Page 79 of Escape Velocity
Callum looks up from the rocks and at Mason. He grabs Mason’s cold hand in his. It’s bracingly warm, like he’d been touching fire with his bare hands.
“I won’t let him say a single word. You’ll be safe. I’ll make sure of it, Mase,” Callum says, putting his other hand on top of Mason’s.
Mason wants to cry. The act is so tender and reassuring that it arrests him. He looks into Callum’s eyes and sees that little boy that always said he would protect him from all the bad things in the world and show him the beautiful things.
He can’t help but listen to him. He has to believe him. Callum has that power about him. He knows how to make someone believe in him. The entire school does, and Mason isn’t immune to it.
“Thank you,” Mason says breathlessly.
Callum pats Mason’s hand and reaches over, fully pulling him into an embrace, completely enveloping him. Mason sniffles into Callum’s chest and suddenly it isn’t cold anymore. He can’t hear the voices that try to tear everything he loves to shreds anymore. It’s just him and Callum.
“I’m so scared. I don’t want to lose everything. I don’t want everyone to see the real me,” Mason whimpers into Callum’s firm chest.
Callum rubs Mason’s hair and shushes him. “I know, Mase. I’m terrified too.”
Mason grips Callum’s sweater. It’s startling to hear that Callum is scared too. He has such a commanding and domineering personality, and the fact that someone that can be considered royalty by the school can be scared of something is a testament to Callum’s career, his family, and Joel as a whole.
They’re both walking with their hands tied, and all they can do is hold on as tight as they could as they walk the plank, waiting for everyone to push them into shark-infested water with a sword to their backs.
“We’ll make it, Mase. We will,” Callum whispers into Mason’s ear, soothing him like he’s an injured bird.
They sit there for what feels like hours as clouds settle over the setting sun and the wind blows harder, threatening to break their pocket of warmth and sanctity, but they refuse to let it.
Brittle autumn air shakes them. Winter is nearly on its way, but the warmth of autumn leaves keeps them together. As the leaves fall and geese fly south, their love would change but they won’t let the winter drive them out of Montgomery.
They will make it their own kingdom to rule.
24
MASON
In a surprising turn of events,Mason ends up going to the newsroom to work on his next article.
It’s late at night on a Saturday, and mostly everyone else has better things to do and better places to be, but he’s neglected his journalism responsibilities. His “community service” he likes to call them.
Midterms have taken over his entire life, and he’s studying for four different physics and math classes, feeling like his brain is being pulled in so many different directions and dimensions, literally.
On top of everything with Joel, his family, and Callum, it’s too much to bear, so it’s nice that he can escape somewhere that he’s welcome, even if he doesn’t feel like he fully belongs.
He’s alone for most of the night, until the familiar jingle of necklaces, bracelets, and earrings makes their way down the hallway. He looks at the entrance and pales as Fiona walks into the newsroom with her usual thermos in her hand.
She raises her eyebrows at Mason as she places it down on her desk.
He shifts uncomfortably in his seat. He knows she’s questioning why he’s even here, especially on a Saturday night, but in reality, he has nothing better to do. Jenna is at her sorority doing some kind of mixer, and Callum is at a frat party that he invited Mason to, but Mason declined.
“Fun Saturday night plans?” Fiona asks as she rifles through her file drawers.
“Yep, just me and my pen,” Mason replies.
Fiona clucks her tongue as she continues searching. She finds what’s she’s looking for and closes the filing cabinet.
“Well, I’dloveto stay and chat, but I have a book, my blanket, and my tea waiting for me back at my dorm, so get whatever you need to get done fast so I don’t have to look at this sad state of affairs,” Fiona says as she gestures to him.
He scoffs. “Goodnight to you too, then.”
She does a singular wave and is out of the newsroom as quickly as she came in.
Sometimes he hates how rude she is. She’s funny, he’ll give her that, but would it kill her to just say goodnight and go? He’s already feeling lonely, not being able to see Jenna or Callum, and he doesn’t need salt in the wound.
