S.T.B.I

Part 78: (Two of Two)

I shifted in my seat slightly, already feeling an overwhelming feeling of boredom overtake me.

On screen, I watched as Seda raised a hand and gestured off-screen. “Please welcome Mason Parker!”

I felt my eyebrows instantly contract and my stomach nearly drop to my knees as she said that. The TV then switched views, changing from Seda seated at the iconic newsroom desk, to a plain room. Sure enough, Mason was seated in the middle of it, perched atop a plain black three-legged stool, his hands clasped together in his lap and a slightly awkward expression on his face.

I did not understand in the slightest what the heck was going on. What was he doing?

Mason was probably the last person I would ever expect to appear on The Franklin Sunrise. It just...wasn’t his forte.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw several people glance at me, but I ignored them, choosing instead to focus on the television screen where Mason was sitting. I was confused out of my mind, but I was also genuinely curious. And I still got a pang of hurt and longing whenever I saw him. The room had gone unnaturally silent, something I noticed as I sat there and waited for Mason to begin speaking.

He cleared his throat awkwardly, shifting on the stool. “Um...hi.” He stated in that raspy voice of his, shooting the camera a small smile.
Good God, he looked attractive - almost to the point where it was unfair. As usual.

“I know that I’m not really the type who usually does these types of gigs,” Mason stated, gesturing around himself. He gave a small chuckle which was, admittedly, kind of cute. “But, uh...I just had to come on here and talk for a few minutes so I could...clear the air about something.”

There was a long pause during which I stared at the screen unblinkingly, feeling nervous butterflies swarm around my stomach, their wings brushing and beating repeatedly.
Mason paused again before he began speaking. “I don’t know if any of you guys watched the game last night.” He stated. “If you did, then you’ll probably have noticed that I made 1000 points, but after I did that, I...well, I kind of made a little speech - a rant, really. And just in case any of you guys missed it, I thought maybe I’d play it for you all. It’s kind of - actually, it’s really important to me, and...I just want you all to see it. So...” He trailed off, staring at someone who was undoubtedly off of the camera.

There was a pause during which the shot remained fixed on him before suddenly, it switched to a dark stage in the midst of a large concert venue.

I felt myself stiffen up and my heart begin to beat faster than normal.
I couldn’t believe this. I honestly could not believe this. There was no way this was real life. I had to be dreaming. Mason was not seriously letting this happen. He was not purposely having the news show crew play back his display from last night for the entire school to see.

He was not knowingly allowing everyone in Franklin High - including Aubree, Chase, Elise, Christina, and all the rest of them - to hear him say (if they hadn’t already) that he was in love with me...Was he?

Apparently he was, for I found myself sitting there in shock as right there, up on that thin little rectangular TV screen, a video showed Mason's entire rant about messing up and actually having feelings for me, up until he prepared to sing that new song he’d written. The video then skipped over the song, choosing instead to show him afterwards, where he proclaimed that the song was dedicated to me, Jenna Bennett. I could barely even believe this.

As the clip from the game came to a close, the screen switched back to Mason, who was smiling contently.
“So...” He began, biting his lip in a ridiculously adorable way. “Hopefully you guys all got the gist of what I was trying to say there.” He shrugged. “I know you might have heard differently from me a few weeks ago, but...that was honestly a mistake. One of the biggest I could make, and...I regret it.” He looked down at his hands for a moment before glancing back upwards.

There was a pause during which a silence as thick and heavy as smog filled the air.

Then, Mason began speaking again.

"Jenna,...hopefully you’re watching this right now, and hopefully you can see how truly sorry I am and...well...how in love with you I am.” He shrugged, a modest smile on his face. “I truly do regret what I did. You’ve changed me for the better, and if I could take back being such a {insert word}, then I would. Right here, right now.” He paused, smiling slightly at the camera, his large black eyes filled with a hopeful sort of emotion.

“So...” He began after a moment. “Anyway...hopefully you’re seeing this, and...if you are...I was wondering...” He bit his lip again, a flicker of nervousness passing over his face. “Do you forgive me?”