Chapter Five
“Morning, Sweetheart,” Mason mumbled, lightly stroking my hair.
I yawned and smacked my lips tiredly. “Is it morning already?” I cuddled further into Mason, drinking in all the warmth his body provided.
“Looks like it.”
I sighed, rolling over to face him. The edges of my lips tugged upwards. He was just so perfect.
He chuckled lightly. “I’m not perfect.”
I froze. I should not be allowed to talk when I’m sleepy. “I—I said that out loud?” I stammered.
“You’re adorable, Soph. But if I was perfect, we wouldn’t be here right now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well,” he started, “we’d be in a mansion in a king-sized bed with a billion servants at our beck and call.”
“If that were true, we’d have never met.”
“Soph, why don’t you go back home?” he asked suddenly.
“Home?”
“Yes, home; back with your family.”
“I—I can’t Mason. They probably wouldn’t even want me.”
“Who wouldn’t want you? You’re absolutely breathtaking.”
I blushed. “You’re just saying that.”
“I’m not, but really, I’m sure they’re missing you as we speak.”
“I couldn’t go back if I wanted to, Mason. I can’t afford money for a bus.”
“But I do.”
I gave him an incredulous look. “What…how do you…”
“I have just enough money to buy you a ticket for a bus ride home.”
I shook my frantically. “No, Mason. You shouldn’t waste your money on me. Go buy some fancy bonbons or something.”
“I’ll survive without fancy bonbons. I’m not wasting it, Sophie. I’m giving my girl the best Christmas present she could ever imagine.”
“Really?” I croaked quietly.
“Really. Now let’s get you home, shall we?”
“What about you?”
“I’ll be fine. And most importantly, you’ll be fine. You’ll be warm, full, and happy.”
“I won’t be as happy if I’m without you.”
“You sound sappy.” He smiled reassuringly. “You’ll be fine. I promise.”
“Is this letting me go?”
He nodded. “You’re free.”
“And what if I don’t want to be free?”
“You and I both know that you’d rather be home than out here succumbing to your wild animalistic instincts.”
“Thank you, Mason.”
***
That morning, as promised, Mason bought me a one-way ticket and saw me off. “Don’t ever forget me,” I murmured in his arms. I was going to miss the comfort of just being with him.
“You don’t have to worry about that, Sophie. With all those suitors after you, I just hope you don’t forget me.
I chuckled. “I don’t have any suitors vying for my attention. Besides, how could I forget about my guardian angel?”
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Fragile: Handle With Care
Short Story(COMPLETED) Sophia Castenada is a seventeen year old runaway by choice. Feeling helpless, hungry, and not to mention incredibly lonely, she ventures to a homeless shelter, where she meets Mason Corona--a fellow street rat her age. They become fast f...
