Love Is Patient

by Isabella Bearden

  “RILEY! Don’t be so mean! It’s not like he knew you were here. Plus this is my house. Don’t be rude.” I run to the front door and open it. Mason is still standing there. I can’t tell if he was upset or just mad.

  “Mason, I’m so sorry. Please forgive Riley; she had an off day.” I glare at her.” Would you like to come in? We are just watching a movie.”

  He finally looks at me and smiles a little, “Um, thank you but no thank you. I would rather not have the pizza thrown at me next and plus I have another run to make. I’ll see you around. What’s your name?”

  “Chloe.”

  “Thanks Chloe.”

  He walks away. I turn around to say something to Riley. Her face goes from mad to sad in just a matter of seconds.

  “Okay, you really need to give the guy a break. You don’t have to be so rude to him.”

  She looks at me with tears in her eyes, “I know .Chloe, I don’t know what happened to me. It’s like when I see him my world shuts off.”

  “Oh god, you like him!” I shoved her a little.

  “Chloe, stop, okay? I don’t even know the guy. I don’t know if it’s his eyes or what, but he reminds me so much of my old life before everything happened.”

  Sitting beside her and giving her a hug. “it’s okay, Riley.” She starts crying in my lap. I know she misses her dad, but I never thought a random guy would make her act like this.

  Chapter 3

  Riley

  As I walk to my first class of the day, I see Mason. We walk up to each other and stop. We both look at each other like it’s the last time we will ever see one another. He is perfect. He is tall and muscular, with shaggy hair that came right above his brown eyes. I can’t take my eyes of off him; I can tell he feels the same. Finally, I get the nerve to speak to him.

  “Hi Mason. Look, about the other night... I am sorry that I acted that way.” I look down at the ground. I didn’t want him to see how embarrassed about the way I acted to him when I haven’t really given him a chance.

  “Riley, it’s okay. I understand. I would have acted the same way if someone tried to run me over, then tried to hit on me the next time they saw me.” He shoves his hands in his pockets and rocks on his heels.

  “You shouldn’t be apologizing. It’s my entire fault.” I look up at him. There they were –those big brown eyes. They look like they could see right through me. Is that why he was being so nice to me?

  “How about we make it up to each other by letting me take you out? Just one date. If you hate it, I’ll never bother you again.”

  I couldn’t hide my smile. “Is this a bribe to get me to go out with you?”

  He smiles an adorable crooked smile. “No, but thinking of it that way will get you to go out with me.”

  I act like I have to think about it first. Then I smiled up at him. “Okay, I’ll go out with you. Pick me up at 7 at Chloe’s place. I want her husband to give you the once over.” I say that as if Jay was my body guard. He kind of is after the way he’s protected me ever since the times I would call him in high school from parties to bring me home when I was to drunk and too high to even see straight. He would never let anyone hurt me.

  Masons smile instantly dropped. “Oh, um… okay.” Poor guy he looks really nervous now. I put my hand on his shoulder and there they were -the sparks. The same sparks Chloe used to talk about when it came to Jay. I start laughing. “It’s okay! Jay is a really nice guy. If he wasn’t, I would have never allowed Chloe to marry him. I’ll see you tonight.”

  I walk around him to go meet Chloe to tell her the good news. Well, I hope she will think it is. I am almost to class when I round the corner and see Chase.

  “Hey Chase, What’s up?” He bends down to give me a hug.

  “Nothing much. Just wanted to see what you were up to tonight. Maybe want to catch a movie?”

  This is really awkward now. I just said I would go out with Mason. I try to give my best sorry smile. “Oh, I’m sorry Chase, but I have plans tonight. Maybe some other time.”

  His face drops. “Yeah, maybe some other time. I’ll see you around.”

  Chase walks around me to get to class, and I have one minute to spare. I walk in and I spot my best friend. I sit down next to her. She looks up to give me that smile I’ve grown to love. I don’t know where I would be without her and her family. Chloe turns to speak to me.

  “Hey Chick, how’s it going this morning?” I smile at her, and she knows something up.

  “Mason asked me out.” I say with my biggest smiled. She drops her pen.

  “WHAT! Just the other day you were talking about how you don’t even know the guy and now you’re going out with him! I don’t even know the guy. I say no. You can’t go out with him.” She crosses her arms.

  I laugh at her. “Chloe relax. I told him to pick me up at your place so that Jay can give him the big brother talk and you can also ask him any questions you want.”

  Her face and body then relaxed and a smile comes across her face. “I see what you’re doing now. Okay, so what time is he picking you up? Do you know where you’re going?”

  I can’t help but laugh. “He is picking me up at 7; I don’t know where we are going. Where is the teacher at?”

  She looks dumfounded as I changed the subject on her. I guess she didn’t even notice he wasn’t here. “I have no idea.”

  I open my notebook and start drawing, thinking about what tonight’s date is going to be like.

  Chapter 4

  Chloe

  Thirty minutes after the class was supposed to the start, and the teacher never showed up, so the students start to leave. I was scared to leave; maybe it was a trick to see who would actually stay even though he wasn’t here. I looked at Riley and she was off in lala land, probably thinking about her date tonight with Mason. I am so happy that she is finally smiling again. It’s been to long since my Riley has been here. I went to gather my belongings and she finally came back to earth looking confused.

  “Where are you going?” She asks.

  I look at her like she was stupid, “Um the teacher hasn’t showed up so I’m leaving. I’m not sitting here for another thirty minutes board out of my mind while you sit over there and day dream.” I chuckle.

  She throws her pencil at me. “I was not day dreaming, I was just thinking about some things.”

  Riley starts to get her things together and I starts laughing. “Yeah thinking about someone I would say.”

  Riley rolls her eyes at me, while she stood and we walk out just like the rest of the students that got tired of sitting there. Riley and I went out the exit doors and head across campus to the commons area. Riley was babbling about what she should wear tonight as I look up and Chase was walking past us. He smiles at Riley and she smiles back.

  “I really don’t like him.” I say, as my eyes follow him.

  “Like who?” Riley turning her neck, trying to see who I was talking about.

  “Chase, he just gives me the creeps.”

  “You don’t know him, Chloe. Don’t start that.”

  I look at her and raise my eyebrow at her. Who is she talking about? I don’t judge people. Well not all the time at least. Chase just doesn’t sit with me and I know why. I took a deep breath. I turn to Riley.

  “Listen Riley, I have to tell you something and I’m not sure how you are going to react, but that Chase guy. I went to middle school with him. His dad use to beat him and then one day him and his family just up and left. My mom told me the other day that he just got out of jail for selling drugs.”

  She starts laughing. “Your joking, No he didn’t.”

  “I’m serious Riley or I wouldn’t be telling you this. Just please be careful.” I look at her with my serious face to let her know that I’m not playing around.

  Riley didn’t say anything else about Chase while walking to the commons. We walk through the line, got our lunch and paid the cashier. We sat at our normal table and Riley was being really quite for some reason
.

  “Okay, what is it?” I ask, as I put down my water.

  Riley looks at like she needs to tell me something. “I guess it’s a good thing I turned Chase down today when he asked me to the movies today.”

  “Yeah it was a good thing. I’m sorry Riley I’m just trying to look out for you.”

  She picks up her apple and was looking at it. “Yeah I know. I’m just glad I don’t feel bad for turning him down then.” She smiles at me, and then bites down in her apple.

  “You don’t feel bad about turning who down?” Riley turns around and her smile grew. There Mason was standing beside the table. I don’t see how she doesn’t like him.

  She finally spoke up. “Oh nothing, some guy name Chase asked me out today after I talked to you and I told him no.”

  Mason smiles at Riley and put his arm around her. “Well I feel special now. Wait was this Chase guy looking kind of preppy style?”

  She looks up at him kind of surprised. “Um yeah he is why you know him?”

  He shakes his head, “I don’t know him, I know of him. He was talking to some class mates about where to get some good stuff, if you know what I’m getting at?”

  Riley looks at me and I shrug my shoulder’s; I’m not going to say told you so in front of Mason. He would ask questions that I don’t want to answer and I’m sure Riley doesn’t want to talk about her pass right now. I clear my throat to change the subject.

  “So Mason, I hear you’re taking my Riley out tonight. Where are you taking her?” I ask being nosy.

  He turns his head toward Riley, winking at her than she smiles. I could tell she is excited to go out tonight. “I was thinking dinner then bowling.” He fully turns toward Riley waiting for approval.

  Riley nods her head. “Oh Ri, I know just the outfit for you.” I say, with a smile on my face.

  “Chloe, really in front of him? You couldn’t wait till he left.” Riley starts to blush. Mason starts laughing. “It’s okay, I’ve got to run anyways, see you tonight Riley,”

  Riley looks like a silly school girl sitting there with a huge grin on her face. The old Riley I knew was definitely coming back. And I had to owe it all to Mason.

  Chapter 5

  Riley

  Chloe and I went to her apartment after school. We wore the same size clothes, so at lunch when she said she had an outfit for me I knew I didn’t have to go back to my dorm to get anything. As we were in her bedroom and Chloe was getting my outfit together, Jay walks in.

  “What you up to Chloe? Playing dress up with Riley again,” He says, with sarcasm. She shot him a glare.

  “No if you must know, Riley is going out on a date tonight with Mason.” Jay walks over to Chloe to give her a hug and a kiss.

  “A date huh? That sounds like fun. That’s what we need to do babe, have a date night.” Jay says.

  Chloe is still in her closet looking for a pair of pants she insisted I wear. “Found them.” She huffs as she backs out of the closet, as she turns around with a smile, “Yeah we should do that.”

  She hands me the pants so I could change and she throws a shirt at me. I knew what she meant; I walk to the bath room to change. Chloe gave me skinny jeans with a yellow shirt that has a butterfly design on it. She knows it’s my favorite shirt that she owns. I smile at myself when I looked in the mirror to see how I look. I walk out of the bathroom and into the kitchen. I was straightening the shirt when I began talking.

  “So what shoes am I wearing with this outfit that you picked out.” I ask, looking at the shirt.

  She hands me some flip flops. I look at her confused. “You do remember that we are going bowling right?”

  “Yes silly I remember, that’s why I put some socks in your purse. I figure you didn’t want to wear heels all night with walking across campus all day. Either way you would have to bring socks with you.”

  I was about to thank her, when there was a knock at the door. It was exactly 6:55pm. I smile at Chloe as she went to answer the door.

  “Hey Mason, Come on in. This my husband Jay. Jay this is Mason.”

  Jay shakes Mason hand. Jay spoke up first. “How you doing?”

  You can definitely tell that Mason was nervous. “I’m good. How you doing?”

  “Good, Riley told me that I would meet you before I took her out.” Mason says nervously.

  Jay chuckles a bit. “Yeah Riley is like a little sister to me. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have asked Chloe out faster than I did.” Jay winks at me. I knew he was trying to embarrass me. Mason and he spoke for a few more minutes till I took him away.

  “You ready to go Mason? I’m sure you don’t want to be late for dinner.” Mason smiles that crooked smile at me. I could never get tired of that smile.

  “Yes, let’s go shall we? Jay it was a pleasure to meet you, Chloe I’ll see you around.”

  Mason and I wave at Chloe and Jay as we start to walk down to Mason’s truck. He has a nice Chevy.

  “Wow, nice truck.” I tell him.

  “Yeah, thanks. It’s a ‘69 Chevy C-10. I re-did it when I was in high school. The only way I knew how to stay out of trouble.” Mason opens the passage side door and helps me in. Mason went around and got in. Mason turns down the radio as soon has he cranks the truck. My favorite song was on. I was surprised that he listens to country music.

  “Oh can you please leave it on. I love this song.” I say.

  “Yeah, no problem.” He turns the radio up a little bit.

  Blake Shelton is my favorite country singer. When he released “God gave me you,” I feel in love with it. I just never had the person that made me feel the way he spoke about in the song. Mason reaches for my hand, and held it on the way to dinner. I couldn’t hold back the smile.

  We pull up a small pizza place; it looks like it just had its grand opening. Mason turns off the truck.

  “You ready to go in?” He asks, looking at me.

  I nod my head; Mason comes around and opens the door for me and the same as we came to the doors. We found a booth. The place isn’t that busy. The waitress approaches our table and asks to take our orders. We both decided to get a medium pizza and split it. Mason reaches across the table for my hand. I could feel my face start to burn. Keep calm, Riley it’s not like this is your first date. I had to tell myself so I would calm down. Mason was about to say something, when a girl I have never seen before was standing in front of us.

  “Well I can see why you cancelled on me tonight Mason. You got something new in your bed.” She says with a snarl.

  I remove my hand from under Masons. You could tell by the look on his face that he was getting upset.

  “Melissa go home. I told you we were done a long time ago.” He growls out.

  Melissa is really pretty. She has dark black hair with blue eyes. She has to be at least 5’6, and really thin. She gives me the once over as she starts to speak again.

  “That’s not what you said Monday when you asked me out. I should have known something was up when you just cancelled on me to ‘rest’.” She spits out looking at me, than turning to look at Mason.

  I start to get up from the booth as Melissa moves out of my way for me to go.

  “No you don’t have to go.” Mason tells me as he puts his hand on my arm to stop me, and then turns to Melissa. “I believe it’s time for you to go. I have nothing else to say to you.” Mason looks at her with a hateful glare.

  If looks could kill me I would be dead. I never thought I would have a crazy ex ruin my date. Melissa gives Mason a smirk and turns to look down at me as she was a few inches taller than me.

  “I’ll go, but just know after he is done with you tonight he will be in my bed as he is every night. Hate to break to you. But he will never actually leave me.” She turns her head to Mason and winks at him, as she brushes by me.

  I look down at Mason. That feeling I was having before about this date, disappeared. I had to fight back the tears. I should have known this was too good to be true. I could tell he
was upset also. As soon as I felt like I could speak without crying, I was going to tell him to take me home. I can’t deal with this.

  “Mason, Could you just take me back to Chloe’s? I don’t feel like going out any more.” I say looking at the table.

  At first he didn’t answer me than he stands up and faces me, “Yeah, I’ll take you back. Riley I’m sorry about Melissa. What she said is not true. I dated her last year and ever since all she does it try to get with me. I don’t want her.” He answers in a very quiet voice with his head held down.

  I have to try my best to not to cry. I walk back to the truck with Mason behind me. He didn’t even try to hold my hand this time. We ride back to Chloe’s apartment in silence.

  Chapter 6

  Chloe

  Jay and I were woken up to banging on the front door. I look the clock it was close to 10. We must have fallen asleep on the couch while watching a movie. The banging continues. I shove Jay to get him up to answer the door. He gets up to answer the door with Riley standing on the other side. I jump up; I could tell something was wrong.

  “What’s wrong? What happened?” I panicked getting to Riley.

  Riley walks in; she looks like she wants to cry. I give her a hug and just stayed quiet. She would start talking when she was ready. If anything I have learned being around her, she was definitely her own person.

  Riley took a deep breath and started talking.

  “I was at this pizza place with Mason, and it was a going great. We just had order our food and some girl came up out of nowhere and started talking about how Mason cancelled on her to go out with me, and after the date was over he would be in her bed. I didn’t know what to do, so I just asked Mason to bring me back.”

  “Riley, are you sure that she was telling the truth? Did Mason speak up?” I ask her.

  “No, He just said that they dated last year but they are done. I don’t know if she was telling the truth but the way he acted was as if she was telling the truth but he didn’t want to own up to it.”