“But what if I could change that?” I slid into the seat next to him and gestured with my hands. “You said she didn’t feel like you tried hard enough. Like you didn’t want to be around her. I could help you change that. I know what girls like Polly want. Just give me a couple weeks and I know she’d give you a second chance. You’ll be a new man.”
The outrage in his eyes dissolved into confusion. He tilted his head and looked into my face, hesitation written in the lines around his mouth. “Is that what you really want, Trina? To get me back with my ex?”
“Yes. Definitely.” I swallowed down the strange acidic taste that had filled my mouth and ignored the twinge of pain in my gut. “And to ace this class. If you agree to help, I just know I’m going to rock it.”
Hopefully I didn’t sound too desperate, but in all reality, my entire plan was hinging on him. There was no plan B. And there was definitely no way I was going to miss that art camp this summer. Mason had to say yes. He was miserable without Polly, that much was clear. If only he’d let someone help him, I knew he’d be happy again. And that someone was me.
“Trina, I don’t want to be your guinea pig.” He pushed my notebook across the table, as if it disgusted him. His gaze trailed it and he took a deep breath, all the while avoiding my eye contact. Finally, after a long moment of silence in which I thought my heart would explode, he looked over at me and his shoulders drooped. “But I guess if you need to do this to pass, I have no other choice.”
A mini squeal burst from my lips as I bounced in my chair. He shot me a disgruntled look, but I couldn’t contain myself, not even for him.
“I’m only going to do it on one condition,” he added, holding up a finger.
“What is it? I’ll do anything.”
He could’ve asked for me to do his homework for the rest of the year and I would’ve said yes. Anything would be worth nailing this class project and seeing Mason happy. Despite his outward appearance, he was a good guy and he deserved that.
“If I’m going to do this, then you’re going to finish your senior class sculpture for Savannah.”
It felt like he’d spilled a glass of cold water over my head. I slumped in the chair, suddenly wishing I had another Red Bull handy. Who would’ve known he’d ask for the impossible?
“I’m seriously trying,” I said, pouting out my lower lip, “but between the AP classes I’m taking this semester and everything else, I just don’t know if I have the time.”
That might have been another reason I’d had trouble sleeping last night. I’d come to the reluctant conclusion that I might have to give Savannah my notice. She wasn’t going to be happy. Heck, I was already miserable at the idea. But the senior class deserved an amazing sculpture and I just wasn’t going to be able to deliver if I couldn’t find any extra time in the day. Twenty-four hours just wasn’t enough.
“You can if you do it during Research Methods.” Mason glanced over his shoulder at the librarian. Sure enough, his chin rested on his chest, his eyelids sealed shut in sleep. “Mr. Arnold won’t even notice we’re gone.”
My spine straightened and I stared at Mason with wide eyes. Did he mean what I thought he meant?
“We?”
“Well, yeah.” He made a face. “I don’t think you’re going to get that done in time on your own. And I happen to have recently become very interested in the fine art of welding. In fact, I might even want to weld my own sculpture after this. I’m thinking my mom would like something for our front yard.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. “Really?”
His eyes darkened with humor. “No, Trina. I was making things up again. You know, you really have to get better about not believing everything people say. Not everyone is as pure-hearted as you.”
My cheeks warmed and I forced out a laugh. Again, with the pure thing. But this time, it didn’t feel like an insult. If anything, the soft way he’d said it made it feel like he was trying to compliment me, in his own weird way. And the longer Mason stared at me, his eyes searching my face, the more my face burned.
“Are you serious about helping or are you still joking?” I asked. “It’s getting too hard for me to tell the difference.”
He frowned. “Deadly serious. We’re getting this done, whether you like it or not.”
My heart warmed at the thought of Mason helping me get this project done. It was sweet of him. He really didn’t have to help. Anyone else would’ve just left it alone. I couldn’t help wondering why Mason would do something like that.
“Wh
y would you want to help me with my sculpture if you don’t care about welding?” I asked quietly.
The left side of his mouth quirked. “Trina Frye, the senior class wouldn’t have picked you to do the sculpture if you didn’t have potential. I’m just helping you fulfill your high school destiny.”
I snorted. “So now I’m the one with potential?”
“Definitely,” he shot back, arching an eyebrow. “So if I do this — if I agree to try and get back with my ex — you have to agree to finish your sculpture in time. Agreed?”
That was an arrangement I could agree to. With Mason’s help, I’d have it done in no time. Bonus points: Savannah wouldn’t want to have me assassinated. Add in the fact that I’d be helping Mason find his own happiness, there wasn’t a way I could lose in this situation. Everything was working out perfectly.
My dream self was a total genius.