Page 107 of Escape Velocity
Elena darts her head back and forth between Mason and Joel like she’s watching a tennis match. The rest of the family seems impartial or unaware of what’s really going on, but if they notice anything, they’re decidedly ignoring it.
Joel nearly slams his fork down on his napkin, his disposition morphing from displeasure to bitterness. “Will you have time for the paper with your physics classes in the winter semester?”
That gets his parents’ attention. They stop mid-chewing and glance between Mason and Joel with confused glances.
“I’m only taking one physics class as an elective,” Mason mumbles, his confidence from earlier seeping out of him quicker than it had entered.
His mom squints her eyes at Mason so imperceptibly that only he could notice. But he knows it’s suspicion. She has her antenna up.
“Oh really? You’re allowed to take that many electives in one semester? Only one physics class as part of your major?”
His dad clears his throat. “I think you’re confused, Joel. Mason’s a journalism major, he’s doing physics as a minor, or he’s taking some physics classes as electives,” his dad says as he twirls his fork in the air aimlessly as he tries to figure out what Mason’s classes are.
Joel juts his lip out and widens his eyes in fake surprise. “Oh. I thought Mason was a physics major.”
Mason clenches his fork in his hands, wanting to kick Joel’s shin from underneath the table. But he can’t be completely upset; Mason is the one who started it.
“No. He’s onThe Goldberg. It would be quite silly of him to be doing the paper while doing a major other than journalism or english,” his mother says hastily.
“It really would be,” Mason mumbles out as he digs a spoon into his mashed potatoes.
“I must have heard wrong, then. As far as I knew, Mason was doing the paper just to kiss Callum Brown’s ass.”
“Joel,” Mason hisses through his gritted teeth.
Elena furrows her eyebrows. “Joel, what’s going on?”
His mom leans forward in her chair, putting her elbows on the table, likely also interested in why Joel is being so cryptic.
“Well, correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t Mason a physics major? I mean, he’s always in classes in the physics building, doing physics labs, talking to physics professors. I hardly ever see him in the Journalism building unless it’s for the paper.”
“Have you been stalking me or something?” Mason immediately interrupts.
“Joel, we’re having Thanksgiving dinner,” Elena mumbles to him, but everyone can hear her.
“What is Joel talking about, Mason?” his mom asks with thick accusation in her tone.
Mason’s pulse races as the entire table turns to him.
“I—I…”
He feels as if the air in the room is stifling him, like he’ll keel over at any second because he can’t get enough air into his lungs. They’re going to find out. Everyone will know. They’ll know about his classes. Callum. It will all be taken away from him.
“I lied, I took two physics classes this semester,” Mason blurts out. He’s on his way out of the prison, with one foot out and one foot in.
“Why would you lie about that Mason?” his father asks.
Mason opens his mouth but is interrupted. “Because he’s lying about everything, Mr. and Mrs. Fanning.”
Mason nearly throws his spoon at Joel and his smirk. What did Mason do to deserve so much malice and hatred directed at him by Joel? Why is Joel so adamant to take him down?
His parents’ eyes dart back and forth in between Joel and Mason. His Aunt Josie is living for all of it, a playful smile on her lips as she also looks between them. Elena’s more concerned and looking at Mason with sympathy.
“Mason. Why is Joel saying you’re lying about everything?” his mom asks, her voice firmer now.
Mason gulps. Everyone’s leaning forward in their chairs except for Joel. He’s leaning back like he’s got Mason in checkmate, and he pretty much does. There’s no way out of it now. Maybe he can still keep Callum a secret, but his schooling is out of the question now.
“I—I lied about the-the classes I’m talking at Montgomery.”
