Part Four

Leaving her sister's teasing behind after breakfast, Sara and Asa left the house and made their way over to stables where she saddled up Billie, her white stallion before taking the horse for a ride across the ranch while Asa watched her.

Eventually, Sara needed a rest and so she rode over to the sidelines where Asa was watching and climbed off Billie, thing her reins to the post before approaching her best friend.

"You sure you don't want to join me?" Sara asked the blonde again.

"Yeah. You remember last year. I spent more time on my ass then I did on the horse." Asa reminded her. "I don't want to do that again."

"Fair enough," Sara laughed. "I'm sorry by the way. I don't mean to be ignoring you while I was riding... it's just, I haven't been here in a year... I haven't seen or ridden Billie since."

"I get it. It's alright," Asa admitted. "It allows me to take in this beautiful scenery and just think."

"I guess I should ask, are you thinking about her?" Sara wondered.

"A little bit," Asa sighed as she thought briefly of her ex-girlfriend, Hollie Hart. "I just keep thinking about what I could do differently but I guess I can't do anything and speaking to her yesterday... The finality of it all has finally seeped in. Hollie and I..." Asa paused. "We're over..."

"Oh, Asa," Sara said in comfort as she hugged her best friend. "It's okay. You're going to be okay. You'll find someone else. Trust me, I know you will."

"I know," Asa softly said, taking the warmth and comfort of the hug from her best friend for several minutes before softly saying. "That boy Anneliese brought up this morning, he doesn't happen to have messy brown hair and green eyes does he? Because if he does, I'm pretty sure he's standing behind you and he's kind of cute."

"What?" Sara said in surprise before quickly pulling away from Asa and turned around to see Mason for the same time in three years and although he hadn't changed much in the time since she saw him last, he definitely looked even more handsome in her opinion and could still get her heart to skip a beat.

"Hi, Sara..." Mason awkwardly said only for the black-haired girl to walk closer and slap the teenager across the face. "Ow! Sara!"

"We spent that entire summer together, kissing and talking about what it all means, agreed to stay in touch until the following summer and then you stop calling and texting? I don't hear from you in three years and you just walk up here like 'Hi, Sara,' like nothings changed?" Sara said in a tone was a mixture of heartbreak, anger and sadness.

"I know, I'm sorry. I just got caught up in life, my new school, I started wrestling..." Mason said as he rubbed his cheek and spoke, his voice full of regret.

"That's all you have to say for yourself?" Sara responded as she folded her arms.

"Look, I know it's no excuse, but I didn't mean to hurt you. I just didn't know how to deal with all the feelings after that summer. And when I got busy with school and wrestling, I... I just drifted away," Mason tried to explain. "But it's not like I forgot about you, Sara. You've been on my mind every day."

"Every day, huh?" Sara said, her voice a filled with a hint of hope.

"Every single day. You're my summer best friend after all." Mason said with a small smile.

"Okay, it's no excuse but I guess I can understand that. But you could've at least sent a message, you know..." Sara said, her eyes searching his and finding nothing but genuine regret, her anger slowly disappearing.

"I know, I should've. I'm sorry, Sara." Mason apologised.

"Okay, okay. It's in the past. I'm not saying I forgive you, but I'm willing to let it go for now." Sara sighed.

"Thanks, Sara. I really didn't mean to just ghost you like that." Mason said, relaxing slightly as Sara's anger lessened.

"Well, if you're going to keep making him play the 'I'm sorry' game, I guess I should introduce myself." Asa interrupted as she stepped forward with a playful smirk.

"Mason, this is my friend Asa," Sara said with a slight roll of her eyes at Asa. "Asa, this is Mason, my... old summer friend."

"Nice to meet you, Mason. I've not heard a single thing about you from this one," Asa said with a happy smile, her tone teasing as she indicated to Sara. "So, I'm looking for a new best friend if you happen to know of anyone."

"I'm not sure anyone can live up to the legend that is Sara," Mason said, glancing at Sara, who was still watching him.

"Flattery won't get you out of this that easily," Sara said, shaking her head.

"But maybe it'll get me back into your good books," Mason said with a hopeful smile.

"Maybe," Sara laughed, her arms still folded across her chest.

"But for now, you're definitely not off the hook," Asa added with a smirk.

"Thanks for the support," Mason said sarcastically.

"Anytime," Asa replied with a smile. "But seriously, Sara, don't let him off too easy. Make him work for it."

"Well, well, well, look who's here, the long-lost lovers reunited!" Anneliese interrupted as she and Molly walked up towards them.

"You two look like you've picked up right where you left off," Molly added.

"Not exactly," Sara said, feeling annoyed at their sibling's interruption.

"Come on, you guys," Asa said, stepping in between the two pairs. "Give them a break. They haven't seen each other in years."

"They're just excited to stir the pot like usual." Sara commented. "Its what they do when Mason and I get together mostly because they don't have anything fun to do."

"It's like a full-time job for them," Mason chuckled.

"Tell me about it," Sara said, rolling her eyes.

"So, what do you say we ditch these two?" Mason suggested with a nod towards Anneliese and Molly.

"You think they'd leave us alone?" Sara knowingly said.

"Worth a shot," Mason shrugged.

"Fine, let's go," Sara said with a mischievous smile. "But if they follow us, I'm blaming you."

"Deal." Mason chuckled and turned to Asa. "You're with us, right?"

"Why not? It'll be fun to get to know about the man my bestie never told me about." Asa said excitedly.