Page 117 of Escape Velocity
It’s faded, but it’s still there.
Callum looks once at Mason, and something comes over him. His face is serious, like Callum knows what he has to do.
He rips his gaze away from Mason to look back to his father. “It’s not an obsession.”
Mr. Brown turns to Callum. “I’m sorry?”
Callum closes his eyes and heaves a long, shaky breath out.
Callum grabs Mason’s hand.
“What are you doing?” Mason whispers.
“Just trust me,” Callum whispers back.
“Callum Aiden Brown. What thehelldo you think you’re doing?” Mr. Brown asks, his tone becoming even deadlier than it was earlier.
Callum actually smiles at his dad. “I think I’ve made it pretty clear. I’m in love with Mason Fanning and he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Mr. Brown freezes for some time.
He’s too stunned to speak.
Mason’s never seen him so speechless. He’s always had something to say, but this has rendered him completely mute.
Mrs. Fanning’s eyes bulge as she stares at Mr. Brown from behind him.
Suddenly, like he’s woken up from a deep slumber, Mr. Brown lunges forward to grab Callum and Mason, but Callum swats Mr. Brown’s hand away forcefully, his face serious now.
“You don’t lay a singlefingeron me.OrMason. Ever. Again,” Callum says, his tone deadly and seething but still trembling.
Mr. Brown takes several steps back.
He looks back at Mrs. Fanning, who furrows her eyebrows at Mr. Brown, realization dawning on her face.
“Did—did Daniel… did he hit you, Callum?” Mrs. Fanning asks, glancing between Callum and Mr. Brown.
Callum says nothing, his eyes bulging.
“I—I remember having this… this sneaking suspicion when you were younger…” she mumbles.
“You—you hit him, didn’t you?” Mrs. Fanning says, taking a step forward to Mr. Brown.
Mr. Brown scoffs. “No, I didn’t. That’s just hisdramatics?—”
“You hit your son,” Mrs. Fanning accuses again, walking over to Mason and Callum, standing in front of them.
“I didnot?—”
“He d-did. He still d-does,” Callum says, voice coming out like a child’s. Like the kid that didn’t know how to get out of the cycle of abuse he was living in.
Mrs. Fanning turns to look at Callum, tears springing in her eyes. He used to be close to her as well.
Mrs. Fanning was best friends with Callum’s mom. Even with the hurt Callum caused Mason, she still cares deeply for him.
“I’m calling the police,” Mrs. Fanning says.
Mr. Brown takes more steps back, nearly peeling out of the clearing. “No—no you’renot.”
