You have to read A Quiet Night for you to understand why this is written. Also I've put this towards the bottom of the book because I don't want you to read it without context of the other chapter.
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Mason glanced up from his phone as the car pulled through the White House side gates. Outside people dotted the sidewalk, all of them holding up their phones wanting to catch a glimpse of someone important.
Every morning heading to school was like this. He didn't understand why people waited. It seemed like a waste of time to him, with the blackout windows it was impossible to see inside. Still they waited. Idiots.
Mason focused back on his phone, the eager and expectant faces getting on his nerves more than usual that day. Maybe it was the exhausting three-hour photoshoot he'd had to bear through last night.
Nothing said family bonding time like having to force a smile for three hours straight. He stopped asking what the photos would be used for a long time ago. Besides it didn't matter, one of his friends would tell him.
At the school, Mason climbed out of the car and slung his backpack strap over his shoulder. He'd barely walked a foot before someone snagged the space beside him. Bradley nodded to Mason, all ease and friendliness. It pissed Mason off. He'd insulted this guy yesterday, yet here Bradley was smiling like Mason hadn't humiliated him. Wasn't he mad at all?
Of course he was. Mason had been vicious. But Mason was also Mason Douglas, First Son, it was better to be next to Mason than not. So Bradley probably cursed Mason in his mind while smiling in his face. It sickened Mason.
What annoyed Mason more was the fact that he nodded back to Bradley, mirroring his 'friend's' chill. After all, if Mason acted out too much the press would be all over it.
That meant as Mason walked through the school halls he wore his easy, All American Boy smile. Fours years had made the smile a natural reaction to anyone looking at him. He was pretty sure if he was strapped to a chair and tortured the stupid smile would still be on his face.
Bradley left Mason at his science classroom with a comment about seeing him later. It was ridiculous how people did everything for him because of who his father was. It's like they believed pissing him off was an act of treason.
As Mason headed to his table, he spotted Lucas leaning against the side of it, staring down at Carter.
"Lucas," Carter said. "You continue to stand there I'll be forced to neutralize you. And neutralize can mean a lot of things."
Her voice dropped and Mason couldn't see her but saw as Lucas flinched and could only imagine what Carter's implications meant. The girl was crazy.
Mason approached his seat and Carter cut her gaze to him, her permanent scowl in place.
"What's with that stupid smile?" she said.
His mask of a smile had been so reactionary he'd forgotten he still wore. But Carter's words zapped it away. Here was one student who didn't seem charmed by it. The only student who would annoy him less if she was.
"Owens," Mason said. "Flirting with men above your social status again?"
Carter swiveled around. "Men? Men go here? Cause all I see are pathetic boys."
At that Lucas left. Mason didn't understand why he kept coming around. The girl clearly hated him, yet he returned time and time again. Never mind, Mason knew why. Lucas enjoyed a little challenge and no one was more challenging than Carter. Mason should know, they were lab partners.
"Aw, he's offended," Carter said. She eyed Mason. "Is it just me or do you reek of self-importance more today than usual?"
Mason couldn't believe the audacity of this girl. He was the First Son! Who was she to talk to him like he was nothing? It hit Mason like a freight train. She was talking like that to the First Son! And she didn't care. The whole world wanted to cater to him, but she'd rather stab him.
He looked at her like it was the first time he'd ever seen her. She wasn't the average type of pretty he'd grown up knowing, the flawless, always photo-ready type. But the combination of her light brown skin and dark blue eyes made her interesting. She was too thin for his taste but maybe it was just the ill-fitting uniform.
Carter cocked her head at Mason. "Mason, I have a question for you, when you became the First Son, Future Savior of America, All American Pain in The Butt did they give you a pre-packaged Personality, or were you always as bland as white bread?"
"At least my personality doesn't make people have daydreams of murdering me," Mason said.
The words flowed easily like they always did around her. The censor he'd been taught by his father, mother, and the entire White House staff, it seemed, disappeared with Carter. He could say whatever he wanted with her and she wouldn't even blink before throwing something back at him.
It was a relief. Especially in his world. He'd exploded on Bradley but that had been a rare occasion. He usually had more self-control, he had to. One blow-up would mean more attention from the world and not in a good way.
Since being paired with Carter it seemed he'd found a small space where he could breathe.
"Oh Mason," Carter said in a patronizing voice. "How sad not to know so many many people daydream the same thing about you. At least I'm not delusional."
Mason would have retorted back but class started. All through it, he was aware of Carter's presence in a way he hadn't been before. He noticed the little line between her brows as she concentrated. Noticed how she rolled her eyes when the teacher reviewed the same material she had moments before but in a slightly different way. Noticed how a strand of hair fell across her face. A strand she'd blew at but didn't take the time to tuck behind her ear.
By the time the bell rang, Mason was wrestling with a truth that made him lag behind everyone else. Was Carter Owens worth crushing on?
The question plagued him all through morning classes and into the cafeteria. His friends circled him like magnets. He knew they noticed how he didn't respond to anything they said and reacted because of it, trying to crack better jokes, trying to say anything that would win their King back.
Mason didn't care.
He sat down at his table and a minute later a girl slid his tray of food in front of him. She smiled and claimed the seat next to him. A spot that was only earned by getting his food for him. Mason didn't say anything. Instead, he stared across the cafeteria to where Carter sat at a lone table near the trash cans. She wasn't eating, even though a sandwich sat before her.
The scowl she always wore was gone, in its place was a scrutinizing expression. As Mason watched her, she surveyed the scene with a critical eye like she was dissecting everyone. She eventually looked over to him. Mason didn't look away. Carter scowled at him for a second then moved on.
Still, Mason watched her, watched the way her brows wrinkled as if solving a mystery. Watched how she completely ignored her food. He simply watched her.
When she met his gaze again, she didn't scowl, she watched him back. Something about her attention stirred Mason. Carter rose and walked towards him and Mason felt his heart give a weird jerk in his chest, whether it was anticipation or apprehension he wasn't totally sure.
Carter nudged two students aside and leaned on the table, pinning Mason to his seat with her eyes. All conversations stopped.
"Mason," Carter said. "If you don't stop staring at me, I will break five of your fingers."
Mason felt a tremor of fear go through him. Her tone hadn't been sassy, taunting, or angry. It had been completely even like she told him what sandwich she had. Carter nodded to Smith and walked away.Β
This girl was insane! What was Mason thinking?! Whatever thoughts he'd had about Carter he instantly banished. It must have been a really terrible night yesterday for him to think he liked Carter. He mentally shuddered at the thought. That girl was a walking nightmare. One that would come alive and kill him if she felt like it.
Needing to feel like himself again, Mason turned to the girl who'd gotten his food and smiled.
"Amber," he said. "You said something about a party this weekend, right?"
She perked up. "Yes, can you come?"
He winked at her. "Wouldn't miss it."
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Hi Ducky!
π Go ahead and tell me how much you love Carter and Mason. π¬π―π
Something I love about them is there could have been a time where they could've been more than friends but what they needed was to be friends. Their friendship is one of my fave tote things.
On a different note, do you still like these one shots?
I've been writing them for over two years and so sometimes I feel like they aren't as fresh as the first ones. And honestly how many people respond to them has lowered and I'm just curious...also feel self conscious as well. So let me know.
I love you! And I love Carson which is apparently their couple/friendship name.
Vote, comment, follow
Carter shutting down Mason.