Music started to stream gently through the makeshift speakers which were made of mismatched house speakers hooked up to an MP3 player. They were all different shapes and colours stacked up against the wooden pillars which separated the beach from the sandy car park.

Mason held out his hand to me.

"Will you dance with me?" He asked. Any female with a pulse couldn't turn that down. He stood there, his dimples showing as he smiled. I carefully placed my hand in his. I was nervous because I'd never slow danced before. This was another first I was experiencing tonight. It was definitely out of my comfort zone but I'd been noticing that the more I stepped out of my comfort zone, the more life was showing me what it could offer.

Mason laced his fingers in mine while his other hand held my waist.

"For the sake of your feet, I just need to warn you now that I've never danced like this before, so... sorry, in advance." I warned, watching my feet as we danced. I felt his chest rumble as he laughed. Our bodies were pressed against each other in a way that made me ache for more.

"Just follow my lead. I got you." He said quietly in my ear. I was still looking down when his hand came up to tilt my chin upwards to look at him.

"Do you always look at your feet?" He smirked. I shook my head.

"Not always. I used to always look at the ground when I walked as a kid to avoid eye contact. When I'm not thinking about it I just automatically look down. It's a habit." I shrug. As a kid I didn't want to have eye contact with my parents ever. I was meant to be a humble servant which meant putting myself last. I was to act 'servant like' for our God at all times to show my dedication.

"Those eyes should never be looking at the ground." Mason whispered so close to my lips I could feel his sweet, warm breath. My eyes regarded his for several seconds before I looked away and laughed nervously. I was praying he couldn't feel how fast my heart was thumping in my chest. We were pressed so tight together I had no doubt he probably could.

Mason pulled us apart and spun me around. I felt like a ballerina. A laugh escaped my lips as he tugged my arm towards him and our bodies collided together with a thud. I held my chest and he held his stomach while we laughed together.

"I warned you." I tried to say through giggles.

"Oh contrare, you warned my feet, not my stomach." He said, laughing.

We both collapsed in the sand on our back looking up at the clear night sky. Our chests were rising and falling, quickly evening out. Mason and I turned our heads to face each other. The look in his eye was pained like he wanted to get something off his chest.

"What?" I smiled, genuinely wanting to know what was on his mind to make him look that way.

"Do you believe everything happens for a reason?" He asks.

"I do. Why?" I respond.

"Even the bad things, like losing people?" He asks with a slight frown.

"Yes." I smile. The creases in his forehead became more defined.

"I believe that when something bad happens you have three choices... you can let it define you, let it destroy you or let it strengthen you. The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering known struggle, known loss and have found their way out of the depths. Those people have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people don't just happen... I read that somewhere" I shrug and look back over to Mason and I can see his eyes have gone hazy. His hand finds mine and he squeezes it.

"Thank you, Quinn." He said in a low, gravelly voice. I shook my head, not knowing why he was thanking me for.

"For what?" I breathe.

"For giving me faith to know that there are still beautiful people left in the world." He pulls my hand up in front of us and crosses our pinkie fingers together and touches my thumb to his.

"Why are you crossing our fingers you weirdo?" I asked, looking down at our entwined fingers.

"This is how you make a promise."

"Okay... What are we promising?" I ask, wondering what the hell he's making me promise.

"We're promising to live life to the fullest. Cherish it, enjoy it and do what matters." He grins which in turn makes me smile even bigger.

"I promise." I squeeze my pinkie against his and clutched the dog tag around my neck.

"I promise." Mason squeezes right back.

Promising with Mason gives me a sense of urgency rising from deep within. I'd spent four years trying to shove this feeling back down in my mental safe. Ever since I 'came of age' I had a feeling of urgency to get out and live life. Now that Mason was making me promise, I would start to make a conscious decision to take down those walls slowly I'd built up over those four years. It was time to stop people pleasing and time to start living.

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