Start of Senior Year (Main Thread)

The summer was coming to an end, which meant things were just getting started for the small town of Iron Falls. While many places are busy during the warmer months, Iron Falls is quite the opposite. It is more like a ghost town with its few remaining locals. But all of that is going to change as the families flood in to bring the arriving students of Eagle Crest Academy.

Amongst the families were the Andersons to drop off their 18-year-old son Mason. It was finally senior year for Mason Anderson. The young man was both relieved and a bit timid about what would come next. With that said, he couldn’t be more excited to be back at the academy and away from his family. He loved them dearly but needed space that only being away at school could provide. It was just a short drive from the home that the Anderson’s purchased a few years ago in Iron Falls, but you wouldn’t know it from the two bickering teens in the back.

Mason’s younger sister, Molly Anderson, contorted her body until both feet were planted against the door of the family’s older van and she pushed with all of her might to **** Mason’s belonging onto his side of their shared seat. This feud started within moments of the car pulling out of the driveway. Mason chuckled before lowering his shoulder and shoving it all back at her as neither teen had much room to begin with. A scream from Molly assured him of his victory, but at the cost of the sharp glare from his mother in the front passenger seat. Allen Anderson, Mason’s father, pretended to not notice the war directly behind him as he smiled while shaking his head at the teens.

Molly is Mason’s younger, and usually loving sister. Molly is a petite girl with a wiry frame that often times makes her look younger than her actual age. If she were honest, she’d tell you that it makes her insecure to be developing slower than many girls her age. She’s more likely to punch you than to share that type of **** secret. Molly may be “scrawny” as Mason likes to tease but is a feisty and rambunctious girl. She loves anything active and was a leading scorer on her middle school soccer team when she could keep from getting carded for her aggression. She was also Mason’s first unofficial wrestling partner over the years, so she of course picked up some moves herself. It may not seem like it at this time but the two are very close to one another when they aren’t riding in the car, that is. Molly’s agitated mood may be less from her lack of space and more from the fact that she’ll be seeing less of her brother.

“Mom! Princess Macy won’t stop squishing me against the door! Maybe you should cut back on her diet, she is SO obese I think she’s going to squish me.” Molly added on with her own dramatic flair which earned her a pillow to the head for her condescending name calling. “On second thought throw a cracker at her, I think IT’S hangry!” Molly shouted out as her eyes drew in on her annoying older brother who discreetly flicked her on top of the head. Molly tried to rat on him before he pushed harder on the suitcases between them, smashing her once more. Molly’s blood curdling scream finally caused their mother to have had enough. Molly quickly gave him the finger and withdrew it just as fast before being busted by her mom.

“We have been in the car for ten minutes! You animals cannot control yourself for even the shortest of car rides?” Meredith Anderson questioned while looking back and forth at her kids in frustration. Molly simply smiled angelically at her and cupped her fists on her chin to appear innocent in the battle. Mason simply looked back at his mom with the deadpan look that he’s known for and slowly shook his head no. Meredith let out a short breath and collapsed back into her seat before turning to her husband and giving him a glare for being humored by it all. “I would leave your ass here too if I could. Some peace and quiet would be nice.” Meredith teasingly said to her husband which caused them to both smile and stare at each other for a quick moment with the same love that they have for all of these years. Molly leaned forward but before she could get a word out, Meredith turned back to her outspoken daughter with a quickness, “Don’t worry I’ll be shipping you off as well if I want to keep my sanity, but I know better than to leave you at a boarding school full of boys!” Molly simply gave a satisfactory and mischievous grin before leaning back and both Allen and Mason grimaced at the thought of her growing up. Meredith seemingly halted the battle for the next few minutes, which was enough for Allen to maneuver the minivan towards the front entrance of the academy.

The Anderson family arrived midday and instantly realized their mistake as the large crowd of families were littering the street and campus around them. This is their fourth move-in day after all but with the arrival of the female students, it truly was overwhelming. Especially for Mason who couldn’t get out of the van quick enough but instantly froze at the sight. Not that he was complaining but it finally hit him that this year was going to be quite different from the others. A strong hand on his shoulder from his father suddenly shook him from his stupor and he made his way to the rear of the family car to unpack. While many students could be seen cherishing their final minutes with their families, Mason couldn’t get moved in fast enough to finally enjoy some freedom. They are close by after all. Meredith was overseeing the unpacking of the car, with a very minor helping effort from Molly, while Mason and Allen were quickly moving all of his belongings into the dorm. Surprisingly, he arrived earlier than his roommate and had the first choice of beds. It wasn’t long at all that the two strong guys had finished unloading and they made their way back to Meredith and Molly. Meredith was never great with goodbyes, even minor ones like this when she’d surely see her son soon enough. She impatiently pushed buzzed past a grumbling Molly and wrapped her son in a tight hug.

“I expect to hear from you at least twice a day!” She dramatically stated to a smirk from Mason. “I am serious Mister! I’ll hunt you down if you think you’re too old to call your worrying mother. I will stop in Brewster’s every weekend.” Meredith added, referencing the local restaurant that Mason worked as a cook at on the weekends and during break. Mason cringed at the thought of his family constantly being there.

“Please don’t mom. Plus, I hear the kitchen staff is horrible.” He stated in a dead pan manner that got minor smile from his dad. “But I will call when I can. I promise mom.” Mason said in a drawn-out tone that he was trying to get this over with so he could be on his way. Allen had to nearly peel his wife off of him while he pulled his son into a hug as well.

“Behave yourself kid. Any time you get in trouble it somehow ends up with me on the couch.” Allen laughed as Meredith gave him a kick in the ass and both kids moaned about their parents flirting in public. “You know we aren’t far away if you need anything at all.” “Oh, I almost forgot to give this to you.” Allen reached into his pocket to pull out an old key. He handed it to the confused young man as he glanced back at his wife with a smile.

“Wait is this to the Honda?” Mason said in confusion as Meredith chimed in to confirm. The Honda was his father’s sometimes running car that has enough milage on it to make it around the Earth a few times. It was nothing special to look at either. Mason couldn’t say he was necessarily thrilled but it sure beat riding a bike back and forth to work. He also worried about how his parents were going to get by without it, but they quickly filled him in and relieved any doubts. He gave them both a genuine smile and pulled them into a hug once more for the surprise gift.

Molly had waited long enough and nearly pushed both of her parents out of the way before standing only a foot from him while shooting daggers in his direction. Her expression and previous fighting might not show it, but Mason knew this wasn’t easy on her. Iron Falls was a large adjustment for them both and they often times only had each other to lean on. He sometimes thought it wasn’t fair to her that he wasn’t around more to help teach her things and just generally be a big brother. His guilt hit an all-time high this year since Molly was finally starting at the public high school that has a reputation for being a pretty rough place. He isn’t sure if he’s more scared for her or any fool who happens to try and cross her. He ruffled the petite girl’s hair and tried to pull her in for a hug while she dramatically pushed away and showed expressions of fake disgust. He smiled as she finally gave in and realized that a quick side hug was the best that he was going to get. As he went to turn, Molly finally decided to speak up.

“Don’t go getting all stuck up with your rich friends and forget about us. I’ll still kick your ass you know!” Molly threatened as Mason laughed and Meredith swatted her on the shoulder. “Look just call me every now and again, okay? I need my big brother sometimes, you know. I guess I’m going to…” Molly suddenly stopped mid word as her eyes lit up. She jumped up on her tip toes to look past her brother. “Holy Hell! Is that my Drew Bear? Damn he’s gotten even hotter!” Molly is nearly shouting at this point as she tries to scurry past Mason who has to hold her in place as he turns to see what has his sister so frantic. At that moment he sees Andrew Murphy, his best friend and now roommate, step out of a brand-new black Range Rover.