It was gonna suck a hundred times more.
Chapter Five
May 19, 2024
Kip
It had finally arrived,the day Mason and I had been working so hard toward.
We were lined up along the auditorium wall, ready to march across the stage and accept our diplomas, proof we’d buckled down and got it done. And miracle of miracles, I’d finished with a 3.99 GPA. My parents were over-the-moon happy about that. Mason beamed at me every time he mentioned it, especially since I’d whined about not being smart. I had a feeling he was gonna remind me of this on a regular basis.
Assuming I got to see him again, of course.
I glanced in the stands and scanned the assembled guests until I spotted Mom and Dad, still beaming. And there were Mason’s parents, staring at him and sporting wide smiles. They were obviously happy for him. Then I spotted the guy sitting beside them.
Oh my fucking God, is heleeringat Mason?
That had to be Jerome. It was easy to understand why Mase hated him, because just looking at the guy, I found myself wanting to storm up to where he sat and punch his smarmy face.
Okay, I didn’t understand the whole religion thing Mase had told me about. My family practiced no belief in higher powers. We were always taught good deeds were done because people were inherently decent and they wanted to help.
Jerome exuded none of that. His posture, his bearing? It all screamed entitled douchebag.
“I take it you’ve seen him,” came a soft voice from behind me. I turned and found Mase standing there, his black robe swirling around his feet in the gentle breeze. He was worrying his lower lip as he stared up at the crowd, his own gaze darting to his parents and, I assume, his alleged fiancé.
I wanted to pull him to me and try to give him strength, but given his stiff posture, I wasn’t sure the gesture would be appreciated. We’d always been open to touching hands or slapping backs, shit like that, but always in a bros-type way. Seriousness wasn’t our forte at all. In fact, I think we often used humor to avoid talking about anything real.
Mase loved to talk to people, to interact with them. After seeing him run home one day, I’d tried to convince him to join the track team because man, that boy could fly like no one else I’d ever seen. His speed was phenomenal, his leaps breathtaking, and his smile when he did it? I once told my parents Mase ran as though he’d been freed from whatever held him down.
Guess I wasn’t wrong.
College hadn’t brought the freedom I’d anticipated. I’d really believed once we got away from our small town, Mase and I would be able to spread our wings a bit, but instead Mase was even more… I guessguardedwas the best description..During certain nights he would say he had to go out, and then he wouldn’t come back to our room for a few days. I’d see him on campus, looking exhausted, but otherwise he seemed okay.
I wasn’t worried. Mase was a big boy who could take care of himself, right? Yet after finding out how different things were for him, I was angry at myself for not noticing my best friend needed me.
“I could go over there and smash his face in,” I offered, making a fist to show I was not even kidding. I wasn’t an inherently violent person, but Jerome pissed me off more than I would’ve believed possible.
Mason smirked, but it vanished a second later. “I don’t think that would go over too well,” he murmured.
I watched Jerome out of the corner of my eye, and it was clear his gaze was locked on Mason. I could almost see the mental masturbation taking place, and it sickened me. He wasn’t looking at Mase like a person, more like an object to be conquered.
“And just to change the subject…” Mason pointed to my face. “What’s with the chin fluff? Did we forget to shave this morning?
I gave a mock glare. “Hey. So I’ve decided to grow a beard. Don’t diss it.”
He snorted. “That isnota beard. It’s stubble with delusions of grandeur.”
“Dude, this is Day One. Give it time, and it will be full and thick, just like my?—”
Someone cleared their throat.
Show time.
I don’t remember the ceremony. I was too focused on Mase, too angry at the circumstances. Too hurt that I hadn’t known Mason needed me. I think that was what got me the most. He’d always been there for me, as friend, mentor, co-conspirator. Whatever role I needed filled, Mason was willingto do it and always had been. Where I led he often followed, but he never made it easy on me. Mase had no problem speaking his mind, but then I reconsidered. He’d always been upfront with me, but with others? He shrank back from them. There were times I’d see him take a different route to a class and it hadn’t struck me until now.
Was he avoiding someone or something? Was I so blind that I didn’t notice what was right in front of me?
Then it was all over, and we joined our relatives and guests, a babble of noise rising from everyone that filled the auditorium to its rafters.
