My Bully’s Love by Stacy Rush

CHAPTER 7: FORGIVE ME

Something happened the night that Jace came to my room. I’m not quite sure what it was, or what

caused it, but he hasn’t bothered me in over a month. Our eyes will meet in the halls at school, but it’s as

if he is looking right through me, and not seeing me at all. No more being shoved against lockers or

tripped in the halls. There are no more punishments in the Art room during last period; those are what I

miss. I try thinking back to that night, when his hands touched, and caressed me; where they filled me

with a desire that I have never felt before. I had sworn to put on a show for him that night, because it’s

what he had wanted, but in the end, there was no acting on my end. He had succeeded in taking what he

was wanting from me; he knew I would deliver like the good girl that I am, and he was so right.

I watch him when nobody else is looking, and he is the same guy around everyone else; it’s just me. I’m

not sure what is worse, him bullying me, or him ignoring me completely. At least when he bullied me, I

still felt like a person, like someone who was still thought of, even if it was just to torture me. Aside from

Jace ignoring me, nothing else has changed with the rest of my classmates…or so I thought.

I’m just sitting down to eat lunch in my own little corner, away from the rest of the student body, I sense a

presence behind me. My eyes roam the cafeteria before I dare to look to see who it is. There are a few

students staring in my direction with stunned expressions. Whoever is behind me must be a big deal, if

other students are finding it surprising. I turn slightly, peeking over my shoulder. A face that I see on a

daily basis, but never interact with, is gazing down at me with a slight grin.

“Hey, Ella. It’s been a long time.”

I’m momentarily speechless. Mason Baker stands in front of me with his hands in his pockets, looking a

tad uncomfortable, but still grinning, “Hey, Mason.” I turn back around and pretend to be interested in my

lunch. What else am I supposed to do? It’s been two whole years since Mason last talked to me, just like

everyone else. Why is he choosing now to come talk to me?

“Do you mind if I sit down?”

I shrug, “Sit wherever you like.”

Mason is a lineman on our football team, so he’s pretty big, muscular-wise, and when he sits beside me,

I feel the table lift a little bit. He has no food with him, and. I’m pretty sure that this isn’t his lunch period,

but here he is anyway, bothering me. I really feel no need to talk to anybody in this school since they all

shunned me, Mason included. I shuffle around my pasta salad on my plate before bringing the fork to my

mouth to take a bite, trying to ignore the guy beside me.

“So, how have you been, Ella?” If he’s noticed my lack of interest of him sitting with me, he doesn’t show

it, as he continues to ask questions, “Why don’t I ever see you around town anymore?” He makes it

sound like I’ve been unsociable, forgetting the fact that everybody turned their backs on me, including

the Baker twins.

His questions are annoying, so I just stop him before he can ask anything thing else, “What is it that you

want, Mason?” Annoyance laces my voice, and he flinches.

“I’m sorry, I was just trying to make conversation, Ella.” He actually looks a little sheepish when he

answers me, making me want to bite back my snarky comments, but I can’t.

“Oh, it took you two years to come over and ask me? I’ve been around, but you all,” I point around the

room, “chose to not acknowledge me.”

Mason’s face reddens a little, and he looks away for a moment. When he turns to face me again, there’s

a look that can almost pass as apologetic, “I’m know, I was a douche bag, along with everyone else, but I

wanted to make amends. You didn’t deserve any of it, and if it weren’t for Jace, then we…”

Hearing my bully’s name has me holding my hand up, and cutting Mason off, “What about Jace? Do you

know why he stopped being my friend, or how he got the whole school to shun me?”

He’s quick to answer, which only brings me to the assumption that there is more to this whole thing, but I

sit and listen anyway. I don’t trust anybody at this point, but at least Mason is putting forth effort to try and

make amends.

“I don’t think anybody knows for sure, but I do remember a rumor going around that you stabbed him in

the back, or something. As for how he got the whole school to turn on you, I can’t answer that, but with

me, he had pulled me aside and told me that you had told him everything from that night of the party and

that if he ever saw me even talking to you that he would make me

Forgive Me

disappear because he has friends that can make it happen,” he sighs, “You have to remember that we

had just moved here, and I didn’t think a girl was worth that kind of trouble, so I ignored you. I’m sorry,

Ella.”

I don’t utter a word as I contemplate everything he’s telling me. On one hand, I believe what he is saying,

but on the other hand, why would Jace threaten him like that if Jace no longer wanted anything to do with

me, and he didn’t know anyone at that time who could get rid of people. I’m not sure what to believe, but

I have to admit that it’s nice to have someone other than my sister to talk to at school

“Please forgive me, Ella. I’d like to start over, if you do.” Mason pleads with cute little puppy dog eyes.

Rolling my eyes, I hope that I don’t end up regretting this, but I give him a small smile, “I can’t say that I’ll

forgive you, Mason, but I can at least give you a chance to make it up to me and prove that you truly are

sorry.”

I’m graced with a really big smile that shows of his pearly white teeth, “Thank you, Ella! I promise that I

will make it up to you! How about I buy you a coffee after school?”

I laugh at how excited I just made the big guy beside me, “Don’t you have football practice after school?”

“Oh shit that’s right!” He thinks for a moment before snapping his fingers, “I’ve got it! How about I pick

you up after supper and I’ Il take you to go get a blizzard, or whatever ice cream you like?”

“Well,” I’m still a little skeptical, and I do remember what happened the last time I was in his vehicle, “As

long as you promise to keep your hands to yourself…and you are aware that this is not a date!” I say

pointedly, lifting a brow.

His lifts both of his hands, “I promise! This is completely platonic, Ella.”

“Okay, pick me up at my house about seven,” I go to turn back to my food but I give him a warning first,

“And don’t make me regret giving you another chance, Mason!”

“I pinky swear that I will be on my best behavior.” He holds his pinky out and waits for me to grab it with

mine. I roll my eyes, and give in to the childish way of promising. He swipes his dark brown hair away

from his eyes, so I can see the twinkle in his brown orbs before he stands up, “I’ll see you at seven then,

and I won’t be late!” He calls out as he walks away, catching the attention of pretty much the whole

cafeteria. Gasps can be heard, and jaw drops can be seen as everyone stares between the two of us. I

glare at a few students before dropping my head, and finishing my lunch.

The new ice cream place that Mason takes me to is surprisingly packed by the time we get there. With it

being Fall, you would think that most would be over ice cream, and more into pumpkin spice or hot

chocolate, but because this is a new establishment, it’s the ‘IT’ place to be. With that being said, all eyes

turn to us as Mason holds the door open for me as we walk in. I want to turn right around and leave, but

Mason places his hand on my lower back and urges me toward the counter.

“Don’t let them chase you away, Ella. You deserve to be here just as much as they do.” He smiles down

at me, and I instantly feel a little less nervous. Giving him a little nod, I step up to the counter and glance

up at the menu. “You can order a cone or a blizzard, or even a malt or shake, but my favorite are the ice

cream bowls that you build yourself.” He grins and making him look like we just stepped into his favorite

candy store.

“That actually sounds fun, I’ll do that.” I wait as Mason orders two of the Build Your Own Bowls and

hands me a waffle bowl. He leads me to what looks like a buffet bar, and that’s exactly what it is, only it’s

filled with every kind of ice cream you can imagine. Another buffet table has the same, only with different

toppings, “Oh my! How does a person even decide?” I laugh as my eyes widen with such a huge

selection.

Mason leans in a little, “I always scoop four different flavors into my bowl, and then just chooses the

toppings that I like,” He winks at me, “If you do the same, then we can try each other’s to see which one

is the best.”

“That sounds like a great idea,” I chuckle, “Only, I don’t like nuts in my ice cream.”

“Are you kidding me?” He fakes a gasp. “I’m the same way, no nuts for me!” We both laugh and precede

in filling our bowls up.

Once we pay for our bowls, a corner table is just opening us, so we dash for it before anybody else takes

it. It seems as though two other couples had the same idea, but we get here first. We give both couples

an apologetic look as we sit down across from each other. Digging into my ice cream, I can’t help the

moan that slips out as the chocolate ice cream melts in my mouth. It’s so creamy and sweet, and the

chocolate syrup, whipped cream and Oreo cookie crumbs only adds to the deliciousness of the treat.

“That good, huh?” Mason chuckles.

“Mmhm!” | slide my bowl over to him and offer some. He takes a spoonful of mine as I do the same with

his, “I never would have taken you for a plain vanilla kind of guy.” I tease before putting my spoon with

vanilla ice cream and strawberry syrup, topped with

Forgive Me

gummy worms, into my mouth.