Ok so this is a short chapter. I'm not sure exactly how but the story seems to have a mind of its own when I'm writing because what I have planned for a chapter usually goes in a completely different direction once I actually start writing it. Okay so here it is.

~Chapter 3~

~Hickeys~

We arrived at school a few minutes later. I got out of the car and made sure all my clothes were properly on the way they should be.

Mason met me at the front of the car and took my hand as we headed into the school. We were immediately met by our family. We are each others best friends. We all still talk to our other classmates, but it's basically just the five of us – and Braden of course. Cam, Ryder, and Mason have the baseball team and Abby and I have a few select girls we occasionally do things with, but for the most part it's just us. We don't like to be bothered with the petty, high school things like girl talk and sleazy sex talk. Mason and Ryder would never think to degrade us like that and Abby's the only one I need for girl talk. We do everything girls are supposed to do together and save ourselves the hassle of having to deal with the useless drama.

They were all standing around casually when we walked up. Abby was sitting on a desk in the lobby with her arms around Ryder's waist and her chin on his shoulder, looking utterly bored while the boys talked, about baseball most likely. It's the only thing that could cause that look on Abby's usually cheerful face. She supports our boys during games, but other than the fact that her brother, boyfriend, and best guy friend play she has no interest whatsoever in the sport. Sports period, have a hard time holding Abby's attention, unless someone she loves is playing. When she saw us walk in, she instantly brightened and hopped off the desk, causing a pause in conversation as Cam and Ryder looked over in our direction. She came bounding over to me as Mason kissed me and went to join Ryder and Cam.

"Cutting it a little close today, aren't you, Eva?"

"That's because your stupid brother was a slightly reluctant this morning," I replied with a smile.

"Well, wouldn't have guessed that by looking at the new suck mark on you neck." Abby cocked her head to the side, pursed her lips and continued to examine my neck.

"What?! Seriously? Dammit, Mason!" I marched over to the guys determinedly. They must have heard my mini outburst because they were turning when I got to them, their smiles disappearing when they saw the level of my anger. "Mason, look what you did. Why do you insist on…on basically marking me as yours?" I was irrationally on the verge of tears. I usually didn't mind hickeys; I really didn't know what was wrong with me today. "Honestly, everybody already knows that, Mason. You don't have to mark me up as proof. If I did every time I saw a girl flirt with you, you would be permanently purple," I finished in a huff. I swiped at the few irritating tears running down my cheeks from the pools in my eyes.

"I…uh…I'm sorry?" Mason was confused. I couldn't blame him though, my anger was completely random for one and my tears were irrational for two. He didn't know how to respond to me.

He was tentatively reaching out his hand to stroke my arm reassuringly and I jerked away, angry at myself for my absurd tirade, causing more tears to slip and slide down my face when Abby came up behind me and took my wrist in her hand. "It's okay. I have some amazing concealer in my purse that will cover that right up." She was gently tugging me in the direction of the girl's bathroom. "We'll be right back," she called over her shoulder to the guys as we reached the closed door. They were all looking very concerned with my mental health as I followed Abby into the restroom.

"What was that," Abby asked as she handed me the promised concealer.

"I have no idea, Abs. You know I don't usually flip out about an occasional hickey. God, I feel so bad. Mason probably thinks I'm insane." I handed back her make-up and buried my face in my hands.

"It's okay. I think you just took him by surprise. I mean, it was out of nowhere."

"Yeah, but let's hope he forgives me." I was really feeling the guilt now. How could I just blow up at him like that, like Abby said it was out of nowhere.

"Don't worry about it. It's Mason we're talking about here. You're probably already forgiven, Hun. You two love each other too much to let a little public dispute break you apart. Let's go back out if you're ready. You've probably already given them each multiple mini heart attacks by now. Especially Mason."

"I guess. I'm fine now anyway. Let's go."

Once on the other side of the bathroom door, I was met by Mason. He was apologizing over and over again five feet away from me before the door was even shut. I quickly closed the gap and threw myself into his arms as Abby skipped back over to Ryder and took his hand, filling him and Cam inthat everything was alright and that I didn't need the paddd room and straight jacker. Yet, that is. "You have nothing to apologize for I'm the one who acted like a crazy woman. Am I forgiven?"

"Yes, you're forgiven and you're not crazy. Not completely anyway." He was smiling when he put his hands on either side of my face and kissed me full on the lips. "If you hated hickeys so much you could have just told me. I always thought you thought that they were no big deal every once in a while if you could hide them. I believe your exact words were 'as long as I don't look like a slut.'"

"I don't. I honestly don't know what came over me. It must be PMS or something." We kissed again and Mason led me back over to my brothers and Abby.

"Aw, did you guys kiss and make up?" I just stuck my tongue out at Cam but made no comment.

"You just saw her tear into her boyfriend and you start with her not even five minutes later? Do you have any brains at all," Ryder asked him. I smiled, glad we were back to joking again, my hissy fit forgotten.

The bell rang then and we said goodbye as we headed in separate directions. Abby and Cam headed off to algebra and Mason was off to Spanish. Ryder and I were on our way to English.

Ryder looked over at me uncertainly, "You okay," he asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine now. I don't know what that was, but I'm blaming it on PMS for the time being. It's either that or I'm mentally ill with something like bipolar disorder," I suggested, only partially joking. Bipolar disorder would explain a lot.

"So, you still think turning down my offer this morning for the day off was a good idea," he asked as he lightly elbowed me in the side.

I just smiled up at him and said, "Maybe not, but I will take you up on the offer someday soon. I don't think Mason could take another outburst like that."

Ryder joined in my laughter as we continued down the hall toward the English wing.

AN: So yeah. Its just another filler chapter. I swear it will get better after a couple more chapters. So far I'm just trying to get the characters personalities and lives out there.

Reviews please. Let me know what you think. I want to know if you liked or completely hated this chapter and story and predictions (if that's even possible yet). Any ideas for the story? What you would like to happen or anything?

Thanks,

~Ashley