Take My Breath | Catnipz

twenty two

𓄼 Mara Jace 𓄹

I left Mavis' place soon after she told me to leave. There was a heavy tension that lingered in the air after she swore to not talk to me for the rest of my stay. Part of me thought she was just saying that to make me feel bad, but she never said anything else as she slipped away into her bed.

I made sure to rearrange all of the things I bought for her from the store. I bought a wide variety of all her favourite snacks that she likes to eat while she studies and a copy of a new book I picked up on the way when I passed her favourite bookstore. I thought it would cheer her up.

I placed them neatly into her snack drawer and folded the paper bags for her to use next time.

Mavis was fast asleep when I came to check on her before I left her room. She had her blanket pulled over her face and a teddy in her arms.

I made sure to say goodbye to her parents before I walked out the door. Even they were surprised over how short my stay was this morning.

'It's quite unusual for you to leave so promptly.'

All I could do was release a nervous chuckle. I wasn't quite up for telling her parents that I may or may not have upset their own daughter minutes prior, resulting in my inevitable eviction.

I couldn't think of any good plausible reason to tell them either, which left me with one thing, to just smile, wave and get the hell out of there before I found myself caught up in a constant state of confusion and a never ending cycle of wondering where I went wrong with Mavis.

I couldn't think of any profound reason as to why Mavis had suddenly switched half way through our conversation about Mason and her sickness.

Mason and Mavis hardly know each other, not to the extent that I know them both separately.

I pondered over the conversation my entire way home. Was it something I said? Did I do something to make her feel upset? It doesn't help that Mason hasn't spoken to me since I left her place in the middle of the night to head back home to get some piece of mind. I needed to get away for a while, have some time to myself to think back and hopefully solve this problem.

I felt like I most definitely had a certain evil lingering over my existence to have gotten me to this point. My friend refuses to talk to me and the girl I'm in love has been keeping secrets.

How do I move on from either of those things? Do I just move on and pretend that neither had even happened? How do I even approach them?

I continued to drive down the street until I pulled into the driveway, although stricken with a certain type of shock at where I ended up being.

"I'm...here."

I scratch the back of my head.

"At Mason's?"

I began to wonder if all that pondering had confused me enough to have missed my street and into the very road that leads to Mason's.

"God, this just keeps getting worse!" I breathed.

The curtain on the second floor opens up slightly for me to notice Mason stood by her bedroom window. She looked just as confused as I am.

I waved my hand and expected the cold shoulder, only to be met with the warmth of her beautiful smile and an excited wave back. Does this mean that she's not mad at me for leaving last night?

"What are you doing here?" She mouthed. "Do you wanna come inside?" She gestured. "Come quickly, I have something for you." She added.

I unbuckled my seat belt and made sure to fix my hair to look somewhat presentable when I finally get to see her again. I made a quick attempt at a messy bun, reapplied some perfume, and grabbed my phone from the drink holder before taking my car keys and opening the car door to head out.

I fixed my hoodie and took a deep breathe as I locked my car. "You weren't out cheating on me were you?" Her voice filled my ears like a song.

I wore a nervous smile on my face. "As if. We're not even dating, Mace. You're my best friend."

Mason reeled me in by the hem of my sleeve.

"I know." She answered. "I'm just kidding."

I rest my palms against her waist. "How are you?"

Mason hummed softly between the crook of my neck. "I've been alright. A little tired though. I was just thinking about school and stuff. Did some revising here and there but on another note," She sighed. "I heard you leave in the middle of the night. Where did you go? I thought you wee gonna stay the night?" She questioned.

I rest my chin above her head. Her warmth was inviting and quite honestly my favourite thing in the world. I didn't realise how much I craved it.

I held her tightly and breathed in the scent of her perfume. "I just needed to have some time of my own." I explained. "I didn't want to wake you so I thought it'd be best for me to head home for a bit and let you have sleep without interruptions."

"Always being so selfless." She chuckled. "Thank you for letting me sleep through the night."

"Of course. You deserved a full nights rest."

Mason held me tighter than before. "But Jace..."

"Hm?" I hummed. "Is there something wrong?"

She shook her head promptly. "I missed you."

I felt a smile form on my lips. "I missed you too, Mace. I missed you so much. I really did."

She pulled away with a warm smile on her face.

"Do you want to stay tonight?" She asked.

I tilt my head slightly. "Hmm." I hummed. "It's silly that you even have to ask that, Mace. But to answer your question." I smiled. "I'd love to."

Her smile grew wider as she reeled me back into her arms, engulfing me in a tight embrace. The action alone made my heart flutter profusely.

Needless to say, I'm home.