Page 100 of Escape Velocity
Callum snorts and reaches into his jacket pocket.
Mason pulls away from Callum and puts his hands in his coat pockets. “A gift? Why?”
Callum pulls out a gift box wrapped in red and green.
“Because I wanted to.”
Mason shakes his head. “Callum.”
“I know, I know. But I had to get you something. I want to give you everything I have. After going so long of ignoring you, I have to make up for everything I’ve done,” Callum says, his voice tinged with sadness and longing.
“Callum…”
Callum shook his head. “Don’t say anything, just open it.”
He hands the gift to Mason. Mason turns it over in his hands, like he can somehow determine what the gift is just by inspecting it.
He smirks at Callum and tries to hide his blush as he carefully rips the wrapping off.
He gasps as he pulls out a small, golden telescope.
Mason notices that his name is engraved on it.
“I know it’s probably not something you expected… but I felt that it was fitting.”
Mason looks up at Callum, wanting him to explain more.
Callum rubs the back of his neck in embarrassment.
Mason can’t believe that someone as achieved and attractive as Callum can be flustered.
“I uh… I don’t know if I’m the most articulate person… but I’ll try my best.”
Callum clears his throat and grins at Mason. “You’re someone who sees things, Mase. You notice everything. And you notice me. You see past all the barriers and dams I put up. The mask I use to push everyone away. You can see through it.”
Callum sighs and paces around the gazebo. A gust of wind sweeps through, and a few snowflakes get caught in Callum’s hair.
“I feel like you see right through me sometimes, and yeah, sometimes that scares the hell out of me, but I can’t help but appreciate it. And… I felt like this telescope represents you. You can see me from hundreds of feet away in the stands. You saw me from so far away in the hallways at Northwood. You stayed on the sidelines the whole time, and you always noticed. Every movement. Every unsaid word. You… knew. Like you were observing from far away.”
Callum stops pacing and stands in front of Mason. “That’s why I wanted to give this to you. To help you remember how you can make others feel seen. How you makemefeel seen?—”
Callum sniffles and puts his hands in his coat pockets awkwardly, and stares at fairy lights that twinkle in his eyes.
Mason’s chin trembles as Callum’s words almost topple him over.
The telescope shakes in his hands.
“I get it if you don’t like it?—”
Mason shakes his head. “It’s beautiful.”
Callum nods solemnly.
“I don’t know what to say, Callum. I’m shocked.”
Callum blinks. “Why would you be shocked?”
Mason inhales the frigid air, and it burns his lungs. He pictures himself back in high school and how much he yearned to have his time back with Callum.
