chapter 50 *Wingspan*

i leaned back, my courage faltering. 

what had they been going on about? a dance and that they were planning on showing up with friends? no-that didn't sound right. something about stark house and if i had wanted to do something with them. 

"hmm? yea, sure, i don't know. maybe" i mumble trance like. "what were we talking about?" i glanced at Mason and at Wesley. And back again.

truth was, it was difficult to consider in what direction the conversation was heading when one of the people in our group was not present and inexplicable need to know how come stole my attention. 

"Watching a movie after school. Remember, there are no dances." Mason eyed me carefully. 

slowly wheels were turning. "this school doesn't have a prom?" because i really wanted to go to one, i thought sarcastically as my gut clenched uncomfortably.

"i know, right? a moronic senior goes foolish and they haven't forgotten about what that idiot did even though its been like forever since this school has facilitated any after school event related to fun."

"you'll have a blast." mason smiles at me reassuringly. "would i ever lie to you? come on, if you don't like the movie than at least drop in and cheer up kira. she likes you, remember. she won't bite your head off."

Wesley snorted.

i knew Mason was offering to include me because he was nice and that was typical of him but i couldn't shake what i felt. 

in spite of my misgivings and whatever the reason for joshs absence, there was a big to-do tomorrow night that had many racing to get their hands on hard-to-manage tickets. 

According to Mason the numero uno person for the job was wesley. 

in masons exact words, wesley was endowed with 'riveting charismatic appeal' which made compelling Mrs. Hancock, the professors independent secretary/activity liaison, a piece of cake. 

"if money is hard to come by and that's what got you so worried this is bigger than that. since wesley here is such a cool guy he's giving us the tickets free of charge." Mason stretches his arm out and pats Wesley on the shoulder open palmed. 

"isn't that right my crony sidekick?" mason coos affectionately, reaching up to pinch wesley on the cheek and missing.

Wesley shrugs Mason's hand away and off his shoulder and rolls his eyes. his back hunches as he turns sideways. wesley snorts. "some friend you are."  

"because we're 'such good buddies' i'm amazed that i don't cut ties and make a clean getaway from you." Wesley tells mason, narrowing his eyes. a sly grin on hollywoods face. "all i do is smile at her and she acts like she's won the lottery or something. i don't hit on her that would be gross."

"so, what? you guys do this often then?" i ask gesturing at the two of them thoroughly amused. "Go to movie night together, i mean." for the moment i let myself forget. josh was a big boy and i really needed to get out of my head and push aside my own stumbling block. 

going out with the boys would make me forget that i wasn't an outsider for a little while. or running wild searching for an invisible portal.

smirking, mason leaned forward, bare arms resting on the edge of the table. his green jewels huge and wide. a glint of excitement sparkled in them. 

mason grinned. "oh, yeah. we never miss Fright Night. It beats going to sleep early when other kids you know are having fun hooking up and getting high." he sits back in his seat and leisurely clasps both hands behind his head, resting in open elbow position. "so you in or out?" mason asks me looking bored.

wesley looks at me. a megawatt smile on his angelic face. "if you want i could shut him up for you. his ugly face is the reason all the girls run away from us." wesley points his thumb at a scowling mason, who shot back up, his chair on all four pegs.

i grin sheepishly. more like ready to crawl out of my skin and bang my head against the wall to get my life back. "i really do want to go." i say. chanel did mention that i needed to blend in and going out on a Friday night was way better than staying cooped in a room with 'rebecca'. 

Mason smiles wide. "cool." he cleared his throat and glanced at Wesley out of the corner of his eye. a spark of recognition passed between them. 

i was once again the third wheel interrupting their conversation and i was beginning to witness a pattern going on. they were doing that thing again where they were exchanging muted dialogue. 

Wesley nods his approval. their telepathic exchange ended and they both looked at me. 

"we'll tell kira to pick you up then." wesley tells me.

i cross my arms and raise my eyebrow. "i don't need someone to chauffeur me around. Wait, why Kira and not you guys?" i ask confused and a little hurt that they thought i was such a girl that i needed an escort. after getting lost once i kind of made it a point not to take a wrong turn again. 

"we live in separate dormitories that don't allow boys and girls to sleep in the same room, remember?" mason winks. "plus, kira promised that she would come." mason added that extra part for my benefit i was sure, the corners of his mouth tugging into a shit-eating smile. 

Knowing that Kira was there did make me smile. 

i blush feeling stupid. "riiiiight." you just practically invited two boys into your room. geesh. that was a close one.

masons facial expression contorts, his curly black brows raising high on his forehead. he sighs dramatically looking around.

wesley grit his white teeth and grunted his displeasure. "Whatever your thinking, don't." Wesley warned Mason. 

mason caught me looking at Wesley and snickered. "not since wesley broke into kira's room late at night!" mason blurts out unexpectedly with such confidence that i swear i felt my eyes bug out.

mason starts laughing out loud like a hyena, one hand on his shirt as if he could hold his stomach in place to keep it from moving. 

there were a few people who glanced our way to see what all the noise was about and looked away once their curiosity was satisfied.

wesley rolls his eyes. "for the love of..." he thrusts a hand in his hair and fingers the loose layers back in place.

i had a difficult time piecing together wesly and kira in the same room. i didn't even know that kira and wesley intersected in the same network of friends. 

i shake my head and sigh. 

i was getting a headache and thinking was proving a direct opposite effect. 

honestly there were times when stark house seemed to be a whole lot smaller than the numbers indicated.

wesley stares at mason, tiredly. "i did not break in." Wesley disagrees passionately. "There's nothing to tell. We had an assignment and both agreed to stay up late and finish it that's all." Wesley asserted his innocence vehemently.

mason sits up and clears the teardrops on his cheek away with his palm. "Whatever you say, man. whatever you say."

wesley shifts in his seat uncomfortably and notices me for the first time. the icing on the cake was the surprised reaction on his face like he forgot i was sitting at the table with them.

it was nice to finally be acknowledged because for a second there i was experiencing dejavu seeing as how the new girl had no clue what they were bickering about, yet again.

"i am truly sorry that you know this idiot." says wesley

i wave my hand to show to him that i was unaffected by their tryst. "no worries. i understand." i assured them.

Wesley turns his attention over to Mason. "you're something else. maybe i should find a new best friend. one that doesn't use me because i'm pretty."

mason raises an eyerbow shakes his head and laughs. "nah. too much has happened between us and aint no way a girl can get in between that. What we have is good, you and me."

wesley groans in protest. "god. i dont know if i want to punch you or hug you, you crazy ass mofo."

when mr. honeycott announced it was time for us to present our illustrations mason, who usually took it upon himself to do it first, decided that wesley should be the one. 

since our table was down one man all three of us were sharing. that meant i had to decide what grade they deserved. a simple task however i proved to be slow and simple when it came to art and so determining what scale my friends deserved horrified me. 

all in all it was an effective round about way of doing things. if somewhat rattling. 

Wesley puts his directly in the middle of the table, face up for us to look at.