Now Playing... She Will Be Loved

"Mason, put me down!" I squealed as he ran through the fair with me on his back. Every year, our city had two carnivals. One before the start of "winter", which was really like a second spring, and another one during the summer. I giggled as we ran past several rides before reaching the ferris wheel.

Mason climbed into the cart before holding his hand out for me, and I placed mine in his, sliding into the seat. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, planting a lingering kiss on my cheek, and I smiled as I interlaced our fingers. Looking out at the city line, I smiled more. A fiery red orb of light slowly sank beneath the horizon, the clouds fading from pink to purple, until they finally settled to a dark blue. As our cart made its way to the top, the sky began fading into its darkest form.

"I love you, Molls." Mason whispered, and I smiled, leaning against his shoulder.

"I love you too."

Our cart moved around the ferris wheels a couple times as the cool summer breeze passed through strands of my hair, and then the ride came to an end. Mason and I walked out of the fair hand in hand as he led me to his car, and once we reached our house, he walked in first while I turned on the porch lights.

When I walked upstairs, I went to my room where I assumed Mason would be, but he was nowhere to be found. That is, until I heard two muffled masculine voices coming from Wes' room. I stepped closer, quietly leaning against his door.

"What is it you want, pretty boy?" Mason teased. "Some new hair gel to go with your spray tan?"

"Yeah, okay. I'm the fake one. I'm only going to say this once, and I expect you to listen clearly." Wes bit back, and I could imagine his glare. "I don't really care what happens to me. But I swear, if you ever hurt Molly, you better watch out. Understood?"

"You don't scare me, Wes."

I could practically hear Wes' smirk. "I should."

"Do you secretly love her? It's kind of creepy how you are with her." Mason questioned, and I found myself leaning closer to the door, as if that would give me all the answers.

"She's my best friend, asshole. The only creepy thing here is how you're playing her. Did you forget to mention how she actually knows you?"

A chill ran down my spine. What did Wes mean? I met Mason when I started at university. There was no way I knew him before then. He didn't go to my high school when I moved to California, and he definitely wasn't there when I lived in Montana. But still, I had to admit, something seemed... off. I always had a suspicion that I had known Mason before. He always seemed familiar, but I could never put my finger on it.

"Shut up, Wes." Mason growled. "It doesn't matter anyway. You remain the only constant problem in her life."

Footsteps grew closer to the door, and I sprinted towards my room. I sat on my bed and grabbed the book off my nightstand, reading as if I had been there the whole time. Wes' door opened and slammed, and then Mason walked into my room, planting a kiss against my lips. "Sorry, babe. I'd like to stay longer but my mom called. I'll talk to you later."

He smiled at me before walking out of the room, and I frowned. Mason had never lied to me-- as far as I knew-- but all of a sudden, after a talk with Wes, he lied straight to my face? Something was definitely up, and I was determined to figure out how all three of us were connected.

Once I heard the front door close, I let out a sigh of relief and laid back on my bed. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something move, and I almost jumped out of my skin until I saw Wes leaning against my door frame, his arms crossed over his bare chest.

I'm sure I didn't even need to voice my comments on that.

"Wes!" I squealed as I stood. "You could've knocked or acknowledged yourself!"

He didn't move a muscle, and my heart sank to my stomach as I took in the look on his face. "I know what you did, Molly."

My hands started shaking. "I-- what do you mean?"

He moved closer, and then he leaned towards me, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispered, "I know you were eavesdropping on my conversation with Mason."

"I can e-explain." I choked, my throat dry as my hands shook violently, and he leaned up, his eyes burning into me.

"No need. Just suffer the consequences."

My whole body stiffened. I could've sworn he had said they were only for when I didn't do what he asked of me.

"And no, they are not only for when you don't do what I ask." His eyes narrowed slightly. "They're also for when you make me mad."

It was like he read my mind.

"Look Wes, I-I didn't mean to. I just heard your voices, and it made me nervous. I didn't know what to do, and--"

He cut me off by leaving a small, tender kiss against my lips. My whole body relaxed, and my hands stopped shaking as he pulled away, gently caressing my face. "Quit rambling. I'm not going to hurt you. Who do you think I am?"

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

He glared, and then all of a sudden, my world was turned upside down. I screamed, hitting his back, and he raced down the stairs towards the back door. Once we were outside, he walked towards the pool.

"Wesley Grayson, don't you dare throw me in that pool. I swear--"

A gasp escaped from my lips as I flew through the air, crashing into the spine-chilling water. Water filled my lungs as a sharp pain shot through my neck and nose, and as I reached the surface, I coughed up water. Wes jumped in beside me after stripping off his sweatpants, leaving him in a pair of basketball shorts, and when he swam over to me, I glared, turning away from him.

"I hate you."

He laughed. "It's not even cold!"

"Tell that to my chattering teeth!" I hissed, facing him. "Not to mention, I couldn't breathe because water filled my lungs!"

He stopped laughing, and I turned away again, my whole body shaking from the shock. Just as I was about to move towards the ladder, warm, muscular arms wrapped around my waist, and the trembles moving through my body began to reside. He rested his head on my shoulder, gently kissing my neck. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you, or nearly drown you."

I softly giggled, facing him as I wrapped my arms around him and buried my head in his chest. I listened to his frantic heartbeat, and it made me wonder if I had the same effect on him as he did me.

"It's okay." I playfully glared up at him. "But I expect a lifetime supply of skittles for this."

He let out a loud laugh, and I smiled. It had been a long time since I had heard his genuine laugh. I knew it anywhere, and I missed it so much.

I missed him.

"How about a cuddle session?"

"I still want skittles."

He shook his head, smiling. "Fine, whatever. You're still coming with me though."

He turned around and bent down so I could hop on his back, and then he carried me into the house. He took me to my room so I could change and get dry, and then he walked over to his room. I quickly slid on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt before walking over to Wes' room. He wore only a pair of sweatpants. My body shivered furiously, and he wrapped a blanket around me before leading me to his bed, where he laid down and pulled me on top of him. My head rested against his chest, and he wrapped his arms tightly around me. Instantly, I warmed, my shakes disappearing, and he planted a small kiss against my forehead.

"Hey, Molly?"

"Yeah?"

I looked up at him, and he smirked. "My shirt looks pretty good on you."