Page 43 of Escape Velocity
You’re hilarious.
Mason shudders as he shovels more flakes into his mouth at the idea of him going to a party in just his underwear.
He’d rather get expelled from Montgomerythan have to publicly embarrass himself like that. The only worse thing would be going to a party like that and having to witness Callum also in his underwear.
Callum
Being the team’s designated court jester comes with it’s perks
Mason
*its
Mason smiles proudly at himself as if it’s the best comeback he could ever make as he slurps the remaining milk in his cereal bowl.
He can’t even believe he’s having a conversation by text with Callum.
Well—It can’t necessarily be considered a conversation, more like a sparring match. Which is what they do best.
Plus, Callum has already given him the details for the party, so there’s nothing else to talk about.
Callum’s commitment to pretending like Mason hadn’t stormed away from him that day after the player profile interview is commendable.
Mason thought that it might have been the end of them interacting, but clearly, Callum is keen on involving Mason in his life.
Mason knows he overreacted slightly. The stinging of Callum’s words doesn’t hurt as much this morning as it did the other day.
Mason is glad that Callum didn’t mean for things to go so wrong, but it still doesn’t erase the pain that it caused.
Even if Callum wanted Mason’s number to invite him to a party, it still can’t undo the fact that he hurt Mason irreparably.
He’s still allowed to be hurt, but he’s making a promise to himself to not wallow.
Callum
I’ll make sure the DJ puts About You on the party playlist
Mason drops his spoon in the bowl, wincing at the metallic clang that it makes, hoping his roommate doesn’t wake up.
He glances up at his roommate Simon, who has his arm draped over his pillow and a tiny stream of drool coming out of his mouth, but he doesn’t move in his bed. Crisis averted.
Mason’s face heats at the mention of that song. He can’t believe Callum still remembers, even now.
After all this time. He remembers.
Mason shakes his head and closes his phone, deciding to ignore Callum’s obvious bait. It’s just a way to ensure that Mason will go and not back out at the last minute.
A ploy to get Mason to spend more time with him so he can sing his praises.
Mason gets up and puts his bowl in the sink, turns around and rests his hand on the counter, the pink hue of the rising sun filtering through the blinds.
Callum must be practicing or working out right now, and he has Mason on his mind. He tries to not think about what it means, because he can’t go back there. He refuses to.
He needs to be careful. Callum isn’t reliable, and he could rip away any attention he’s giving towards Mason at the drop of a hat.
Mason hates how much it still stings.
He’s changed. He’s not that lonely, lost boy anymore.He’s older and smarter. He refuses to cry over his long-lost friend trying to finagle his way back into his life.
