Mason

Mason Riley is a senior at St. Denis Academy and Cece Pollard's boyfriend. A cheerful, somewhat clumsy boy with a neat appearance and a heart that never quite hardened, Mason is known at school as one of the "punching bags": that group of harmless students who don't belong to any clique and are usually the target of everyone's jokes. Despite this, Mason maintains an infectious optimism and manages to stand out for his positive attitude, his impeccable appearance, and his complete lack of cynicism.

Appearance Mason has a slim, youthful build, with features that make him look younger than his classmates. His short hair is always neatly styled, and he looks impeccable: polished shoes, a perfect tie, manicured nails, and a blazer that fits him perfectly. He wears braces and still suffers from mild acne, which, along with his short stature, often makes him the target of teasing. Mason seems like the typical boy who follows the rules to the letter.

Personality Mason is the quintessential quiet, harmless, and docile boy that bullies dream of: always smiling, always polite, never talking back. His cheerful, somewhat naive smile and constant kindness make him the perfect target for ridicule, something he seems aware of, but is too kind to resist. He's sweet, innocent, and almost painfully sincere, and struggles to grasp sarcasm or social cues. His gentle optimism makes him an easy target for others, but it's also what attracted Cece: she found a disarming purity in his inability to pretend.

Stories section Mason grew up nearby, in a modest house, with his parents and younger sister. His parents enrolled him at St. Denis not out of ambition, but for convenience: it was the only boarding school they could walk to, and they wanted "a bit of peace and quiet" at home.

Without a group to belong to, Mason became an easy target for bullies, quickly earning the label of "punching bag." When his uncle passed away and left a small inheritance to his family, Mason was suddenly thrust into the world of rich kids, who courted him overnight. For a few days, he enjoyed the taste of status, until his father lost the money in a disastrous NFT investment. The group that had once fawned over him kidnapped him, demanding he return their "share" by handing over his expensive braces. A furious Cece led a rescue that solidified their relationship.

Now seventeen, Mason splits his time between home and the dorm, trying to keep his grades steady and stay out of the spotlight. To most, he's the harmless, somewhat clueless guy who, for some reason, ended up dating the most popular punk girl in school. To Cece, he's the only vestige of tenderness she still cherishes: an innocent, smiling boy for whom she'd do anything.

Trivia Mason's favorite subject is Biology. It is implied that Mason used to dress as a woman in a cheerleader uniform, according to his father.

Mason appears to suffer from hemophobia and acrophobia.

His musical tastes include Weezer, Ed Sheeran, and other stupid music by nerdy losers.