Page 54 of Escape Velocity
He was always important to him. Even after all the distance and the miscommunications, Callum was someone he dreamed about having a reconnection with.
Now that Callum was finally gone, Mason’s ambivalence had started to subside, making room for his feelings of affection and adoration rise without judgement. Mason figures that his suppression had led to that outburst outside of the frat house.
He can’t let something like that happen again. He doesn’t deserve it and in all honesty, Callum doesn’t either. If Callum feels bad, then that’s up to Callum to deal with.
It’s already halfway through October, and all of the scarlet, orange, and golden leaves were falling to the ground bit by bit. The trees they used to call home becoming slowly barren.
Mason has always been certain of one thing in the world. He’s sure that fall will bring change. It may not have always been the change that he wanted, but it was change that he needed.
Mason often finds himself setting up shop in the college café instead of the library.
It’s a small café, certainly not nearly big enough to accommodate the thousands of students attending, but he makes sure to go early. Some weekends he stays there the whole day, spending obscene amounts of money on pumpkin spice lattes in spirit of the changing seasons. He’s seen Callum more often in the library than the cafe, so it’s a good place to avoid him while getting his work done.
He expects he’ll never come across Callum. He remembersCallum saying he can’t drink coffee. Athletes probably didn’t drink coffee since it probably messed with their super specific diet or something.
Mason’s hypothesis was mostly right. He doesn’t see any football players come in or out in his days spent there studying and writing.
If Callum is looking for Mason, he’s looking in all the wrong places.
Mason’s in the middle of doing derivative problem sets when Jenna bursts into the café, her cheeks rosy and her black headphones balanced unevenly on her head, covering one ear and half covering the other.
Mason moves his spread of papers and textbooks over to make room for her at one of the tables in the corner that overlooks the café and lets Mason people watch when he’s feeling bored.
“So, I just came across someone who’s very interested in seeing you,” Jenna says, unwrapping her maroon scarf and shaking off her beige trench coat.
“Let me guess, Alex?” Mason asks, biting the edge of his pencil.
Jenna furrows her eyebrows.
“What? No. Doesn’t he avoid you like the plague now?”
Mason sighs. Alex hasn’t talked to him since that night at the frat party, and Mason doesn’t blame him. Alex asked him out and Mason pretty much hightailed it out of the party, leaving Alex in the dust, left rejected and reeling.
Mason rubs the back of his neck. “Yeah, he doesn’t even look in my direction anymore in class.”
Alex probably deserves an apology from Mason, but he doesn’t know where to start.
“Well, you can always try talking to him,” Jenna says.
Mason chuckles. “What am I supposed to say? Sorry I ran out of the place like my hair was on fire after you asked me out. I saw my old grade school crush making out with a girl and it made me nauseous.”
Mason could spin a fabulous, well-thought-out story, since he lives and breathes lies now, but Alex doesn’t deserve it. It’s better to leave well enough alone.
Jenna places a tender, cold hand on his forearm. The autumn chill being transferred to him with an otherwise sympathetic and warm touch. She doesn’t have to say anything, she knows how Mason feels—or tries not to feel.
“Someone much taller, muscular, brooding, and very apologetic, was interested in seeing you, actually.”
This gets Mason’s attention. He immediately drops the pencil in his mouth and straightens up in his chair. He notices his own eagerness and tries to play it off cool, but Jenna’s already noticed his intrigue and it’s too late to downplay it.
“What? Why?” Mason says, blinking rapidly, hating how his voice sounds way too invested.
“He was asking where you were. He said he’s been trying to look for you everywhere. He said you won’t reply to his texts. He said it was like you disappeared.”
“Intentional,” Mason answers plainly.
“I know. I told him that it’s best to leave you alone for the time being,” she says, taking her textbook out of her backpack.
“Oh,” Mason says, his shoulders sagging. For some reason, he feels unsatisfied with Jenna’s answer. It isn’t like he wants her to tell Callum where he is, right? He’s already placed enough distance between them.
