Page 118 of Please Save Me

Mason shook her head. “Seb’s taking me out to get snacks… Do you want to come with?”

When Cameron accepted Mason’s offer, I didn’t protest. I didn’t even fuss when he grabbed his keys and offered to drive before I could. Staying silent wasn’t my strong suit, but somehow, I managed to bite my tongue as I watched the two from the back seat of Cameron’s truck.

When initially looking at them, nothing about Cameron Cole and Mason Albright seemed to belong together. He was pushing seven feet tall while Mason hadn’t even cleared five feet. Mason was covered in tattoos and dressed in dark clothes, but he was a good ole boy. Cameron was friendly, and Mason preferred to stay to herself. Despite all of that, something in the way they spoke to each other made their differences seem nonexistent.

Conversation between the two came easily like they’d known each other their whole lives. If I hadn’t been acutely aware of their situation, I’d have assumed the two had been together for years.

My attention turned to the world outside the truck’s window. The moon hid behind a thick blanket of clouds, making the world seem darker than usual. That was until we hit a line of cars all headed in the same direction.

Hartwood wasn’t much for traffic, but we’d occasionally get an influx of vehicles if there were a concert in Bar Harbor. They all seemed to be heading in the opposite direction of us, and I was thankful. The more people there were, the higher the chance there was for Mason to be recognized.

But, my hopes for an easy trip were dashed when we pulled into the packed gas station.

Cameron glanced around as he threw the truck into park.

“Hey.” His words came slowly as he focused on Mason. “Do you know what you want, pretty girl? I can run in and grab it for you.”

Was that even a question? Mason would probably get the same thing she always did.

She liked the gas station nachos, the type that came in a plastic container that you could put your own concerningly yellow cheese on. If the area they kept their hot dog toppings in was open and clean, she’d then pile as many jalapenos on as she could before getting a blue raspberry slushie to wash it down.

She’d probably also complain about having heartburn an hour later, but that was neither here nor there.

Mason stared at the building, completely focused on the constant flow of people. It’d be safer if she stayed in the car, but it didn’t seem like she was partially worried about that.

“I uh…” Her gaze dipped to her pajamas.

She didn’t even have real shoes on, electing just to wear slippers so she could just slip them on. It didn’t take a PR specialist to know the public would have a field day if Mason were caught in public like that.

She swallowed hard as she looked back up. “I’ll text you.”

Cameron nodded before giving her a quick peck on the cheek and heading to the store.

Mason’s fingers drummed out a familiar rhythm on the plastic part of the passenger side door. I knew it was part of one of her songs, but I wasn’t sure which.

“Are you alright?” I called, hoping to distract her.

Mason’s head flicked up, almost as if she’d forgotten I was there.

“Yeah,” She forced a smile, one that hid her teeth. “I just… I’d gotten so used to no one recognizing me that I’d forgotten just how suffocating it can be.”

“Yeah… But being a celebrity has its perks, right?” I suggested, hoping to cheer her up even if I didn't believe it.

Mason would be happier if she’d never gotten famous. She’d said as much. That’s why I was a little shocked when she agreed with me.

“Yeah, I like that I can make a difference in people’s lives…. And recording music in the studio is fun.”

I scoured her expression, hoping to see a hint of anything that would prove she didn’t mean the words she spoke. Instead, I found myself blinded by the genuine light behind her eyes.

“But you hate going on tour… Isn’t that half your job?”

I wasn’t sure why I posed that question; maybe it was meant to make myself feel better. Especially because, as of late, I’d found myself hatingmyjob. Something about one of my conversations with Cameron caused me to examine my life.

I loved the idea of saving people, the knowledge that I’d stopped someone else from getting hurt. But the idea of killing someone else now had me a little squeamish.

Mason tapped a finger to her full lips as she mulled over my question. “I hate it at the moment… and I don’t like how loud it is. But, now that I think about it, being on stage is kind of fun.”

My teeth rubbed together as I watched the woman in front of me and completely forgot how to blink.

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