“You two will become parents!”
Mason shifted forward in his seat. “Umm, excuse me?” His voice was lined with
bitterness. Harley, on the other hand, was left slack jawed and ready to pee her pants
in shock.
“I’ve decided that since the number of teen pregnancies seems to be on the rise that
a
lesson in parenting should be in order. I have fifty some babies ready to be handed
out to twenty five couples. You two will be my first official set of parents.” He
nodded back towards the storage room, a bright sinister smile pasted on his wrinkly
cheeks. “And since neither of you have shown me the respect I deserve, then this
shall be your weekend long punishment.”
“Oh hell no…” Mason grumbled low under his breath. The feelings were mutual on
Harley’s end, but Mason’s words said it all.
“Mr. Daniel, do you have something you would like to say out loud to me or Miss
Anderson? We’re all ears here.”
“No, sir. I was just yawning.”
Harley stifled a giggle and threw her hand over her mouth to keep her smile hidden.
“Okay, then.” Mr. Carls cleared his throat as he entered the closet, coming back out
only seconds later with the most hideous looking doll she’d ever laid eyes on. The
hairless, toothy, too real for its own good doll was so bad that Harley couldn’t help
but chuckle loudly. Mr. Carls narrowed his eyes at her while his lips pursed in what
was probably annoyance, but he didn’t comment as he held out baby freak-a-zoid number
one.
“Now, here is your…” Mr. Carls paused, eyes glancing down at the baby’s anatomy
before he placed it in Harley’s arms. “Son. Now name him, and I’ll program it into
his back so he will know to respond when he hears you say it.”
“You mean he’s that intelligent?” Harley stared at the baby and then at Mason in
disbelief.
“Absolutely! Nothing but the best in my class,” he crossed his arms over his chest
and
smiled smugly.
“Well I—“
“Dick. We’ll name him Dick.” Harley’s jaw dropped almost fell off as she stared back
at
a smug looking and currently winking Mason.
“That’s a fine name, Mr. Daniel. I’m glad you actually decided to take part in this
after
all. Anyway, you two will share a partnership in real life—”
“We didn’t agree on that part, sir,” Harley stood, knocking her desk chair over as
she felt the panic rise in her chest. She couldn’t do this project with Mason. That
would mean they’d have to keep talking. Keep spending time together. Impromptu babies
and fake partnerships were not in the cards for her, especially with … him.
“I assure you, Miss Anderson that you both will do this project and succeed at it.
Otherwise there will be consequences.”
“That’s not fair, Mr. Carls. You told us this was just punishment for today.” Mason
finally intervened.
Harley jerked her head in agreement, ignoring the stupid part of her heart which felt
offended that Mason was just as irritated about spending time with her as she was
with him.
“Well, I am the teacher, and I can change the rules at any time, can’t I?” It wasn’t
a
question that left his mouth but rather a statement. Harley cringed and bit down on
her tongue, fighting her rude retort. She had to put on her happy face and get through
this. She could handle it … seriously.
Mr. Carls continued to explain the child rearing process in more details after that,
handing them both an informational packet with instructions. The fact that they didn’t
actually have to be together to care for the baby was a relief. She ignored the tiny
part of her that actually found that prospect disappointing too. What the hell was
wrong with her to think that, anyways?
Harley shook her head at her internal manic-ness and prayed that the torturous event
would be quick and painless. The sooner they could separate, the sooner she could
get back to normal. Although normal in her life was a bit of a contradiction.
Every so often she and Mason would share glances, and it wasn’t always the unpleasant
kind. Then when the teacher announced yet another piece of unnerving news, the mood
between them went from tolerable, to downright messy.
“Now for the next hour, you two will spend time coming up with real life techniques,
schedules, and outlooks for your baby’s future, including an entire family plan as
well as the baby’s plan.”
Oh sweet Jesus, this isn’t happening!
Harley squeezed her eyes shut as Mason thumped his head against his desk. Neither
of
them said another word. Fate was turning bitchy on her!
* * *
Mason couldn’t stay focused. He was jumpy to the point of annoying himself. Every
single move of her arm or soft breath released from her lips was a distraction, and
his eyes were so entranced with the serious purse of her lips at one point, that Mason
wanted nothing more than to test them out again.
He flicked his pencil against his desk, rat-ta-tat, rat-a-tat … the sound even pissed
his
own ears off. Harley was too focused to notice. How in the hell could they ever get
this done if they couldn’t talk for more than two seconds without a heated glare or
a hateful word. The storm brewing behind those midnight eyes of hers was giving Mason’s
stomach a run for its money. It twisted and turned in both want and unease. The girl
was spiteful, angry, and it was his fault completely. Damn she was sexy too, and all
their close encounters with sexy kisses came back like a sharp knife, delving into
his heart.
He’d had enough. This had to end … hours ago.
“Alright, little beast. This isn’t going to work if we don’t actually talk, so I guess
I’ll just come right out and apologize.” She scowled at him.
“You
guess
you’ll apologize?” She scowled harder at him with her arms folded over her chest.
That feistiness he liked so much was back with a shock of electricity. “Don’t do me
any favors, Mason. Let’s just get this baby making project and the stupid dance over
with, and then we’ll never have to physically speak to one another again.”
“Baby making project? Really, little beast?” Her face turned white as the she realized
her
mistake. She opened her mouth, probably trying to correct herself, but Mason waved
her off
snickering at her with his smirk.
Her arms pressed tighter against her chest, moving her t-shirt up just far enough
for
Mason to catch a glimpse of her smooth stomach, the stomach he’d felt several times
on
occasion before. He shifted in his seat. The site was so enticing and forbidden all
at the same time, just like the whole package of Harley. He cleared his throat and
sat up a little taller, an attempt to ease his inner, forbidden needs. Fat chance
of that happening, but a guy’s gotta do what a guy’s gotta do, right? “Quit being
a brat, little beast, and accept my apology! I don’t do it much.” The scowl on her
face deepened, and Mason realized finally that his smart ass attitude wasn’t going
to work with this girl. She needed genuineness; something Mason didn’t
necessarily know how to give. “Really … I am sorry, Harley. I didn’t mean to be such
an ass yesterday, it’s just that—”
“No excuses, Mason. Like I said, just let it –”
“Don’t interrupt me when I’m talking.” She looked taken back at the soft, yet harsh
tone
in his voice. Her lips went flat, sealed into a stiff line as she leaned back to focus
on him. This time her mouth stayed shut.
He matched her stare down one hundred percent, giving everything she gave in return.
“Harley, seriously. I just can’t explain the way I feel when I’m with you. It’s like
a roller coaster that I want to ride over and over, but the first time getting on
is always the hardest.
“This’s exactly why I can’t handle you, Mason. You’re like a schizoid, without the
crazy.
Just like yesterday.
I
thought we were having fun at the park, but you turned on me, like I was a disease
you didn’t want to be infected with.” Her voice was at top level, and Mason glanced
behind him, surprised nobody had come to check on them. He had two options: let her
continue on with her rampage or kiss her senseless, making her forget her own name.
“Not to mention you wouldn’t speak to me or even look at me during the car ride back
to
school! You’re so … so … stupid!”
Rampage it is because she’d kick him in the balls if he tried to kiss her right now.
“You’re an egocentric ass wipe, Mason Daniel, and I hate you.”
“You done yet, little beast, because the bells about to ring…” She glanced over at
the
clock on the wall as a growl left her mouth.
“Yes, I’ve said my peace, now if you’ll excuse me—”
Mason grabbed her elbow, pulling her to a stop as he watched her throat constrict.
It was
so sexy the way her neck moved. Then he said words that he wasn’t even sure he knew
how to
say. “You’re unlike any girl I’ve ever met, Harley, and to tell you the truth, it
sort of scares the crap out of me. That’s why I ran yesterday.” Just as Mason opened
his mouth to say more, their stupid ass teacher came back into the room. Mason removed
his hand quickly, but he never lost sight of Harley’s face.
A little blip of sadness appeared in her eyes, but it was gone so quickly that anyone
else
would have thought it was all imagined. Not Mason though. He knew what he saw, but
why was
it there? Was she sad at the teacher’s interruption or at his confession?
“Alright you two, I think it’s time you pack up your things and get ready for third
period.
I expect your baby’s schedule and parenting plan to be double spaced typed and turned
into me by eight a.m. Monday morning, no later. Understood?” Mason and Harley nodded
their heads in unison, but Mason was the first to break his gaze, just long enough
to grab his bag. When he turned to look back at Harley, she had turned and was babbling
animatedly with the teacher. She was a spastic, chatty bunny.
And God dammit, he liked her that way.
The classroom began to fill-up before Mason had a chance to speak with her again,
but
something told him that it was an intentional avoidance on her part. “Shit!” Mason
cursed, as he watched Harley’s backside sway out of the classroom door. Obviously
she was done with the
conversation. Too bad for her, Mason was just getting started.
It was Saturday, exactly one week from the dreaded homecoming dance. Normally
Harley wouldn’t care about anything dance related, seeing as though she’d never actually
been
to a school dance before. Now that she had a date, Mason, she was completely freaking
out.
Just the thought of spending an entire night with him was enough of an incentive to
send
her heart into an all-out girly tizzy.
Her mom and Abigail had been pushing her since day one to go dress shopping. Of
course it was the last possible thing Harley wanted to do on a Saturday, but here
they were, driving forty-five minutes in the pouring down rain to go to Kearney’s
bridal shop. According to Abigail, they were on the hunt for “the perfect Harley dress.”
Harley had no clue what that entailed, nor did she even
want
to know. Abigail had a wild imagination when it came to clothing, and her motto was
‘the less clothing, the better.’
When it came down to it, Harley had zero choice in the matter. They would’ve hog-tied
Harley to the roof of the car to get her there. It was unavoidable, unless of course
she wanted to go naked to that ridiculous dance.
“Okay, ladies, we’re here! I’ll drop you both off at the front door that way you don’t
get
wet. I’ll be right behind you though.” Harley’s mother’s voice was laced with excitement;
so much that one would think they were shopping for a wedding dress rather than a
homecoming
gown.
Maybe it had something to do with the fact that Harley hadn’t worn a dress since she
was
a flower girl in a family wedding over twelve years ago. Jeans and t-shirt was the
way to go.
“Thanks, Mrs. A! We’ll start looking around. Once we find some stuff, we’ll get a
dressing room and go from there.”
Traitor.
Harley narrowed her gaze at her best friend’s waving profile. Her lips curled in spite
as
she envisioned all the different ways she could beat her best friend upside the head.
For real though, you just didn’t encourage Harley’s mom in anyway shape or form when
it came to stuff like this. Truthfully though, Abigail should have been born an Anderson.
Harley glared at Abigail’s backside as she pranced away, but the moment she turned
to
peruse through a rack of hideous lavender contraptions, Harley noticed the longing
in her eyes as she brusher her fingers over all the material. Harley sighed, immediately
struck with a feeling of sadness and guilt for her best friend. The whole experience
was probably breaking Abigail’s heart seeing as though Harley’s plan had backfired
and her brother flat out refused to go with her to the dance.
Okay, so maybe encouraging Abs to ask David to go herself wasn’t one of her more
thought out plans, especially since one legged guys couldn’t exactly dance and all…
Anyways, Harley would never forget the silent tears that streamed down Abigail’s cheeks
after David had literally laughed in her face about the whole idea.
Stupid idiot twin brothers.
Didn’t they have any sort of heart?
“
O, to the M, to the freaking’ G, Har. You’ve got to try this one on!” Abigail’s squeal
broke Harley from her guilt ridden thoughts, just as her mom eagerly traipsed in behind
them.
She had water dripping from her nose and jacket, and it spilled into puddles on the
floor under her feet. The woman was too entranced with the material hanging from Abigail’s
arms to even focus on the mess she was making. Harley rolled her eyes as she moved
towards the pair, head shaking in disbelief as they pawed at the fabric like it was
made of diamonds or babies.