Chapter 5: Mason’s Gift and Caleb’s Fury

5

Tears blurred my vision, leaving me feeling empty and aching inside. I didn’t see anyone on the road and ran straight into someone. “Riah? Wh-what’s wrong, why are you crying?” Someone gently wiped the tears from my face. I blinked hard and finally saw it was my childhood friend, Mason Turner, who lives next door. Seeing me staring at him, Mason awkwardly withdrew his hand, shifting from foot to foot, rubbing the back of his neck.

“You okay, Riah?” We grew up together, as close as siblings. Seeing him, all my unspeakable grievances rushed out. I couldn’t speak, but my tears fell like broken beads, nonstop. Mason panicked. He’s clumsy with words and couldn’t comfort me, soon sweating from worry. “Don’t cry, hey, who upset you? Tell me, I’ll stand up for you, okay? Don’t cry...” I shook my head. Mason’s voice dropped. “Was it Caleb, did he bully you? I’ll make sure he pays!”

I was stunned, and Mason clenched his fists, ready to rush out. I quickly grabbed him. “No... don’t do anything...” But Mason’s eyes were red, and if you looked closely, his body was trembling. He looked at me for a long, long time, then suddenly lowered his voice: “I... I saw you go in last night, and I heard... things.”

My breath caught in my throat. Mason’s face was flushed, jaw clenched, and he wouldn’t meet my eyes. The street was quiet, except for the distant hum of a pickup rolling down Main. I remembered how Mason always had my back—whether it was a scraped knee or a broken heart. But this was different, and I felt exposed, like the whole world could see through me.

I was startled, eyes wide, looking at Mason. His eyes were red and his face was dark. “Mr. and Mrs. Ford went to Chicago to see his sister yesterday. Took the old Chevy, I think. I saw you go into Caleb’s house, and I... I heard...” He suddenly hung his head, his ears turning red. When he looked up again, Mason’s eyes were a little wet. “Riah, he’s not worth it. After all that, he still made you cry. And he’s always flirting with that city girl. If he really cared about you, could he do something like this?”

Mason’s words were heavy, and I felt them settle into my bones. He was right, but it didn’t make the ache any easier. I remembered the times we’d sat on his porch swing, talking about dreams and futures, never imagining we’d end up here—me, broken and him, angry on my behalf. I flashed back to the night he helped me fix my bike after I crashed it into the mailbox, how he always protected me even when I didn’t ask.

Mason’s words were like needles, stabbing my heart, but I couldn’t refute him. With a soft sigh, Mason pressed a small box into my hand. “I know it’s not my place, but… I don’t want you to be sad over someone who doesn’t like you. Take care of yourself. I’m leaving.” Mason hurried away, as if someone was chasing him.

I stared at the box, hands trembling. It was wrapped in a crumpled Walgreens bag, Mason’s handwriting scrawled on the side—‘For Riah.’ The gesture was so gentle, so thoughtful, that my chest tightened. I hugged the box to my chest, wiping my eyes, wanting to call after him but my voice wouldn’t come.

I wiped the tears from my lashes and looked at what he’d given me. When I saw what it was, my heart trembled. No wonder I didn’t see Mason in the fields this morning. He’d just come from the town entrance. Could it be Mason went to the drugstore early this morning to buy this for me... An indescribable feeling welled up in my chest, making my nose sting. I subconsciously didn’t dare think about why Mason did this. Clutching the item in my hand, I just wanted to hurry home.

The little box felt heavy in my palm, its meaning clear as day. I could picture Mason standing in line at the pharmacy, hands stuffed in his jacket pockets, trying not to look nervous. The kindness behind it made my heart ache, and I realized, maybe for the first time, how much he cared.

But as I turned the corner at the edge of Maple Hollow, I met a pair of dark eyes. Startled, the little box in my hand fell to the ground with a soft thud. Under the bright sun, the words "birth control pills" were glaringly obvious. I bent down to pick it up, but a large hand was faster than me. Caleb looked coldly at the item in his hand for two seconds, then suddenly sneered, his voice icy.

“You sure know how to play people, Mariah.”

His words echoed down the empty street, sharp as shattered glass. I felt my cheeks burn, the embarrassment and anger mixing until I couldn’t tell which was stronger. The sun was hot on my back, but I shivered, wishing I could disappear. Caleb’s eyes were darker than ever, and for a moment, I wondered if he’d ever really known me at all. I clenched my fists, vowing that next time, I wouldn’t let him hurt me without a fight.