Scarlett POV
I walked slowly through the pouring rain. I was already soaked to the bone, there was no point in running. When I had left the house the sun had been shining, that hadn't lasted for long. I splashed through a few murky puddles on the road. I then lifted my hands in the air and spun around in circles a few times.
When I looked down I was staring into the headlights of somebody's car. I let out a small shriek and jumped back.
"What the hell are you doing?" The person yelled, stepping into the rain and slamming the car door behind them. "I could have killed you!"
"Well it's a good thing you didn't." I retorted, crossing my arms over my chest. "We are partners for an assignment after all."
"Do you need a ride?" Mason asked.
I was about to oblige when I remembered my previous A messages about Mason. "Not from you." I responded sharply, turning away and continuing to walk down the road.
"I never know where I stand with you Scarlett." Mason said, jogging forward until he was walking in line with me.
"What do you mean?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest in an attempt to warm up.
"I mean one minute we're having a conversation and I think you actually like me. Then the next minute you're acting like I threw your camera in the lake." Mason replied. I remained silent. "Unless you do actually hate me and then I'll just go."
I lowered my gaze to the ground. Mason sighed and started to walk away. "Wait," I called, running to catch up with him. "I don't…I don't hate you."
"Good." Mason sullen expression instantly changed into a goofy smile. "Now that we've cleared that up can you please get in the car? I don't want you to get hurt."
"Ok." I hesitantly replied, and we started to walk in the direction of Mason's car.
Mason opened the passenger door of the black vehicle and gestured for me to get inside. I thanked him and got in the car. I sunk into the leather seat. Mason got into the driver's seat and started up the engine. An instant blast of hot air filled the car. I sighed and held my frozen fingers up to the air vents, letting the hot air rush over them.
"What were you doing out there?" Mason asked curiously, reaching into the back seat to grab a towel and handing it to me.
"Thank you." I said softly, wrapping the towel around my body. "I was walking." I continued.
"I can see that genius." Mason responded, keeping his eyes on the road. "Why?"
"I don't know." I replied, rubbing my hands together. "I was trying to clear my head."
Mason didn't reply instead he took a single hand off the wheel and took one of my hands in his. I unfurled my fingers and let him interlace our hands together until I could feel the heat of his palm pressed against my own.
I awkwardly cleared my throat, "Have you thought of any ideas for the family tree project?"
"Actually yes." Mason replied. "I think we should do my family trees design as a cactus."
I scrunched up my eyebrows in confusion, "What? Why?"
"Because everyone on it's a prick." Mason responded seriously.
I tried to supress my giggling, but ended up bursting into loud laughter.
Mason smiled at me. "Do you want to go see a movie with me?" He suddenly blurted out.
I immediately stopped laughing and looked at Mason in astonishment. "Ok." I agreed, surprising myself.
(Line Break)
After my date with Mason I immediately headed home knowing I was late for dinner. It still felt weird saying I had been on a date with Mason Kahn, not that long ago I had thought I would never even speak to him. I guess I was wrong, because I really like Mason.
When I reached the front door of my house I shoved my hand into my bag and fumbled around for my key. My felt my hand brush against the key and I clenched my fist around it. I jammed it in the lock and swung open the door. I made my way into the kitchen.
"Where have you been?" My mom asked, as I took a seat next to Grace at the dinner table.
"I was working on an assignment." I replied. It wasn't exactly a lie, Mason was my partner for the assignment, we just didn't actually do any work.
I wave of silence filled the air until it was broken moments later by Grace's excited squeal. "I'm getting my book published!"
"What?!" My mom and dad exclaimed at the same time.
"The book I had been working on in the summer holidays." Grace clarified. "The company I've been in contact with wants to publish it."
"That's amazing!" My mom shrieked, jumping up and tackling my older sister in a hug.
"We're so proud of you honey!" My father added, also hugging my sister. Minus the squealing my father looked just as excited as my mother.
My little sister Ebony giggled happily at all the sudden excitement and joined in the hug fest which was now taking place in the kitchen.
I awkwardly took a sip of my water and exchanged a look with my Jeremy. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I wasn't thrilled for Grace, I was overjoyed that her book was getting published. However, considering my constant struggle with English class I couldn't help but feel slightly jealous of Grace's success. Jeremy had continued eating his dinner with a bored expression on his face. Nickolas however had his face in his hands and hadn't seemed to notice the commotion.
"Nick?" I questioned, poking him with my fork.
"Huh?" Nickolas jolting up, knocking over his glass of water in the process.
"Shit Nick!" I exclaimed, jerking the fallen glass upwards.
"Sorry." He mumbled, resuming his previous sullen position and completely ignoring the clear liquid pooling onto the table.
"What is going on with you?" I asked, mopping up the water with my napkin.
Nickolas glanced around. My parents along with Grace and Ebony had left their dinner and were now crammed into the living room crowding around Grace's book. Jeremy was currently drawing slightly disturbing images of dead people on the tablecloth.
"Is Avalon ok?" Nick asked suddenly, looking at me worriedly.
"Avalon?" I replied in surprise. "Avalon Rivers? Since when have you cared about Avalon?"
Nick ignored my question and continued. "Is she ok? Is something going on?"
I looked at him weirdly, confused about his sudden interest in my best friend. "She was fine the last time I spoke to her."
Nick scrunched his eyebrows in thought. "Why do you care anyway?" I asked.
"I don't!" Nick snapped.
"Nick, Grace told me to tell you that Olivia called." Jeremy piped up, not taking his eyes off his sketches.
Nick stood up abruptly with a very torn expression contorting his features. "Are you going to call your girlfriend Olivia?" I teased.
"No." Nick muttered grimly, and left the room.
"What's wrong with him?" Jeremy asked.
"What isn't wrong with him." I responded. Picking up my plate I dumped it in the dishwasher. "I'm going to go do my homework." I informed Jeremy, ruffling his brown hair and exiting the room.
Entering my bedroom I collapsed onto my bed and stared at the ceiling. Moments later my phone started to ring. I stretched out my hand out to grab my phone and I answered the call.
"Hello?" I asked.
"Scarlett?" A voice whispered.
"Brielle?" I asked happily. "I haven't spoken to you in days. Are you ok?"
"I'm fine." Brielle answered. "Grounded, but fine."
"What happened?" I questioned. "Winona said you got arrested."
Brielle sighed. "Unfortunately she's right. I got arrested for stealing, A set me up."
"Seriously?!" I exclaimed.
"Yeah." Brielle said miserably. "So what's been going on with you?"
"Nothing much." I replied. "Grace is getting her book published." I continued glumly.
"That's great!" Brielle said. "Tell her I said congratulations."
"Alright." I sighed.
"Aren't you happy for her?" Brielle asked in confusion.
"Of course I am." I responded quickly. "I just can't help but feel slightly jealous. I'm barley scraping through English class, and Grace is getting her book published."
"You can still raise your grade." Brielle said. "As long as you do well in the essay."
"What essay?" I asked, tugging at a lock of my dark brown hair.
"The English essay." Brielle said like it should be obvious. "The one we're supposed to send to the teacher tonight. My god Scarlett please tell me you did it!"
I lurched forward into a sitting position and swore loudly. "Brielle I have to go." I said.
"Good luck." Brielle replied sympathetically.
I sprung off my bed and stalked into the corridor. I started to pace up and down, completely lost in my thoughts. I d to do something, failing English isn't an option. I'm already letting down my family, I can't afford to fail this.
My eye caught on the light from Grace's laptop illuminating her room. I froze and glanced around the hallway. When I had made sure there was no one else in the area I took a deep breath and entered Grace's room.
I leaned over Grace's laptop and opened up her documents. I was sure Grace had done this essay in her sophomore year. Clicking on the folder marked 'year 10' I quickly scrolled through her documents until I found the file I was looking for. I grabbed a USB and plugged it into the laptop. The mouse hovered over the document.
I could have been the better person, I could have been a better sister, but at that point all I cared about was not failing English. And with that thought in mind I transferred the document onto the USB.
Sprinting back into my room I carefully closed the door behind me. I plugged the USB into my own computer and opened the file. I quickly changed the name at the top from Grace to Scarlett and then I sent the essay to my teacher.
Slamming my laptop shut I let out a guilty sigh of relief. Trying to ignore the growing feeling of remorse I pulled out my phone. I groaned when I realised I had an unopened message.
Grace won't be happy about this
-A
I scanned the message and opened the attached video. It was a clip of me changing Grace's name to my own. I let out a gasp and dropped my phone. I crossed my room and picked up my camera in an attempt to distract myself from my impending doom. I had started to scroll through my pictures when I realised that there were images here I that had never taken. And they were all of Avalon.
There was one of Avalon kissing Griffin, one of Avalon changing her grades, and another of her setting fire to Jackson's car. I dropped the camera like it had suddenly burned me. I started to back away and my blood turned cold when my phone beeped.
I cautiously knelt over and scooped my phone of the floor.
Oh Scarlett, looks like you're in trouble again
Send the pictures to Avalon's parents or mommy and daddy might have to have a little talk to you about plagiarism.
Kisses,
-A
What did you think?
Will Scarlett send the letter? What do we think of Mason?I'm so insanely sorry for the late update. I've been incredibly sick for the past week and I haven't been in the right headspace to write. Thank you to all the people who reviewed last chapter. I'll try to update soon.
Please review and thanks for reading!
-Rose