Chapter 27
MASON
“He just can’t let it go, he’s just—”
Callum grunts and clenches his fists as he paces around Mason’s dorm room.
Callum rubs his face. “Those articles you’re writing about me are driving him nuts. I just know it. I’m surprised he hasn’t said anything to your parents yet.”
Mason fights back a smile. It’s petty, but the reality of a grown man having a breakdown over his writing is giving Mason a sick rush of glee.
“Maybe I should write about your dad in one of my articles.”
Callum screeches his pacing to a stop and widens his eyes at Mason. “You’re not serious, are you?”
Mason shakes his head. “No. But it would be amusing.”
“And a surefire way of getting both of us beat up,” Callum says, shaking his head.
Mason stands up from his bed and grabs Callum’s hand.
Callum stops pacing and relaxes at Mason’s touch.
Mason smiles and holds Callum’s face in his hands. “You killed it out there. I’m gonna write you the best article you’ve ever read.”
Callum smiles and grabs Mason’s hands softly, takes one and kisses the inside of his palm.
“I couldn’t ask for anything better. Just reading your words cheering me on—”
Callum bites his lip. “I’ve re-read your articles hundreds of times.”
Callum blushes as he looks away from Mason, likely not anticipating saying that to Mason.
Mason quirks an eyebrow “You have?”
Callum nods sheepishly. “I… might read them to help me go to sleep.”
Mason snorts. “No way.”
Callum purses his lips and nods wordlessly.
Mason wants to be happy about it, but he thinks about the implication of what Callum’s saying instead.
Are Mason’s words specifically more influential, or does Callum simply not have enough of a support system telling him that he’s doing well?
Having an abusive father is bound to make Callum’s self-hatred scream louder than any compliment or word of encouragement anyone throws his way.
“You really don’t have enough of a support system, do you?” Mason says, his eyebrows furrowed in concern, trying to search Callum’s face.
Callum twists his mouth and sighs, taking his hands off Mason’s arms.
Mason takes his hands off Callum’s face and just holds his hands instead, brushing his thumb lightly on Callum’s palm.
“I—I can’t really…”
“I’m here to listen, Cal.”
Callum nods and rubs his cheeks as he mulls over what to say.
“It’s silly. It’s actually stupid how my mind works sometimes.”
Mason stands still, waiting for Callum to continue. He wishes he could tell Callum that he doesn’t sound stupid or silly. But Mason figures it wouldn’t matter. If Callum’s been told so many times that he’s a failure, and that he’s a screw-up, then it’s likely all he ever thinks about.
“I could have a team of people around me, telling me twenty-four seven how much they like me. How cool I am. How much of a hard worker I am. How hot I am. But none of it ever matters.”
Mason crosses his arms and sits back on his bed, giving Callum the floor.
“It’s that one voice. That booming, loud, belligerent voice that tells me that everyone’s lying to me. That I’ll never be good enough for anything.”
Callum balls his fists and throws his hands in the air, grunting as he lets out his frustration.
“I’m so tired of hearing it. All the time. It’s always there. I’ve learned to block it out, but it never fully goes away. It just sits there, dormant. Waiting until I’m happy and successful to put me back in my place.”
Mason winces and bites his lip, feeling his chest clench in commiseration.
Callum stops pacing, and the ghost of a smile appears on his face. “But sometimes…”
He turns to Mason, and his eyes soften, the hurt and anger dissipating from his body. “Another voice takes its place.”
Callum walks toward Mason and kneels in front of him, meeting him almost at eye level despite being on his knees.
“A voice that makes my heart soar like a Hail Mary. A voice that sounds like the cheering crowds. A voice that sounds like winning a championship game.”
Callum takes Mason’s hands and kisses them. Twice on the knuckles, and a few times in his palm.
Warmth streams through Mason’s fingertips and hands as he feels Callum’s rough and warm lips on his hands, like they’re a foreign yet familiar entity.
“And that voice is one of the only things keeping me going sometimes. Makes me believe that maybe I can get out of this place and make it to the big leagues. And that I can leave my dad behind in that stupid Podunk town.”
Callum inhales and lets go of Mason’s hand.
Mason stands up and looks down at Callum.
Callum raises an eyebrow and stands up as well, re-establishing his clear height dominance and smirks as he looks down at Mason.
You have a platform and a way with words. Use them.
Mason looks up at Callum and his heart stutters at the reality that his words resonate with Callum so much. That the exact thing he doesn’t want to become is becoming his greatest hit. His most heralded talent.
How proud his parents would be. But would they be? Would they still be proud if he used his pen for singing Callum’s praises?
“I can’t—” Mason sighs and closes his eyes in frustration.
“It’s like my fingers are incapable of not being used to write. And I hate that my parents were right about me with it. It might not be my passion, and it might not be the career that I want… but I think I’m figuring out what I can use my words for…”
Mason clenches his fists and looks up at Callum, who stares down at him in wonder, like he’s holding onto Mason’s every word.
“I think I was meant to use my words to tell people how much I care about them. To uplift them. To make them feel worthy. And I think you’re just so amazing, Callum. And I want to tell you that all the time.”
Mason’s chest burns with his candor. It’s a confession and a revelation at the same time. He didn’t know how much he meant or thought it until he verbalized it.
“I hope that doesn’t sound—”
Mason’s cut off by Callum’s strong hands taking his face and smashing his mouth into his own.
Callum’s mouth is brazen and unyielding on his, and Mason’s mouth stays still in shock.
His chest feels like it changes in altitude as he realizes that Callum wants more. That he feels so passionately about Mason, and Mason finally leans into it.
Callum angles his head, moving it further towards Mason, as if to overtake him, and Mason falls back onto his bed as Callum stands over him, carefully leaning over to keep his mouth on his.
The kiss is as blazing and fiery and over as fast as a firework.
Callum puts his hands on Mason’s shoulders and focuses his gaze on Mason fully.
“I don’t care what anyone else says. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Mason.
All of this doesn’t matter if it means I can’t have you.
You’re amazingly talented and an irrefutable genius.
I’ll protect you from all this bullshit this school and town wants to throw our way and I’ll make sure your voice shines through. I’ll do it all for you, Mason.”
Mason’s heart nearly stops as Callum places another kiss on his mouth, like an oath he’s going to uphold.
Callum’s phone dings.
Callum grins his usual Callum smile at Mason before reaching for his phone.
“Sorry, I have to see my team now for post-game celebrations. I’ll see you soon, okay, Mase? Hang in there. You’re the smartest guy I know; you’re going to figure this all out like the genius you are. I have faith.”
Callum pats his chest twice with his fist and grins like an idiot as he picks up his gym bag and leaves Mason’s dorm.
“Bye…” Mason’s words die in his mouth as his brain finally catches up with his mouth just after Callum closes the door behind him.
Mason clutches at his chest and falls back on his bed as his cheeks flush.
It’s a precarious place to be. Fraught with challenges and interlopers that could knock them off their pedestal at any moment. But he likes it.
He doesn’t want to be anywhere else but in the glow of Callum, and how it shines for the both of them.