Betty Jo McManus leaned heavily against the hallway wall outside Mason's apartment, her breathing heavy and her heart pounding. Had she done the right thing? The proof of Mason's loving her son was still moist on her jeans; there wasn't any doubt about that. But what about Aidan? How would he react to this? How would he react when he realized it was she who'd encouraged Mason to confront him with the truth? What if things didn't work out between them? What if Aidan was angry? What if he was angrier still with her? Countless questions buzzed in her mind as she placed a hand against her chest to steady her breathing. She took several deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself before moving back to the door. Her hand was halfway to the door to knock before re-entering when she heard a wavering voice beyond.
"Hey.......it's me. Did....did I wake you up?...........Oh, good......Look, I know it's really early and everything, but there's something I need to talk to you about............Okay, I'll meet you there.....bye."
She stood in silence for some time, listening for some reaction from Mason, some indication as to whether Aidan's suggestion for meeting was a signal to a good start to the difficult conversation she knew was coming for them both. But there was nothing......only silence.
Well, that was that. Whatever would come after today would come. But all the same, the unease that churned in her stomach didn't make for a very promising premonition.
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He was upset. That was the first thing Aidan noticed about his best friend as he made his way through the underbrush of the woods that spilled onto the ledge of the sheer cliff along the side of the mountain. The outcrop of rock that formed a shelf along the side of the high peeks of the Blue Ridge Mountains had been a favorite hangout of Mason and Aidan since they'd discovered it as teens driving the local stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway. They'd spent countless hours camping and exploring along this rocky ledge, listening to the sounds of the Southern Appalachians. And more than once they'd both remarked to the other of how this small overlook along the parkway had grown to be something of a second home.
This overlook was where Mason had consoled Aidan after his return from Iraq. It was where Aidan mourned with his friend every September after the loss of his father. It was where they'd shared their deepest secrets and desires with each other. This should've been the place they met for solace and peace. Yet as Aidan observed his friend through the underbrush that hid him from Mason's view he couldn't help but notice his friend's body language. His feet drug and his shoulders sagged. His eyes were sunken, and his complexion was pale. Something was wrong with Mason.
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Mason's stomach churned and knotted at what, at who, he knew was coming. How was he to do this? How did one go about telling their best friend they'd been in love with them for years? And if that weren't enough, how did one go about asking this same friend to halt their upcoming wedding, all for the sake of a chance at showing that friend how they feel? His head grew light at the thought of what he faced. Why hadn't Betty Jo McManus given him some bit of advice, some way of tactfully going about this? After all, she'd been the one who'd told him he should be honest with Aidan! The least she could've offered was a bit of advice on how to go about this impossible task!
But he'd no more than thought the accusing words against Betty than he regretted them. She'd graciously accepted that he, Mason loved her son. And she'd all but offered her blessing to them both, provided Aidan agreed to call his wedding off. What more could he expect of her? He shook his head, mentally rebuking himself. But a sudden crunching of twigs nearby shook Mason from his perturbed reverie. And as he looked up into the face of his friend and the piercing blue eyes that surveyed him his heart raced within him. It was time.
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There was something different about Mason that morning, something that tugged at Aidan's heart. Whether the frightened face or the tremor in his voice, Mason's small form seemed to remind Aidan of some small child afraid to speak. Indeed, the emotion that took shape across Mason's face so tugged at Aidan's heartstrings that he felt compelled to simply take his friend into an embrace to shield and comfort him from whatever worry brought him such grief.
"Hey!"........ "Hey.......I wasn't expecting you here so soon." "Yeah, well you know me. I've always been a speed demon. So what's up? What's this big deal you've got to talk to me about?" Mason was silent for some time. His brown eyes darted from Aidan's face to the ground and surrounding objects. It seemed as though, for whatever reason, he couldn't bring himself to look into Aidan's eyes. More than once as the minutes ticked by it seemed he was on the verge of tears. Aidan found himself growing more than a little concerned by Mason's behavior. What was going on?
"Look, dude, whatever's going on, just spit it out. You're starting to worry me a little here." At this a genuine tear truly did trickle from Mason's eye. "You're not gonna like what I have to say." "Why? What is so terrible that you can't even look me in the eye and tell me?" Mason's face turned crimson as he mumbled something barely more than a whisper and turned away. Aidan found himself growing a bit impatient with Mason. What the hell was going on? Mason had always been shy, but he'd never acted like this before!
Mason's small form spun effortlessly into Aidan's arms as he grasped Mason's hand and jerked him round to face him. But still Mason would not bring his gaze to meet Aidan's own. Aidan began to grow frustrated. "Dude what the hell is the deal? You've got to talk to me before I can help! Is this some kind of deal of you liking guys or something?" Still Mason said nothing, merely nodding slightly as his face grew still more crimson. "Okay, so it's about a guy. Well then, what's the problem? We've been over this a thousand times. You like guys, so what?"
Mason's small form trembled beneath Aidan's hands as he stared at the ground. Even as he spoke he couldn't bring himself to look at Aidan's face. "It's not just some guy.............it's you."