His Number One Fan

by Wallace, Danyell

  “How many years of school do you have left?”

  I close my eyes, thinking over his answer. “About nine and a half years.” My voice drifts out in a lazy and sleepy sound.

  Mason doesn't say anything else. There was nothing but silence between us. I snuggle my head deeper into my pillow, and I pull the covers up higher on my body.

  The bed shifts a little and I feel Mason's hand on my hip. I turn on my back and to my other side facing away from him. His hand comes around to my stomach and he pulls me back until my body molds against his.

  “Good night Mason.” I whisper.

  He kisses the back of my head, and I fall asleep.

  eleven

  Nyla

  I wake up the next morning to an empty bed. I glance at the alarm clock on the night stand and notice that I was up earlier than normal considering I had nowhere to be until that afternoon. After several failed attempts of trying to go back to sleep I get up and start unpacking several other items I didn't get to yesterday. After a long shower, I get dressed and decide to go for a ride. I grab the spare keys to Caleb's car, and I send him a text letting him know I had his car.

  I'm driving and trying my best to go by memory alone, since it was dark when Mason traveled down this street. I eventually slow down and turn off onto the familiar dirt road. I keep straight and continue my way down then I make a slight right and I keep driving until Mason's grandma's house comes into view. I pull up into the yard and park beside Mason's car. I cut the engine and I sit there for a minute realizing that it was possible that his grandma wasn't home. I get out and l look around the yard and I start walking around the house where I would hopefully find Mason.

  A small white barn that could use a paint job comes into view. The large wooden doors were wide open and the sound of blues music could be heard. An older model Honda sat in the space with its hood popped up. As I get closer I can see Mason's shirtless form working underneath it. He had on a pair of old ripped jeans, work boots, and he had areas on his body that were covered in oil and sweat.

  “Shit!” He yells. The rag he had in his hand was thrown to the ground. He looks up and sees he has an audience now. “Nyla?”

  “Hey.” I walk around to get a better view of what he was working on. “I see you got your tire fixed.”

  “Yeah a buddy of mine hooked my car up to his truck and brought it here for me. I just finished replacing the tire.” He responds.

  “So this must be your sister's car. Do you need any help?”

  He stands there looking at the sundress I had on before answering me. “You probably should take that dress off. I would hate to see what a little oil and sweat will do to it.”

  “I think I'll keep it on.”

  “Just know I gave you a fair warning. If anything gets on that cute little dress of yours. It’s not my fault.” With one more quick perusal of my body he turns his attention back to his task at hand. Giving me a back view of his body.

  My eyes trail over the muscles in his back and arms, and I watch as they tighten with every movement.

  “So what brings you here? Did you miss me that much that you couldn't wait until I got back?”

  I couldn't help the laugh that slips from my mouth.

  “Actually I wanted to see how your grandma was feeling. Is she home?”

  He turns his head and looks over his shoulder at me. He looks at me for several quiet moments before turning around again to his work. “She’s inside getting her rest. Doc prescribed some more medication and told her she needs to stay in bed.”

  “Did they say anything else?”

  “If they did she didn't tell me. Can you pass me that flash light and wrench that's behind you on that table?”

  I turn around and grab both items off the table and I hand them to him.

  “So what's the problem?” I ask referring to the car.

  “Nothing. Now that I've fixed it. I'm changing the oil now and I'm just making sure everything else looks fine.”

  “Do you have a lot of other jobs lined up?”

  “Not really. I've turned a lot of jobs down. Most of my time has been spent with the band, since we have the tour coming up.”

  “So when you're not working. How are you...”

  “What paying the bills?” He asks with irritation in his voice.

  “I didn't mean it like that. You told me that you support your grandma and sister. I know it has to be tough.”

  “What do you know about struggling? I bet your parents get you anything you want. Including that dress you have on.”

  “I'm not some rich girl that gets whatever she wants. Yes, my parents have money but that doesn't mean I see a dime of it! Matter of fact I've worked my ass off to get the scholarships I've earned to put me through to the school of my choice. The day I told my parents that I didn't want to go to their alma mater. They told me I would have to figure out a way to pay for it. So I did.”

  “And what does that have to do with struggling? Huh?”

  “You know what? Fuck you Mason! I'm leaving. I have plans with Caleb anyway.”

  “Well I hope you're going home to change first.”

  “What's wrong with what I have on?”

  “It's dirty.” He responds.

  I look down at my dress confused to what he was talking about. I look up in time to see Mason walking in my direction. “Don't you even think about it.”

  “What?” He asks all innocent.

  “Stay away from me Mason.”

  I turn around to make a run for it, but I don't get too far. Mason grabs my wrist, turns me around to face him and pulls me against his body. “I think you knew exactly what you were doing showing up in this dress. Especially when you know how bad I wanted to fuck you last night.” He says into my ear, then he lowers his head and kisses the side of my neck. “How about we stop playing these games and give each other what we both want. Hmm? I promise you'll like it.” He whispers against my skin.

  The sound of someone clearing their throat catches our attention.

  “Hey Nyla. Mason. I'm sorry to interrupt your little fuck fest but I was wondering Mason if you were done with my car? I have my last class of the day in two hours.”

  Mason pulls away from my neck and I turn around and see his sister Brooke standing there with a smirk on her face. I pry myself away from Mason and I turn around and run my hands down my dress.

  “If you would like Nyla. I can give you the number to my cleaners?” Brooke says while looking at my dress that was now covered in oil and Mason's sweat. I look up at him and see him smiling down at me.

  “I told you to take it off.” He says.

  “Jack ass.” I mumble under my breath. I turn around and make my way out the garage. “Brooke please let your grandma know that I came by to see how she was doing.” I say over my shoulder and continue across the yard.

  “Nyla!” I can hear Mason shout my name. I stop and turn around.

  “I'm sorry.” He says with a smile on his face.

  “This isn't funny Mason. This isn't coming out!”

  “I'll buy you another one.” He says placing both of his hands on my hips. “You can't show up here looking this sexy and expect me to keep my hands to myself. He grabs my right hand and places it over the front of his jeans. “Do you feel how bad I want you right now?” He lowers his head and kisses me on my lips. “I'm sorry for what I said back there. Let me make it up to you.” He says against my lips before sliding his tongue between my lips. Wrapping his arms around my waist he pulls me tighter against his body and squeezes my ass in the process.

  I tear my lips away and create space between us. “I have to go.”

  “Are you sure you don't want me to come with you. I can help you with your dress.” He says then winks at me.

  “No. I'll manage.” I turn around and walk to the car.

  “Nyla!” I hear Mason call out my name again.

  “Bye Mason.” I call over my shoulder.

  I lower myself in
to Caleb's car and I look ahead and see Mason still standing there. I cut the car on and I put it in reverse. With a honk to the horn, I put the car in drive and I make my way back to the main road.

  twelve

  Nyla

  “How many people did you invite over Caleb?” I ask while getting out his car. We just got home from the movies to find cars lined up and down the street and scattered in his front yard.

  “Enough.” He responds with a smile on his face. “But that's the joys of having a house on a street with very few neighbors where you don't have to worry about anyone complaining about parties, noise, and the amount of company you have over.”

  I shake my head and slide the spaghetti strap of my yellow romper that crisscrossed in the back up my shoulders. It was so hot that I was glad that I decided to pull my hair up into a top knot, giving more of a view of my exposed shoulders and back. I make my way up the sidewalk to the front door. Before I could open the door, Jax swings the door open.

  “It's about time you got here.”

  “Hey Jax.” I respond walking inside.

  “How was the movie?” He asks me.

  “Boring. Caleb fell asleep.”

  “I was resting my eyes.” Caleb says behind me.

  “Whatever.” I say, rolling my eyes.

  “Sounds like something Caleb would do.” Jax laughs. “Well everyone is out back. Can I get you guys something to drink? We have beer, soda, and water.”

  “I'll take a water please.”

  “I'm good.” Caleb responds.

  “Okay go out back and get comfortable, I'll grab your water Nyla and meet you out there.”

  “Thanks Jax.”

  He winks at me and walks off.

  Caleb and I walk through a set of doors leading out to his backyard. Tiki lights were lit throughout the yard, and several lanterns were hung up illuminating the area. People were in the pool, and some were sitting around talking. I look around and I spot Evan and Jeremy behind the grill.

  We make our way around the pool, and my attention is drawn to Mason, who’s talking to a group of people inside the pool.

  “Nyla!” Jeremy shouts bringing everyone's attention to him.

  “Hey you guys.”

  “Sup Nyla. Caleb” Evan speaks.

  I wave and Caleb nods in his direction.

  “You two hungry?” Jeremy asks.

  “I'm not hungry, I think I ate too much popcorn.”

  “Okay, well there's plenty of food. Can I get you something Caleb?”

  “Yeah man I'll take two burgers.”

  “Two burgers coming up.” Jeremy responds.

  “I see you've caught the attention of Mason. He's making his way over as we speak.” Caleb says to me. He grabs his plate from Jeremy and begins walking towards the house. “I'll catch you later Nyla.” He says over his shoulder.

  “Okay.” I respond.

  I take a deep breath and continue to watch Evan flip burgers on the grill when I feel drops of water hit my shoulders, then the gentle touch of someone's lips against my neck.

  I turn around and there he was dripping wet from head to toe. My eyes wander over his body and landing on his nipple rings.

  “Hey.” I say unable to take my eyes off of him.

  “I'm heading inside, you wanna come with me?”

  “Sure.”

  Surprising me, he reaches out and grabs my hand and leads me through the backyard and into the house. Every once and awhile, we would get stopped because someone wanted to talk to him. We walk across the house and down the short hallway and into a room.

  “This is my room.” He says cutting on the light switch. “Make yourself at home. I'm going to shower real quick.”

  He shuts his bedroom door and locks it, and makes his way into the attached bathroom, closing the door behind him. At the sound of the shower coming on, I decide to look around his room. The first thing that I noticed was the huge bookshelf that covered half his wall. I walk over and notice the books were mostly Non Fiction, Biographies, and books about music. I turn around and examine the rest of his room. His walls were painted a dark gray and posters of music icons were scattered across them. Several guitars sat on stands in the corner of his room near an oversized chaise arm chair, and his bed was large but simple, with a black headboard, and covered in a black and blue comforter. A large TV was mounted on the wall on the opposite wall with a small shelf underneath that stored his DVD collection. I walk over and kneel down to look at his collection, and smile when I see a lot of movies that were my favorites.

  I hear the shower shut off, but continue to browse his collection. Seeing one that I haven't seen in a while, I pick it up and start reading the description on the back when the door to the bathroom opens. Mason steps out still damp, with a towel hanging off his narrow hips, towel drying his hair.

  “Why do you have so many books?” I ask the first question that comes to my mind.

  He tosses the towel he was using to dry his hair, to the floor and walks over to his closet and pulls out some clothes, then he walks in my direction to a dresser that was sitting against the wall, and pulls out a pair of boxers.

  I stand there awaiting my answer, wondering if he even heard me. Coming to stand in front of me he takes the DVD out my hands and looks at it.

  “We should watch this together sometime.” He smiles and hands it back to me. He taps my chin with his finger, bringing my full attention to his face. “And the answer to your question. I love to read. A lot.” He says after a brief pause, while looking at my lips. Making me feel as if he was insinuating something else. “Do you?”

  “I use to until college happened. My major requires me to read a lot.”

  “Well it's too bad that you don't love to read. I heard it helps relax the mind and body.” He winks at me.

  He turns around, and walks back into the bathroom, closing the door but not all the way this time.

  I put the DVD back and walk over to his night stand beside his bed, that has several pictures on it. Looking over them I come across a picture of Mason, Brooke, and his grandma. The next one was of him and the band, and the last one was a black and white photo of him laughing while posing on a stool shirtless. I pick it up unable to tear my gaze away.

  I hear the door to the bathroom open and Mason walks out in a pair of khaki cargo shorts, and a light blue t-shirt.

  “I've got to go down in the basement and grab some pieces of music Caleb and I have been working on. Did you want to stay in here and wait for me or did you want to go down with me?”

  “I'll go with you.”

  “Cool. Let's go.” He says holding his hand out.

  I sit the photo down, and I reach for Mason's outstretched hand.

  He unlocks his bedroom door and opens it to find Cassie standing on the other side with a smile on her face until she sees me standing there.

  “What the fuck is going on? What is this bitch doing in here?” She asks, while glaring me up and down.

  “Cassie calm down.” Mason says through gritted teeth. “What are you doing here?” He asks while squeezing my hand.

  “I thought I was invited.” She responds still glaring at me. “Did you just fuck her?” She asks giving her attention to Mason now.

  Before I could respond, Mason cuts in. “Nyla can you give me five minutes?”

  Pulling my hand away from his, I walk around Cassie, staring her down, walking into the hallway. Just in time to hear the door slam behind me.

  I make my way to the kitchen where I find Caleb talking to Jax. When they see me. They stop their conversation.

  “I was just looking for you.” Caleb says. “Where have you been?”

  Before I can answer, the sound of Cassie's voice catches our attention. We turn around and see Cassie storming through the kitchen and to the front door.

  “You can lose my fuckin' number Mason!” She yells over her shoulder. With a final glare in my direction, she walks out the front door, slamming it behind her.
r />   “What the fuck was that about?” I hear Jax say.

  “There's no telling with her.” Caleb says. “Maybe that one will get a clue and see that Mason isn't interested in her ass anymore.”

  “That boy sure can pick them.” I hear Jax snicker.

  I tear my eyes away from the closed front door, and back to Jax and Caleb, when I see Mason walk in.