Page 65 of Escape Velocity
They drive together in silence, Mason unsure what he wants to say and Callum likely waiting for Mason to say something. It’s been years since they have truly spoken with each other for any other reason than to connect. They used to know each other so well, and now they’ve grown up andspent years apart. How well do they really know each other anymore?
“Joel’s dating my cousin,” Mason blurts out.
Callum’s knuckles whiten as he grips the steering wheel tighter. “What?” he asks.
“He’s dating my cousin, Elena. He’s sitting in my house right now eating dinner with my family and trying to ruin my life.”
Callum sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “He really does not like you, if you don’t already know.”
Mason scoffs. “I figured as much. He’s set on telling my parents about my secret.”
“What secret?” Callum asks as he turns to Mason, his eyes curious, warm, and imploring.
Mason looks out the window to avoid Callum’s scrutiny.
The air between them already feels different, like they’ve fallen back into familiarity with each other. The conversation doesn’t feel stilted or full of unsaid words like it did before, like the tense rope between them had been cut with pliers.
“It doesn’t matter. Right now, we’re supposed to talk about why we stopped talking to each other.”
“You mean you stopped talking to me,” Callum interjects.
“I’m not talking about recently. I’m talking about my freshman year of high school,” Mason says as Callum finally parks at the end of the cul-de-sac.
Callum opens his mouth to retort, but closes it, like it feels like he’s been doing ever since they said their last parting words to each other.
Callum turns the engine off, unbuckles his seatbelt, and immediatelygets out.
Mason takes his own off and goes to open the door, but Callum’s already there, with the speed of a quarterback and opens it for Mason.
Mason’s cheeks burn as he steps out. “You don’t have to do that,” Mason says as he puts his hands in his jacket pockets.
“I do. I have to make it up to you. I haven’t had the chance to,” Callum says, his face somber and sullen, like he’s a child that knocked over his mom’s favorite vase.
Mason looks up at Callum and wants to put his hands on his face and tell him that it’s okay, but it’s not okay. Callum abandoned him, and there is no getting past that. As much as his feelings are coming back up to the surface, there’s no denying that Callum hurt him, and no amount of things Callum could do or say would undo the past.
It’s also such a terrible time to be hashing things out. Callum is grieving his mom, and Mason feels selfish thinking about kicking Callum while he’s down about his past mistakes.
His phone vibrates, and he almost tries to ignore it, knowing it’s probably from his parents, but he checks it and is surprised to see that it’s Jenna.
Jenna
How’s the family reunion going? Hopefully no knives have been thrown.
He glances at Callum as they walk down the path.
Mason
I’m with Callum now, dinner was terrible. Will update you later.
Mason cringes as he puts his phone back in his pocketand it starts vibrating constantly, likely Jenna freaking out at him for not updating.
“Sorry, it was Jenna asking how I was,” Mason says as he notices Callum walking in silence.
“It’s okay,” Callum says.
Mason sighs and marvels at the falling leaves and the orange leaves emitting an amber glow as dusk approaches.
He only knew this forest when it was full of trees, chirping crickets, and singing birds. Now, it’s so quiet, and he wonders if the same magic he saw it with was still threading its way through the thick brush.
