Chapter 24
Here comes the stupidest girl the world has ever seen
“What are you doing?” I asked Mason, who was clad in a black tux and a top hat, as I stepped out of Hot Shot a few days later on my way to my first class. “You look…huh… I’m not sure right now.” I studied the full length of him. “Is that a magic wand in your hand?”
He grinned big. “Yep.”
“And why is that? Isn’t it too early to do magic?”
“Never. I’m here because I’ve decided to cast a spell on you.”
Students and faculty members passing by looked at us with a quizzical stare, but Mason didn’t seem to care. Everyone was in a hurry to get to class, so they didn’t stop to eavesdrop, which I was thankful for.
“A spell on me? Do you also have a rabbit in there?” I pointed to his hat.
“Nope. No rabbit. Not this time around.”
I pretended to pout.
“Don’t worry, Mel. You won’t care about a fluffy rabbit because you’ll have me to keep you warm.”
“Keep me warm? Did I land in an alternate universe this morning?”
“Nah. You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. I’m about to cast a love spell on you as we speak.”
“Hey, Pierce. Nice outfit,” some guy hollered from a distance.
Mason raised his hand and waved at him. “Thanks, Lucian.” He searched my eyes next, walking beside me. “What if I told you I’ve swapped your latte for hot chocolate just now with the magic of my wand?”
“Stop with the nonsense. Cassie made that coffee for me. She knows what I like, and I can assure you this is not hot chocolate.” But then, I wondered if Mason had convinced my friend to play along with him, and Cassidy had really switched my morning latte for a hot chocolate without telling me.
Slowly, I lifted the cup to my mouth and let out a chuckle as soon as I tasted the dark beverage.
“Mase, you’re impossible. Gosh, you even corrupted my friend. ”
“It’s the power of magic, Mel.” He brandished his wand. “Abracadabra. With the power of my love wand, I’m casting a love spell on you here and now. See?”
I snickered, unable to reel my laughter in. “You didn’t.”
“I sure did.”
“How does everything you say this morning sound so dirty?”
“I had no idea you had such a filthy mind. Anyway, you may not see the effects right now, but believe me, you’re about to fall in love, Melinda Shepard. Big time. A once in a lifetime kinda love.”
“I am?”
“Yes. Let’s test that theory. Otherwise, I’ll have to feed you my love potion to multiply the power of the spell.”
“Love potion?”
“Yes. By the way, I’m sure it tastes delicious.”
“Stop with the double-meaning sex jokes. Jesus. What did you have for breakfast? You know what, don’t answer that. Also, we really need to do something about that ego, Mase. It’s getting out of control.”
“Nah, it’s perfect.” He offered me a cheeky grin, looking so much like the high school version of himself right now. “Mel, will you go out with me?”
I pinched my lips together, not sure if he was being serious or not.
This morning, I was encountering a new side of the boy I’d grown up next door to for the first time.
He was both flirty and entertaining. Since Halloween, he had proclaimed his love to me many times, and still, no matter how much I wanted to say yes, a tiny part of me refused to take a leap of faith, to my heart’s greatest disappointment.
“So?”
I shook my head. “I can’t. I’m still waiting for your love spell to work.”
“Damn. I should maybe revise my list of magic words.”
“And practice that bunny trick.”
He sighed but seemed more amused than dejected.
“And that too. If it’s your wish, I’ll make a creature appear, but be aware you’ll have to take good care of it and tame it because it will only respond to you.
Like cobras dancing to flute music. Oh, and also, it will lovvve to be petted. A lot. Just sayin’.”
I backhanded him above his heart. “Ugh, Mase. Stop referring to your junk.”
He hit his chest with a fist in mock outrage. “My junk? I was referring to a fluffy little bone-y, Mel. You’re the one with the twisted mind. I thought we already agreed on that.”
“Rabbit. We won’t use the term bunny again, because it’s clearly confusing you.” I poked my tongue out at him.
“Fine. By the way, I’m not giving up on us.
If you’ve changed your mind about the little animal, I may really have to work on my love potion then.
” He checked the time on his watch. “I have to go.” He stepped closer and pressed a kiss to my cheek.
“Don’t be too sad, Mel. I’ll find a way to make it happen between us. Keep the faith.”
I frowned. “Keep the faith?”
“Yeah. Like the song. See you later. Don’t miss me too much.” And as fast as he appeared out of nowhere minutes ago, Mason was gone.
Donovan neared me. “What was that? Did some magician try to do some voodoo magic on you?”
“Kinda. I’m supposed to be in love with him now. He cast a love spell on me.”
“Did it work?”
“It’s a long story. Can we talk about it another time?”
He stared at me with furrowed eyebrows. “Sure. I can’t wait to hear all about it.”
“If only you knew.”
The next day, I was in my sociology class, listening to Donovan recount the event of his latest date. Our professor was late, so most people were busy chatting. Some students had left, but most had stayed, for now.
Someone dressed as a giant hot dog walked through the door at the back of the room, and people burst into peals of laughter. A hunch told me it wasn’t a coincidence. My heart banged in my chest, and my hands turned clammy.
“Oh no,” I murmured to myself.
“What?” my friend asked. “Do you think the hot dog mascot is part of today’s class?”
“I’m certain it’s not.” My voice sounded like a throaty whisper.
I lifted my eyes, and our gazes connected. Mason stared back at me, and I blinked, not sure what to do.
He mouthed, I’m sorry, but I’m doing it.
I shook my head. Please, don’t.
Hear me out.
“Guys, I’m not here as part of a social experiment, but because I’m madly in love with a girl who is sitting in this room right now.
She once told me, a long time ago, romance movies and books have put high expectations on girls to believe in happily-ever-afters and grand gestures.
So, this is me, here, proving to her I can do just that.
Sweep her off her feet just like in the fictional love stories she enjoys so much. ”
“No. No, no, no.” I buried my face in my hands. This was bad. Very bad.
“One day, one of my friends dressed as his date’s favorite movie character to impress her, and my girl thought it was adorable. As you can see, I’ve been taking notes for a while now. She also said that my friend dressing up scored him a second date, so the costume served its purpose.”
And now, he was retelling one of Rusty’s high school stories.
“Melinda Shepard, you’ve known for a while how I feel about you.”
Eyes roamed around the room, trying to find out who I was. My probably dark-pink cheeks were about to betray me.
Next to me, Donovan watched the scene with rounded eyes. “Mel, is he Football Hottie Number One or Football Hottie Number Two? I can’t tell with the mustard bangs.”
I grabbed his hand under the table and squeezed it tightly.
“He’s your mysterious admirer? The magician?”
Mason continued before I could confirm or deny anything. “I haven’t secured a hot balloon ride, and I won’t reenact your favorite movie scene, but I’m here to ask you on a date. Not one of our friends dates, because we have had plenty of those already, but a real date.”
“Why the hot dog?” someone called from behind me.
“When you come, do you spray ketchup or mayo?” someone else asked, laughing.
“Is that sausage as big as yours?”
Oh God. Abort, abort, abort. This was terrible.
Mason raised his arms at the same time our professor entered the classroom through the door at the front.
“I told her not so long ago I loved playing hot dog with her.”
People wolf-whistled.
Mason sighed. “Not in a frisky kind of way. Geez, guys. Not everything is about sex.”
“Look who’s talking? Jocks are man whores. Everyone knows that.”
“Who’s this guy?” a girl sitting a couple of rows down asked.
“Mason Pierce, your star quarterback,” Mason replied with a smirk, pride shining in his eyes.
Donovan clasped his hands. “I knew it was him. Mel, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Very long story,” I said, keeping my head down and trying to be invisible. In that instant, I wished my dromedary-brown knitted dress would swallow me or that I could just slide into one of my knee-length boots.
“Shepard, I think you still don’t believe me when I tell you you’re the one for me, and I really want us to be together.
This is me, now, proving you wrong. You know how much I hate being the center of attention unless I’m on the field, but I would do just about anything to show you I’m not kidding and I’m all in. What do you say?”
I felt all eyes on me. I hated the attention even more than Mason did. Why did he believe asking me out in front of my sociology class was the way to my heart and the proof that he was serious about us? My face was burning up. When we talked about grand gestures, this was not what I had in mind.
“Say something,” a girl on my right said.
“Yeah, don’t be a bitch. Give the guy what he wants,” a guy added.
“Have you lost your voice?” another student asked in an accusing tone.
“Seriously, why don’t you say something? Are you dumb? The guy is a catch, and he wants to be with you.”
“Dude, you’re wasting your time. She’s not worth it.”
“Yeah, move on. Find someone else.”
“Ask me out,” a girl said. “I’ll even suck your dick right now if you agree. I’ll let everyone know whether it tastes like ketchup or mayo afterward.”
Mason’s face fell as we stared at each other. All the voices around me faded.
What do you say? he mouthed. Do you believe me now?
I shook my head. I’m sorry. I…I can’t. Not like this.
I won’t give up. I haven’t said my last word.
Before either of us could add anything else, the professor took matters into his own hands. “It’s enough, folks. Please, you can empty the content of your heart later, Mr. Pierce. My classroom isn’t the place to do so.”
People around me booed.
I slouched lower in my seat.
“Wow, that was entertaining,” Donovan whispered. I had forgotten he had witnessed the entire show. “Are you okay?”
I hid my face in the crook of my elbow. “I’m not sure.”
“What was that all about?”
“It’s been going on for quite a while. We almost got together last year, and I ended up dating the guy he hated the most after I relapsed. Not my finest moment. We’ve been hanging out together a lot in the last few weeks. It feels right, but…”
“But what?”
“I’m scared. He’s experienced in everything I am not.
He used to be a serial dater back in high school.
He has a great future ahead of him. I’m inconsequential in the big picture.
I don’t want us to get together only for him to realize I wasn’t worth all the trouble or to regret it later because he’s too busy, and a relationship is messing up all his plans or stealing all his focus. Whatever.”
“Sorry to be blunt, but I don’t buy it. It’s a shitty excuse.”
“Pardon me?”
“You heard me, girl. This doesn’t describe the guy who came here to declare his love to you dressed as a stupid hot dog, knowing everyone would make fun of him.”
“It’s not just that. Mason has never had a girlfriend before.
My heart would never survive if it didn’t work out between us.
I’ve loved him for years, but somehow, it’s safer to have a crush from afar than to open up about my doubts and insecurities.
Loving him put pressure on me the last time, and I ended up counting calories and starving myself.
I can’t risk it. My mental health should come first. Like I said, it’s complicated. ”
“All I am hearing is you finding excuses instead of giving him a chance.”
“It’s not that.”
“Yes, it is.” He shoved his textbook, notebook, and pen inside his bag. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
I looked around me. People were busy taking notes, while I had no idea what today’s lesson was about. “We can’t.”
“It’s college. Sure, we can. Maybe it’s time you stop playing by the rules and start listening to your heart for once, girl. You’re pretty badass in a pool, and you deserve to be badass in love too.” He took my bag from my grip.
“Where are we going?”
“To drill some sense into your brain. And show you loving this guy could be beneficial for your mental health, not risking it.”
I said nothing as I followed my friend out of the room.
“Here comes the stupidest girl the world has ever seen,” one girl singsonged in a cruel manner when we passed her.
“What a waste,” another added.
“That’s what being an idiot looks like.”
Donovan tugged at my hand. “Don’t listen to them. They’re just jealous. Hell, even I am jealous. The guy is quite a catch.”
“Well, look where it has gotten me so far. I just ruined everything between us.”
“We’ll fix this, girl. We’ll come up with a plan. I have your back. It’s not too late to do the right thing and un-mess the mess.”