Page 83 of Escape Velocity
“You’re really special, Callum.” Is all Mason could muster. Callum has a way of shutting Mason up and making him utterly speechless. Ever since they were kids, all Mason could do was marvel at Callum and how much amazed him.
“You are too, Mason. And come to think of it…”
Callum pats Mason’s shoulder once, but there’s meaning behind it, like it’s more than just a “bro” thing, and more of a Mason thing.
“I want to show you something special. Come with me.”
Callum cranes his neck and scans the foyer, only to see no one in sight and puts out his hand for Mason to take.
Mason inhales sharply and thinks that it’s probably a bad idea and that it’s risky, but he does it anyway. He’s getting closer and closer to throwing caution to the wind.
Mason takes it and it’s like the world goes quiet. It’s just the two of them.
His chest fills with electricity as Callum starts running, practically pulling Mason behind him like he’s a dog on a leash.
Surprisingly, Callum already seems to know the library building well, and dashes into a side stairwell and runs up the steps with Mason, their steps echoing around the narrow staircase.
Mason’s huffing and puffing. Callum is remarkably unaffected, and Mason wishes he worked out half as much as Callum probably did.
They finally reach the top and burst through a metal door.
Chilly wind rushes through the door, mussing Mason’s hair and making him squint even behind his glasses. He zips up his coat as a knee-jerk reaction.
They’re on the roof of the library, which Mason didn’t really conceptualize existing until now. He didn’t even know it was accessible to the public.
“Are we allowed up here?”
Callum smirks and glances at Mason. “Not really, but no one comes up here or checks. I always come here when I need some time away from everything.”
Mason’s teeth chatter as he nods. “Even when it’s cold like this?”
“You’re a cold little guy, aren’t you?” Callum says jokingly, but it only comes off as endearing.
Mason nods as his teeth chatter some more like he’s in a cartoon.
“We can go somewhere else if you want.”
Mason shakes his head.
“Alright, but I can give my coat if you need.”
“I’m okay. This place is important to you. I want to honor that, and I refuse to complain.”
Mason swears Callum blushes, but it’s likely the sheer coldness of the wind and having rosy cheeks as a result.
Callum takes Mason’s hand again and guides him to the parapet, and they both take a seat on it.
It’s too cold for Mason’s backside, but he swore he wouldn’t complain, so he endures the cold like a champ.
They sit in silence for a few moments. Mason has this suspicion that Callum wants to talk to him about something, but something that he’s learned about Callum is that he can’t yank answers out of him. He has to be willing to give them of his own volition.
It would upset any normal journalist, but Mason isn’t any normal journalist.
Likely why his mom dislikes Callum so much.
“I’ve been thinking a lot recently. About… what happened with us. Back in your freshman year at Northwood.”
Mason’s chest clenches at the mention of that year. It had been by far the worst.
