by April Marcom
* * *
Saturday was spent locked in my room.
My mother brought me breakfast and informed me that a necklace was hanging on my doorknob, as she held out the necklace Hayden had given me for my birthday. After going to the bathroom and then being locked back up in my room, I sat on my bed with the necklace in my hand. I decided to put it on. Holding the diamond in my right hand and holding the ring on my left hand up, I wondered why it all had to be so difficult between them. Why couldn’t Hayden just accept my being with Mason and go on being my best friend? My only friend, since Emmaline still wasn’t talking to me.
When my father brought up dinner, he told me that I would remain locked in my room through the week-end and every day after school the following week, which was made worse by the fact that school would only be held Monday, since Christmas break began Tuesday. So I would be spending a lot of time in that room. I couldn’t see how Mason and I would get around this. If I only got to leave the house for school, how would I ever see him again? And could I really risk being sent away…
At midnight I lay awake in the dark, thinking of Mason, when I saw my door open slowly by the light coming in through my window. I sat up and watched Katy creep into my room with something held against her chest. She shut the door just as carefully behind her. “Hey, Alexandra,” she whispered as she sat down on my bed and turned on my lamp.
“Hello, Katy.”
She held out a pink pillowcase to me. “I brought some food since you can’t get it whenever you want anymore.”
“Thank you. I was starving a few hours after lunch today.” I reached out to hug her.
“So how are you doing?” Her green eyes showed real concern, which didn’t happen very often.
“Awful.”
“I’ll bet, but when your time spent in here is over, it’ll seem like it flew by. And tomorrow night won’t be so bad in here.”
“Why not?” The next night was dinner at Hayden’s, but I was not going to that.
“Because Mason’s coming over to see you.”
“What?” I sat up straighter as joy swept over me.
“I saw him today and he told me to tell you that.”
“Really? What else did he say?”
She kicked off one of her house shoes and pulled out a little note which she handed to me. “He must have seen me walking to the park or something because he walked up to me as soon as I got there. He asked if you were okay and what happened last night, so I told him you were locked in your room and Hayden called the police because he assaulted him. I told him to keep his head down and try not to get caught.”
“You didn’t tell him what I said, did you?” I asked in horror, remembering that I’d told everyone that I loved him twice the night before.
“I told him you said you didn’t know where he was or where he lived, even when the police officer threatened you. He also asked about Hayden and I told him how he chased you upstairs and left crying like a baby.”
That hurt.
“He was happy about that, but I could tell he was really worried about the police threatening you. Anyway, I guess you’re pretty lucky. I don’t think you could shake him if you wanted to.”
I smiled and rolled my ring around to show Katy the stone. “He gave me this promise ring.”
She reached out and held my hand up to the light. “That’s some diamond. I really hate all that mushy couple stuff, but even I’d swoon if a boy gave me that thing.”
“Don’t tell mother and father, okay?”
She raised an eyebrow at me. “Do you really think I would?”
“No…Sorry.”
“So you’re going to keep seeing Mason, right, even though the police are looking for him and you might get sent to Missouri?”
“Of course I am. Are the police really looking for him, though? Are you certain?”
“Mm-hm. Father called the station after dinner and they confirmed that he’s being charged with assault.”
I let out a sigh. “Poor Mason.”
“I’ll try to check on you tomorrow. Let me know if you need anything.” Katy patted my knee before she stood up.
“Wait, do you think you’ll see Mason again tomorrow?”
“Maybe. It really depends on him.”
“Can I give you a letter to give him, just in case?”
“Sure.”
I reached in the drawer beside my bed and pulled out a pencil and paper and began writing.
Dear Mason,
Katy just gave me your letter, but I haven’t read it yet. I just wanted to let you know I can’t wait to see you tomorrow night and that I miss you terribly. I showed my ring to Katy and I could tell she loved it.
I should also warn you that our front door and the door to my room will be locked. I don’t have any rope for you to climb, so I don’t know how you’ll get in. But I’ll look forward to seeing you then.
How could I ever forget last night? It doesn’t matter how it ended. It was wonderful, because you were with me, and you truly gave me the best birthday gift imaginable. What could I possibly give you that will compare when your birthday comes around?
Until Tomorrow Night,
Your Angel
I folded it up and handed it to Katy. “You won’t read it, will you?” I asked her.
“After reading the first letter he gave you, I don’t think I’ll be reading any more of your letters.”
“Thank you, Katy.”
She nodded as she slipped the letter into her shoe and then left my room.
It made me sick to think the police were out looking for Mason, just because he stopped Hayden from forcing me to go home with him.
It suddenly occurred to me that Mason might have been watching my house earlier that day and seen Katy leaving it. If he did, he would have followed her to the park and spoken to her there. I stood up in my bed and slid my window open, letting the frosty night air fill my room. I leaned my head out and searched the darkness, hoping to see some sign of him, but he wasn’t there. So I closed my window and sat back down in my bed.
I knew that I would at least feel closer to him in reading his letter. So I held it under the lamp as I opened it.
Dearest Alexandra,
I wish now that I had kept my temper with Hayden. Maybe things would have gone differently. I’m so sorry that you were threatened last night because of me. It’s almost enough to make me tear myself away from you, so that you can be safe, almost. But there’s nothing that could happen, nothing in this world, that would be worth that. Thank you for what you did for me. I don’t want to say too much in case someone else sees this, but hopefully you and Katy have talked.
That being said, I’ll just remind you that things will get better. No matter what happens, or how long it takes, things will get better. I know I keep saying that, but I don’t want you to forget it. And I don’t want you to change your mind or let it be troubled with any doubts.
Last night was torture when I got home, but knowing that you’re wearing my ring and letting the better part of last night play through my head got me through it. You got me through it, Alexandra. I can’t stop thinking about what it was like to kiss you, not that I’ve tried to. It’s something I’ve thought about since the day we met in the rain. You even taste like an angel, heavenly. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before and I never will again. Even in the storm that surrounds me constantly with my dad, it’s impossible to be upset, because I know you share the same commitment to me that I have to you.
Thank you, Alexandra, for everything.
Love,
Mason
I let the paper rest against my heart as I lay back in my bed. “I should have said more,” I said to myself. “Or less.” If someone saw my letter, they would know he was coming over the following night. But my worry quickly faded away. Katy knew what she was doing. As I leaned up to hide the letter with the others, I thought of how amazing she was, and how grateful I was for my sister.
&n
bsp;