Page 114 of Escape Velocity
He knew things would be difficult and treacherous, yet he still went through with Callum anyway.
He was stupid and naïve, and he hates the cruel sting it leaves him with.
He reaches the end of Callum’s street and stops. It’s silent. Everyone’s inside their homes with their familiesenjoying their Thanksgiving dinners. He’s the only one outside wandering around the streets aimlessly.
He wants to feel like he could be any one of these families and knock on the door and be welcomed in as he is, without any hesitation.
He wishes his family could make his home like that.
There’s only one place he knows that no one will follow him and where he can be himself.
He doubles back around Callum’s street and goes through the secret passageway to he and Callum’s kingdom.
There’s a slight powdering of frost and snow across the pine needle-ridden clearing. A remaining few orange and red leaves cling onto the branches with all their might, waiting for one rush of wind to send them to the ground, succumbing to winter’s might.
He sits on one of the logs that’s untouched by the frost.
The clearing is silent, not even any birds chirping as he looks around. The swing he and Callum once swung on hangs loosely from the branch of the towering oak tree, with one fraying rope tying it to the tree while the other has fully collapsed onto the pine needles.
He sniffles as he stares at the spot in the clearing where he and Callum once stood just over a month ago. Where they first kissed.
It was the start of something perilous and ablaze with excitement. He thought it would end in the same way it began.
He didn’t think it would end with such a whimper.
He palms his face, looking around the clearing like it’ll give him answers as to what to do now. If he goes back home, he knows he’s just going to get yelled at more.
If he goes back to the Brown’s he’s just going to get chased away with pitchforks and torches.
He takes his phone out and thinks to call Jenna. She’s the only person who can keep him grounded in Northwood, but for some reason he feels guilty about bringing her down with him.
He doesn’t want to ruin the Winston’s Thanksgiving; he’s already ruined two others tonight already.
A twig snaps and he lifts his head abruptly. Anxiety rushes through his veins. Was Mr. Brown following him to finally chase him out?
“Hello?” Mason calls, going against his better judgment to alert others of his location while he’s all alone.
“Mason?” Callum’s voice echoes through the tree line.
Callum’s frame emerges through the thick brush from the other path entrance, the one from his backyard. He had put a coat over his dress shirt and dress pants.
“Clearly, I want to be alone right now,” Mason answers, focusing his gaze on the pine needles.
“Mase, come on.”
Mason shakes his head. “You don’t get to do that. That was your chance to stand up to your Dad, and youblewit. I knew this whole time you were just going to choose football over me, and I’m stupid for ever thinking differently.”
Callum takes more steps into the clearing and puts his hands in his pockets.
“What did you want me to do? He would have made sure we’d never see each other again. He’d make sure to spread rumors about you and your family to the whole town. He’druinyou.”
Mason sighs. “But why should I care? I don’tcareabout this town. It’s just a reminder of who Iusedto be. I’m used to having everyone’s eyes on me now at Montgomery. Aren’t you?”
Callum shrugs angrily. “Come on, Mason. It’s a lotmore complicated than that.”
Mason shakes his head. “I don’t think it is. My parents know about my school stuff now. If they knew about you, they wouldn’t care as much as about me lying about my college degree.”
Callum moves closer to Mason. “What about me, Mason? I have a say in this, too.”
