Page 19 of Escape Velocity
Callum looks back up into the crowd and searches it, like he’s looking for someone specific.
His eyes land on Mason again, who can’t help but let a small smile escape, trying to mask how high he feels over the crowd.
The energy from the crowd is contagious. He’s caught whatever he’s been so cynical about.
But it’s ridiculous for him to think Callum is the reason he’s happy. The crowd makes him feel more school spirit, that’s what it really is, surely.
Callum’s eyes meet Mason’s and his toothy grin turns into a closed-mouth smile. He gives a single nod to Mason in acknowledgement, then stalks into the locker room alongside the other players.
Mason’s heartbeat picks up, and he watches Callum run to the locker room like he’s a bird of prey circling its next meal.
Callum disappears and Mason sits back down on the bench, wondering why he suddenly feels so out of breath, like he’s been the one on the field running for the past three hours.
He shakes his head and focuses back on his notebook. He starts reading it back to himself, and his breathing halts as he realizes he’s almost completely written his article about Callum.
He’s barely talked about anyone else. It’s all Callum. His speed. His commanding presence. His throws. Hisconfidence.
Mason closes his eyes and feels his cheeks heat up. There’s no way he’s going to give Callum the satisfaction. He wants to rip the pages out, crumple them up, and throw them into the garbage a few rows below him.
The whole team contributed to their win, not just Callum. Callum doesn’t deserve any more praise than what the crowd already gave him tonight. He doesn’t need yetanotherglowing article like Mason used to green light once in a while in the Northwood High paper.
But Mason can’t deny it. Callum’s focus never wavered. He’s ridiculously fast. His talent is glaringly evident.
He slams his notebook closed. He’ll come back to it another day when he isn’t feeling like he’s a part of some cult.
For him to gush about Callum would mean he’s forgiven him. And Mason doesn’t think he ever can after what Callum did.
Mason gets up and hightails it out of the bleachers, his shoes feeling heavier as he runs down the steps and onto the concrete.
He takes one final look at the field, as if to remind himself that his time here was real and had a valid reason.
A playback of Callum’s touchdown plays on the Jumbotron. Mason can see Callum’s smile through his helmet, and Mason smiles back at the screen. For a moment it’s the same smile Callum had when he was eight. That toothy, cheek-reddening smile that Callum loved to give only to Mason.
Mason looks down at the concrete and stalks back to his dorm building.
He’s hoped, wished, and ached for that boy to still be there. That underneath all the bravado and cockiness, thereis a boy who lost his mother and only wanted to escape from Northwood with his best friend.
To escape from all the pressure and expectations they had from their parents.
Mason still feels the same way. He wishes he could still escape the iron fist his mom has on him.
He wonders if Callum still feels the same.
He watches the replay of Callum’s touchdown on the Jumbotron as it plays the Hornets getting touchdown after touchdown, and disappointment hits him again.
Mason can hope all he wants, but he knows it is pointless.
They are in college, and Callum has made his choice about who he associates with and the life that he wants.
It is always going to be football. It is never going to be Mason.
The Callum from his childhood is gone, and Mason isn’t ever going to see him again.
6
CALLUM
Echoing cheers.Roaring crowds.
