school and continued to work afternoons at the smoothie shop. As a result of the whole 'Mason' incident, dad pushed back driver's ed yet again. I think he was almost happy that he had a reason to postpone the inevitable.

Of course the way things were going, I was going to be forty before I got my license.

But even though I was itching to get behind the wheel, the one good thing that came out of the whole incident was that I was able to talk to Mason.

Of course, the whole 'talking with Mason' thing wasn't without limitations, especially when you lived in a house with six other people. If mom or dad weren't just 'casually' strolling by, Joe was making armpit noises or the twins were pretending they were lions or cavemen and using my room as their playground.

Needless to say, there wasn't a lot of romantic hopes and dreams being plotted out.

As for school, well, I could have so totally lived without it. Even Joe was better at getting up and ready than I was.

"Shel, wake up. You're going to miss the bus."

Ugh, the bus. It was like a germ infected cage filled with football players and cretins.

I just wanted to sleep.

"Shelster c'mon, get up."

I didn't know why people couldn't leave me alone.

"Does my sock smell?"

I jumped at the touch of cotton on my face. Joe hovered above me grinning. The sock was practically black.

"GET OUT!"

He laughed.

"I GOT HER UP!" he announced.

I swung back the covers and stood up. Brothers were pure evil. I vaguely remember carrying Joe around everywhere when I was little. Some days I wished I could still pick him up. Then I could put him somewhere and throw away the key.

I glanced at the clock. I really was late. I took a quick shower, yanked my hair into a ponytail, got dressed, and headed downstairs.

Ally was licking the icing off of her toaster strudel by the time I got into the kitchen. Dad handed me a plate on my way to the table.

"You have two minutes. Scarf it fast."

I sat down and took a huge bite like I normally did. I chewed voraciously and swallowed it down with some juice. I opened my mouth to take another bite, but the first didn't seem to want to go all the way down and--

"BUS!"

"I WANNA GO ON THE BUS!" Brayden and Tristan shouted.

"You two can't go on the bus," mom explained.

My bus always arrived twenty minutes before Ally and Joe's did. They loved to torture the high schoolers.

I grabbed my bag and waved.

"Do you work today?" mom called out.

"Nope!"

"Okay, see you this afternoon! Have a good day!"

I headed out the door and down the steps. One would have thought that a private school like the one dad sent me to would have had some type of fancy stretch limo service for all of us high schoolers. Instead we had a maroon bus with white scrollwork.

I didn't care what they said about all this 'academy' talk, no matter how they sliced it we were just a plain old high school.

The bus doors whooshed open and I climbed aboard. The strudel was still floating halfway between my throat and stomach.

I made my way to the back and sat down in an empty seat. The guy in front of me whirled around.

"Hey Shel-fish."

I tried to ignore him. For the past two years I had been called Shel-fish by Frank McDonald every morning. I got out my sketchbook and pencil.

"Whatcha drawing?"

Every morning he asked and every morning I ignored him. I was working on a really cool portrait of Mason sitting on the fence around the horse arena. I figured I could finish the shading between the bus and my first two classes.

"Aren't you ever going to talk to me?"

I rolled my charcoal pencil in my hands. I didn't want to shade too much and--

The book flew out of my hands. I looked up. Frank grinned and stared at the page. He laughed and nudged his buddy.

"Look, she must be designing covers for those trashy girly books," he said loudly. A couple other kids turned around. Frank held up my half-finished drawing.

"Let's see what else we have here..."

I stood up. "GIVE IT BACK!"

He just snickered and kept it out of my reach. He was a lot taller than I was.

Damn basketball players.

I had a couple tastefully done body shots in there. My stomach clenched.

"Here girls, what do you think of this?"

It was the picture I had sketched of Mason by the lake. I felt my face flame red. A couple of the girls giggled.

"No wonder Shel-fish doesn't talk to me. She's got herself a cowboy boyfriend!"

"GIVE IT BACK!"

He turned to me and snickered.

"And what are you going to do if I don't?"

The bus was swaying but I managed to scramble up on my seat. I reached out for the book but he held it back.

My morning was not going great. I couldn't digest the strudel and my sketches were being mocked and...

The bus lurched again and I grabbed onto the rail above my head for support.

But it was one lurch too many.

Frank ended up wearing my partially digested strudel. But even through my mortification, I grabbed my sketchbook and stashed it into my bag. The whole bus filled with screams (mostly from the girls) and Frank looked like he wanted to pass out.

So much for that whole 'tough' basketball player thing. I sank down weakly in my seat and prayed to die.

School sucked.

----------------------------------

"Why didn't you tell me you weren't feeling well?"

Mom and I were walking back towards the car. I had gone from the bus to the nurse and now I was headed home.

"I was feeling fine, but this guy stole something from me and I stood up on the bench to get it back and I got motion sickness."

Mom sighed. "Shel, what am I going to do with you?"

I slid into the car, pressed my head against the soft leather seat, and closed my eyes.

I was glad that I was going home. I knew that I wouldn't hear the end of this at school for a long time.

"Mom, are public schools as catty as private schools?" I asked. Mom snorted.

"Cattier."

I sighed.

It looked like I was going to go back to eating my lunch in the girl's bathroom again.

Joy.
Chapter 29 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Twenty Nine

"So this morning he went around screaming 'Pro-Shel-tile vomiter, coming through!' and cleared people out of my way."

Mason sighed.

"Can I come down there and kick his ass?"

I laughed. "No, you're not allowed to do any more long distance trips, remember?"

Mason laughed and I held the phone a little closer. I loved his laugh.

What I didn't love was Frank. He was making my life miserable. And he seemed to be in almost every one of my classes. One of the girls suggested that he was making a big deal out of the puke incident because he liked me, but I wasn't buying it.

And even if he did, I was so taken.

"How's work going?" Mason asked.

I wrinkled my nose.

"My last day is Friday."

"Why?"

"They're closing."

"That sucks."

"Tell me about it. Dad reminded me that I promised him before summer that I would be more than happy to babysit. Now that I'm going to be unemployed..."

Mason groaned. "You're going to be stuck with the hyenas."

I walked to my door and peered into the hall. Brayden and Tristan were hopping over each other's backs.

"I think today they're frogs."

Tristan turned around and gave me a gap-toothed smile.

"TWEE FROGS!"

"Correction, tree frogs."

Mason laughed. Then we both got quiet.

"I'm trying to talk my dad into letting me come down for Halloween weekend," Mason said. My heart leaped.

"Trying?"

"It's going to take some work."

I sank back down on my bed. "I miss you."

"I miss you too. I'm looking at your picture you sent me right now."

I snuggled down into my pillows. It was four o'clock in the afternoon but it felt like naptime.

"The one with Ally?"

"Yup. You McLean girls sure are pretty."

I laughed. "I don't know about me, but Ally is really pretty."

"You're gorgeous."

I closed my eyes. If I squeezed them tight enough, I could picture Mason's face.

"I've got to head to the diner for dinner shift, but I'll talk to you soon okay? E-mail me."

I smiled. "Will do. Love you."

"Love you too, Shel."

I hung up and put my cell phone on my nightstand. The sounds of mom attempting to make something edible for dinner drifted up the stairs. I closed my eyes. I wasn't hungry. I was tired. I had tons of homework but I was sure I could bluff my way through most of it...

-------------------------

"MOM, SHELBY'S DEAD!"

Joe was screaming but I really didn't want to wake up. I had thrown a sheet over me and I was in my own little cocoon.

"MOM, COME HERE!"

His voice was so loud. And panicked. I swear that boys are the noisiest creatures in the world.

"SHEL?"

His hands were on my shoulder now and there was no ignoring him. I opened my eyes. His face swam in front of me.

I was dizzy.

"What?" I croaked.

There was the sound of footsteps and then a loud gasp.

"Shel, oh my god. Joe, go downstairs NOW."

"But--"

"NOW!"

It was mom's turn to sound panicked. I had no clue why. Couldn't a girl sleep around here?

I moved slightly and that's when I felt it. Wetness. Not 'wet your bed' wetness.

I must have started my period. Ugh, Joe was so dramatic.

The room was still spinning, but I looked down.

I shouldn't have looked down.

My white sheet was stained with blood. This wasn't just your everyday drippage.

I opened my mouth but I couldn't even force a sound out. Mom yanked the sheet back.

"Oh honey, we've got to get you to the hospital. Can you stand?"

Stand? Was she serious?

"Honey, is your stomach cramping?"

I stared up at her. Cramps? Yeah, I should probably have those considering I looked like I belonged in a horror movie. But I didn't. Just queasy.

Really queasy.

Mom must have seen the look on my face. She grabbed my waistbasket and I heaved.

I heard more footsteps. Dad poked his head in.

"Joe said--oh my god."

My tally stood at one 'she's dead!' and two 'oh my god's.' I was really in trouble now.

"Should I call an ambulance?"

I lifted my head out of the basket. Mom took it from me and grabbed a couple pieces of Kleenex from the nightstand.

"Just go feed the kids dinner. I'm going to see if I can get her up. I'll take her to the ER."

"But--"

"Honey, please. I don't need the twins to come up here."

I heard fading footsteps and mom knelt down and wiped my mouth.

"We need to see if you can stand, okay?"

I nodded. I realized that maybe I was still dreaming. If so, it wasn't as bad as the dream about the alligators.

I really hated alligators.

Mom wrapped her hand around my arm and I stood up. My jeans were soaked through. I glanced to my dresser.

"Don't worry about it honey," mom said.

Somehow we made it down the stairs. I was really hoping I was going to wake up soon.

Dad's fuzzy face appeared in the doorway. Ally peered around him. She saw me and paled.

"I'm taking her to the hospital. I'll call when I know something."

Dad nodded. At least I think he did.

We made it to the car and I leaned my head back. I was glad the seats in mom's car were leather. The blood would wipe off.

Blood.

We got to the ER and a pair of strong arms helped me into a wheelchair. The hospital smell turned my stomach and I was given one of those mustard yellow pans to puke my guts out and then I felt more blood and mom was talking to me but I couldn't hear...

I just wanted to be back in bed talking to Mason. I had to wake up soon. I would pretend to like what mom cooked for dinner and maybe, just maybe, I would play a game of Chutes and Ladders with the twins. Then I would do my homework.

I had a test in Economics tomorrow that I really needed to study for.

The same strong arms helped me onto an exam table and mom was taking off my jeans and she kept talking in the soothing voice she always used when I was sick and needed chicken noodle soup and...

I began to cry.
Chapter 30 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Thirty

I wish I had been sleeping, but I was awake. I was awake in a nightmare. After just a few quick tests and one ultrasound, the doctor said the one word that I never, ever (well, at least for another ten years) thought I would hear.

"Pregnant."

I was lying on the table still feeling weak and staring at the monitor. I couldn't see anything.

"But the blood..." I moaned. I was sure that had to have been a miscarriage. Maybe the doctor meant to say I had been pregnant.

Either way I was so dead. But at least a miscarriage could be chalked up to an accident.

An accident which would probably prevent me from seeing Mason ever again...or until we were eighteen.

Mom looked at the doctor. She had let out a gasp at the word and her grip on my arm tightened.

"Do twins run in the family?" the doctor continued.

"Yes," mom whispered.

"I think what we had here is a case of a vanishing twin. The body reabsorbed it and produced signs symptomatic of a miscarriage. But I still detect a fetal heartbeat. I'd say Shelby's maybe five and a half weeks along."

I closed my eyes tightly. No, this wasn't happening.

"She's sixteen," mom explained.

I felt the doctor checking my IV and cleaning up from the ultrasound.

"I'm going to let you two talk," he said after another moment. I heard the door close.

"Shelby," mom said.

I began to cry again. I didn't know what else to do. All I could think about was the shower. Mason hadn't been trying to apologize for getting caught. He had been trying to apologize for not pulling out.

I felt like one of those dumb girls on those PSA's for safe sex going 'It was only one time' or 'It couldn't happen to me.'

"I'm sorry," I gasped through my tears. Mom kissed my hand.

"It's going to be okay Shel."

This was the same mom who had shit a brick at me even talking to Mason. How was it going to be okay? I was sixteen. We lived hundreds of miles away from each other.

And did I mention I was sixteen?

Pregnant. That was such a foreign word. That was a word I should have heard coming from mom. I didn't feel pregnant. But then again I didn't know what pregnant was supposed to feel like.

"I just wish you would have told me," mom said almost to herself. "If you had told me right away we could have gotten you some Plan B."

I looked over at her.

"I was a little busy trying to stop dad from plungering Mason to death," I said a little bitterly. "It all...happened so fast."

Mom looked like she was trying not to cry.

"We were just trying to keep you from making a mistake. Oh God, Shel...we screwed up."

Those were words that I hadn't expected to hear. My mind was still reeling.

Pregnant.

"What do I do?" I asked. I was surprised to hear how small my voice sounded. Mom took a deep breath.

"We need to see what else the doctor says. Once we get you home we're going to need to call Mason. And then we can take it from there."

Take it from there. I didn't even know where there was. My forehead was clammy just from the thought that I was currently an incubator for another life.

And I had just lost a baby.

I was only sixteen. This wasn't fair.

A large tear rolled down my cheek. Life as I knew it was over.

------------------------

After being monitored for another hour and a half the doctor finally released me on condition of moderated bedrest for the remainder of the week. I wore some scrubs home. I pressed my face against the window, not caring if I smudged the glass.

"Dad's called ten times," mom muttered, checking her cell phone. "We're going to get you into bed before we tell him."

My stomach flipped uncomfortably.

The ride didn't seem long enough. Before I knew it we were in front of the house and dad was waiting at the door. Mom went into the living room and pulled the couch out into a bed. The house was quiet. It was ten thirty. Everyone else must have been sent to bed.

"I've got to clean your room," mom explained softly as I sank down onto the pullout.

"What's going on?" dad asked. "Did you get my messages?"

Mom threw a blanket over me and looked up.

"I got your messages."

Dad looked back down at me. I couldn't meet his eyes.

"What's going on?" His voice was tense.

Mom took a seat on the ottoman she had pushed out of the way. She almost looked like she needed to put her head between her knees before she passed out.

"Shel's pregnant."

"WHAT?!"

"She had a partial miscarriage."

"So she's not--"

"It was twins."

I felt like I was far removed from the conversation. They were talking about someone else. Not me.

Not now.

"Jesus Christ."

The silence that filled the room was oppressive. Slowly I looked up at dad. He was staring at me like he was being tortured.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

I didn't know how to answer that. Was I okay? I really didn't know. Even still, I gave a little nod.

"We need to call...and tell them," mom said.

"Can I call Mason?" I asked quietly. I braced myself for a loud 'No.'

"Yes. But then you need to let us talk to Kevin," mom said.

I looked over at her. She quickly wiped a tear from her eye.

Five minutes later I had dialed Mason's cell and I was listening to the phone ring. I half hoped that he wouldn't answer. Maybe they weren't home. Maybe--

"Hello?"

"Mas," I said.

I began to cry.

"What's wrong? It's past eleven."

I didn't know if the words would come. It was a terrifying statement.

"Shel? You're freaking me out."

Mom and dad had given me a little privacy, but I knew they were still within hearing range. I brushed the tears from my cheek. They just kept falling.

"I'm pregnant," I sobbed. There was a long pause.

"Are you sure?" Mason finally asked. I could hear the panic in his voice.

"I had like a miscarriage or something," I said. It was like I was telling some type of made up story. "I had twins but now I have...one."

One too many.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm...scared."

"Oh shit, Shel. I..." he trailed off. I heard the sound of his breathing. "Do your parents know?"

"Mom had to take me to the ER. I just got back."

"Oh my god. I--we---the shower."

"I know."

"I tried to tell you."

I began to cry harder.

"I know."

When Mason spoke again it sounded like he was crying.

"I wish I was there."

I tasted the salt from my tears.

"I wish you were too."

"I'm sorry."

I wanted to tell him it wasn't his fault, but it was. But it was my fault too. It was our fault.

"Mas, mom and dad want to talk to your dad."

Mason groaned.

"Fuck, I'm so dead." He sighed. "O-okay."

I looked up. As if on cue, mom and dad were hovering above the couch. I held up the phone.

I didn't hear the full extent of the conversation but there was a couple straight minutes of really loud yelling that I could only assume was Kevin tearing into Mason. Dad held the phone away from his ear and closed his eyes. Once the yelling faded away there was just a lot of one sided conversation.

"Shelby's had a rough night. We're not talking about anything tonight," dad said.

There were a few more 'uh-huhs' and 'yeahs' and then the call was over. Dad looked at me. There weren't any words. He leaned down and kissed my forehead.

"Honey, let me know if you need anything," mom said. She kissed my cheek.

She clicked off the light and they headed upstairs talking quietly. There was no doubt they were talking about me.

I curled up on my side and stared into the blackness. I couldn't sleep. My hand trailed down and settled on my stomach.

A baby.

A lump rose into my throat. I knew what conversation was coming. Everyone would want to know what I was going to do.

There were options of course. I could have an abortion. I thought about the blood stained sheets and my jeans. The thought of doing something like that on purpose made me sick to my stomach.

Then there was adoption. I thought about that for a moment. We could give the baby to a couple who couldn't have children of their own.

But then I would have to live with the knowledge that I had a child out there somewhere.

And then there was the third option. I could keep the baby.

But I was only sixteen.

And Mason was so far away.

And even though I had spent the summer running at full speed towards adulthood, I knew deep, deep down that I was just a kid.

I wasn't doing a good job of taking care of myself.

How could I take care of a baby?
Chapter 31 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Thirty One

"Hey, you're not dead!"

I groaned and pressed my face into the pillow. It was morning. The events of the night before hit me hard. I almost wished I was dead.

"Did they have to put a cork up there? I'm glad I'm a guy. Being a girl sucks."

"JOE!"

"What?"

"Leave Shelby alone!"

"Why?"

"NOW!"

"She's got to get up for school!"

"She's not going to school today. Now get in the kitchen."

Joe grumbled, yanked at a piece of my hair, jumped on the mattress and hopped over me. He landed with a boom on the hard wood floor.

"Is Shewby sick?" one of the twins asked from the kitchen.

It got kind of quiet.

"No, she's just tired," mom finally said. "Eat your eggs."

"These are eggs?" It was Joe again. "Are they supposed to bounce?"

"JONAH ADOLPH MCLEAN!"

"Ugh, dad."

The full-name effect worked. I didn't hear another word out of him. He really hated his whole name.

I think I might have faded back to sleep for a few more minutes but then I felt a light nudge. I looked up at Ally.

"I brought you toast," she said quietly.

I sat up and took the plate.

"Thanks Al," I said quietly. She bit her lip.

"Are you really okay?"

I was pretty sure I had cried myself out of tears last night, but I'll be damned if a few fresh ones didn't appear.

"I'm..."

"Ally, come in here and eat your breakfast sweetie."

Ally leaned down and kissed my cheek. I watched her walk back into the kitchen.

I nibbled on the toast and then got up to use the bathroom. The blood was minimal. Of course, anything would have been minimal compared to yesterday.

By the time I headed back to the couch, Ally and Joe had left for school. Mom set up this little table with water and sand for the twins to play at and plopped a huge pair of headphones on both of their heads. They held their hands to the earpieces and giggled.

Mom came and sat by me.

"How are you feeling?"

"Okay," I said softly.

Dad came out of the kitchen wiping his hands. He sat down beside mom.

I had thought the whole 'getting caught in the truck' incident had been bad. Then I had thought it couldn't get any worse than the 'shower' fiasco.

But I was wrong. This was worse.

"Shel, we both wanted to talk to you about this situation," dad said. "We want to help you figure out what to do."

"I don't know what to do," I said quietly.

Mom was looking like she was struggling not to cry again.

"I know you're scared and I know this is confusing," she said. She took a big breath. "because I've been in your shoes."

I looked at her in confusion.

"You weren't sixteen when you had me," I said. Dad took mom's hand. He studied the painting over the fireplace like it was the Mona Lisa. I knew those cues well. He was nervous. Mom sighed.

"No, but I got pregnant at sixteen," mom said.

"What?"

She gave me a tiny flicker of a smile.

"I wasn't a saint, Shel. I had a thing for musicians. Well, I still do."

Dad looked at her and smiled. Then the smiles faded.

"But..."

"I made the decision not to go through with it."

My eyes widened. "You..."

She nodded. "Yeah. It was..."

She trailed off. I finally realized at that moment why my uber-cool mom had turned into a tyrant where Mason was concerned.

I had been practically running right down the same path she had made.

"But what about the guy?" I asked.

"It was a one time thing," mom said.

That was the big difference. Mason wasn't a one-time thing. I wiped my eyes.

"I don't want to do that," I said. "I...know I can't..."

"I really didn't want you to," mom said softly. "But this is going to be your choice."

I cracked my knuckles. The noise sounded loud even to my own ears. Off in the corner the twins held up wet sandy hands. They grabbed their headphones and took them off.

The trick that had worked so well for me when I was little didn't work well with the boys.

"ICKY!" Brayden laughed.

Dad sat down and showed them proper sand-castle building techniques. They had been obsessed with that little table since they had come back from the beach. I looked back at mom.

"I'll have the baby," I said. "I just don't know...maybe adoption...I just...I'm not ready."

Mom reached out and put a hand on my knee.

"You don't have to make all the decisions today Shel. I just wanted to see where your head was at."

I almost laughed. I didn't even know where my head was at.

--------------------------

"He didn't kill me but I've never seen him so angry in my life."

I sighed. "I'm sorry Mas."

"No, it's my fault."

"It's our fault."

We both got quiet. Mom and dad had called Kevin and talked to him for a little longer. Then mom had passed me the phone. Ally and Joe were sitting at the kitchen table doing homework. At least Ally was. Joe was eating the eraser off his pencil.

Ick.

"I can't get down there until Halloween," Mason said.

"But you can come?"

"Dad and I are flying down."

That was almost five weeks away. I sighed.

"Hey Shel?"

"Yeah?"

"You're, I mean we...we're keeping it right?"

"Like right now?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah. I'm...going to do this," I said uncertaintly.

"And after?"

"I don't know." I paused. "What do you think?"

"I don't know."

We got quiet again.

"We've got time," Mason said softly.

"Yeah."

"I wish I could have been there yesterday," Mason added.

I thought back. There was no way I would have wanted him to see...that.

"It was gross."

"Could you imagine having twins?"

I laughed. I couldn't even imagine having one right now.

"No," I finally said. I reached out and took a sip from my glass of water.

"We're going to have to be so careful," Mason said. "Even when we get married. I only wanted like two kids."

The water had gone half-way down, but it shot back up and out of my mouth. The coffee table was sprinkled with little drops.

"What?"

"Well, I mean not now, but that was kind of always my plan. I mean I had kind of thought that we'd graduate and go to college. Then before I went to med school I thought we'd get married. Of course I didn't expect...this."

I sank back into the couch. I was the type of person that woke up and didn't even know what to do that day. And then here was Mason with all these plans. College. Med school. Marriage?

"I...wow."

Mason laughed softly.

"Don't listen to me ramble. Just take care of yourself. I'll call you tomorrow. They're not going to stop me from calling you every day."

I clutched the phone and closed my eyes.

"I love you Shel."

"Love you too, Mas."

I hung up and let out a big sigh. I heard Joe belch from the kitchen. Ally let out a squeal and ran into the living room covering her nose. Joe strolled behind her grinning.

This weekend we were going to let Ally and Joe know. It was silly, but I felt even more ashamed having to tell them.

Some role model I was.
Chapter 32 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Thirty Two

"You should see the leaves back home. It's kind of hard to feel spooked down here. The palm trees don't give the same effect."

It was October 30. Everyone was looking forward to Halloween. The whole Richardson clan had arrived earlier that afternoon. They were staying at a hotel nearby but at the moment, Mason and I were sitting cross-legged on the floor of my bedroom.

The past five weeks had gone surprisingly fast. Not that they had been easy. Morning sickness. Trips to the doctor. Endless questions from Ally and Joe.

"So," Mason said. I watched him play with a loose thread on my rug. "How did your last doctor's visit go?"

I reached over to my nightstand and picked up three blurry ultrasound pictures. I handed them to him.

"You can't see much," I explained. "But...it's there."

While Mason studied the pictures, I studied Mason. I still couldn't help but think about his desire to go to med school.

He'd make a great looking doctor.

"You can see a lot," he said. His voice sounded funny. It was almost a cross between terrified and excited. "There's the head and the stubby little arms. It looks like a little turtle almost."

Great. Our baby looked like a turtle. He was saying a lot more than I had. I pressed my hand against my stomach and let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

Finally he looked up.

"How do you feel?"

"Now?"

"In general."

"Okay. It's been better the past couple of weeks. Except for gaining weight."

The corners of his lips curved into a small smile. "I think you look beautiful."

I stretched out my legs and he did the same. Our heels met and pressed together. His eyes darted to my stomach. The 'bump' had appeared a couple days ago. That was when this had all really hit home.

"School will be fun once I can't hide it any longer," I said with a sigh. Mason's toes wiggled against mine.

"I wish you could just come live with me," he said. I smirked.

"Mom and dad would love that."

"Well, we're going to have to figure out something."

"Only if we decide to keep it."

Mason went back to pulling at the thread on the rug.

"I don't know that I can just give it away. It doesn't seem right. Like I'd always be thinking about it," Mason explained.

He had echoed my thoughts.

"I know. But mom and dad won't let me quit school. And you're in Kentucky. And there's already five of us kids living here."

"But if you moved, Addy could watch the baby while we went to school. I'd keep my job at the diner. Or, even better, grandpa left his house to me in his will. We could move in there."

Mason was starting to drive me nuts. He was talking to me but he was looking at that thread. I nudged his foot and he finally looked up.

"You think our parents would actually let us move into a house? Together? We're juniors in high school!"

I was due on Memorial Day. Two weeks before the end of school. I still hadn't figured out the logistics of that.

"We'd be seniors. But, if that didn't work you could still live with us."

That was a warm fuzzy thought. Not.

"What about college?" I prodded.

"I can take some classes online. And I could drive back and forth to Lexington."

"What about money?"

"It's not like our parents are poor Shel," Mason said softly. "Plus I can keep working at least part time. More this summer. It's not like we'd have a house payment."

I made a face. I didn't want to talk about utilities and trash pickup and all that stuff.

"We've got time to think about it," I finally said.

We let the subject drop. Mom came up and announced that the pizza had arrived and Mason helped me to my feet.

Dinner was an event. Joe and Daniel decided that pudding and pizza were the grossiest combination ever invented and began to play the 'seafood' game. Tristan and Brayden had decided they were horses for the day and went galloping around the table. Ally wasn't even here. She had gone to a friends house for a Halloween party.

"Nick called me this morning. He's having his annual Halloween bash," dad explained.

"Do you go every year? It's been...geesh...nine years since we were down here for it," Kevin said thoughtfully.

"We go every year. It's...tradition."

It was a little hazy, but I remembered the time Kevin was talking about. Dad had dressed as a pirate...Captain Jack Sparrow. I had thought he was the coolest person ever. Mason and I had pooled our candy together and we had agreed it was the biggest pile of candy ever.

All of a sudden I kind of wished I was that small again.

Life was so much easier when the biggest worry in life was who had gotten the most candy.

"We'll have to get Dan a costume."

"No you don't. I've got a couple really cool ones," Joe said. "Bloody masks. And daggers!"

Dan's eyes lit up. "Oooh."

"I think Kayleigh's staying at Nick's to," dad continued. "Baylee's doing this big recital or something for his last semester of college."

"He's almost done?"

"Graduates in December. Brian said they're working on his first album together."

"Wow, time flies."

"It sure does."

Kevin and dad both turned and looked at me. I pretended to be interested in a darkened cheese bubble on my slice of pizza.

After we finished dinner, Joe and Dan ran up to his room. The twins scampered off after them.

The rest of us went into the living room. Once we sat down, Kevin cleared his throat and leaned forward.

"Kristin was going to fly in to be here tonight but she couldn't," Kevin started off. "But we've been doing quite a bit of talking over the last few weeks about what's going on."

I glanced over at Mason. I had completely forgotten to ask him how his mom was taking the news.

"I have been informed," Kevin said. I saw Addy make a face. "That I've handled this situation wrong."

It didn't take a genius to figure out who informed him of that. Of course I felt like we had let Kristin down. She had made us promise to be careful.

We hadn't.

"We've all handled it wrong," AJ said.

"But what's done is done," Kevin continued.

"We were thinking that maybe we could use grandpa's house," Mason said. "I mean, after the baby's born." I looked at him in surprise. He just went right in for the kill. I saw dad frown.

"In Kentucky?"

Mason looked at him. "Yeah."

"Shelby's going to need help," mom said.

"I'll help her," Mason said simply. As if it was obvious...and a done deal.

"You're both going to be in school."

"We'll figure it out. But we have to be together."

"Mason, this isn't like playing house," Kevin said. "This is an actual human life that you'd be responsible for."

Mason's jaw tensed.

"I know."

The parentals looked at each other. I think they were trying their best to prevent any blowups today.

"I think we'll keep that option in mind, but there's still time to figure the logistics of all this out," dad said.

"So does that mean you're keeping the baby?" mom added.

I looked at Mason. All of a sudden I pictured a little version of him and I couldn't see handing that over to someone else.

"I think so," I said quietly.

The conversation lasted for another hour or so until the noise from upstairs bordered on dangerous and dad and Kevin went to break up the boys. By the time Mason left, I was exhausted.

For the first time in my life I wished I could fast forward time a little bit just to make sure that everything was going to be okay.

I think my worst fear was that I was going to be a horrible mom. I mean, I yelled at the twins all the time. And Joe. Even Ally. I wasn't a patient person. I mean I was less than eleven weeks pregnant and I already just wanted it to be over.

Could I love something enough to actually learn to be patient?

That was the big question.

---------------------------------------

Shameless plug: I'm writing another story (non-Coaster related) called Only in My Dreams. It's a Brian fic, but Nick's going to play a pretty big role for all you Carter ladies out there. You can view the story here.
Chapter 33 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Thirty Three

"Happy Halloween! Come vin, come vin. Vhat can I get you to drink? Some blood, perhaps?"

The eleven of us were standing at Nick's front door. He was dressed like a vampire, complete with dripping fangs. He was playing the whole thing up like he was on Broadway or something.

The outside of the house was decorated like a giant graveyard. The decorations continued on the inside. If there was one holiday the Carters loved, it was Halloween.

"Good to see you Nick," Kevin said with a laugh. They hugged and Nick smiled.

"It's Count Nick-ula tonight," he said happily. He turned around. "Vhere is my bride?"

Liv came down the hallway. Her cape was hung over her shoulder. She was cradling a teeny baby in her arms.

"Hey, you're not dressed?" Nick said in his normal voice. Liv looked at him like he was nuts.

"Are you serious? Brooke and Kay wanted me to help them get their makeup on. Peyton was stuck in her tights. And Noah...I have no idea where he is. Then Landon started screaming and I had to feed him and--"

She looked around as if just realizing we were all there. She broke into a smile.

"Hey guys!"

"Number four?" Kevin asked, nodded towards the dark haired, red-faced baby in Liv's arms. Nick's smile widened; it stretched out the fake blood on his chin and made it almost look like spaghetti sauce instead.

"Yup, number four."

"And the last," Liv said. "I got tired of Nick whining about the lack of little feet in the house."

Nick laughed.

During the course of this conversation, Mason inched his way towards me. He took my hand and gave it a squeeze. I looked at him and he smiled.

"Help yourself to some munchies guys," Liv said. The table was loaded with trail mix, punch, and other various junk foods.

Joe, Dan, Brayden and Tristan didn't need to be told twice. Ally stuck by my other side. She had been acting like a mother hen to me ever since she had learned about the baby.

Nick turned back to Kev.

"How's it going?"

The question hung in the air heavily. Nick's eyes landed on me and Mason. He looked at our hands.

"Aw, are you two finally going out?" He jabbed Kevin in the side. "What did I say? I called this forever ago."

Liv came up. Addy leaned over to see the baby. Mom wasn't far behind.

"I still remember that blog he wrote about the red-headed grandchildren," Liv said with a laugh. "Remember that Kev?"

"I remember," he said quietly.

"We'll have to see about that," dad said. "Hair color is going to be a crap shoot."

"What?" Nick asked in surprise.

Kevin glanced back at us. I had a feeling he wasn't going to blurt it out like dad would.

"We're going to have a baby in May," I said. My voice sounded like Minnie Mouse's. It was that squeaky. The words so didn't sound right in my ears.

"Oh honey," Liv said sadly. Nick looked speechless. Which was unusual. I had never known Mr. Bob to be quiet. And yes, I still called him that to his face.

It was our little inside joke.

I smelled a pity party coming. I so didn't want a pity party. Mason cleared his throat.

"Hey Dan, let's get your costume on!" he called out. Joe and Dan followed Mason down the hall. Mom took Ally and the twins to get changed.

"Mom, Kay wants more lipstick!"

I hadn't seen Brooke for about a year. I was surprised at how tall she had gotten. She was dressed as a flapper; I couldn't help but notice how long her legs were. And her hair.

Brooke had been kidnapped when she was seven. Her hair had been hacked off. She hadn't let anyone cut it since. It was almost to her waist. Long, blonde and straight.

Perfect hair.

"I got the tube!"

A girl wearing a huge feather boa around her neck walked down the hall holding a tube of lipstick. I hadn't seen Kayleigh for years, but I knew that's who the girl had to be.

Like Brooke, she was blonde but her hair fell in long soft curls. Her facial feature were tiny but perfect. She flashed a bright smile up at Liv.

"I need more," she said, holding up the tube. Liv rolled up the stick and Kayleigh puckered.

As Liv was applying the lipstick, the boys trooped out of the bathroom. Joe was dressed as a corpse. Dan looked like a zombie, but he was wearing a hockey mask.

Mason had donned a cowboy hat. That was it. A cowboy hat.

I personally thought it was a great costume.

Liv rolled up the tube. She turned.

"Nick, can you hold Landon? I want to see where Noah ran off to."

"Sure thing."

The little wiggling baby was passed into Nick-ula's arms and Liv took off down the hallway. What I can only describe as a little version of Liv ran past her in the hall.

"DADDY, LOOK!"

Peyton was dressed as a fairy. And not just one of those weird looking fairies. She had light up wings and a dress with layers of mesh. Nick smiled at her adoringly.

"Absolutely beautiful."

Peyton beamed. Brooke walked up to Nick and wrapped her arms around his waist. She looked up at him.

"I haven't forgotten my flapper," Nick said softly. He ran a hand down her hair. "You look beautiful too."

She smiled and twirled in place.

Ally, the twins, and mom came back into the room. Ally had decided she wanted to be Snow White. With her long black hair, it was the perfect choice. Brayden and Tristan were dressed as robots.

The room was crowded and the kids were getting noisy. Liv finally came back downstairs. I swear to god that a minature Nick was following her.

Noah looked identical to his dad. He was even wearing a smaller version of the vampire get-up.

"Where were you?" Nick asked Noah. Noah smiled.

"I was hanging upside down in the attic," he said.

"No he wasn't. He was trying to find your, er, magazines," Liv said.

Dad started to laugh.

"Do you still have the first one I bought you?" Kevin asked.

"I think we should head out!" Nick declared. He handed Landon back to Liv. Liv just looked and him and shook her head.

"I'm going to stay here and help Liv get the rest of the food ready," Addy said.

"Shel, do you want to stay here?" mom asked.

I hadn't missed the trick-or-treat walk. I had always gone. But I just didn't feel up to it this year. I nodded.

"I'll stay here too," Mason said. "I'll hand out candy at the door." He shared a look with Kevin. Kevin nodded.

Mom, dad, Nick, Kevin and the whole slew of kids took off outside. I could hear the twins beeping and booping halfway down the block. Not long after kids started to come up to the door and Mason got busy handling the candy.

"What can I do to help?" Addy asked.

"I need some vegetables cut up," Liv said. "And I've got to get the lasagna layered. Ugh."

Liv glanced over at me.

"Hey Shel, can you sit with Landon?"

I looked at her in surprise.

"What? Oh...sure."

I held out my arms and Liv handed him over gently. I stared down into his tiny face. He was asleep. I slowly sank down on the couch.

"How old is he?" I asked.

"Tomorrow he'll be two weeks old," Liv said. She headed into the kitchen.

I looked down at him. He smelled really good. His mouth opened and I braced myself for a cry, but he just turned his head and let out a sigh. I relaxed a little bit and looked up.

Mason was watching me from the open front door. Our eyes met. I saw Mason take a deep breath.

I had a feeling we were both thinking the same thing.

Seven months from now I'd be holding our own child.

I felt myself tense up. The familiar feeling of panic whenever I really thought about it hit me full force again.

And Landon began to cry.
Chapter 34 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Thirty Four

"Babies just pick up on the stress, Shel. The same thing happened to me after Brooke was born. I think I was so worried about dropping her or ruining her entire infant life that she picked up on it and became the devil child. Of course, Nick never worries about anything, so he became her sun, moon and stars. I did much better once Noah was born," Liv said wtih a smile. She handed Landon back to me.

I had kind of freaked out when Landon started to cry. Liv took a time out from lasagna layering to come over and settle things back down. I looked down at him. He was studying my face. I smiled. Liv touched my shoulder.

"See? All better. After four kids I'm now an expert," she said with a laugh. She got up and went back to the kitchen.

"Do you have more candy? There's tons of kids coming up the walk!" Mason called out.

"Open the cabinet under the hall table. That's where Nick keeps the stash!" Liv called.

I watched Mason tear open a bag. I glanced back down at Landon.

"Hi Landon," I said softly. "How do you like your first Halloween?"

I lowered my face closer and his eyes widened. His whole body wiggled in the little swaddle blanket he was wrapped in. I laughed.

"So how did Kevin take it when he found out?" Liv asked from the kitchen. I heard Addy sigh.

"Well, you know Kev..."

"I already told Nick that as soon as Brooke even looks at a boy I'm getting her on the pill. I know that with Nick's genetics coursing through my children's blood, that there is a libido that no amount of lecturing is going to quelch. We're just going to do our little PSAs and make sure they play smart. Anyhow, I think I'm going to stress out more about Noah. The thought of a male Carter teen unleashed into the world..." Liv trailed off.

Addy didn't say anything. Of course, I knew why. She had been just as bad about this whole thing as Kevin.

Why was it that Mason and I had to get the parents that lived in the Stone Age?

---------------------------

An hour and a half later, I was sprawled out on the couch with Landon on my chest. I had taken him out of the swaddle and he was happily asleep with his legs all bunched up under him like a frog. The smell of breadsticks and lasagna filled the house. All was peaceful until the troops marched back in with their bags filled to the brim.

"This is the BEST neighborhood for candy!" Joe declared.

"We got the mostest!" Brayden shouted. Tristan nodded enthusiastically.

Mason was sitting on the floor, his back against the couch. He ran his finger along Landon's arm. Once he got to Landon's hand, his finger was lost in a little tiny baby fist. There was no way the little guy could sleep through a whole herd of people stomping through the house. His little body twitched, but he didn't cry. I put a hand on his little body and looked up.

I met Kevin's gaze, but he didn't say anything. He had this look on his face like he was being smacked upside the head with the whole baby thing.

Brooke came over and sat by Mason. She smiled brightly.

"You guys want some candy?"

"Whatcha got?"

"Mas!"

"What? She offered!"

Joe plopped on the couch and began to unwrap and pop small candy bars like he was a vacuum cleaner. Dan sat down beside him and they began to talk about...well, whatever

Kayleigh walked over and sat by Brooke. Noah was right on her heels. He sat beside her and rooted through his bag.

"Three Musketeers are your favorite right?" he said. Kay glanced at him and nodded.

A minute later he was holding out a handful of silver wrapped candies.

"Here you go."

I smiled. Unlike Joe who was just one step up from dragging his knuckles on the ground, Noah was a gentlemen.

Or a flirt.

Or both.

Probably both.

Kayleigh flashed him a smile. I swear she even batted her eyes.

"Thanks."

Brooke started talking excitedly about a new music competition on TV. Liv was getting all the food out. Nick had knelt down next to Peyton and was saying something to which she was laughing hysterically. Ally came over and sat on the arm of the couch.

"He's so cute," she said. Her arm went out and touched Landon's fuzzy hair. "Did you watch him the whole time?"

I looked up at her and smiled. "Yup."

Her eyes sparkled. "You're going to be a good mom. And I'm going to be a great aunt."

"And I'm going to be a monkey's uncle!" Joe declared loudly.

"TIME TO EAT!"

We were saved by the magic word. Mason stood up and lifted Landon off of me. I sat up. I smiled again.

He looked really cute holding a baby.

--------------------------

"Alright, Texas Hold 'Em?"

"Sounds good to me."

The kids were all upstairs watching a movie. Landon was asleep down the hall. The adults were all gathering around to play (or watch) the poker game. Liv was sitting behind Nick with the baby monitor on her lap.

And then there was Mason and me.

"I want to play," I said.

Nick looked over at me and laughed.

"Seriously?"

I folded my arms. "Seriously, Bob. Deal me in."

Mason smiled at me. "I'll play too."

I had been watching dad play for years. Sure, when I was little I had totally screwed up his chances of winning, but I knew the game now.

And I didn't want to be upstairs watching dancing penguins.

Liv got two more seats. Nick motioned towards them.

"Alright, I hate to take money from you kiddos, but you asked for it..."

I snorted. In the past ten years I don't think Nick had ever won. Mom usually ended up taking the entire pot.

"If I remember correctly we have to watch out for that one," dad said. He pointed to Addy. She smiled.

"Who me?"

"That's why you haven't been invited back for so long," Nick said.

"Ouch!" dad said playfully. Everyone laughed. I felt myself relax. This was good. Laughter and joking had been a rare commodity lately.

Mason and I sat side by side. The adults had stopped betting money years ago. The pot consisted of any Halloween candy not passed out during the night or stolen from the little kid's buckets when they weren't looking.

To me, it looked like a great pot to win.

I got my cards and peeked at them. I saw Mason do the same with his own cards. Under the table, I felt his hand on my knee. He squeezed gently.

He was leaving tomorrow. I had a feeling it was going to be a similar scene to the one we had when I had left Kentucky this summer. I could already feel tears prickling at my eyes. I shook my head and glanced at my cards a second time. No tears. Just fun.

We made the rounds around the table. Dad folded. He always took awhile to warm up. Nick dove right in. Addy made a calculated move. I grabbed a couple pieces of candy from my stack that Nicky Bob had given me. I had a pretty good hand. I practiced my good poker face and shoved the candy towards the center.

"I'll raise."
Chapter 35 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Thirty Five

"Bawk, bawk, bawk!"

"Dude Tristan, buddy, it's 'gobble, gobble.'"

"Bawk, gobble, gobble, bawk!"

I just shook my head and continued to grate some carrots into the large salad bowl.

I had just entered the second trimester. I had managed to lurk in school up to break undetected by wearing my loose flannel shirts. Luckily the grunge look was back in, but even those shirts were getting tighter.

"I think we better go shopping tomorrow," mom said. She touched the Jell-o she had made that was sitting in the refrigerator. It was still a watery mess.

Thank goodness G-ma McLean was bringing the turkey.

"Shopping?"

Mom looked at me...well at my stomach. "You're going to need some clothes, honey."

I exhaled loudly. I knew what maternity clothes were. Stupid shirts with ties under your boobs and pants with elastic...

So not cool.

I had been complaining for two straight weeks now about school. And about my inability to drive.

Basically I had been complaining about everything.

"Okay, dinner has arrived!"

The front door kicked shut and a minute later dad came in. I smelled the amazing aromas of mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing...

Everything mom couldn't cook and dad didn't have the patience to cook.

"Mom should be here with the turkey in fifteen minutes. I think we're actually going to time it right this year."

I smiled. Every year dad ordered out the sides, grandma brought the turkey, mom tried to make Jell-o, and I made the salad.

Last year grandma had gotten stuck in traffic. We were all so starved that the sides were mostly gone by the time the bird got here.

But this year things were right on schedule. Grandma breezed through the door and set the turkey in the middle of our dining room table. Ally set our silverware, Joe helped carry the side dishes out, and the twins bounced up in down in their chairs with fork and spoon at the ready.

"How you doing sweetheart?" Grandma said gently. Her arm wrapped around my waist and squeezed me gently.

"I'm doing okay grandma," I said with a smile. She kissed my cheek.

We all sat down and dad stood at the head of the table, electric carving knife in hand.

"Let's pray," he said. We bowed our heads.

"Our Father in Heaven, we give thanks for the pleasure of gathering together for this occasion. We give thanks for this food prepared by loving hands. We give thanks for life, The freedom to enjoy it all And all other blessings. As we partake of this food, we pray for health and strength ro carry on and try to live as you would have us. This we ask in the name of Christ, Our Heavenly Father. Amen."

"Amen."

"And a special amen to the ladies at Kroger for preparing this TURKEY!" Joe said loudly.

I couldn't help but laugh. We were going to have to give a couple amens out to the deli clerks who fixed everything up. Well, except the salad. And mom's Jell-O soup.

"I made pumpkin pie!" Ally said excitedly.

Oh, and I had forgotten about Ally's pie. I had spent the whole entire day yesterday helping her measure out ingredients. It looked like pumpkin pie, and smelled like pumpkin pie.

I could only hope it tasted like pumpkin pie.

-----------------------------

"Does your baby like turkey?" Tristan asked halfway through the meal. I looked at him in surprise. The twins hadn't really said anything about me having a baby before.

"Well, I..." I glanced down at my plate. I had literally just woofed down ten pieces of turkey. The button of my jean was officially undone.

And I was still hungry.

"I'm pretty sure it does," I said with a smile.

"Is the baby going to go to school with you?" Brayden asked. I could hear his feet kicking against the wooden chair.

"No, it's not," I said. "It will be born around summertime."

"Are you going to fart as much as mom did when she was pregnant with these guys?" Joe asked, pointing a fork loaded with mashed potatoes at the twins.

"JONAH!" Mom yelled.

Dad lowered his head. I saw his shoulders shaking. Mom glanced over and jabbed him in the stomach. He winced.

"Ow, I'm full."

"How's school going Ally?" Grandma asked. She smiled. Somehow Ally was always getting kind of just tossed into the mix.

"I love school," she said enthuastically. "I wrote a poem and my teacher entered it into a contest."

"She did?" Dad asked. He sounded impressed. "You didn't tell us that!"

Ally just shrugged. "I haven't heard who won yet or anything," she added softly.

"What about you Joe?"

"What about me?"

"How's school."

"Sucks. Except band."

"What instrument are you playing?"

"All of em. Except the pussy ones."

"JONAH!"

"WHAT?"

Grandma looked at me.

"Shel?"

"I hate school," I said simply. Dad looked over at me.

"You don't have to worry about it much longer."

I looked up. "What do you mean?"

Dad smiled. "I'm enrolling you in an art school next semester."

My eyes widened. "WHAT?"

"The semester is shorter and you'll get out around the first of May. It won't give you enough credits to go back to school in the fall at a Senior at Tampa Prep, but it will if you go to public school."

I was shocked. Art school? No more plastics or domeheads to contend with?

"Would I transfer in as a senior if I went to Mason's school?" I asked.

Dad's eyes darkened.

"I don't know."

The thought of moving to Kentucky was still playing in my head. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Mom had her hands full with the three boys. Kevin and Addy only had Dan and when he wasn't around Joe he was a really good kid.

"Can we check?"

"We'll talk about that when the time gets closer," mom said.

"I don't want to talk about it in delivery," I said. I knew it came out snappish.

"Shelby, please," mom said.

"We'll talk about it later," dad said. "Like when you pass driver's ed."

I snorted. "That would mean I would be allowed to take driver's ed."

Dad smiled. My eyes widened.

"Really?"

"Yes really. But I'm coming with you."

I groaned. Nobody had to take driver's ed with their dad tagging along.

"Why?"

"I just want to...make sure you're safe."

I knew deep down dad had a hard time with the whole driving thing. If mom was late, he freaked out. Of course, I couldn't blame him. That's how Ally and Joe's mom had gotten hurt. And later died.

Maybe having dad along wouldn't be such a bad thing. I smiled.

"Have I told you guys how much I love you?" I said enthusiastically. Mom and dad laughed.

"Now you have something to be thankful for," grandma steased. I looked around the table. I really did love my family.

"No, I already have a lot to be thankful for," I said. I stuffed another piece of turkey in my mouth. It tasted so good.

My baby really did like turkey.
Chapter 36 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Thirty Five

"Oh my god, you look adorable. Turn to the left a little more."

I turned left. I held my shirt up and glanced over at my laptop.

"I couldn't really see it when I was there for Halloween, but wow."

"Four months exactly," I said.

I was web-camming with Mason. I sat back down and brought the screen back up to my lap. He smiled.

"I miss you. I wish I could be there."

"I know. I feel like I haven't seen you forever," I said with a sigh.

Mason smiled. "Well, I'll be there in spirit. First day of driver's ed, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah, right after school. I--"

"SHEL! The bus will be here soon!"

I groaned. "I've got to go. Bus will be here soon."

Mason leaned back. He seemed to have had another growth spurt between Halloween and now.

Of course, that might have had to do with the great season his football team had. They had gone to regionals before they lost.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

We blew kisses and I closed my laptop. I grabbed my backpack and headed down the stairs.

Even though I was now looking totally pregnant with my amazingly dorky maternity clothes, I was feeling more energetic.

"Have a good day at school!" mom called.

"Don't forget, I'm picking you up!" dad called.

"Alright, love you!"

I headed down the steps. The bus rounded the corner and pulled to a loud stop. The door opened and I climbed up the steps.

I hadn't been able to hide the baby bump once we got back from Thanksgiving break. Of course, I was doing my best to ignore any catty comments or looks.

And there were a lot.

"How's it going prego?" Frank asked. I ignored him and sat down.

"Drawing any more naked cowboys lately?" he continued. He turned around in his seat to look at me. "Is that who knocked you up?"

I glared at him. "Shut up," I said. He smirked.

"Are you going to throw up on me again? Because I would so totally prefer if you had just spread your legs for me. I bet you're nice and red all over."

I felt my face flame. He reached over the seat towards me.

Something in my head snapped. I stood up, grabbed my bag, and just started whapping him with it. He covered his face.

"HEY! STOP! OW! LEAVE ME ALONE!"

"DON'T TALK TO ME EVER AGAIN!" I shrieked.

I was pretty much going ape-shit. The guy sitting next to Frank backed off.

I didn't realize it, but the bus pulled over to the side. It took the bus driver yanking the bag from me for reality to come back.

"You're sitting up front," the driver snapped.

I stomped up to the front of the bus.

"Who would want to sleep with that?" a girl whispered. I whirled around. She looked away.

Once the bus got to school, I spent an oh so enjoyable hour in the principal's office. Let me tell you, the 'prince' of this school was so not my pal.

"You attacked one of our basketball players with your bag?" he asked.

"He...was harassing me."

The principal sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"You only have two more weeks in this school. I would prefer if you could stay out of trouble and just get through your finals."

My jaw tensed. The principal looked like the Pillsbury Doughboy. I wished I was still little and could just say whatever was on my mind. Because if I had been little, I would have told him that he needed to avoid any marshmallow factories for the fear of being mistakenly packaged as the grand-daddy of all Jet Puffs.

But I was sixteen and I was taught to respect my elders, so I bit my tongue.

As a result of the lecture, I missed my first two classes. The rest of the day dragged out miserably. The only bright spot was that I had driver's ed to look forward to.

-----------------------

"Now, remember, slow is good. Let people pass you. You'll get there safely."

Those words of wisdom came from dad in the backseat. The instructor just smirked.

The first thirty minutes of driver's ed was learning all the different rules in a classroom.

For the last ten minutes, I was sitting in the car.

I wasn't even driving today. I couldn't drive until I passed the written portion.

What stupid person thought up stuff like this? I was sixteen. I was born to drive.

"Today, we're just going over the parts of the car," the instructor said.

"Hey, you've got to be careful in a stationary car too," dad argued.

The instructor gave a little sigh. I sat there with my arms folded across my chest while I was introduced to the rearview mirrors (duh), lights, wipers, turn signals, and other stuff that I tuned out.

"So how long until I can take the test?"

"A couple weeks."

I groaned.

Twenty minutes later, dad and I were driving back home.

"Pizza sound good tonight?" he asked.

"Sounds good to me," I said.

We swung by a 'grab-and-go' pizza joint and grabbed a couple of pizzas.

Joe and Ally were already sitting at the kitchen table. I could hear the sound of the sewing machine. Mom was making something again, probably more costumes for the twins or repairing what they had ruined.

"PIZZA NIGHT!" Dad called out.

Joe ran out and grabbed a box. "God bless you," he said seriously. Dad ruffled his hair.

The machine stopped. "How did driver's ed go?" mom asked.

"I didn't even drive!" I said. "I have to read this book and pass the test." I held up the driver's guide for the state of Florida. Mom smiled.

"That's usually how it works."

"Ugh."

"I think that's a good goal to work towards. If you work hard, you'll be able to finish it right after your birthday."

I sighed. My birthday was right around the corner. My seventeenth birthday.

Last year at this time, I would have called anyone crazy that told me that I'd be pregnant.

It was scary how fast things could change.

Maybe dad's advice about driving wasn't too far off. I just wish I had gotten it sooner.

If I had, maybe I would have realized that slow was good.
Chapter 37 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Thirty Seven

"WAKE UP!"

A red sock barely missed smashing into my nose.

"Woah!"

I grabbed Brayden and he sat down on the mattress. His big brown eyes were sparkling.

"SANTA CAME!"

Tristan was off yelling in at Joe. I laughed and tickled Brayden's sides.

"Well, you better go tell mom and dad!"

He didn't waste a second. He hopped up and took off down the hallway. I got up and grabbed my big, fluffy robe. At least, it used to be big.

I walked into Ally's room. I could hear the soft sound of her sleeping. No amount of shouting was going to wake her. I sat down and shook her gently. She turned over. I shook her again.

Finally, her eyes fluttered open. She reached out and grabbed her hearing devices from the dresser. She yawned as she put them in place.

"Brayden just informed me Santa came," I said with a smile. Ally's face lit up.

"Sweet!"

She got out of bed and followed me down the stairs.

Dad was trying to keep order. He had both of the twins by the back of their PJs. Their little legs were swinging in the air.

"Nobody opens ANYTHING until we ALL sit down," he said calmly.

Finally we were all settled. Dad passed out the presents. As always, Joe tossed the boxes containing clothes as far away as possible. He was interesting in the video games and toys of mass destruction.

Out of all of us, Ally was the most conscientious present opener. She always took her time and studying things with an eagle eye.

I was almost as bad as Joe. I loved the excitement of getting through the pile as fast as possible and then falling back and hearing the wrapping paper crinkle in my ear.

But this year was different than past years. The type of presents had changed. Tucked amongst the art supplies, shoes, clothes, and hair accessories there were baby things.

A bassinet. Some onesies.

Little things for a little person.

"I couldn't resist," mom said as I held up a soft yellow little sleeper with duckies.

"I don't think that's going to fit her," Joe said with a smirk.

"Thank you," I said. "We're going to need it."

Ally was big into homemade gifts and this year was no exception. She walked around and handed out packages covered in her own little stamps. Last year she had made me a really cool corded bracelet. This year the package was bigger and bulkier. It was a picture frame with a picture of her and me. It said Sisters in crazy funky letters along the bottom.

"Aw, Al, I love it!" I said. She beamed.

"Sweet, a jar of slime," Joe said in appreciation. He looked thoughtful, reached into his PJ pocket and pulled out some lint. He extended it in her direction.

"Here you go!"

Ally laughed. "No thanks."

As always, the last present given out was dad's gift to mom. And like always, it was a piece of jewelry. And as always, she cried and covered him with kisses and there was way too much gross parental PDA and we all began to complain loudly.

Finally, they broke it up and we went to the kitchen for breakfast.

------------------------

I had sent Mason his present a week ago. I had painted a non-abstract picture of the lake. I threw in a few football things, a gushy letter, and sent it on his way. He had called the day he got it and we spoke for over an hour. He was spending Christmas with his mom. He promised me I would get my present soon.

Of course, I hadn't gotten it yet. That was bad because I wasn't the type of person that liked surprises.

By the time evening hit, the twins had played with every single toy and broken a couple of them. Ally had modeled all of her new clothes. Joe had put slime on my kitchen chair and I had almost throttled him.

All in all, it was a normal McLean Christmas.

We were all gathered in the living room. White Christmas was playing on the big TV. The movie was like a thousand years old, but it was Ally's favorite. The doorbell rang and dad got up to answer it. Ally was sitting beside me.

"This is my favorite part!" she exclaimed. She said the same thing every year. It was the part where the two female leads sang the song Sisters.

"C'mon Shel!"

It was a requirement that we sing along. I laughed.

"Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister, And Lord help the sister who comes between me and my man!" we sang in unison.

"Wow, I think I came in at the wrong time."

I gasped and turned around. Mason and his mom were standing there in the archway to the living room. I gasped.

"Mas?"

He laughed. "It's me."

I scrambled up and flew into his open arms. He wrapped his arms tightly around me.

"What are you doing here?"

He grinned. "This is part of your Christmas present. And well, my Christmas present. We're spending the rest of my break down here."

"Really?"

"Yup. I mean, someone's birthday is coming up."

I was a New Year's baby. When I was little, I thought that people celebrated midnight around the world solely because I was turning another year older.

My face hurt I was smiling so big. "This is awesome."

"Hi Shel."

I looked up. I hadn't seen Kristin since Mason's birthday.

"Merry Christmas."

Her eyes trailed down to my stomach.

"How are you doing?"

I was doing fabulous now. This was the best Christmas present I could have ever gotten.

"Great," I said.

Dad, mom and Kristin started talking. I took Mason's hand and we sat down by the Christmas tree.

"Look," I said. I held up some of the baby stuff. He looked at it and then at me.

"Can I touch it?"

I was holding the yellow ducky sleeper. "Sure. It's really soft and..."

He scooted close to me. His hand pressed lightly against my stomach. I hadn't realized that's what he meant. He kissed my cheek.

"Merry Christmas."

I smiled. My hand covered his.

"Merry Christmas, Mas."

He leaned over slightly and I saw his free hand move to his pocket. He struggled, but finally he yanked whatever it was out. He held it out to me.

"This is for you."

It was a box. A square box. A pretty box. A...ring box.

I stared at it in shock. My throat went dry.
Chapter 38 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Thirty Eight

"Don't pass out," Mason said. I guess I must have looked that shocked. He smiled.

"My doctor said I can't get my heart rate up above 140," I blurted. My hands waved in the air.

"Breathe. I wanted to get you an engagement ring," Mason explained. "But dad kind of went ballistic. So I got you a promise ring."

He opened the box. It was a dainty silver ring with an oval garnet stone. On either side of the stone was a little diamond chip.

"Oh Mas," I whispered. He took it out of its velvet nest and picked up my left hand. He slid it onto my finger.

It was perfect. Just like him.

I had a boyfriend that bought me rings. Oh my God.

I couldn't help it; I burst into tears.

That got the attention of everyone in the room. Mason smiled sheepishly.

"What the hell?" dad said.

I held up my hand. I hiccuped.

"Did he propose?" Ally squealed. "Did I miss it? No way!"

I shook my head. "N-no," I sobbed. "It's a promise."

"What does he have to promise? He's kind of stuck with you now that you're pregos," Joe said.

"Jonah," dad warned.

"What?"

I wiped my eyes. Mom knelt down and looked at it.

"You have good taste Mason."

"I taught him well," Kristin said.

Mason smiled.

I was convinced that this was the best Christmas ever. I held the ring up. Ally came over.

"Wow, that's really pretty. Hey dad, what's my birthstone?"

Dad laughed. "Your birthstone is a diamond."

Ally's eyes lit up. "Sweet!"

After a few more 'ooh's' and 'aww's,' everyone kind of drifted back to what they were doing. Mason leaned over and kissed my neck.

"Just wait until I do propose though," he whispered. I shivered.

I was kind of glad he hadn't proposed. I didn't think I would have been able to handle that. It all seemed so...

Forever.

Not that I didn't want forever with him. It was just that I was pregnant and hormonal and still scared. I just couldn't add 'engaged' to the list just yet. I leaned against him and closed my eyes.

I just wanted to enjoy right now.

After about another half hour, Mason and Kristin got up to head back to their hotel.

"I'll call you tomorrow morning. Maybe we can go to the mall," Mason said. I smiled.

"I'd love that."

He kissed me.

"Merry Christmas, Shel."

I laughed. "Merry Christmas, Mas."

-----------------------------

"So I heard Victoria's Secret is having an after Christmas sale..."

I laughed. "Shut up."

"What?"

I rolled my eyes. We were strolling hand in hand through the mall. We had already paid our respects to the closed smoothie stand. Mason stopped and pointed to a baby store.

"Hey, let's go in there."

"Really?"

"Yeah, why not?"

I shrugged. "Why not? Let's go."

We walked in and started to look around. There was so much stuff. Cribs, changing tables, swaddle blankets, burp cloths, sleepers, pacifiers, bottles...

"How can a little person need so much stuff?" I wondered out loud.

Mason picked up a little pink tiger. He tilted its head back and forth.

"I don't know Shelby!" he said in a high pitched voice. I laughed.

"No, seriously, I agree. I don't even know what some of this stuff is," he said. He pointed to a box. "What are these huge suction cups?"

I blushed. I knew what those were. "That's a breast pump."

He looked at them. His eyes went to my chest.

"Oh."

I laughed and nudged his side.

We walked into the back of the shop where the cribs and stuff were. Mason started bouncing from one to the other.

"I like this one."

"This ones nice."

"Look at this one!"

I was still on the first crib. I headed over to look at the second one and stopped.

"Woah."

Mason turned and frowned. "Shel? You okay."

I took another step. It happened again. My hands flew to my stomach.

"Woah."

Mason paled. "Shel?"

I stared down in surprise. It was like a hundred little butterflies had taken flight.

"The baby just moved," I said in quiet awe.

"What?"

I smiled. "It's moving around!"

Mason smiled. "Are you okay?"

"I'm---"

I didn't know what to say. I glanced back up at Mason.

"I'm glad you're here," I answered honestly. Mason came over and pressed his hand to my stomach, but of course he couldn't feel them.

They were just for me.

After a few more minutes, the feeling (and shock) passed and we headed out of the baby store.

"You hungry?"

"Starved."

"Let's go to the food court."

We walked down to the food court. We agreed on Chinese and I sat down while Mason placed our order.

"Just when I was worried I wouldn't see you again."

I turned around and blanched. Frank walked up and stood over me, smiling leacherously.

"Merry belated Christmas. Did Santa stuff your stocking? Oh wait, he already did that, didn't he?"

My eyes narrowed. "Why don't you leave me alone?"

Frank laughed. "You're not armed with a backpack." He put his hands down on the table and leaned forward. "I don't think I have a lot to worry about."

I scooted my chair back. I went to stand up, but he put a hand on my shoulder.

"Hey where you going? I want to have a little chat."

"Get your fucking hand off of her."

Frank looked up. Mason was standing behind him. Even though Frank was a senior and Mason was only a junior, Mason towered over him. Frank laughed and straightened up.

"Do my eyes deceive me? The naked cowboy. In the flesh."

"I'd appreciate if you stop harassing my girlfriend."

"I'm not harassing her. Me and Shel go way back. Of course, I didn't learn until recently how easy she was. Was she a good dick dunk?"

Mason's jaw tensed. "Get the hell out of here."

Frank cracked his knuckles. "Who's going to make me?

Mason pushed him. I groaned. Frank stumbled, but stood his ground.

"Mason, let's leave."

He either didn't hear me or ignored me. Frank gave him a huge shove. Mason took a swing. Frank ducked.

The whole thing erupted into a scene of massive proportions. Mason let out a yell and body tackled him. They went flying across the food court. Frank landed on his back on a table. Mason got in a hard punch to his face.

It only lasted maybe two minutes, but it was a long two minutes in my mind. Mall security came and separated them. Frank's lip was bleeding and his eye was swelling rapidly. I was near tears.

Mason didn't have a scratch on him.

We ended up in the mall security office and dad came to pick us up. He didn't say a lot when the security officer filled him in. Mason and I got into the backseat and I braced myself for the yelling.

"Shelby, did you know the other guy?" dad asked. He backed out of his parking spot.

"It's the guy I threw up on. And hit with the backpack," I said.

"The one that was bothering you at school?"

After I had officially passed my finals, I told mom and dad about the incident on the bus. They had wanted to go in and talk to the principal, but I rationalized that I was done with the school and we just needed to forget it.

"Yeah," I sighed.

Dad glanced in the rearview mirror. "How much damage did you do Mas?"

Mason coughed. "A bloody lip and a shiner."

The corners of dad's mouth twitched.

"Good."

Mason and I shared a look. I felt myself relax; Mason smiled.

Everything was okay.

I leaned back in my seat. I felt the little butterflies start up again.

I couldn't help but think that my little bean had a great daddy.

I knew that Mason would fight to the death to protect the both of us. My ring sparkled in the sunlight.

When I had been on that table in the ER, I had thought the world was over.

Now I had a feeling that the world was actually just beginning.
Chapter 39 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Thirty Nine

"We're going to the ice-capades!" Brayden sang. He had on this huge white fuzzy coat that made him look like a polar bear.

"The ice charades!" Tristan sang even louder.

"Dudes, it's just Disney on Ice," Joe said.

"I love Disney on Ice," Ally said happily.

It was three days after Christmas. I had tried to spend every possible moment I could with Mason.

I never wanted this break to end.

Nick had called dad the night before about Disney on Ice tickets. Dad had quickly agreed to go, especially after Tristan started SCREAMING about meeting Mickey Mouse. I guess he didn't remember peeing on him when we went to Disney a couple years ago.

Of course, as usual whenever the McLeans and Carters got together, there was one problem. This time it involved Landon. Usually Nick's sister Angel was available to babysit, but her son Logan was doing something and they were out of town.

So dad volunteered Mason and me for the job.

"Consider it good practice," he said lightly.

That was how Mason and I ended up at Nick Carter's house on a Friday night.

"Bottles are in the refrigerator. Check the temperature on your wrist to make sure they don't get too hot when you microwave them. Extra diapers are in the hall closet. Call me if you need anything," Liv said.

Mason smiled. "Got it."

He was way calmer than I was. I hadn't been left alone with a baby as young as Landon before. I was holding Landon as we walked around and got the 'tour'. I looked down into his little face. He was almost three months old now. He gurgled up a lot of bubbly drool.

"M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!" Peyton squealed. I looked over. She was jumping on the couch wearing those black plastic mouse ears with her name written on the front. Nick grabbed her mid-bounce.

"I hope they sing some of the songs from The Little Mermaid," Brooke whispered to Ally. Ally nodded enthusiastically.

"I've got some music for ya," Joe said. He stuck his hand under his arm and began to make squelching noises. The girls wrinkled their noses. Noah grinned.

"Alright troops, heading out!" dad said. Tristan and Brayden were both wiggled into those backpack things with leashes on them. Usually I think those things are stupid, but I knew how easily those two could put their heads together and disappear.

"We'll be back in about four hours," Nick said. "We're going to Chuck E. Cheese after the show."

Nick and dad shared a look.

"Are we allowed back in there?" dad asked. Nick laughed.

"It's been a long time."

They started talking about plastic tubes and Barney. I heard my name mentioned a couple of times.

And then they were gone.

I glanced at Mason. He looked at me. We both looked down at Landon resting in my arms. He was wide awake.

"I guess we can go sit in the living room," I said. Mason followed me and I sat down on the couch.

I was holding Landon like I was afraid at any moment I might drop him. He began to wiggle. The wiggling was soon accompanied by loud cries of protest.

"Liv mentioned he likes this play mat thing," Mason said. I handed him over. Mason knelt down and put him on his stomach and then held up his hands like he surrendered.

Landon gave a couple more cries and then quieted down. Mason smiled and sprawled out. He put his face close to Landon's and blew a raspberry.

And wouldn't you know it, he got a sweet toothless smile from the little guy.

"Was that all you needed?" Mason said. He touched Landon's nose. I heard a happy gurgle and them more little spit bubbles came flying out everywhere. Landon lifted his head a little bit to get a better look at Mas.

I slowly slid off the couch and sat down next to the mat. Landon was happy for, oh, about a half hour and then started to whine. I picked him up and put him on his back.

A little plastic arch was attached to the mat and along that arch were little toys dangling down. I tapped at a noisy little bell. Landon's eyes followed it. His little tomato red face slowly regained normal color. He reached his hand up.

"This isn't so bad," Mason said with a smile.

I'm pretty sure Mason's confidence jinxed us. Fast forward an hour later, and I was positive that I was never going to be able to do this for real. The screams had almost reached 'glass shatter' level.

"Why is he crying?" Mason shouted above the noise.

I had tried to feed him. That hadn't worked. I had tried to change him. That was way overdue, but it didn't stop his crying. I had put him in the baby swing. That only made him madder.

Now I was walking around patting him on the back with the shrill sounds ringing in my ear.

"Can you take him for a little bit?" I asked. I was getting tired...or maybe just grumpy.

Mason took him and began to walk the floor. I went and sat down. My back hurt. But then I had to pee. So I got up and made my way to the bathroom.

By the time I came back, there was quiet.

For one irrational moment, I wondered if Mason had duct taped his mouth or something.

Instead, Mason was stretched out on the couch with Landon on his chest. I saw the reason for the quiet. I felt like an idiot.

Landon was greedily sucking on a pacifer. The little plastic ring was bobbing up and down and his little legs twitched with happiness.

"Are you kidding me?"

Mason smiled. "I was feeling like a failure, and then I remembered Liv said something about pacifiers and sanity, so..."

I sighed.

"I'm going to be a crappy mother. You've got him to stop crying twice." I felt a hot tear roll down my cheek.

"Shel, you're going to be fine. We'll be fine."

His words made me feel better, but my body had already decided to open up the waterworks and I couldn't find the off switch. I went into a full on bawl.

"I'm going to be a fat cow and then I'm going to have to push this thing out and then it's still going to like you more than me," I blubbered.

Mason was looking at me like I was insane.

"Shel..."

This sucked. I knew I was being an idiot and yet the whole thing was just getting to me. Even Landon seemed to be looking at me like I had lost my last marble. Mason reached out and took my hand.

"Hey, would ice cream make you feel better? I think I saw some in their freezer."

I sniffled. Ice cream did sound good. I mean, if I was going to be a lousy mother I might as well just drown my sorrows in creamy goodness, right?

"That sounds good," I said in a small voice.

"Alright, hold Landon. I'll be right back."

He passed the little guy to me. Landon's fingers grabbed a hunk of my hair and his face snuggled into my chest. All I heard was the rhythmic 'suck suck suck' of the pacifer. And a little contented sigh.

I had gotten a happy sigh!

I looked down. His eyes were drooping. I heard the distinct sound of a ice cream scoop being warmed under the water.

Ice cream made everything better. I closed my eyes and sank back into the cushiony softness of the recliner. Landon's little sleepy breaths sounded nice, especially compared to his cries. I propped my feet on the coffee table.

Maybe Mason could just eat my ice cream. Sleep sounded so much better right now.

This baby thing was hard work.
Chapter 40 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Forty

"What movie do you want to see?"

I looked at the movie posters and sighed. Christmas break was almost over and Mason was flying back to Kentucky in just a few days. That thought was putting a damper on my holly-jolly spirit.

"I don't know," I said.

Mason looked at me thoughtfully.

"Do you not want to see a movie?"

I looked up at him. "What else would we do?"

Mason turned his full attention to a poster advertising a movie with Santa holding various assault rifles. Run, Run Rudolph was the tagline.

Lame.

"Well, the hotel is right next door. Mom flew down to Miami for the day to do something regarding production on something she's working on back home."

The tips of his ears were turning red. I glanced back at the movie posters. We could spend two hours of our life seeing something that neither of us probably wanted to see or...

-------------------------

"This was a better choice," I said with a smile.

We had walked down to McDonald's, got a bag of greasy food, and were lounging out in the hotel room with a little mini floor picnic. I dipped my fry into a little packet of honey and took a bite. I closed my eyes and smiled.

"Fries and honey?" Mason asked.

"Don't knock it 'til you tried it," I said.

"Is that what the baby says?"

I pressed a hand on my belly and smiled. "Big fan of honey right here."

Mason laughed. Our socks and shoes were tossed in a corner and the TV was tuned to some music special, but neither of us were paying much attention.

"Have you thought any more about moving to Kentucky?" Mason asked after a beat. He took a bite of his Big Mac and washed it down with some Coke.

I poked another fry into the honey. The sticky concotion held it into place.

"I don't know," I said honestly. "I mean mom and dad are down here and my brothers and sisters. But then you're up in Kentucky and...I just wish I could have everything at once, you know?"

Mason nodded. "I know. But, I don't want to be one of those teenage dads that only waltzes into their child's life like every couple months. I'm not that type of guy."

I knew he wasn't that type of guy. I studied his face. He was so freakin' handsome face. Strong jaw...great hair...those lips.

The room suddenly got warmer.

"I don't want that either," I said softly. "All I can say is that I'm still thinking about it."

Mason smiled. "I'll take that for now."

For now. For some strange reason I had this image of him forcefully tossing me over his shoulder and whisking me away. And covering me in kisses...and ripping off my shirt and...

"Is it hot in here?" I croaked.

"No. Are you hot?"

I didn't know what I was. All I knew was that my fries were not near as tempting right now as maybe stealing a couple really good kisses with no parents around. I scooted closer. He had polished off two Big Macs, a large fry, and he was trying to suck the last drop out of his drink cup. By the time he lowered his drink I was right beside him. He smiled.

"Hey."

"Hey."

I didn't need to issue him a formal invitation. He leaned down and kissed me softly. So not good enough. I pressed against him and kissed him harder. My arms wrapped around his neck.

This was what I had been missing. I had literally been dreaming of him lately. His hands snaked around my sides. I shivered with pleasure and his teeth drew in my bottom lip and then his tongue took over and...

"You're right. Honey tastes good," he whispered.

Somehow we ended up on the bed and pieces of clothing disappeared and there was left over honey and I was licking it off of places that had gotten us into trouble in the first place. Of course, I didn't care because it wasn't like we could get into any more trouble at this point and...

"Shel," Mason gasped. His hands tangled into my hair and I looked up and his green eyes were right there and I loved him so much and of course I was going to move to Kentucky because I would go ANYWHERE with him and...

"I need you," he whispered. Not just my lips or tongue. Me.

I shimmied up him and he drank me in with his eyes. I suddenly felt self-conscious. His hands splayed across my stomach, paused, and then locked around me.

"I love you Shel," he whispered.

I closed my eyes. I didn't feel so bad anymore. Mason made me feel pretty.

"I love you, too." I said.

There was a moment of pure quiet as I took him in and then soft little breaths, moans, and whispers rent the air. There was no sense of rush or any real terror of getting caught. It was just Mason and me making love for probably the last time for a long while and I just wanted to savor the moment.

When the moment had passed, there wasn't any mad dash for clothes. In fact, we snuggled under the covers, skin to skin. Mas ran a hand down my bare shoulder. My eyes fluttered closed.

"Shel?"

"Mmm?" I didn't open my eyes. I just wanted to bask in, well, this.

"Do you believe in soul mates?"

My eyes cracked open a little bit. He looked so serious. I smiled.

"I do."

He smiled.

"You're my soul mate," he said gently.

I couldn't help it; I threw my arms around him and wiggled up right against his body.

"And you're mine," I replied in a whisper. I kissed him softly. He leaned me back into the pillows and I reveled in the feel of the dampness on the back of his neck. I don't know how long we stayed like that, exchanging deep kisses, but it didn't seem long enough.

In a way, that was kind of the funny thing about love.

It made you greedy. It manipulated time.

But it was great.
Chapter 41 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Forty One

"I'd love to be in Times Square right now," Ally sighed.

"Me too," Joe said. He kept pointing out this one guy in the crowd who had a hat with hands attached. Every time the guy tugged the string, the hands clapped together.

"Me threes!"

"Me fours!"

"They don't allow monkeys in Times Square," I said. Brayden and Tristan both looked at me and giggled.

There wasn't a lot of exciting places to go to celebrate New Years Eve when you were under eighteen. Mason and I had decided to expand our dual-babysitting skills by watching the kids. Mom and dad had gone out with Kristin somewhere to celebrate.

"Hey Shel, when do you officially turn seventeen?" Ally asked. I smiled.

"Not until five in the morning."

"We should stay up!" Joe said.

"YEAH!" the twins cried in unison.

Mason and I had strict orders to get all the kids to bed no later than twelve thirty.

"If you do that, you won't be awake for my party," I said.

"Yeah, you'll miss the cake," Mason said.

The twins eyes got HUGE. They had developed dad's sweet tooth.

"We don't wanna miss cake," Brayden said seriously. Tristan shook his head.

After one last performance, the camera panned over the crowd and back onto the announcer. Then it was time for the last ten second count before the ball drop.

Mason took my hand. I smiled. He was leaving tomorrow night after my birthday lunch, but I was trying not to think about that. I was going to stay positive. New year, new attitude...

New baby.

"NINE!"

"EIGHT!"

"SEVEN!"

Joe burped out the six. Brayden fell over clutching his stomach. Tristan jumped on him.

"FIVE!"

"FOUR!"

"Guys shut up!" Ally complained. She leaned towards the TV.

"TWO!"

"ONE!"

Joe and Ally screamed out Happy New Year. I wasn't listening. This was the first year that I had someone to kiss and I was making the most out of it. Mason and I shared a long kiss. The moment was broken when Joe blew a noisemaker right into our faces. I pressed my hand into Joe's face and pushed him back. He ran off to make Ally his next unfortunate victim.

"Happy New Year," Mason said, his lips brushing mine once more.

"Happy New Year." I whispered.

As we kissed again, I couldn't help but think what a year it was going to be...

------------------------

"Happy Birthday!"

It was the one morning out of the year (sans Christmas) when I actually didn't mind being woken out of a sound sleep. I stared up at mom and smiled.

"Seventeen years ago today," she began. I closed my eyes and groaned. "The most beautiful girl in all the world was born."

"Mom..."

"Let me finish Shel. This is probably the last year."

I looked up at her in surprise. She had a glint of sadness in her eyes.

"And when I stared into your little face and counted your ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes, I just knew that you were going to grow up to be anything you wanted to be. So Shel, what do you want to be this year?"

I thought back to all the years that we had been playing this game. When I was four, I was sure I wanted to be a goldfish (at least until my own goldfish was found belly-up because I fed it too much). When I was five, I wanted to be an astronaut ballerina. When I was eight, I had wanted to be a rodeo cowgirl. When I was twelve, I had wanted to be the most popular girl in the world. And last year, I had just wanted to be a famous painter.

But this year...

I stared up into mom's face. The face that I had inherited.

"I want to be a great mom like you," I said softly. Mom looked surprised. Her mouth opened and closed. She took a deep breath.

"Oh, Shel, you will be."

And then mom lost it. I mean really lost it. And of course when she started crying, I started crying. She sat down on my bed and hugged my tightly.

"What a mush fest."

Through my tears, I saw Joe standing in the doorway shaking his head. He took off down the hallway.

When we finally dabbed the last of the tears off our faces, mom took my hand and squeezed it.

"Okay enough crying. Get up birthday girl. We've got a fun day ahead."

She got up and kissed my forehead. I fell back into my pillows with a smile.

Seventeen.

-----------------------------------

"Wow, look at that!"

"Cool!"

Dad and I had put our heads together to figure out where I wanted to go for my birthday dinner (which actually turned out to be lunch). We finally found an open-grill concept Chinese place that had gotten great reviews. Our chef was in the middle of our large square table and I knew why the reviews were so good. A huge flame shot up when the guy tossed some onions in. He had been slicing and dicing and tossing things behind his back for twenty minutes now.

"Hey, guy, I bet you I can catch a piece of shrimp in mid-air!" Joe called. Our chef glanced over at him, smirked, and without warning there was some airborne shrimp. Joe scrambled and practically snapped his neck in half, but he caught it. I clapped.

Ten minutes later, amazing aromas drifted off of our plates. Mason was sitting on my left. He took a big bite.

"Mmm, this is good," he said.

"I bet you guys don't have this back in Shelbyville," dad said. Mason and him shared a look. Mason chewed vigorously and swallowed.

"No," he said lightly. "But I bet Lexington does."

There was a little bit of an awkward silence. I had been talking a little more about Kentucky in the last three days or so and I think it was making dad nervous. I decided to change the subject.

"So, three weeks until the gender ultrasound!" I blurted. I cleared my throat. "Any guesses?"

I think the word ultrasound was too big for the twins to understand. They were too busy playing with a pile of crunchy noodles.

"Boy," Dad, Kristin, and Joe said in unison.

"Girl," Ally said. Mom studied me thoughtfully.

"Girl," she said.

"I don't think so," Kristin said. "The Richardson family is boy-heavy."

"What do you think Shel?" Mason asked. He was the only one that didn't bother to guess.

"I don't know," I said. "I don't care. I mean I care, but..."

Mason smiled. "Exactly."

Everyone broke into little arguments defending their position. Mason held out a bite of cauliflower. I took it and smiled.

I had managed to postpone the moving argument. Now, all that was left was cake, presents, and going to the airport to see Mason off.

Out of those three things, I was only looking forward to the first two.
Chapter 42 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Forty Two

"I need all of this?"

"That's what they said."

I understood now why I had gotten so many art supplies for Christmas and my birthday. The required supplies list for the art school I was going to attend was massive. I had everything packed into a rolling art bag.

"Dad's going to take you and then pick you up for your driver's test," mom explained.

It was a big day for me. I was starting back to school and I was taking the written part of my driver's test. After I passed that, it would be a few weeks of practice on the road and then I would be a licensed driver.

Dad was waiting for me by the door as I yanked the bag behind me. He took it from me and we headed to the car.

"Are you nervous?"

I shook my head. "Nothing could be worse than Prep."

It was about a twenty minute ride. The school was small, but just like Prep, looked like a building full of the 'well-to-do.'

That's when the nervousness kicked in. Not only was I the new kid at school, but I was the PREGNANT new kid at school.

"If you have any problem call me," dad said. I opened the door, turned, and paused. I turned back and kissed his cheek. He smiled.

"Love you dad," I said. I got out. I opened the back door and yanked the rolling bag out.

"Love you too Shelster."

He drove away and I stood there staring at the door. I could bolt, but I could already smell the paint and the canvas. It was too enticing.

I opened the door and headed in. My first stop was the principal's office. A receptionist was busy at the desk. But she wasn't typing. She was drawing.

"Excuse me," I said. She looked up and smiled.

"Are you Shelby?"

I'm pretty sure at Prep that I was just referred to as student #32825. I nodded.

"We've been expecting you."

The receptionist got up and held out her hand.

"I'm Principal Allen."

That really surprised me. Usually principals hunkered down behind closed doors to wile away the day. I shook her hand and felt myself relax.

"You have two classes devoted specifically to art," she explained. "Of course, we also have a strong dedication to traditional subjects," she continued. "But you'll find that we incorporate art in unique ways in even the core topics."

I was given a quick tour of the cafeteria, restrooms and the layout of the classrooms. When we were done, Principal Allen stopped in front of a door and handed me my schedule.

"This is your first class."

We walked in and the smell of raw clay assailed my senses.

There were only about eleven kids in the class. They looked up as we walked in. The teacher or instructor or whatever they were called came over and took a look at my schedule. He was a tall man with a thin goatee and black glasses. He looked like he should be beating on bongos in a New York City cafe.

"Welcome Shelby," he said. "I'm Mr. Scott. You'll start your mornings off with me and my friends here learning the fine art of sculpting."

I smiled. I had always wanted to work with clay.

Principal Allen talked to Mr. Scott for a few seconds and then left. Mr. Scott pointed at an empty spot at the front of the room.

"Before you sit down, why don't you introduce yourself?"

I grimaced inwardly. Even so, I took a breath and faced my peers.

"I'm Shelby McLean. I like abstract art and I used to attend Tampa Prep. I hate plastics and dumb jocks."

Surprisingly, a couple people nodded and a guy in the back laughed.

I took my seat. Minutes later, I was absorbed in the concepts of sculpting. The school seemed to be scheduled out to resemble college. It was technically everyone's first day in the class because it was a new 'semester'. We didn't even touch the wheel or clay or anything, but Mr. Scott had us all so pumped up by the end that I couldn't wait until tomorrow.

"He's cool. I've had him before," the guy who had laughed earlier said as we all got up. I looked to my left. He was addressing me.

"Do you sculpt?"

The guy had skin the color of dark coffee and dread locks down to his waist. He smiled.

"I do a little bit of everything."

"Taurus is our resident master artiste," a light voice said. A second later, a girl so pale that she could have been mistaken for a vampire slid up behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed. Then she held her hand out to me.

"I'm Apple," she said. Taurus smiled.

"And even though I've obviously been introduced already, I'm Taurus."

"Shelby," I said. "But you knew that..." I trailed off awkwardly.

"What's your speciality?"

"Speciality?"

Apple smiled. "Scultping, abstract, junk art?"

"Oh, I love abstract."

"Sweet. What class do you have next?"

I glanced down and groaned. "English Lit."

"So do we. We'll walk with you."

By the end of the day, I actually had learned the names of ten different people and held conversations that didn't involve hairspray, body waxing, or sweat glands.

Apple was in every single one of my classes. As we headed out of our last class, she walked companionably by my side.

"So when are you due?"

I had almost forgotten about the whole 'pregnant' new student thing.

"What? Oh, May."

Apple smiled. "They say you're at your most creative when you're pregnant," she said. "Whatcha having?"

"I don't know yet," I said. "I'll know in a couple weeks."

Apple smiled. "Well, keep us posted!"

She headed out of a side exit. I watched her go. I headed out the main doors. Dad was leaning against the car waiting.

"How'd it go?" he asked. He took my bag from me.

"Amazing," I said.

Maybe it was because I had spent the day with pseudo-hippies, but I felt extremely good karma.

"You ready for your driver's test?"

I wanted to keep the positive vibe going. I cracked my knuckles.

"I sure am."

Two hours later, I ran into the house screaming at the top of my lungs. Mom looked up. I shook my paper.

"I PASSED MY TEST!"

Dad wasn't quite as happy. I had a sneaking feeling he was hoping I wouldn't pass. And I knew why.

In just two days I was going to get behind the wheel and actually get to drive somewhere.

Driving meant being able to travel. And in my mind, traveling would give me enough confidence to start pressing the issue about moving to Kentucky. I had to prove that I didn't need to rely on my parents all the time.

And it also meant growing up.
Chapter 43 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Forty Three

For the first time in my life, I was disappointed that I actually had a Monday off from school. I actually fit in and I was becoming fast friends with Apple and Taurus. But, it was Martin Luther King, Jr. day and everyone had the day off.

I had been driving for two weeks. Dad was a horrible backseat driver. By the time my lesson was done for the day, his knuckles were as white as snow. The instructor kept telling me I was doing a great job; I think he had wanted to kick dad out on the curb a time or two. But even the driving school was closed today.

The one thing that wasn't closed today was the doctor's office and that in itself was exciting. I was finally going to be able to say 'him' or 'her' when I talked about the baby.

Mom and dad were both with me. By the time we pulled up to the office, I was clutching at the door handle.

"Well, here we go," mom said. I was already getting out of the car.

Mom had decided to take me to Dr. Tresher. She was the same doctor who helped Ally and Joe when they were born so premature. And she had delivered Brayden and Tristan.

Now she was my doctor.

We walked into the office. Several extremely pregnant women were sitting in the waiting area. I walked up to the counter with mom and checked in. I seriously sat down and looked around before realizing that there was one young guy in the room.

Mason.

"MAS!" I squealed.

"Surprise," he said with a smile.

I got back out of my seat, albeit awkwardly.

"What are you doing here?"

"I convinced dad to let me come down here. I didn't want to miss this."

He stood up and I hugged him tightly.

"I can't believe you're here!"

"Only for a couple hours," he said with a smile.

"I'm a little nervous," I whispered. I hadn't wanted to admit it to mom and dad.

"Me too. But excited," he whispered. I nodded.

"Shelby?"

I turned. The nurse was standing there, clipboard in hand.

"Follow me."

It was like a parade. Mom gave Mason a hug and we all headed back into the exam room.

The nurse took my blood pressure and then we were left to wait. The waiting was excruciating. I had to pee. BAD. I had downed like two bottles of Gatorade before we came and it was hitting me full force.

"Don't think about it," mom said. I glanced at her. She knew my discomfort. I took a deep breath. There was a knock and then Dr. Tresher poked her head in.

"Ah, we have a big crowd for today's show," she said lightly.

One of the reasons I liked her was because she was always totally calm. And she didn't lecture or judge.

"AJ, long time no see. Molly," Dr. Tresher said was a nod. She looked at Mason. "And is this the daddy?"

I smiled. "Yeah, this is Mason."

Dr. Tresher held out her hand and Mason shook her hand.

"Good to meet you. I'm sure we'll beseeing more of each other."

Mason smiled. I sqiurmed.

I was going to explode.

Dr. Tresher glanced my way. "Let's see what we're dealing with, okay?"

I nodded. Mason hopped out of his chair.

I was five months pregnant. I was getting to the point where I couldn't even see my feet. Ally had actually been able to feel the little roly-poly moving around last night.

"Cold touch," Dr. Tresher warned. The gel hit my stomach and I sucked in a breath.

Mom still has the picture from her ultrasound from when she was pregnant with Brayden and Tristan. It was a 3-D shot of the two huddled together. She always gets emotional when she sees that.

"Alright, time for popcorn."

I turned my head towards the screen. It flickered and came to life.

And there it was. Not just an it but a person. Little nose, closed eyes, little hands balled into tiny fists...

"Oh wow," Mason said softly.

"Shelby's told me you want to be a doctor Mason," Dr. Tresher said conversationally.

"Yes ma'am."

"Well, this is your first exam. What do you see?"

Mason looked shocked. I was praying this whole doctor dream of his wasn't just a whim. I had to pee and I was dying to know what I was carrying in my gigantic stomach.

"Well, there's the head and I can make out the nose, eyes, ears..."

"Fingers, toes..."

He got quiet.

"It's a girl," he said confidently.

"Are you sure?" dad asked. I had a feeling he was thinking back to the little five year old boy freaking out on the plane. Mason actually smiled.

"No weiner," he said lightly.

I looked up at Dr. Tresher. She nodded.

"A+ Mason," she said. "It's a girl."

"A daughter," he said happily.

I studied the screen. As the image on the screen moved, I felt the same movement inside. It was a crazy thing to witness.

Mason leaned down and kissed my forehead. I heard the sounds of the images being printed.

"A girl," I said softly.

Our girl.

-----------------------------

"Dad, it's a girl," Mason said. We were driving back to the airport and Mason had his dad on speaker.

"Really?" Kevin said. He sounded surprised.

"She's beautiful," Mason said. He puffed his chest out. I smiled. I was feeling much better now that I had been allowed to pee.

"A granddaughter?" Kev asked. I think he had been so sure he was going to hear the word 'grandson' that it was just really throwing him for a loop.

"Yup."

"I can't believe I'm going to be a grandparent," my dad said from his perch behind the wheel.

"So everything's okay?" Kevin asked.

"Perfect," Mason said. He glanced over at me. I smiled.

"Well, wow." There was a pause. "Call me when you get into Lexington okay?"

"I will. Love you dad."

"Love you too."

Mason hung up. He had already called his mom. She hadn't even cared that she had been wrong. She had started planning my baby shower with mom over speakerphone (I guess the theme was 'pink'). Luckily, Mason had cut her off.

The airport came into view. I reached out and touched his arm. He leaned over and kissed me.

"Until we meet again," he said softly. He leaned down and kissed my stomach.

"And you too little girl," he whispered.

The waterworks came then. I waved my hands in front of my face to get more airflow. I really hated the airport. And planes. Sure, they got Mason here. But they were also taking him back.

And the more times we did this send-off, the more I began to feel like I should be sitting in the seat right next to him.

"I'm moving to Kentucky!" I blurted out as dad parked the car.

Mom and dad both swiveled around.

"We've got time to talk--" dad reasoned, but I cut him off.

I shook my head.

"No, dad. I'm sure. As soon as the baby's born, I'm moving to Kentucky."
Chapter 44 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Forty Four

"So if you pass today, you get your license?"

"Yup. My instructor's meeting my dad and me at the license branch."

"Awesome. So you'll get to drive home, right?"

I laughed. "I plan on it."

Apple, Taurus and I were sitting at a small round table in the lunchroom. Taurus was almost as excited about me getting my license as I was. He was taking driver's ed this coming summer and wanted as much information as possible.

"So in other news, have you and Mason thought of any names for the baby?" Apple asked.

"Yeah, we're stuck between three names," I said. "Brenna, Jolee, and Elizabeth. We're going with Ann for a middle name."

"Are you a nickname person?" Taurus asked.

I smiled. "I love nicknames. We'd call her Bren, JoJo, or Lizzie."

Apple smiled. "You and Mason are so...normal."

I laughed. Apple's middle name was Moonbeam. Her parents were total hippies. I had found out that the name 'Taurus' was actually just his nickname. One day we passed by the principal and she had called him Wesley. Wesley!

"Well, if she's going to grow up in Kentucky, I want her to fit in with her surroundings."

"So no Treesap Starshine?" Apple teased.

"No, I'll let you keep that one."

We all laughed.

------------------------------

"Sir, only the instructor and the student are allowed in the car for the test."

"But--"

"It's Florida state rules."

Dad looked like he could give a flying fuck about Florida state rules. I waved at him.

"I'll be fine dad. It's a five minute test. No sweat."

I was holding on to the driver's side door. Dad glanced at the trunk.

"Don't even think about it," I said with a laugh.

I got into the car and my instructor got into the passenger seat. I took a deep breath. I hoped I didn't screw up too bad. And if I did, I hoped the instructor took pity on a pregnant teenager.

I checked all of my mirrors and buckled my seatbelt. I glanced in the rearview mirror one extra time for good measure. I backed out.

Dad ran alongside the car until I finally got out of the parking lot. My face was as red as a tomato by the time I turned onto an actual street.

"Turn right at the stop sign," the instructor said. I did as I was told.

"What's the speed limit on this road?"

Crap. I had seen a sign...

"Thirty?"

"Thirty five."

I couldn't help but wonder if they still gave points if you were only five points off.

We headed into a school zone. The lights were flashing. I slowed down.

"Good."

I got past the school zone.

"Turn left up here."

I did. The instructor pointed.

"There's a perfect opportunity for a parallel park."

I almost screamed. I had been told by my driving school instructor that these test guys rarely made people parallel park.

It was only my luck. I was glad dad wasn't in the car. He would have been going nuts.

I pulled up a little bit and checked all my mirrors. I put the car in reverse. I turned the wheel.

I couldn't do it the first time.

"Try again," the instructor said calmly.

I pulled forward. I sent a couple prayers up to the guy upstairs. I put the car in reverse again.

Slowly I inched my way in. I felt like I was in bumper cars. I yanked the wheel left. I yanked it right.

But miracuously I fit in, albeit crookedly.

"Not bad," the instructor said. He made a tick on his paper.

I didn't know what 'not bad' translated to in getting Shelby enough points for a license.

We ended up making a loop back to the BMV. I pulled back into the spot marked for test takers. I glanced over at the instructor. He smiled.

"You passed. Flying colors. Just watch speed signs."

I squealed. I leaned over and hugged him tightly. The guy laughed. Dad was practically on the hood of the car. I scrambled with my seatbelt and bounced out of the car.

"I PASSED!"

"Oh shit."

-----------------------------

"Now, driving home is different than driving around a couple blocks," dad said nervously.

I was behind the wheel. I had my still-warm license in my wallet. I bounced in the seat. I reached for the radio.

"No radio."

"But--"

"We need concentration."

I smiled. I liked how he said 'we.'

I glanced in the rearview mirror and pulled out of the parking space.

"Careful!"

I hit the brake.

"What?"

Dad looked flustered. "I thought I saw a badger."

"A badger?"

He coughed. "Go on."

I turned the wheel and headed towards the exit to the parking lot. Dad had a death grip on the dash.

"Turn signal!"

"Dad, it's already on. Relax."

Dad sat back, but just barely. I turned into traffic.

"Keep ten car lengths between you and the next vehicle."

"I only need to keep two car lengths."

"Do it for the baby."

I laughed. "Baby has a need for speed!"

Dad mumbled something. We got past the traffic. The speed limit went up to forty. I sped up.

"SLOW SLOW!"

I decided to humor him. I slowed down to thirty five.

"Slower."

"But--"

"Slower."

I slowed down.

By the time he stopped saying slower I was going barely twenty in a forty.

"Dad, I am seriously under the speed limit."

"It's okay. We're in no hurry."

I opened my mouth to argue, but all of a sudden I saw flashing lights in my mirror. Dad looked too.

"What?"

I pulled over.

"I'm sure it's not for you," dad said. "He's going to go---"

I saw the officer get out of the vehicle. I rolled down my window and looked up.

"Everything okay?" the officer asked. I nodded.

"Yup, it's fine."

"Do you know you're going twenty in a forty?"

"So?" dad asked.

"The minimum is thirty. We don't want to cause any accidents."

I looked at dad. He leaned over and smiled up at the officer.

"I'm sorry, I told her to go that slow."

The officer snickered. "Is this your daughter?"

"Yes."

"I see. Well, just remember accidents happen when people go too slow or too fast. You have a good day now."

The officer went back to his car. It pulled out around me and took off.

I looked at dad again. He sighed. He waved his hand towards the window.

"Go on."

I put the car into drive and took off. I kept it at thirty-five all the way home.

"Let's not tell mom about this okay?" dad said. I laughed.

"It'll be our secret," I said.

He glanced over at me and smiled.

"Congratulations, Shel."

I didn't want to take my eyes off the wheel for fear of freaking him out.

"Thanks, dad."

He reached over and squeezed my hand...the hand that I was keeping at the perfect 'two' position on the wheel.

"This calls for ice cream tonight right?" I asked. He laughed.

"Right."
Chapter 45 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Forty Five

"This is magnificent Shelby. I love the attention to detail and the fine brush strokes."

My instructor for abstract art, Katrina, had her head tilted and she was nodding enthusiastically.

I knew from the first moment I had entered her class that she would get me. She didn't want to be called Ms. VanDyke. She wouldn't even answer if you did call her that. It was just Katrina.

"I'd like to keep this one for awhile," she said, tapping the edge of the canvas.

"Really?"

I had poured my heart and soul out into the large canvas. I had decided to stay after school to finish it. I was wearing my large white smock; large splotches of red and purple covered my protruding belly. Inside, my little one was kicking her heart out.

I had eight weeks to go before D-day: delivery day. There was only one month left of school.

For the first time in my life, I was extremely disappointed to see it end.

"Yeah. I'm doing an exhibit this weekend at the art museum and want to show a couple of my colleagues your work."

My eyes widened. "Really?"

Katrina laughed. "Yes, really."

I studied the painting. To the untrained eye, it wouldn't have looked like anything. But to me, the painting signified the dawn of new life and all the feelings and emotions that came with it.

"That's awesome."

"If you want, stop by the gallery."

Katrina handed me a simple card with an address. Then she walked back to her own work that she had been creating up front.

I stood up and headed to the sink to wash my brushes. I couldn't wait to tell Mason.

I hadn't seen him since the doctor's visit. He had sent roses to school on Valentine's Day. Apple had gone on and on about what a sweet gesture it was. Taurus looked like he had swallowed his sneaker. Of course, the next day she had a new bracelet dangling off her wrist.

Taurus was a fast thinker.

Dad had finally calmed down about letting me drive. I knew I was running late today. I had told him I was going to stay after, but it was almost five. I left my brushes to dry, took off my smock, and grabbed my bag.

"See you tomorrow!" I called to Katrina. She waved.

I walked out into the parking lot and got into the car. Mom kept our SUV during the day to drive the twins around. Dad had bought himself a classic car, explaining to mom that he wanted to pick up a hobby. I didn't know how much of a hobby it was. The car didn't need one thing done to it.

I pulled out of the school's parking lot and took off towards home. The radio was on low. My stomach growled. I was starved. Hopefully they hadn't started dinner without me...

The car in front of me slowed down. So did I. The car in back of me didn't. My seatbelt tightened and held me fast as I was tossed forward. Right before the airbag deployed, I saw another car sliding right towards the driver's side.

Then there was blackness.

-------------------------------

"Jesus Christ that's my fucking daughter!"

My eyes opened to a bright light. I winced.

"Is she okay?"

"Yeah, she just bumped her head."

"What about the baby?"

"Everything's fine. She has a pretty deep cut on her leg where the door jammed in. It's miraculous. By the looks of that car she should be in a lot worse shape."

Mom and dad's faces swam above me. Mom took my hand.

"Shel?"

"What happened?" I asked. Dad's face was tense. His hand was bunching up the bottom of his t-shirt.

"You were in a car accident," mom explained.

I vaguely remembered the car bumping me from behind. I began to panic.

"Is the baby okay?" I asked.

"You're fine. Everything's okay," mom assured me.

Dad took my other hand. He held it so tightly I was almost afraid my fingers would break.

"What about the car?"

"Don't worry about the car," dad said.

"It wasn't my fault," I said quickly.

"We know," dad assured me.

He leaned over and kissed my forehead.

He started to cry.

---------------------------------

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"I have a couple stitches in my leg, but I'm fine."

"I'm having a heart attack here."

"My car was totaled."

"Cars can be replaced."

Mason was peering at me through the screen of my laptop. I had called him, but he wanted to see for himself that I was alive.

"You're not going to school tomorrow are you?"

"Of course I am. Of course, dad has to drive me."

"I knew I should have come down there for Spring Break."

"No, your mom needs some time with you."

Mason was currently in LA on Spring Break. He looked nice and tan. Of course, he browned easily. It made him look even more handsome.

"Well, will you call me if you need anything?"

I smiled. It wasn't as if he was going to be able to do anything from three thousand miles away, but it was the thought that counted.

"Will do."

"Okay, well get some sleep. Love you Shel."

"Love you too Mason."

He smiled. "Love you too, baby girl."

I laughed and touched my stomach. "She kicked."

Mason laughed. "I'll take that as a love you."

I blew a kiss and disconnected.

"Shel?"

I glanced over to the doorway. Ally was standing there holding a bowl.

"Dad and I made you a bowl of ice cream."

I smiled. "Thanks Al."

She walked in and I took the bowl. She placed her hands on my stomach.

"I can't wait until she gets here," Ally said. "I can babysit."

While I had been talking privately with mom and dad about the logistics of me moving to Kentucky, I hadn't told Ally and Joe yet. I let my bite of ice cream slide down my throat.

"Al, what would you think if I moved to Kentucky? To live with Mason?"

She looked up at me. "I wouldn't like it. I'd miss you. Why can't Mason move here?"

"Where would he live?"

"Here."

"Don't you think it's kind of crowded here?"

"That's okay. That just means you'd have a lot of help. Maybe dad can build another bathroom."

I smiled. Dad had tried to plea bargain with the idea of building another bathroom.

"Plus you need to finish school."

"I can go to school in Kentucky."

"No, you should finish at art school. That way you can meet people and sell paintings after you graduate. You can be famous."

Her eyes were widening and she looked so earnest.

"Yes, but Mason has a job back home."

"Mason can find a job down here. He could play football down here. We have better football."

I laughed. "Ally--"

"Just think about it okay?"

I smiled. I was getting tired and I wanted to finish my ice cream. I nodded.

"Okay."

She kissed my stomach and then kissed my cheek. I pulled her into a one-armed hug.

"Night Al."

"Night Shel."

She walked out and I dug my spoon into my melting ice cream. As I took another bite I leaned against my pillow.

Mom and dad had finally relented last week that if I wanted to move that they would support me. Of course, they had then gone on to ask me some questions...

Even though we wouldn't have a house payment, how would we afford all the utilities on Mason's small diner salary? And diapers? And formula?

And how did I feel about going to school with Vanna and all the other girls that I already knew I didn't like?

And how would I get to the doctor's in the middle of the winter if there was a blizzard?

I swallowed another bite of ice cream and sighed. They had valid points. I had no answers.

The only thing I did know was that Mason and I had to be together after the baby was born.

But at the moment, I was beginning to feel less than one hundred percent sold on moving to Kentucky. I just didn't know what the right answer was.

It was a big decision that I kept wavering on.

And time was running out.
Chapter 46 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Forty Six

"Dad this one of my art instructors, Katrina. Katrina, this my dad."

Dad shook Katrina's hand.

"Pleasure to meet you."

"Great to meet you. I'm glad you both could make it. I was just showing a couple of my colleagues Shelby's work."

I was limping slightly which wasn't exactly good considering I already felt like one of those weeble people.

"What's the verdict?"

"She's talented. Very talented. In fact, someone is interested in purchasing the painting she just finished."

I think my heart stopped. No, I'm pretty sure my heart stopped.

"What?"

Katrina smiled. "I'm serious."

She brought over a well dressed guy.

"So this is the artiste?"

Dad smiled. "Yes, she is."

"Tell me a little bit about your painting," he said kindly.

I launched into my soliloquy about the dawn of new life and all the feelings and emotions radiating from the bold streaks.

"Beautiful analysis," he said. "Would you be willing to sell it?"

"It's my semester project," I explained. Katrina smiled.

"Let's just say you get an A," she said lightly. I grinned.

"Well, then yes it's for sale."

"I hope three hundred dollars wouldn't be an insulting offer."

My mouth almost hit the floor. Three hundred dollars? I swallowed hard. I glanced at dad. His eyes sparkled with amusement.

"Three hundred..." I said. "No, that would be fine."

A half hour later I had a check for three hundred dollars in my hand. Katrina squeezed my shoulder.

"You've got a lot of talent. I wish that you were coming back next year."

I looked at her.

"I'm still thinking about it," I said.

Dad grinned.

--------------------------

"Hey Shel, what's up?"

I nibbled on a handful of popcorn.

"I need to talk to you, Mas."

"Of course. Everything okay?"

I glanced around my room. It was the same room mom and I had shared when we had first moved into 'Mr. J's' house. It was big enough for the both of us. It could be big enough for the three of us. It would be temporary.

"I've been thinking about moving again."

"Oh?"

My palms were sweaty. The butter was running right off of the popcorn kernels.

"I know we've talked about me moving to Kentucky, but we haven't discussed the possibility of maybe you moving here."

There was a long pause.

"Move to Florida? Where would we stay?"

"At mom and dad's."

"There's a lot of people in the house."

"It's a big house. And I mean we'd have plenty of help that way."

"Well I have a job here."

"You'd earn more doing the same thing down here. Cost of living."

There was another pause.

"What do you want Shel?"

I closed my eyes. I thought about Ally and leaving her in a sea of boys. I thought about Brayden and Tristan and how crazily cute they could be even when they were at their most annoying. I thought about all the jokes we made about mom's inedible food. And I thought about dad. And late night ice cream talks...

"I want to stay here Mas," I said softly. "At least until we graduate. Any school would take you. Your grades are awesome and there are tons of college football scouts that recruit by visiting our high schools."

"And your mom and dad would be okay with me living there?"

Compared to the alternative I had no doubt. I mean dad had offered to build an extra bathroom. Not that we needed it. Eight people and three bathrooms wasn't a horrible ratio.

"Yeah, dad actually suggested it a month or so ago."

"I'm going to have to talk to dad. I mean, I'm taking my finals a week early to come down there anyhow. I could just bring a lot of my stuff then."

I smiled. "Really?"

"Really. Dad flies down all the time for recording purposes. It'll give him an excuse to come down more."

"I love you Mas. I know this won't be easy for you."

"Oh, it won't be bad. I love sun."

I laughed. "I'm going to tell mom and dad tonight."

"I'll talk to dad and Addy tonight. Just don't stress out."

"I won't. Hey guess what?"

"What?"

"I sold one of my paintings today. A guy bought it for three hundred dollars."

"That's awesome. I've always told you that you've got talent."

I smiled. "I know."

We talked for a couple more minutes and I hung up. I wiped my buttery hand on a napkin, put the bowl on my nightstand and stood up.

I had made the decision.

And I felt good about it.

---------------------------------

"Can I talk to you?" I asked. Ally and Joe were playing Trouble on the floor. Brayden and Tristan were half asleep on mom and dad's laps.

"What's up?" mom asked.

I sat down on the soft ottoman. I knew I was going to need a team of horses to get me back up.

"Mason and I talked about our housing plans after the baby's born," I said. "We've come to a decision."

Dad ran a hand through Tristan's bright red hair. Tristan snuggled closer. His pirate patch had slid up onto his forehead.

"What did you two decide?"

"I want to stay here. I want to keep going to school down here. Mason's okay with moving. I just don't think I can leave everybody and we're going to need help. I know we couldn't support ourselves in our own house right now."

Dad smiled. "Is that what you really want? You're not just doing it because I will curl up in a ball and shrivel up and die a miserable death?"

I laughed. "No that has absolutely nothing to do with it."

"Well, I can't say that I'm not happy about this," mom said. "And we'll help Mason in any way we can with school transfers and everything."

"And just to clarify," I said. "He can stay in my room?"

Dad looked like he was going to object, but then he thought twice.

"Of course he can. With endless feedings, changings, and all around crying I'm sure sex will be the last thing on your minds," mom said with a smile.

"I am so not going through this again," I assured her. Dad laughed.

"So you're staying?" Joe asked. I looked over. They had been listening closer than I had thought.

"Yup. That cool with you?"

Joe tilted his head. I was prepared for a smartass comment, but he smiled.

"Yeah, it'll be nice to keep you around."

I smiled.

"I love you too Joe."

"Hey, let's not get carried away now."

Ally turned around. She smiled brightly.

"I knew you wouldn't leave," she said confidently.

I was feeling really loved. And tired. And I had to pee. I shifted on the ottoman. There was no way I could hoist myself up. I held out my hands.

"Hey, you two. Help your sister up."

Ally stood up. Joe slowly followed. They each grabbed a hand and hoisted me up. Before Joe could get away, I wrapped my arms around the both of them and squeezed.

This was home.
Chapter 47 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Forty Seven

"You seriously invited this many people?"

"It's not that many people Shel."

Mom, Addy, and Kristin had rented one of the local country clubs for my baby shower. Judging by the number of cars in the parking lot, they had invited every single woman they had ever said hello too.

I had lost sight of my feet a couple weeks ago. Now I felt like one giant balloon.

This baby had to come out of me soon. I just had to get this party over first.

My last day of classes had been yesterday. Apple promise to come to my shower. Both her and Taurus had been really happy that I had decided to stay and come back to school next year.

Mason's finals weren't until next week. He was moving next Saturday. Kevin was following him down with all of his stuff.

Then all we had to do was wait until I popped.

Mom pulled into a spot by the door that said 'reserved.' Pink balloons bounced off the sign.

I undid my seatbelt, opened the door and clung to the top of the door. I hefted myself out.

The baby was pressing on my sciatic nerve and I was miserable. My back hurt, my butt hurt, my legs hurt, my boobs hurt...

Every part of me hurt.

Mom squeezed my arm and smiled.

"This is going to be fun."

I wasn't so sure.

-----------------------

The party started out fun. That was because of the food. I couldn't get enough food. I sat between Apple and Ally and stuffed my face full of meatballs and chicken salad and chips.

Liv, Leighanne, and Leigh were sitting together. Liv had brought Landon and they were gushing over him.

Addy was helping Kristin keep tabs on the food. They didn't exactly have a cozy relationship, but it looked like they were banding together for a common cause.

The first Richardson grandchild.

Mom was chatting with Grandma Denise. I saw her set down her plate. She stood up and clapped her hands.

"Game time!"

I groaned.

We played the yarn game where everyone cut a piece of yarn they thought would fit perfectly around my stomach. That was pretty humiliating. Almost everyone's piece of yarn was smaller than my gigantic intertube. Only Ally managed to get it right on.

Then we played another game called 'How Well Do You Know Mommy-to-Be.' Everyone got a sheet with seven categories - Eyes, Ears, Nose, Legs, Hair, Smile, and Humor. They had to guess whether I would prefer the baby to have my trait or Mason's.

Apple ended up winning that game. I wanted my baby to look exactly like Mason except for the legs. I know that sounds weird, but I always thought I had pretty decent legs. Plus Mason's were so hairy.

The last game we played was a nursery rhyme scramble. I finished before everyone else. I had always loved memorizing those silly rhymes and screaming them at the top of my lungs.

"I taught you well," mom said with a smile.

After the games, it was time for presents. I was shocked at the amount of bags that I had to open. I received so many dresses and sleepers that I didn't know how one baby could possibly wear everything. Along with the clothes came the bottles, bibs, pacifiers, diapers, and blankets.

"This one's from Liv," Ally said. She was being a dutiful note taker. I was going to be writing Thank You cards until my hand fell off. Or at least until I got carpal tunnel.

I pulled out an adorable butterfly mobile. In the bottom was something hard and flat. I pulled off the tissue paper.

"OH MY GOD!"

I was holding a picture book. An OLD picture book.

Arthur: It's Only Rock 'n' Roll. Guest starring The Backstreet Boys.

"Mom, remember this book? I used to check it out every time we went to the library by our old apartment!"

Mom smiled. "I remember. That's crazy!"

Liv laughed. "I thought a Backstreet grandbaby might enjoy a story with her grandpas."

I beamed. I was pretty sure that this was the best present in the whole pile.

"Thank you so much," I said softly.

After another hour I finally got through the endless bags and boxes. Kristin stood up.

"I have one more gift," she said.

"So do I," Addy said.

A couple clubhouse guys rolled out a beautiful white crib. A couple other guys carried out a rocking chair.

"Wow," I said. I stood up and admired both. It was hard to believe that I'd have an actual baby to put in the crib and rock to sleep in the rocker in less than three weeks.

"I think you're all set now," mom said with a smile.

I laughed. "I'm all set...but I'm not ready."

"It's all worth it in the end," Liv said. Landon was fast asleep, his mouth open, his hands clenched in little fists. If my baby was as sweet as Landon, I figured I'd be okay.

Mom disappeared and came back a moment later with a cake shaped like a rattle. I poised for pictures as I cut into it. Mom sliced up a big piece of the marble cake and I sat down to devour it.

"Hey Shel, I've got to go but I had fun."

Apple leaned down and hugged me.

"Oh, I was wondering if Taurus and I can come to the hospital and see you and the baby when its born?"

I smiled. "Absolutely."

"Sweet. See ya!"

I waved. Ally sat beside me. She scraped off the frosting and just ate the cake.

"All that stuff is so little and cute," Ally said. I smiled.

"Yeah, it is."

Ally took another bite.

"Hey Shel?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you sorry you got pregnant?"

I licked the icing off my fork. My little bean had turned into a huge watermelon. I could feel the exact placement of her little foot.

"I wish I would have waited," I said honestly. "I would be much happier if this wouldn't have happened until I was at least eighteen."

Ally nodded. "It's going to be hard isn't it? Going to school and taking care of her and stuff?"

I had no idea how hard it would be, but I knew it wasn't going to be a walk in the park.

"It's going to be tough."

Ally smiled. "But you have all of us."

I smiled. "I know. But she's my responsible. And Mason's."

"I can't wait until Mason gets here," Ally said.

I stole the icing from her plate.

"Neither can I."
Chapter 48 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Forty Eight

"This is all you brought?"

"Well, I didn't think we'd have a lot of room. Seriously, all I need is my clothes and computer."

Mason had brought the truck down. Kevin had followed in his car. Mason only about about fifteen boxes.

Mom, dad, Joe and Ally had helped me move my room around. My full size bed was gone; a King size bed was in its place. One whole corner of my room was now setup as a nursery with the crib and rocking chair. The changing table was in the bathroom across the hall.

"It's like the world's smallest studio apartment," dad had said when everything was rearranged.

The hardest part for me had been making closet space. I hated to throw anything away.

It was May 20. My due date was right around the corner. Mason grabbed a couple boxes.

"Can I help?"

"No." The 'no' came from dad, Mason, and Kevin.

Joe poked his head out of the trunk. He smirked. The next thing I knew, I was holding a pillow.

"You can carry this."

I stuck out my tongue and we all made our way upstairs. Mason glanced over at the crib and smiled.

That's pretty.

I smiled. "It is. And it turns into a toddler bed."

"Which, if she's anything like Shelby, she'll never want to sleep in a toddler bed. We went from crib to big girl bed with no stop iin between," mom said.

Kevin, Mason, and dad went downstairs to bring another load up. I sat on the edge of my bed.

It seemed like moving day would never get here. And now it had. I had woken up this morning with my stomach in knots. This was a big deal. I was nervous and excited all at the same time.

"You okay?" Mom asked.

I looked up. My hands were on my belly and I was staring around. I probably looked a little dazed.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"You're pale."

I smiled. "No, I'm okay."

We both heard a loud crash from downstairs, Joe shouting, and one of the twins laughing. Mom groaned.

"I better go check."

She headed downstairs. I took a deep breath. My stomach tightened up again. This time it hurt a lot more than the ones I had in the morning. I held my breath unti the pain stopped.

I slowly got up. I pressed my hand against my back. My organs felt like they were being crushed even though the baby had dropped down.

Mason came back in the room with another box. Kevin was right behind him.

"What was that noise?" I asked.

"Tristan found my basketball," Mason explained. "Your dad's going ballistic over a broken lamp."

"Was it the leg lamp?"

"Yup."

Dad was a big fan of the movie A Christmas Story. While we were walking around a flea market about six years ago, dad had found a replica of the leg lamp, oogled it, but didn't buy it. Mom had gone back later that night and bought it and given it to him for his birthday as a surprise.

And now, just like in the movie, it was gone.

Kevin and Mason went back downstairs for another load. I awkwardly squatted down and began to work on opening a box.

That was a big mistake. As soon as I squatted, another stomach pain hit me. It was like the mother of all cramps.

I screamed.

Mason was the first one up the stairs.

"What's wrong?"

I couldn't answer. I hurt and I could't talk. For once in my life, I was rendered speechless. I inhaled and puffed out a big exhale. After a couple beats, the pain subsided.

That's when I realized that these weren't cramps or knots. These were contractions.

"I'm in labor," I said. It was funny, but I actually sounded calm.

Mason's eyes widened. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. They're getting stronger."

Mom was the next one through the door. Joe was right behind her. Mason heped me stand back up.

"What's going on?"

"Contractions," Mason said.

"I thought so."

"HEY! SHELBY'S GONNA POP UP HERE!" Joe shouted down the stairs.

That started a crazy chain of events. Dad was running around trying to find his car keys and still holding half the leg lamp as he ran down the upstairs hall. Kevin quickly got the rest of the boxes unloaded. Mom picked up my suitcase and it popped open. She was crouched down trying to repack it. Mason was just chanting 'Oh my god, Oh my god' over and over again and Joe and the twins were screaming at the top of their lungs. As it turned out, it was Ally who came over and took my hand.

"You can squeeze if you need to. I've got tough fingers," she said with a smile.

Here she was, eleven years old, and she was the only sane one. I buckled over as another contraction hit.

I started to cry.

-----------------------------

"Mom got the first flight she could," Mason told me. He had gotten over his 'Oh my god' panic and was sitting by my bed watching the monitor for the start of the contractions.

I had half hoped that I had just been experiencing false contractions. but no such luck. My water hadn't broken yet (I wasn't looking forward to that), but the contractions just kept getting worse.

Kevin and dad were out in the hallway. Grandma was headed to the house to watch Ally, Joe and the little goobers. Until she got there, Ally was in charge.

I have never seen Ally get mad, but when dad told her she couldn't come, she had pitched a royal bitch fit. Her face had turned beet red and she had yanked the broken leg piece out of dad's hand and thrown it against the wall.

I guess she had a little bit of pissed off McLean in her after all.

"Ice chip?" mom asked. She came back in the room holding the ice bucket. I nodded.

I took a piece just as another wave of pain hit. The ice shattered into a million icy bits in my mouth.

------------------------

"We're going to break your water for you," Dr. Tresher said. "That will hurry things up a bit. Then we'll get that epidural started and maybe we'll have a baby by midnight."

I decided that the baby hated me. It was getting all distracted by causing me pain instead of doing its job and coming out. It had been hours since I had gotten to the hospital. Kristin had arrived about an hour ago.

The whole water breakage thing wasn't as bad as I had thought it was going to be. It was just a woosh and then it was kind of all over.

"I'll be checking up on you more often now. If the contractions start getting unbearable, ring me earlier."

Dr. Tresher left. The dads and Kristin filed back in the room. Mason and mom hadn't moved at all from my side.

I waited for the unbearable pain.

------------------

Two hours later I was still feeling pretty much the same. I wasn't dialating fast.

I was just stuck.

"We're going to start a line of pitocin to speed things along. If we're luck we'll have a baby by morning."

When I had first come in, Dr. Tresher had said by dinner. Then she had said by midnight.

Now it was morning.

They started a line. In my miserable way of thinking I was pretty sure even that wasn't going to work.

An hour later I was eating those words.

"GET HER," I growled as the pain hit me so fast again that I could barely think straight.

Mason scampered out and returned with Dr. Tresher. She checked me, got the epidural guy, and things actually started to happen.

I freaked out.

"Your heart rate is rising, Shel," Dr. Tresher said. "Try to calm down."

That was easy for her to say. She hadn't felt like she was being trampled on my rhinos. That had gone away (mostly) with the epidural, but now I felt like I had been in a serious accident and had lost half of my body in the process.

It was almost midnight. We had gotten to the hospital a little after eleven.

I was going on thirteen hours of hell.

At exactly midnight, Dr. Tresher came and checked in on me again.

"You're ready to push!" she announced.

I hadn't taken any classes. I had barely read through any of the books mom had given me.

I had no clue what to do.

Dad and Kevin were keeping a respectable distance in the corner, even though dad was looking extremely antsy. Kristin and mom had come to perch by my head. Mason was still clinging to my hand.

"Inhale deeply, hold it, and bare down," Dr. Tresher instructed.

I didn't know exactly what I was baring down. I decided it would have just been easier if baby's could print directions off Mapquest.

After about twenty minutes, I began to feel intense pressure. Now I realized what the bare down meant. My grip tightened on Mason's hand.

"There you go," Dr. Tresher said encouragingly.

I don't mean to brag, but after only ten minutes, Dr. Tresher said something I'd been really excited to hear.

"The head's out."

A head! I had a floating head!

"Mason, come down here."

Mason glanced at me and I nodded. My hand was immediately picked up by Kristin. Mom had abandoned me to go see too.

I was glad I was putting on a good show.

"She's got red hair!" Mason said. He sounded happy about that.

There went my vision of a little blonde.

"Okay just one teeny push Shel and we'll do the rest."

I did as I was told.

"Mason, you get to catch."

There was a lot of noise and a squeal (from mom) and then a gasp (from Mason) and then a shrill cry.

From a baby. A red haired, red bodied, little flailing baby that Mason was holding and looking at in awe.

It was a great result after fourteen hours of hard work.

And funny enough, I wasn't the least bit tired.

Our baby girl had finally entered the world.
Chapter 49 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Forty Nine

"Jolee?"

"It's really cute, but if we call her Jo for short it's going to get really confusing. What about Elizabeth?"

Mason was sitting on the bed and we were both staring down at the little bundle I was holding in my arms.

It had been love at first sight.

"I don't know. I mean Mason and Shelby aren't really popular names. I just don't see us going so traditional."

"Okay, well how about Brenna?" I asked.

I looked down at the teeny tiny little face. Her fluffy red hair contrasted so well with the light pink baby burrito she was wrapped in.

"Her initials would be BAR," Mason said. I laughed.

"She might need a drink from a bar after she finds out how crazy her family is," I teased. "I really like the name Brenna."

Mason reached out and stroked her cheek. Her mouth opened slightly.

"Me too."

Kevin had gone to pick up Dan and Addy from the airport. Kristin had gone to get a quick bite to eat. Mom and dad had gone back home to pick up Joe, Ally, and the twins.

For the moment it was just the three of us - me, Mason...

And Brenna.

----------------------------

"Aunt Ally coming through!"

Ally pushed past mom and dad and made her way to the bed. She broke into a huge smile.

"Oh, she's adorable."

"Want to hold her?"

Ally nodded and sat down in the rocker. Kristin, who was rocking her and kissing her every couple seconds, put her carefully into Ally's arms.

"I brought you some ice cream," dad said. He brought over a covered container and kissed my temple.

"Thanks," I said. I looped my arm around his neck and hugged him.

Mason had caught Brenna, I had held her and then she had been passed to dad.

Dad started crying the moment he looked at her. Of course, I wasn't surprised.

Girls were dad's weakness.

What had been a surprise was Kevin's reaction. Dad had cried, but Kevin had bawled.

"I'm so proud of you both," Kevin had told Mason and me. "She's perfect."

As I dug into my ice cream, the door opened and Addy, Kevin, and Dan walked in.

"The gang's all here!" I said. I still hadn't slept. I was still a little wired.

"What's the baby's name?" Tristan asked. He was peering up over the arm of the rocker curiously.

All eyes turned to Mason and me. We shared a smile.

"Brenna Ann Richardson," Mason said. He puffed out his chest.

What a proud daddy peacock.

"Hey, her initials are BAR!" Joe said. Of all people, I knew Joe would be the one to point that out.

Dad and Kevin walked behind the rocker and hovered over Ally.

"Beautiful."

"Look at those tiny hands."

Dad nudged Kevin.

"You're screwed now. Our powers are no match for sweet little girls. Mine has been weakened for eleven years now. Welcome to the team."

Kevin rolled his eyes but he reached down and touched her little chubby chin.

Ally and I smiled.

Everyone played pass the baby for about two hours. During that time nurses were constantly coming in, she needed changed, and she needed fed.

That's when the exhaustion set in.

"Why don't I stay up here with Mason tonight?" Kristin asked.

I was going to tell her it wasn't necessary, but she didn't have anyone else with her and of all the grandparents, she was going to be the farthest away. She probably wanted this time. I nodded.

"That'd be great mom," Mason said.

I didn't know if I was going to be able to fall asleep, but as Kristin walked around lowering the lights and there was finally quiet, I faded off to sleep.

--------------------------

Looking back, I realize that hospitals spoil new moms. You can get food or drink if you need it, people come and check up on you, and if you spazz out about something your baby does (like in my case, hiccup), there's nurses around at all times.

Then you go home and reality sinks in.

I spent two days in the hospital. On the second day Taurus and Apple came up to visit. They not only got to meet Bren, but they also met Mason. It was a fun little visit that was over too soon.

I was really excited about getting discharged. I couldn't wait to put Brenna in the crib and take a picture. I couldn't wait for Mason to hold her in the rocker so I could take a picture.

Basically I couldn't wait to take a lot of pictures with her everywhere.

Unfortunately, the amazing high that I had right after her birth went MIA. I was tired. By the time we got Brenna inside and everyone was once again playing pass the baby (except Kevin, who really didn't want to pass the baby; he wanted to keep her), I just wanted to go to sleep.

On top of the tiredness, the lactation consult had convinced me to pump breastmilk for at least the first couple months and my boobs were full, sore, and leaking. Plus, I was bleeding.

And I was surrounded by people.

A week later when Kevin, Addy, Dan, Kristin, and Grandma finally left, I hoped that I might be able to feel a little more relaxed.

But I didn't.

The twins adored Brenna, but she didn't adore them. They got too close to her face and she wailed. She would be fast asleep, they'd run into the room dressed as monsters, growl, and she would wail. Ally could quiet her down; I couldn't.

Big fail.

Meanwhile Mason decided to try to find a job. And he was going through a mess of red tape to get enrolled for his senior year at the public high school. Ally, mom, and dad were a huge help, but sometimes I almost felt like they helped too much. Mason would be gone for hours and for some odd reason that sent me into a bad mood. By the time he got back, I was snappy to him. He never snapped back; instead, he just took Brenna and gave me my space.

I also wasn't eating much. I had been downstairs in the middle of the night with Brenna and dad would scoop me out some ice cream, but usually I didn't even touch it.

These constant moods swings continued to get worse for the next month until I almost didn't want to get out of bed. Here I was, seventeen, with a beautiful baby and a family that was giving me tons of help, and I was feeling miserable.

Finally one day I burst into uncontrollable tears and mom couldn't take it anymore.

"We're going to Dr. Tresher."

She loaded me and Brenna in the car and we got in.

"Nothings wrong," I said pathetically.

"Yes there is, Shel."

Dr. Tresher sent mom out of the room and we had a private chat.

Her diagnosis?

Postpartum depression.

In my mind that just meant I was officially crazy, but everyone else assured me that it wasn't uncommon. Personally, I didn't think it was common for a seventeen year old to have to consult a psychiatrist, but mom made me do it.

The psychiatrist prescribed a relaxant and wrote out orders for a diet plan.

And amazingly, two months after the diagnosis, I actually smiled. And then I laughed. And then I apologized to Mason. And then I got Brenna to stop crying.

And I decided maybe the professionals knew what they were talking about after all.
Chapter 50 by evergreenwriter83
Chapter Fifty

"Who's grandpa's girl? Who's grandpa's pretty little pea?"

Dad and I were sitting on the floor. Brenna was smiling up at him with her pretty green eyes.

Mason eyes.

After what I had thought was perpetual darkness, I was seeing the light. I was loving being a mom.

Not that it was easy. I would never tell anyone that becoming a mom at seventeen was a walk in the park. I knew that I was luckier than most girls. I had a tight-knit family that was emotionally and financially supportive.

And I had ended up with the most caring and responsible teenage guy in the whole world.

Brenna was three months old. Mom continued to remark about how much she looked like me. But when I looked down at her, I focused on all of those little things Mason contributed to the gene pool - her nose, her eyes, a minute dimple in her left cheek.

"Hey McLean, you're hogging all the grandpa time."

Kevin had come down to officially sign off on Mason's enrollment papers for school. Tomorrow I was starting back at art school and Mason would start Jefferson High. He had also found a part time job helping out at the hospital with Dr. Tresher. He was loving it. His future as a doctor was looking more and more like reality.

Besides being down here on 'business,' Kevin was utilizing part of his trip to spoil Brenna. He knelt down, lifted her little pink t-shirt and blew a raspberry on her belly.

She squealed. Kevin's eyes sparkled.

"Does Brenna love her grandpa?"

Her fingers wrapped around his nose. I stood up with a smile and drifted off towards the kitchen.

Even though my diet plan hadn't called for ice cream, I still drifted downstairs in the middle of the night a couple times a week. Of course, things had changed a little bit.

There was now a tiny third party joining dad and I at the table now.

"When Bren's old enough she can have her very own bowl," dad kept saying. He was eager to keep the tradition alive. It was hard not to imagine a little red haired girl with melted chocolate ice cream all over her face. The thought made me feel all warm and maternal.

I got a bottle out of the refrigerator and warmed it in the microwave. As I waited, Joe came over and hopped on the counter.

"Sup?" I asked.

"Nothing," he said. He watched the bottle turn in a circle through the microwave door.

"Hey Shel?"

"Yeah?"

"I am really glad you stayed."

I glanced over at him in surprise. He smiled.

"I love you," he added.

"I love you too, Joe."

He paused a moment, then leaned over and hugged me.

Then he took off. I think he had reached the limit of sweetness for his lifetime.

"SHELBY I NEED SHOES!"

Brayden ran in with his tennis shoes in hand. I stopped the microwave, knelt down and wiggled his feet into them. As I was tying them, I felt his little hands pat the top of my frizzy head.

"Are you going to put Brenna's shoes on when she gets growed?"

I looked up at him and smiled. "Yup."

Brayden wiggled his foot. "You do a good job!"

Then he ran off.

I took the bottle and tested the liquid on my hand. Just right. I headed back into the living room.

"Who wants to feed her?" I asked.

Kevin and dad both looked up, but Ally was coming down the stairs and intercepted.

"It's Aunt time," she declared.

I smiled and watched the little scene unfold in the living room. Brenna's whole existance might have been the result of one second of carelessness, but you would never define her that way by looking at my family now.

In fact, if she suddenly wasn't here, there would be a big gaping hole.

She belonged.

-----------------------------

"Look at the way she flexes her fingers when she sleeps," Mason whispered.

"I know. It's like baby karate."

"I think I might want to be an OB. Who knows, maybe I could deliver our next baby."

"You mean ten years from now?"

Mason laughed. "Yeah, something like that."

He wrapped an arm around my waist. I leaned into him. We shared a kiss. We hadn't always agreed during the last three months, but we always seemed to find a way to work through it. It was something we had always done.

"It's been a long trip, Shel," Mason said. I snuggled up against him. He was warm and safe. I loved sleeping next to him...even if we were jumping up to take care of our little wailing daughter every couple hours.

"Yeah, a long crazy trip," I agreed.

"And it's not over."

I smiled. Some people might think it's ridiculous to say that you could find your soul mate at five years old.

But the world was an endless mysterious marvel and somehow the stars had aligned perfectly the day we met out in that front yard back in Kentucky.

That's when our story had begun.

As far as I was concerned, we had a long way to go before the end.

And, somehow, I believed that even the end wouldn't be the last of Mason and Shelby.

Because, for soul mates, there was only forever.

THE END

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