In the music room, Esme listened to Athena playing the piano. It's so lonely and anyone who could see her expression would know the pain that she's been keeping. She exhaled and took out her cello and played it along with the piano to accompany it. Athena felt like she had her world and Esme didn't exist at that time. But as they play it, Laurence put it on air along in the hallway where speakers are. 

 Athena continued playing sad songs until her hands were tired. Zendaya entered the music room and approached Athena. 

​​

"Let's go out shopping," Zendaya suggested. 

"It's already dark outside," Athena mumbled. 

"We should drink tonight and play some dare games." 

"Sure." Athena gave her a tight smile. 

 Laurence turned off the speaker in the music room. 

"I'll set up for dare games," Laurence said excitedly. 

 Athena smiled and they left the music room. In the dining room, everyone took their seats. The tables in the dining room are set up in U shape so everyone could take their seats and fool at the same time. Few grimaced at the lovely couples who are showing affection. Mostly Christina and Kale are showing their affection too much. She felt out of place. She envies the couples. She wished that Xavier was here. 

 They set up games in the family room. It's wide enough for all of them and they play games and dares. However, she didn't feel like playing. She just forced herself because of Zendaya. At eleven in the evening, she escaped from them and went to her room. She stopped at the moment seeing a beautiful big Crystal Ball with lights on it. Red, white and blue. She looked at the 3D couples and on each side says the story. On the first one is the couple who met. Then, on the clockwise, the next is a couple kissing. Then next side is the couple who broke up and next is the man proposing to the girl. She watched it move clockwise like a music box. 

 She knelt in front of it and took the letter. 

"Merry Christmas, Cousin. I am sure that Xavier will come back to you. If not, you can always go after him and kidnapped and tie him up with you forever." 

 It has Cyra's name on it in the last part. She sighed and turned off other lights. She let the crystal lamp open. There's wireless music too. She took out her music drive and plugged it in. She listened to sad songs as she went to the bathroom to get ready to sleep. 

<><><><> 

 Chelsea glared at Mason for flirting with Lawson. Daughter of Veronica and Tony Lawson. The girl is indeed beautiful with those crystal blue eyes. She's also tall and she's a model. Who wouldn't like someone who looked like a doll? She's pampered like everyone here and she's sweet too. Tamara flirted back to Mason as they spoke on a certain thing. Well, she shouldn't feel jealous. They only kiss and flirt with each other, nothing else. But she felt heavy whenever he spoke to anyone. She told her cousins that she's going to sleep. She left and went upstairs to her room. Her lips are in a downward curve as she entered her room and closed it. 

 She exhaled and removed her shoes. She jumped on her bed and hugged her pillow. Damn that man! If he didn't flirt with her, she wouldn't feel uneasy. She pushed her face on the pillow and growled. She stopped when someone suddenly knocked on the door. 

"Chels, why did you leave early?" Mason asked. She sat up and fixed herself. "Hey, I'm going to open this." Mason opened the door and Chelsea glared at him. "Hey, I brought drinks." 

"I don't care." She said coldly. "I'm not in the mood to play with you tonight. Just, leave." 

"Hey, why are you so cold today?" He asked as he came in and put the cold beers on the table. 

"I just want to sleep." 

 He closed the door and locked it. 

"Really?" He smirked. She rolled her eyes and approached him. She smacked his chest. "Hey, why are mad at me?" He scooped her face. She punched his chest but not that hard. 

"Why are you flirting at me?" She asked. 

"Because I like you." 

 She rolled her eyes and punched his abdomen. 

"Ow!" 

"Liar!" 

"Why would I lie to you?" He kissed her forehead. 

"Then, why are you flirting with Tamara?" 

"I was being friendly." He said. "Come on, let's just drink beers and chill." 

"Friendly, your ass!" 

 She pushed him and turned back from him. 

"You weren't friendly at all." She rolled her eyes. He chuckled and he hugged her. 

"Chels,"

"What?" 

"Can I court you?" 

 She rolled her eyes. 

"You kiss me like we are lovers and you are just going to ask now?" 

 He laughed and kissed her nape. 

"I'm sorry." 

"Get me some fruits downstairs." 

"Okay." He kissed her cheeks. "Go and search for something good to watch." 

 He left quickly. She smiled and went to the bathroom to wash her face, brush her teeth, and wash her lower part just in case Mason wanted it tonight. But she doubts that he would. He looked like an old fashion guy. She put the beers on the mini-fridge while waiting for him and she chose a movie to watch. She waited and shifted on her seat. After what seemed like forever, Mason knocked and entered. He locked the door and he put the tray of sliced fruits next to her. Then, he took two cans of beers from the mini-fridge. He sat beside her and she played the movie. 

"So, why did you suddenly ask me if you could court me?" She asked as she took the small fork and took a slice of kiwi. 

"Well, you get attractive each day." He confessed and smiled at her. 

"You can kiss me if you want." 

"Nah, I shouldn't." He smiled. "I might not stop myself." 

"You know that we can do it, right?" 

"Chels, you are just, twenty-one? Besides, you might like someone else. So, I shouldn't." 

"What do you want then?" She moved close to him. 

"Want?" 

"Yeah," 

"Although I want to kiss you, we shouldn't." 

"But we've done it like two times or three?" 

"The other one is just a smack." He told her as he moved closer to her and reached for her hand. She crawled to his lap and straddled him. She kissed his lips and she pulled away. Mason stared at her beautiful face. He smiled and kissed her more. She didn't retreat. She even voluntarily opened her mouth for him. They kiss passionately while Mason is holding himself not to get aroused with a simple kiss. But she tasted good and smelled so good. His mind is already thinking lewd things like making love to her, but he shouldn't. 

"Let's go to bed." She mumbled, her voice sounding sultry and sexy. He shook his head and pulled her, letting her lean on his chest. "I am not proposing sex." She said. "I'm wearing long pants." 

"So, if you are wearing a sexy negligee it means that you are initiating?" 

"Maybe," She smirked. "Or maybe if I don't wear anything in front of you…" 

"You are naughty," he patted her head. 

 Chelsea drank more beer and ate more fruit while watching some action. Then, she suddenly suggested porn. He shook his head. 

"No, that can't be done." 

"Anyway, let's call it official." 

"Hmm?" 

"Let's be together." 

"Okay…" But he still plans on courting her. 

"I like you too, Mason, and I don't have to make you wait for us to be official when we are kissing like lovers." 

"Are you sure?" He asked. 

"Why are you asking such a thing? You wanted it, right?" 

"Yeah," 

"Then, let's call it official. So, we can do it." 

"Chels, you are drunk." 

"I'm not drunk." She climbed on the bed. "So, what if we stay longer?" 

"Then, we'll get married?" He asked. 

"Married?" She creased her brows. Nah, we'll have to at least wait for years. But we can make love, right?" 

"Not until you turn twenty-five." 

 She chuckled. 

"Are you even willing to wait for that long?" 

"Yeah, why not?" He shrugged. 

"Mason, sex is part of the relationship." 

"I know…" 

"We are in a very modern generation, and sex is just casual." 

"Chels, you are just twenty-one." 

"I'm not fifteen or twelve! Once we reached eighteen, we can have sex." 

"Who said that?" 

"Dad." She answered. "At least I heard him telling it to my brothers." 

"But you are a girl." 

"Can't we do the same that boys are doing? That's quite unfair, you know. Men can lose their virginity and had sex with anyone, while we can't do it for the sake of reputation. We are equal here." 

"It's different." He explained as he crawled on the bed and kissed her cheeks. "Okay, we can do it on our first anniversary then." 

"Nice." She smirked. 

"Don't smirk like that." 

"I know that you can't stay longer than a year." 

 And Chelsea is right. But he needs to measure his patience.